[Paul c]

Hi baskers...........i was merely pointing to answers to spf for the dilema's over the R56
i did feel the same about the car at first either and wasnt sure about it.......but ive had my R56 for over a year now and luv it totaly ........after it was lowered of course!!! i grant you that it does sit rather high with all its undercarriage on show

I thought that the R56 was a much 'nicer' drive than the R53 S ive had ...a lighter clutch, smoother gear change, just generally smoother and more pleasant to drive..........which is excellent! and it seems SSO much more power on tap with none of the 'bogging down' on pullaway i had with me R53's

I now work at a BMW dealer and the Tech's all said that they hardly have any issues with the R56 now compared with the problems always encountered with the R50/53 model (im NOT dissing that car before this opens up a can of worms) and the cold start engine noise hasnt affected my car at all, from what ive heard it seems to be more so on the very early models!

ALSO...............this car has been reliable so far...............unlike either of my R53's

[spf]

I have a limited budget so would prefer to spend my money on adding extras for individuality rather than having to sort out basics like ride height and alloys.

If I was buying for the first time then fine. But as I have the 04 BMW need to tempt me to refresh it with the new version and at the moment they haven't won me over.

[boulcotta]

I don't understand how anyone can think the r56 centre console is childish and cheap , i think it's a hell of a lot nicer than the old one. The speedo aside, the 1st gen interior looks like any other car available today. The heater dials could be pulled off any car from the last 20 years; in contrast, the new clusters are like nothing else available from any manufacturer. Having learned to drive in a facelift 1st gen Cooper, and now owning my own 2nd gen One w/Pepper, i would have my car any day of the week.

If i was really really picky, i would make the glove box a little bit bigger and lower the car's rear end by a couple of inches. Other thank that DON'T CHANGE A THING BMW (just add more stuff as standard!) The R56 is a cool, funky car, and everyone i show it to agrees that they have never seen anything so cool, including a couple of 1st gen model owners, both of whom were persuaded to upgrade to an R56 after seeing mine!

All i've got to do now is save up for the new JCW!!

[doug runner]

As was the case with the 2nd generation model and its10cm longer nose (required to meet new front impact legislation), chances are that the 3rd generation model will grow in size all round again to meet new front/rear and side impact regs - this is why all "small" cars keep on getting bigger . The trick for the stylists is to keep the proportions in balance and then it will be OK- I know cos I am one!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Going by the lightly re-profiled front bumper on the R57 photos it would see that any facelift is going to be very, very, minor. It looks like BMW are happy to keep going as they are with minimal change.

I'd like to see a major re-skin, but I don't think that's going to happen for a moment.

Tigger.

[Laza]

Have there even been any other changes except for the bumper? I'm a bit disappointed also..

time to update the model FAQ?

Pics of the new cabrio can be found here:
2009 MINI Cooper Convertible - Autoblog

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Laza (original)

Have there even been any other changes except for the bumper?

It looks like a slight re-profiling of the front and rear bumpers and there's something about the colours of the tail lamps that might have changed slightly. Looks like they've thrust the cost of the entire "facelift" on to their parts suppliers then

Is this it?!!

[Paul c]

Thankfully Tiger,eeyore and roo.........this IS it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
for those of us that actually 'like' our 2nd gen cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul]

This doesn't look like a facelifted car does it, considering the fact it was/is supposed to be quite a dramatic mid-life sprucing up of the car.

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul (original)

This doesn't look like a facelifted car does it, considering the fact it was/is supposed to be quite a dramatic mid-life sprucing up of the car.

Hmm, so maybe they'll run with the R57 for a year, then introduce the full facelift in 2010 - to distract attention away from the launch of the Crossman!

[M.O.S]

Speedo goes to 160 for cars built after week 36 apparently

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by M.O.S (original)

Speedo goes to 160 for cars built after week 36 apparently

I hire a Transit for work ocassionally, that's got a 160mph speedo too! It struggles to reach 70 I really wish they didn't bother when a car just isn't capable of getting anywhere near it

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

I hire a Transit for work ocassionally, that's got a 160mph speedo too! It struggles to reach 70 I really wish they didn't bother when a car just isn't capable of getting anywhere near it

I've just been on an excellent driving course where you take your car through several exercises to experience loss of control in various circumstances. The big message drille dinto us all day was about speed - if you drive too fast, then the laws of physics must apply, no matter how many safety systems (ABS, ASC, DSC, CBC etc) your car has. It was a very sobering day (and it's mandatory in Luxembourg for all new drivers).

So, encouraging greater speeds on the road could be seen as simple irresponsibility by any car manufacturer.....

Ian

[M.O.S]

I think they did it because the JCW has 160 on speedo - gets to 148... Cheaper to make them all the same, but it is annoying... I suppose they'd have to have a different setting for each model too, so although its silly, its the cheapest way

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by M.O.S (original)

I think they did it because the JCW has 160 on speedo - gets to 148... Cheaper to make them all the same, but it is annoying...

Yep, they promoted this as one of the unique and special features of the JCW.

Then put it across the range.

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul (original)

Yep, they promoted this as one of the unique and special features of the JCW.

Then put it across the range.

Have you seen the 'always open' meter on the new cabrio - seems to be part of the rev counter moulding, so what's the betting this appears across the range?

Could be used as a much wanted water temp gauge in most models, and then how about a boost gauge in the JCW?

[Joogle]

Cunning plan by MINI - get you to buy the new Cabrio and then twelve months later the full facelift comes out so you swap again....... did it with stop/start.......

And as for the speedo, is this not a similar situation to the "Exclusive" S colours becoming available across the range? (On a sidenote: Was there not a rumor about hot chocolate coming out on the cabrio at one point?)

You can understand why they do it but not a great way of going about keeping the customers coming back.....

[bobclive]

I would say leave it alone, I have a Mk2 cooper, I think the engine sounds and feels naff compared to the mk1, today I drove my daughters mk1 2004 cooper ragtop, I preferred hers to mine. If they touch the bodywork I believe the magic will be lost, you only have to look at what Audi have done to the TT. The problem BMW have is that Mini is just one model, if it stops selling kill it off.

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by bobclive (original)

I would say leave it alone, I have a Mk2 cooper, I think the engine sounds and feels naff compared to the mk1, today I drove my daughters mk1 2004 cooper ragtop, I preferred hers to mine. If they touch the bodywork I believe the magic will be lost, you only have to look at what Audi have done to the TT. The problem BMW have is that Mini is just one model, if it stops selling kill it off.

Interesting - and here I am preparing to swap my mk1 2004 Cooper ragtop for a mk2 2009 Cooper ragtop! Maybe I should reconsider?

And I fear you are spot-on about MINI being a one-trick pony for BMW - unless they can make a really profitable success out of the other variants like Clubman and Crossman. But the danger is that MINI could be a fad, and once you look at the brand with head not heart, there are lots of pretenders to the throne out there

[1958 harry]

I'd like to see the first generation exterior with the 2nd gen interior, but with better seat fabrics, as my parents 07 mini with half leather is on its 2nd set of seat covers in only 8K and those are already wearing!

I think the 2nd Gen Mini is ugly from the outside, the lights etc look too big, the 1st gen was more aesthetically pleasing exterior, interior wise the 2nd Gen beats it hands down