At some of the Balls / Mini Runs over the past year or so I have gotten into a number of conversations that went along the lines of this.....
(names have been changed / words changed to protect the innocent)
Other person: "I really don't like the R56, urg urg, it's horrible, what do you think of it?"
Me: "I have R56
MCS, I like it and wouldn't have bought one unless I thought it looked good / drove well"
Points out car.........(There are various pics out there for those that haven't seen it, for those that have they know what it looks like and can probably shut their eyes and picture it)
Other person "Well, erm, obvously your car looks okay, but you've lost the Supercharger whine and the go-kart handling and that dial is sooooo big, only slightly compensated by the fact you have the sat-nav.... and the headlights they are connected to the wrong part of the car and look how high up the car is, you'll be able to drive through puddles and not flood the engine, what's the fun in that?"
Me: "As previous R53
MCS owner, car managed to inflict spinal injury on wifey - not just on mini runs, but on short trips down the motorway, R56 may not have quite the go-kartness of the R53, but it more than makes up for it with performance, turbo pop and fuel economy.. Since the move to the R56 wifey has reganed the use of her spine and can now walk short distances without falling over. In time she expects to be able to use a pogo-stick again, I doubt she'll ever be able to use a space hopper though - she's just a little clumsy"
Other person: "mutter mutter (or should I say supercharged whine)", then limps off, one hand on walking stick, the other holding lower back, trying not to grimmace with the pain of their own special spinal injury
Maybe that's it, in a nutshell, because some R53 owners are so used to THE supercharged whine, they need to have A supercharged whine about the R56? I've not noticed too many R56 owners having a turbo pop at the R53 in return...(Or is that just a bad pun?)
Stu