Question for owners of both R53 & R56 MCS

[Humourl3ss]

I haven't found a thread specific to this question, and the R56 isn't yet available in Canada yet. So for those who have owned both the R53 and the R56:

Is the R56 as good, better, or worse in terms of handling/steering feel relative to the R53?

I haven't seen one magazine/online review that says the feel of the steering is better on the new car, but sometimes owners perceive things that reviewers don't have the ability to discern if given only an afternoon with a new car.

[CC07ERS]

with only 1 hr test drive the steering on the r56 as far more precise and crisp than the r53 & when the sport button is pushed the steering tightens up even more so

[Humourl3ss]

Hence why I asked owners, not people who have merely test driven.

[miniman23]

For me I think the R56 has by far better handling, performance, output of power throttle response and comfort of ride.

[Olly.]

Agree with what others have said with the Sport button on its great

If its not standard on candian spec its worth the extra money

[Humourl3ss]

Thanks for that, but can you elaborate?

I know the language lacks some of the tools to accurately describe things that are subjective (a 0-60 time is quantitative, steering feel has no such metric), but help me out here.

Sorry, I know I'm trying to coax blood from a stone....

[Olly.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Humourl3ss (original)

Thanks for that, but can you elaborate?

I know the language lacks some of the tools to accurately describe things that are subjective (a 0-60 time is quantitative, steering feel has no such metric), but help me out here.

Sorry, I know I'm trying to coax blood from a stone....

I'll have a go but as you suggest its quite difficult to explain it all until you get to drive it.

The new MCS is QUICK, much faster than the old car it pulls from about 2000rpm and keeps on going all the way through the rev range. Obviously I do not condone speeding but others have told me that you can get deep into three figures very quickly It seems a very good engine, It pulls from very low revs but is also happy at the top of the rev range. You have say the MINI engineers have worked wonders with the engine and in combination with the gearbox they have set it up perfectly.

The handling is also an improvement to me, its a bit more predictable than the old car but the levels of grip definitely seem to have been improved. The LSD option will undoubtedly improve this even more.

To elaborate on the the effects of the Sport button, with it off the steering is quite light. It makes city driving particularly easy and parking isn't a problem at all. When your really trying to go anywhere quickly it starts to feel a bit vague, and too much like electric power steering. The throttle is also much the same its quite relaxed, if you put your foot down it still goes but the way the throttle is applied in isn't very aggressive.

With the Sport button on the steering really weights up perfectly, it gives you much more confidence when your travelling quickly and its much more what you would expect when driving a MINI. With Sport mode on the throttle mapping is a lot more aggressive, when you change gear as soon as your back on the throttle the car is off instantly, it really is an instant change of personality by pressing a button.

That said in some of the updating a little bit of the spark and instant chuckability has been dulled down a bit, it is still there but you have dig a bit harder to find it (not sure I've explained this bit too well) The positive side of this is the car is now a much more comfortable everyday car, and I think as such makes the car easier to live with. I personally think MINI have done a good job with the 2nd gen MINI and have made it a much better all rounder in the process

Sorry if I've rambled on a bit here

[Rakey]

pretty good write up Olly

But, here is my take on it, oh and we have my old MCSC JCW and my GF's R56 MCS, so I get to drive both as and when I like, so can compare the two at the same time, not in the aspect of having traded one in for the other Also taking into account this is also a comparison of convertible (with 3 strut braces) v's tintop, and the convertible has Eagle F1s on compared to runflats on the R56.

Right first of all, both are good cars, but they do both handle differently, and I do have my favourite.

The steering on the R56 is too light for me, I really can't get on with it, unless the sport button is pressed. Once thats pressed it feels the same weight as the old MINI which I prefer the feel of, so I think of the sport button as a case of turning off the 'Comfort Option'

The R56 takes corners just as well as the old MINI, but its far less involving, if you enter a corner too fast, then its not just a case of the car sliding out to warn you, the car just punishes you for your error, the same can be said if you push it too much in the corner too, it feels great one second then wallop it punishes you with no warning.

The thing I do love though is that the traction control (we have DSC) is far better and understanding than on the old MINI, it actually feels like it is working with the car, rather than against you like it did on the old car. Its doesn't just kick in and drop you revs leaving you sitting there thinking 'come on I've just pulled out on a busy junction'

The ride is softer and it absorbs the bumps much better than the old MINI I have, but there are times I actually like to feel the road and the bumps, but this is on SS and I wouldn't say its soft, its just more gentle than before. But there is also the fact that the old MINI feels more tight on a corner, more solid, but this doesn't mean the R56 is wallowey on the road, it actually feels nicely planted, more grippy at times, well that is until you push it too far and it reminds you in a more harsh method

Now I've tried my best to give the thoughts that go through my head as I drive either of them, the things I like and the things that differ, so some of these may seem like waffling on a bit But my overall opinion at the moment is that I love driving the MCSC JCW as its a more involving drive and yes I am more used to it, but I like the rawness of it, but if I was doing a nice long journey on the motorway, then I'd prefer to use the R56 as its comfortable ride with still a bit of fun in it

[tiger333888]

nice write up Olly - spot on

[Olly.]

I do agree with you Rakey, but also yours is a JCW thats been tuned up to be quicker, more aggressive and give a rawer driving feel to it than the standard car would normally give.

If you compared your current convertible with a factory standard old style MCS would you come to the same conclusions (ie it lacks that bit of rawness etc) as you have with your car vs R56 MCS?

I still think the fact that the new car can be compared to the old JCW is a bit of a compliment in itself

[Ryephile]

--->Olly & Rakey: your accounts seems to be in-line with most of the media reviews so far, where the R56 seems to be quicker all-around, yet less fun and involving as a "pure" drivers car. In that sense, and in light of my upcoming R56, I certainly hope the aftermarket can pull the R56 such that it maintains its quickness while adding back the magic of the R53.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Olly. (original)

I do agree with you Rakey, but also yours is a JCW thats been tuned up to be quicker, more aggressive and give a rawer driving feel to it than the standard car would normally give.

If you compared your current convertible with a factory standard old style MCS would you come to the same conclusions (ie it lacks that bit of rawness etc) as you have with your car vs R56 MCS?

I still think the fact that the new car can be compared to the old JCW is a bit of a compliment in itself

I actually tried not to think about the speed and noise of the JCW, as that does make it the better car for me at the moment in the current driving that I do, and just tried to balance out the handling and ride of it.

I will say though that before I had the lower strut braces added to her, and she handled like any other MINI convertible that the R56 would have won out of the two, but now she is more tight and handles like a tintop that she is far more fun on the twisties.

As for how I would rate a factory standard old MCS, been a while since I drove one now, but I'd still maybe be tempted to go with that, as the handling just feels slightly more involving, and thats my only real complaint about the R56 drive, that you are distanced from the things that tell you how hard you pushing the car and where the breaking point is. So when you do loose it you loose it big time!

But give me a month and when I am working and using her for work and long motorway trips, that I dare say I'll be wishing I was in the R56 as it is a more comfortable car that can still give some fun on the weekends

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryephile (original)

--->Olly & Rakey: your accounts seems to be in-line with most of the media reviews so far, where the R56 seems to be quicker all-around, yet less fun and involving as a "pure" drivers car. In that sense, and in light of my upcoming R56, I certainly hope the aftermarket can pull the R56 such that it maintains its quickness while adding back the magic of the R53.

I too hope you are right, and this thread actually got me thinking, that is the steering has two settings with the sports button, I wonder if there will be aftermarket remaps for this too like the engine remaps we hope for?

I'm sure by the end of the year that there will be a whole heap of R56 things to help get the driver more involved in the drive, I have ever faith in the guys from GTT and Lohen, just very little faith in MINI giving us such a great car straight from the factory as they did with the R53

[Olly.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryephile (original)

--->Olly & Rakey: your accounts seems to be in-line with most of the media reviews so far, where the R56 seems to be quicker all-around, yet less fun and involving as a "pure" drivers car. In that sense, and in light of my upcoming R56, I certainly hope the aftermarket can pull the R56 such that it maintains its quickness while adding back the magic of the R53.

Yeah I think your right, and as Rakey says it will be good to see what the aftermarket companies can bring to the car.

Its not all doom and gloom though I still think all said and done the new car is an improvement in every other way.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Olly. (original)

Its not all doom and gloom though I still think all said and done the new car is an improvement in every other way.

Yes it is, as long as you don't drive it or look at it

Sorry

I thought I'd say it before one of the anti-R56 guys turns up, because at least you know I like both of them