This is a real life observation, the F56 has joined a couple of MINI5280 rides in the past week and half. My observation, unless you were looked to see a difference, you really did not notice them. One was on a Mountain drive, it was spirited and it did very well with the group. One was at our local C&C, it was newer and not modded like the R56 next to it, but it was a MINI. Check out my FB album, I think it is open to all. FB C&C Also see the FB page MINI5280 Drives... Don
I'm out too rkw. I had never noticed it before, until wmwny pointed it out, but this place is becoming the R53 club. Perhaps Nathan should start M/A II for the other generations to gather.
Come on Jim..... Don't let it bother you... Ya got to justa let it roll off your back... Justa think to yourself.... They're nuts...
I think it is great that people are getting out and looking at it in person. It won't be for everyone, but that has always been the case with all of the MINI lineup (including the R50 and R53).
I have not pointed anything out. How can you even claim for this to be "the R53 club" when so many MINI owners here in M/A have Gen 2 cars, too? Too bad. If you want an M/A II so you can stifle what Gen 1 owners have to say, go ahead. It makes no difference to me. I know what MINI Generation I like and care about and it pains me to see such divisive talk when we are all only here to just make honest comments and try to help one another when needed. Just MY 2c.
There is not going to be a M/A II or M/A III or M/A Gold MINIs that have S-Lites or any of that silly Facetweetagramtristspace kind of carp around here. I liked the car. I want to see it in other colors, not found on the launch color, a little to bright for me. That is my opinion.
Good grief. I don't like it sorry. It looks better in some colors than others, and it may grow on me(like mold). Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I won't have fun doing MINI stuff with people that own one. You show me one you have modded and are excited about and I'll be excited too. Most of the shots I take at the Gen2 MINIs are just for fun. Its not that different then my R53. But this thing is different. I think its ugly but I remember a story from my child hood about a ugly duckling it grew up to be a beautiful swan(I think). who knows when I get old and my sight is dim I may think its a beautiful swan.:lol: I still have not driven one so I may like the way it drives. The S does have a interesting engine. Cant we all just get along!!
Looking forward to a test drive later this month in KC. Having focused on MINI out of warranty/aftermarket repairs and costs for many years, it will be interesting to note how the non oil checking long term owner accustomed to Asian auto reliablity will respond to post warranty ownership repairs on the most gizmoed MINI yet. The financial pragmatist in me hopes future extended warranty programs cover all those nickel and dime repair costs that the myriad of those baubles and trinkets may incur. Can't imagine the out of pocket expenses without one. Methinks I will wait til the dust settles on the first or second production year new car blues before considering a purchase. Must admit my charming bride would really appreciate the reported comfort refinements of the third gen MINI. Meanwhile I will continue honing my grin while motoring along in our R53.
I'm still biting my tongue until I get a chance to drive one. I'd never buy one personally; it just doesn't do it for me, but I'd love to take one for a spin. As for the back and forth about the generations, my gosh, it's just a car, don't take a negative comment about it personally. Everyone has an opinion. Mine is that the remaining R53 owners are probably as a group the most passionate about the car--the less passionate R53 owners have been weeded out over the years, leaving a small, but vocal, hardcore group. That's not to say that they're aren't R56 owners, or F56 owners in the future, that aren't just as passionate, there definitely are, but taken as a GROUP, the R53 holdouts, due to a process of elimination and attrition on the one hand, and changes to the newer model appealing to a broader base on the other, aren't as diluted. Go back to how contentiousness of some of the modding arguments were/are with the R53 versus the R56; THAT is what the R53 mentality is, for both better and worse. There have been times I've written something tongue in cheek, only to have it taken seriously and used as yet another example of R56 or F56 bashing. Suffice it to say, some people take a joke better than others, and some take the back and forth better than others. But at the end of the day, I respect (or disrespect, as the case may be), the person, not the car. Even if they chose the wrong one.
Can DaveO's psychology really be explained in one paragraph? I fear theres a lot more rattling around in his melon. For the sake of all thats decent lets hope it stays in there!
Hahahahahaha stop by our cabin at MOTD and you can hear the 100% raw uncut version live and then just when you have heard it all stop by around 10 or 12 PM for the super late night version. :devil::incazzato::lol:
From the reviews I read, the F56 (both trims), seems like a great daily driver that you can still have fun with and whip it around. I get about 22mpg driving to and from school in my R53, having a F56 Cooper that could double that mpg figure or more and have a quieter/more comfortable ride would be really nice. Then I could use my R53 as a weekend fun car and on MINI Rallies to get my visceral driving experience fix. But regardless of all the improvements in efficiency and technology, the biggest question that I ask is: will it make me smile every time I drive it, like my R53?
