the BIG new MINI v's old MINI comparison thread - AKA R56 is ugly, my R56 review.....

[jon vital]

I really don't think you can judge a car's looks until you have not only seen it in the metal, but lived with it for a while ( in terms of seeing them regularly on the road). I remember when the current model was facelifted and half the people on here were slating it and saying they'd never buy one. I bet a lot of them eventually did.

[matt.morrow]

WITHOUT PREJUDICE (for those of you who seem to be easily offended)

R50 was/is rattly, has a poor gear box, both interior and exterior is starting to look dated to name a few things.

I have owned both a 2001 MINI ONE and a 2005 MINI COOPER which I am about to trade in for a launch R56 - I have loved both the MINIs so far and I am really excited about the new one.

Time moves on - I agree with those how feel this thread is pointless as everyone is bound to have their own opinion! Make love, not way ;-)!

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by JG.26 (original)

Fair points I can understand your view that it would be nice to have reasons why someone dislikes the new model rather than giving negatives without a view. I think you will always get the I hate it full stop scenario.

I would agree entirely with what Tigger said and was put very well. The reason I bought my MINI was it's uniqueness ie what other car had a clamshell bonnet?, what other car had a supercharger in a hatchback in that price range? what other car had the power steering whine that made pedestrians stare at you the list could go on. The new model has thankfully kept the overall styling que ie it still looks unmistakenly MINI and compared to any other hatch, still looks good BUT in my view in the watering down if thats the correct word of the design for whatever reason, pedestrian safety, cost etc it's losing that uniqueness. I guess when you look at most classic cars the earlier versions always seem to keep their desiribility as the later models became watered down in their looks the car lost that desiribility factor. I hope the MINI doesn't go the same way over the coming years.

I guess there is only one thing to do and keep my current S and trade the Swift in for the new model

At the moment my personal views are very mixed about the R56, its grown on me more and more, and I dare say I shall order one at some point to replace mine, but I'm not saying I prefer it or that I dislike it.

I agree there is something about the current car that I doubt can be captured in the R56, it was original in the way it looks, drives, and the whole buzz of owning it. There is the whole kudos of it been Frank Stephensons design, the supercharger whine of the MCS. Yes its had issues, but what car doesn't, especially those with Rover design in it But those flaws are things we didn't let detract from the ownership experience, if anything some of the rattles and bugs are what we class as its character.

But we have to look at the R56 as the next evolution, not sure I'd use watered down, but I see where you are coming from on a like for like comparison between the two. If we look at the design on its own though of the R56 I have to admit it has some things I feel are better and a step forwards, or even a step back to the original mini in styling.

My real final feelings about the car I guess I can't say what they will be until I see one in the metal, drive one, or live with it. We are going to finalise the spec on Sunday of my GF's R56 that replaces her MCC in December, its proving hard to decide with the amount of options and choices to make, but still its exciting

But no matter what I decide about the R56, it certainly isn't going to be a hate it, and it certainly isn't going to make me ever look back on the R53 as a poor relation, as I have had too many happy experiences with the ones I have owned

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Miss Marmite (original)

I've noticed this kind of comment a lot from 06 owners, I can't help but think that for some of you it is because you bought an old model just before a new one is coming out.

I bought a 06 because I wanted one of the last of the current generation of Mini's. As to whether I think the R56 is ugly, well I wouldn't got that far. I wasn't overly keen on the car when I first saw the pictures but it is growing on me. I will reserve judgement until I see it in the flesh.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Rakey and Soggy

Good points and I completely agree.

In return, I shall try not to get annoyed every time someone says that "I can't judge the design until I've seen it in the metal". I've seen hundreds of photos of the car and when I did see it in the metal, a couple of months ago, it looked just the same as the photos (though the "laser blue" paint job did look fabulous).

Roll on discussion on the subject, but let's keep it welcoming for the owners of both old and new.

Tigger.

[Iamamini]

I am far from convinced that I like it, I think it has lost some of its looks, it looks more modern but I am not sure that is right with a MINI. Once thing for sure, the middle part of the dashboard looks like a toy, that silver plastic is horrible looking at the pictures, hope it looks better when I am going to try the car.

[Shaun]

Just to come back to all the heated debate that has appeared in this thread i posted this comment last night.

"Just to Context things I really wasnt taken by the MINI in general when it came out although I got an 02 plate One I was still not sure if I thought it was a good looking car and not a patch on my Classic in the charm department.
But here 3 MINIs down the line they are starting to grow on me"

I just wonder were my post falls in the most of you sound like catergory?

Its true though I really didnt like the MINI at first I saw it on Launch and thought maybe. I was probably one of the few classic owners though (pre internet when we all met up) who defended the new car.
Then with my own classic heading for 6 years old and a new gearbox and rusting well I went for it bought a One wih dodgy suspension airbags etc and have never looked back.
I dont like the look of the new S purely because of that black plastic grill seeing it in the flesh isnt going to change that.
I am a sucker for brightwork always have been its a Mini Signature for me but I am not going to be attacked for personal preference. The lines are certainly different but not in the way the Focus Mk2 seemed to really lose the plot its not a bad looking car the Focus but you cant say
Mk1 is point A and mk2 is Point B more like J with some letters gone astray in between.
At least the second gen Mini hasnt morfed into a four door golf sized hatch to cash in on more markets.

I supose this whole thread title is not very clever really is it but no its not ugly there are many ugly cars out there and the R56 isnt one of them.

2008 Non S flavoured Clubman or traveller thats next for me.

[herbie hind]

i think they're going further and further from the classic ;which is why i bought one of the 04s. i realize they made some changes to the headlights and such in an attampt to save money but it's getting to look like a renault.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by herbie hind (original)

i think they're going further and further from the classic ;which is why i bought one of the 04s. i realize they made some changes to the headlights and such in an attampt to save money but it's getting to look like a renault.

But there are some points which are more true to the mini on the R56, such as the one piece grill that stays down when the bonnet lifts.

I remember when I brought my first new MINI, the grill was an area that I felt had not been considered properly the way that part was attached to the bumper and part to the bonnet. Infact the shape of the nose on the Cooper with it been so angled made me decide I would not be buying one of those, as it looked totally different to the mini shape in profile.

[ABG]

Quote: Originally Posted by SoggyCornFlakes (original)

We don't want that alienation so to all of you posting, take a lesson from John's post above - constructive and fair, that is great. but please take away the "it's ugly" jibes, we don't want that type of posting here.

The title of the thread is "R56 is ugly?" so it seems quite normal for people to answer than question head on and to use the (suddenly socialy unacceptable ) "ugly" word in their response.

Calling a person ugly is rude. Calling a car ugly is not.
Unless of course the car is like Herbie (AKA The Love Bug) and has become self-aware.

Just for info - does the MINI2 request to not use "ugly" to describe a car only apply to MINI's or all cars?

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Quote: Originally Posted by ABG (original)

The title of the thread is "R56 is ugly?" so it seems quite normal for people to answer than question head on and to use the (suddenly socialy unacceptable ) "ugly" word in their response.

Calling a person ugly is rude. Calling a car ugly is not.
Unless of course the car is like Herbie (AKA The Love Bug) and has become self-aware.

Just for info - does the MINI2 request to not use "ugly" to describe a car only apply to MINI's or all cars?

No one has said don't use the word ugly, all we've asked is to consider other's opinions and feelings and if you think it's ugly justify the statement. For someone who can often seem sensitive to negative comments regarding their car I'd have thought you'd appreciate this approach

The thread has become a good debate about good and bad points regarding the new model, shall we try and maintain that please

[Bing]

I am going to hold off judgement until the 07 MINI is officially out on the street. I think seeing one
in person and driving the car will be the clincher.

[MINIMAT]

Quote: Originally Posted by ollymale (original)

Apparently its because although it looks very cool with the headlights going up on the bonnet its very expensive to produce. Also when you slam your bonnet down it was mis-aligning headlights all the time, meaning dealers were re-aligning headlights a lot.

Also can cost more in a front end smash. Replacing the bonnet should be cheaper.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by ABG (original)

The title of the thread is "R56 is ugly?" so it seems quite normal for people to answer than question head on and to use the (suddenly socialy unacceptable ) "ugly" word in their response.

Calling a person ugly is rude. Calling a car ugly is not.
Unless of course the car is like Herbie (AKA The Love Bug) and has become self-aware.

Just for info - does the MINI2 request to not use "ugly" to describe a car only apply to MINI's or all cars?

if ugly as a descriptive word was outlawed then this thread would have been gone, not moderated

like Bob has said, this thread is now actually a rather good discusion about the negatives and plus points of the R56 and comparing it with the out going car

[AprilWhine]

Ugly as well as beauty is highly subjective. I'm sure someone thinks this is a dream car:




It doesn't suit my taste but I would never insult the person who loves it by calling it ugly.