R56 MCS road tested by MOTOR

[Guran]

The title says it all ... the latest issue of MOTOR (May 2007) arrived in my mailbox yesterday and it includes a road test of the new Cooper S. A strange sort of review really. The basic conclusion was that they thought the new MINI is a much better car than the previous one. Of course, being MOTOR, the focus was entirely on performance and especially straight line speed. In that regard, it's hard to fault. But then they also draw attention to differences in ride quality and hint that the new MINI is a softer proposition with less character than before. Anyway, it's worth a look if you're interested.

The issue also includes a three-page article on the MINI Cirque event in Sydney with lots of photos. This is probably the more interesting read!

[85NIXMIN]

Oooh sounds good...

[Paul_T]

Everyone seems to be of the same opinion... the new mini is great, but it's lost the character and raw appeal of the R53 MCS.

[Sunnybanker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul_T (original)

Everyone seems to be of the same opinion... the new mini is great, but it's lost the character and raw appeal of the R53 MCS.

Having seen what I've seen, I agree, and at this stage, can't see
us migrating to a 56
I'm still waiting for a deal on a JCW kit for the 53

[bugiz]

Thanks for the heads up. Cheers mate. Will run down to the milkbar to get a copy.

[Blacky]

Yeh, I said the same to the Gf.
Basically they have put more BMW into the mini and therefore lost some of the uniqueness (If that is a word ) of it!
Nice car, good features, good finish but there is something about it that kind of turns you off it.
If the old beast did not squeek and ratlle so much the story could be different.
Oh, and if I was not so tight when we purchase and ticket the satnav box

[Paul]

Like I said too, I'm sure it can be a "better car", but is it a "better MINI"?

[Guran]

The article conveniently overlooked a lot of the backward steps, though. Things like the crappy rear hatch cover (bloody difficult to take out), the poor storage bins in the back (much smaller and shallower), the flimsy el-cheapo look to the underside of the bonnet including the bloody great holes in it for the headlights, the for-looks-only bonnet scoop for the S, just to name a few. All up, this is all down to the cheaper build brief of the new MINI, and it takes a lot of the gloss off the otherwise excellent and much improved package.

[Paul]

The interior storage really is dreadful now, unless you pay for the (apparently prone to rattle) storage pack.

[Blacky]

Guran good points, but the elcheapo that must take the cake is the petrol cap on the S.
Plastic hinges that bend like a banana and the chrome cover is just that a cover!