3rd Gen F56 Cooper S My thoughts on the F56

This is my first post on Motoring Alliance. I recently bought my first Mini, a 2015 F56 MCS. I have been dreaming about owning a Mini since the CVT was the only automatic tranny option available, how ever long ago that was. However, practicality always seemed to get in the way when it came time to buying a car until just a few months ago when I got my F56.

I have been a motorcyclist and a sport bike enthusiast for the last 45 years. Based on my experience in motorcycling in the USA, as a rule there seems to be 2 types of riders, Harley riders and everybody else. Most Harley riders consider Japanese and European bikes and riders to be of lesser stature to themselves and their bikes and not worthy of a wave when passing one another on the road.

This type of attitude has always bothered me. I have always felt that regardless of the bike (or Mini) that you might own that you are a part of a small brotherhood that shares experiences, affection and passion for your ride in a way that should bind us together not divide us.

After following this thread for several weeks, I am sorry to see this same attitude being expressed by so many R53 and R56 owners toward the F56. It may be impossible for some to imagine, but I LOVE my F56 and would not consider trading it for a R53 or R56.

I love the way it looks, drives and handles and I am completely smitten with this car. After looking at the side-by-side images of the Original, 1st Gen, 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen hardtops that Blues Trucker posted, it seems to me that all Mini's that came after the original are all huge, bloated, overweight pigs. We all might as well be driving Suburbans.

Aren't there plenty of other things in this world that are better targets for our scorn? How about short people or skinny people perhaps? Come to think of it, I don't much care for poodles either... :mad5:

 

Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.

Not a huge fan of poodles either.

 

Congrats & Welcome...the fun has just started.

 

Welcome, there's a great bunch here, you'll see!

 

Welcome Brad. Even though some folks don't like the F56 those same folks aren't going to make fun of you because you have & love one. Lots of good folks here stick around you'll make friends for sure.

 

Welcome!

Seems F56 owners aren't going to put up with people putting their cars down. Good on you.

 

Welcome, it's all good here.

 

Stick around for awhile, we make fun of skinny people, and short people don't stand a chance. They really have no reason to live, Randy Newman said so, so it must be true.

It does not bother me one iota if someone doesn't like the R53. I get why someone might not like it, not a big deal.

I'm not a huge fan of the R56, but there are a number of R56 owners here that are pretty damned cool and are as much of the community as any of us R53 owners, even if they bought the wrong car. I suspect it'll be the same with many of the new F56 owners. In other words, wether you like all generations, or only one specific generation, it has no bearing on being part of the community. Some things you just have to agree to disagree on and move on. Personally I'm at a point where I'm more disappointed with the direction BMW is going with the entire MINI brand than I am with any single model, even though I understand why they're doing it. Just my .02.

 

Welcome to M/A....

If you passed me on the street in you F56 MINI.... You would still get a hearty wave from me in my R56..... And yeah, I suppose I'd do the same if you were driving by me in a R53.... Just don't expect the same from me if you are in a Camry....

What it boils down to in reality is we don't care what MINI the members drive. The MINI you bought is the MINI you love... Oh, and we also like other cars.... Doesn't necessarily need to be a MINI here... I guess there's a remote possibility some Camry's are parked in some of the garages....

Why?..... What's wrong with poodles?

 

Love your new short north pit bull Chuck? Getting ready for a parade?

 

I wave at all MINI's and Mini's. I talk to the drives and their passengers. Some MINI's just aren't my cup-of-tea.

I also talk to a lot of people about their cars that I wouldn't buy or may not care for the look of. It's because they have a passion for cars!

I'll even talk to someone that souped up a Chevette. :confused5:

 

Ya see, that's why this site sucks. It's neither FUN nor FRIENDLY. Making fun of short people or F56 owners: now that's fun. Making fun of skinny people is over the line. Check your skinny privilege, people.

This is my first post on this forum and it looks like it'll be my last. Apparently you D Bags don't warrant the grace of my presence.

 

^^^ Eric.... I see your new skinny jeans arrived.

 

Dang! I guess you'll never read this then. I'm just checking in on your progress with the new intercooler for those nasty F56's. Not that I'd ever own one... no, wait...... never mind. I forgot I traded my R56 for one of those new wunderkars.

 

:lol::lol::lol:

 

Metalman, your poodle post was one thing, the skinny jeans post is something else altogether. OK, I now officially love this forum!

 

Here to please...

BTW... I really like your gray that's offered on the F56...Very nice

 

Ah yes. It does take a certain mindset to grasp the friendly, yet irreverent, fun that we offer here on M/A.

 

To be fair, that's not my good side.

 

Some get it.... Some don't...