[AidenL]

Chatting to some of the guys in the S Speccin Thread, and discussing whether we would be moving onto R56s or not, the question arose as to whether we actually would, despite being very much fascinated with the original car. .

Leaving aside any styling differences, which have been well covered on here in various threads, I wonder do current owners feel that the ethos of the Mk 1 MINI has been retained or has the driving experience been overly refined and as a consequence dulled?

I guess the best indicator of this is if people vote with their wallets and either buy the R56 or not - lets keep this civil, and not a flame war pro or anti the R56 - the R56 is the MINI now, the Mk 1 is no longer made, and as such, the R56 is the future of the marque and is to be respected for that.

What we are really wondering is, are all Mk 1 owners naturally progressing onto the R56, or are they looking at other alternatives. Equally, is the R56 attracting a whole new set of buyers.

Please vote in the poll, and lets hear any constructive comments please

[*Vikki*]

I am a Mk 1 (R50-R53 Owner and I Will NOT Be Buying a R56

Will stick with my R50 MINI for as long as it will go

[mad brummie]

I'm heading away after this one, the R56 for me is just too 'good', the charm and charachter of the R50-53 comes from its so called flaws. Its lost some of that sparkle for me.

[Fevs]

i am sticking with what i have now and in 2008 when the lease is up i will look at the JCW or Traveller and if it dont do it for me well its time to move on

maybe into a 1 series who knows

i aint even drove an R56 yet and dont intend on till its time to change
i have to admit the whole car dont really float my boat at the moment and its not really growing on me neither

[nylo]

Would have to agree with fevs. The new model isn't really pulling me in yet, though maybe when we start to see a few more of them, that might change.

I have no intention of changing mine at the moment, got a few bits and bobs in the pipeline, but otherwise I've got it pretty much as I want it. I don't really fancy the new model, but can't really imagine driving anything except a MINI...

Give it a few years, and we'll see

["Reedy"]

I'm still having so much fun in my Mk1, so why change... But if i had too i would be looking else where

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

I shall be sticking with an R50 / R53 for as long as possible. The R56 is not for me and if the it's the shape of things to come from BMW, then I shall eventually have to move on to something completely different

In the meantime I shall try and keep an R50 or R53 running for as long as possible.

Tigger.

[CC07ERS]

got 06 cooper getting 07 s

[Taffcd]

Having owned a R50 Mini for the last two years I can fully appreciate the comments above, I then had a test drive in a R56 and fell in love with the whole Mini Adventure again. Both cars very nimble quick and fun to drive. I just feel the R56 has a more refined quality to it., better build quality and a natural progression from the MK1. Both have slightly different characters but with the same aim, (To be enjoyed and to add that fun factor to driving) To that end if I could afford it I would have both.

[JG.26]

Will be holding onto my 03 S hopefully keeping it as a classic car in the future. I feel the original S prior to the 04 changes will be the most collectable in years to come. My daily driver is the new Suzuki Swift, hopefully upgrading to the Swift Sport, so I can keep the mileage low on the S for years to come.

Not wishing to take anything away from R56 buyers / owners but have driven the replacement S and was bitterly dissapointed and I know if I traded my S in for the new model I would regret it. Losing the supercharger was the downer for me and although the Tritec engine was never the most sophisticated it's pretty bullet proof. I'm just not sure with the all alloy French engine.

[mikeythemini]

My late r53 s will be my last Mini unless the Mk3 improves things in the future
I don't like the looks but what they have done with the electrics has sealed its fate for me

[rec]

voted.

you know where i stand.

[Scrogg]

You've missed an option off the poll Aiden, "I am new to MINI and WILL NOT be buying a R56".

I am sure there are a fair amount of people on here that will fall into that category?

[~Marcus~]

I would loved to have kept my R50 for a bit longer, but couldn't resist the lure of the R56's better comfort. If the R56 hadn't been designed to be a more comfortable car, it could well have been bye-bye MINI time.

If you drive short distances or have another more comfortable car the R50 is the better bet as it's more fun, but if like me you drive 20k+ miles a year the extra comfort and hopefully reliability of the R56 wins out. After a clutch failure at 30k miles, power steering failure, and a ropey feeling gearbox, I really couldn't contemplate keeping my old MINI after its warranty ran out.

I can appreciate people's comments that the R56 is a little too mature without all the Mk1 quirks and foibles, but for me that's a bonus - I'm much less knackered after driving my usual 4-500 miles a week!

[Dazmac13]

I have had an R50-53 One and Cooper and have ordered an R56 MCS, its just soooooooo much better than the out going model underneath the near identical looking skin. The only thing for less than £25000 that could be better is the new Civic Type-R when it comes in March or possibly the Golf GTI

[Restyle]

Will look again at a future R56 Facelift Model if & when BMW improve current Quality Control Measures.

[MiniMpi]

Had a 'R50' MINI ONE '05 and have collected my new R56 Cooper last Friday and love it to bits!
Much improved car.
See my 'report' on this forum.
Fergal.

[Harpo]

I'm amazed at the above responses, you guys must have had it too good.

Is the R56 that much worse? If it's so much more comfortable, reliable, better built and more economical, surely that's an awful lot of your boxes ticked.

Remember, whichever make or model you choose, only the Mini is totally classless.

I shall be taking the R56 route - just as soon as the Cooper D becomes available. But then the jump from a One D to a Cooper D will inevitably be a step in the right direction.

[Olly.]

I'm personally happy with the changes is made which is why mine is arriving shortly.

[Rakey]

I've driven the R56, but for the moment the MCS model is not tempting me from my JCW, so I'm going to hang on to see more about the R56 JCW before deciding what I buy next.

It could be an R56 JCW, an R56 MCS, or even one of the last Supercharged JCW Cabrios