My only problem with the R56 is I like walnuts. And the price of walnuts has gone up dramatically because of the blasted 2nd gen. My great fear is the F56 will need hazelnuts for valve blasting. Not only will my favorite snack food be gone because of gen2, but my favorite coffee flavor is going to get screwed up by gen3. I'm out food and drink, and I find this unacceptable.
I was less attentive to what Frank said than to the interviewer's questions, which seemed to read like: "The newer designs for MINI really suck, don't they?" "The MINI designers are cheap ass douchebags, right?" Etc. Weird.
Dave O. did your R53 come from the factory with better brakes,, more torque, lighter weight and better handling? or is that a mere improvement with after market parts? If the latter then maybe straight from the factory it wasn't so great!
No it did not come that way but what true MINI owner keeps a MINI stock? Anyone can buy a car with all that stuff but what FUN is that? The new MINI's may have all that stuff but they are all UGLY and who wants an ugly car?
+1 The essence of a mini is buy it for a low upfront $$, then mod it..make it YOURS. Was true on the classics... Was true on the gen1..... If a car is sold maxed out, the upfront cost is crazy...besides...all the cars end up alike!! How can you make you car YOURS AND DIFFERENT if firstly you spend $40,000 and you cannot even change a radio...... Mini in changing simple things like Center speedo Canter locking Center window switches...shall I go on...so many small items...items that said "i'm different...I don't NEED to be like other car...I am what I am...love me or hate me, but I am what I am." When I see the NEW MINI, it knda reminds me of a ugly girl who got plastic surgery.... Sure they look good, but not quite "right", too made over, too generic, no character. BMW removed much of what made a mini UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT....and made it JUST A SMALL CAR MADE BY BMW....could be a pugot...or fiat...its just a small car with a shape now (a few sizes larger too.....like a person buying "relaxed fit pants")...it is ONLY 4.5 INCHES LONGER, 2 INCHES WIDER.... Park your gen1 next to CRX....the mini looks huge...taller longer...gen2 grew it a bit... Park a gen3 next to it....will look like a VAN....
If I missed this.... Go ahead and pull it Nathan... If not.... Here is the XCAR presentation... [ame=http://youtu.be/o05aWYA4vj8]New MINI Cooper S: The closest look you'll get - YouTube[/ame]
I hadn't seen the XCAR video. If this new version is anywhere close as fun to drive as the 1st or 2nd generation and gets close to the fuel economy numbers they mention that would be pretty amazing in my book.
I hear what you are saying Dave. Back in the day, we were always souping up our cars, making them faster, louder and fine tuning them. Heck, they did not even come with a radio, so off to J.C. Whitney for an AM radio to install ourselves. I think those days are gone for the current generation. For the most part anyway. Once they got rid of carburetors, added computers and turned the engine sideways I gave up doing that. There have been other shifts I notice. Way back in 2009, the trend was for roof graphics, stripes, side graphics and such, to individualize your MINI. Now that is going away as well. People what an "out of the box"car, so the car makers are going that route. Even Harley Davidson will sell you a "chopper" right out of the box. Now where is the fun in that????? :lol:
I dunno. He lost me at "Longer, Wider and Taller." The base does have impressive MPG numbers, and that will appeal. The performance of the JCW/GP S, depending on what they do with the 2.0 liter, might as well. The stock S, meh.....
You all are just stuck in your ways and I completely understand that, but the new MINI will sell. You can come along for the ride or not. Simple as that. Good old R53's will be welcome at MOTD, along with the classics.
I'm sorry I want to like it but it looks like a frog or a fish out of water. It's just flat ugly! I know I joke about how great the R53 is(ok it really is great). The R56 isn't to bad and fixed up they look ok. But please this thing makes me gag. It's as ugly as the Fiat 500, and I'm a Fiat fan. I still know ugly when I see it. Mini screwed the pooch on this one. And a 3 cylinder? Please, Welcome back to the 50's Just my opinion.