R56 unveilings in February – 2/16/07

[BlackCatGuy]

Great time! Nice meeting you Jeff! I told you I'd log on! Mike

[GMINI]

It was great seeing you guys after what amounts to years ad years in MINI time. Thanks for the pics!

[hwy61]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlackCatGuy (original)

Great time! Nice meeting you Jeff! I told you I'd log on! Mike

Welcome Mike & Family and that cool BRG MINI w/ Union Jack mirror caps !!!

[yellowmininy]

Welcome to MINI2, Mike!

[GadgetGav]

I agree about the huge shut line around the front wheel well. Not good.
I also didn't like how cheap the bonnet looked on the inside. I know they changed it to make it cheaper to manufacture, but did they have to make it so obvious? Almost no sound deadening material and you could see all the clips that hold the headlamp trim rings on. Fine if you want to change them, but to me it made it look like they might fall off or that you were seeing something that should have been covered.
Don't like the center stack - it's a little better in person, but still not great. I'm hoping that by the time the Clubman comes out, they'll do a mid cycle redesign of the center stack.
My biggest gripe is that the non-functional scoop is filled with solid plastic making it an air brake. That would have to be replaced with real mesh to at least let the air in, or even put a Cooper bonnet on the S. I'm not hung up on the scoop - it never existed on an original S and you don't see them putting fake dual fuel filler caps on the 07 S do you..? I'd quite like the stealth aspect of having the turbo car but it look like the regular one...

[blalor]

Well, those bonnets are so cheap, I bet it wouldn't be too expensive to buy one for a Cooper.

The chrome trim all over the bonnet definitely bugs me. There's a long strip on the rear edge (next to the cowl) and around the headlight openings. That just screams cheap to me; rather than have a nice, finished edge to the sheetmetal, they're covering it with cheap shiny plastic. I didn't notice the shutlines much, since every portal and panel was open on all the cars all night. I initially didn't mind the departure from the curved glass on the rear quarter windows, but the more I looked at it, the cheaper that looked, too. The edge of the glass is kind of white; it should be painted or have some trim (like the R50/R53) to make it black. There's no trim on the rear hatch glass, either, which is different from the old car. Basically, they did lots of little cost-saving measures, and it shows.

The center stack is much less offensive in person, but I'm still not crazy about it. From the pictures, I thought that vast expanse of plastic with the volume knob on it was flat and recessed by the side "pillars" (which aren't really pillars anymore, are they?). In fact, it's curved and more integrated with those side pieces. The fan and temp controls are pretty disappointing, too; they only move a little, and when they deflect they look really cheesy.

I don't like the *incredibly* obvious indicators for the fog lights. I think the status LEDs on our toggle switches are a nice, discrete way to show that the fogs are activated. The huge illuminated symbols on the speedo are overkill, in my opinion.

The heated seats seemed even warmer on the R56 than my car, and they've got three temperature settings, now, instead of just two. Not a huge fan of the changeable door illumination; seems like sort of a JCWhitney add-on to me. The sunroof seems to have lost its one-touch open and close feature. The venting of the rear roof is kind of cool, but I wonder if it's going to make a difference noise-wise?

[MaxaMiniBro]

So what's the verdict? Worth ordering an '07 or better to buy a good used one, such as one of Ian's well-cared-for extras?

[GBMINI]

John - you were there?! I missed you
So many people, so much going on, I missed loads of stuff ... forgot to go back and re-bid on the lunch box, missed the raffle draw ...

A great night though, and much less disappointed with the R56 than I expected to be - although I don't like the new MC design cues up front, the new MCS is heaps better for me.
I do like all the new displays / etc inside, but that adjustable mood lighting feature is quite stupid when it doesn't change the dial colors!

Anyway, lots of pics and a write-up over on GBMINI:
Ians GBMINI (MINI Cooper) ? Blog Archive » MINI of Peabody R56 unveiling

I hope there's no stock at MoP with hifi sound & nav

[MCSDCWGP06]

missed all the fun but still got some ice cream, mmm delicious.

Had a good chat with Scott of MoP, discussed the GP and 07 JCW, which I personally like, think of the new versions is the best to get. Seems like the GP was the transition between 06 and 07.

will be going to the Gillette stadium event, cars will be available to drive and New England Patriots players and cheerleaders will be present, RE Rich Tran HCMINI.

Flurries in the forecast, but should be clear by 6pm, will be cold so wrap up.

I will be bringing two GP's

Cheers
WavyDavy

[blalor]

Ben and I took a quick trip around the parking lot last night, but I'm hoping for a little more seat time on Sunday. Or maybe I'll just take a trip down to MoP.

[GMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

John - you were there?! I missed you

I missed you, too, Ian! I looked around for a while, and then Jeff told me you were in Peabody! :P

I would have liked spending time with you in a parked 07 MCS.

[Cape Cod MINI]

I love the S from front to back. Let me at it! I'm supposedly an early March build so get outta my way! After 10 months with no MINI I'm ready to rock 'n roll. Screw the break-in period. I'm going to redline it out the MOP lot into the atmosphere and never look back.
Nice to see all my buddies both old and new!
I was taken by surprise and asked by Paul to step up and say a few words just as I was ready to scarf a mini burger. How were they? I stumbled over my words but
managed to come out of it without making a total ass..only 85% ass of myself.
Thanks to all who jumped in and grabbed a Lucky Ducky. We love you all.
Last night put us at $5,122.85. Thank you thank you thank you.
Ian, Dan, Joe, Bill, Evan and I closed the place down last night. Fisticuffs ensued
over the Hammer and Koop poster. I managed a few blows to Ian's neck and swift kick to the unmentionables but he emerged the victor.

FWIW, if I was to be critical I think the '07 Cooper looks like a sack of poo. Blech.

[Cape Cod MINI]

heh

[snid]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cape Cod MINI (original)

FWIW, if I was to be critical I think the '07 Cooper looks like a sack of poo. Blech.

This coming from a guy who bought a Suby.

[GadgetGav]

So he should know then, right?