2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: What's faster.....

Found a colletion of 0-60 and 1/4 mile times

2003 Mini Cooper, Manual 8.3 16.6 (C&D July 02)
2003 Mini Cooper S, Manual 7.2 15.3 (MT April 04)
2003 Mini Cooper S, John Cooper Works, 6.2 14.5 (MT April 04)
2004 Mini Cooper S, 6-speed Manual 7.2 15.3 (MT Oct 04)
2005 Mini Cooper S, Convertible 6.6 15.2 (C&D June 05)
2007 Mini Cooper S, Hardtop 6.2 15.0 (C&D Feb '08)

From my own "testing" a well modded R53 is a lot quicker than a stock R56 S.

 

On paper the R56 S is faster 0-60 thruogh a 1/4 mile. They are close enough that driver skill would play a part as one would need to shift at least one to get to 60 and probably twice for the 1/4 mile.


Found another group of listing...

2002 Mini Cooper S 0-60 mph 7.4 Quarter mile 15.8

2003 Mini Cooper (Manual) 0-60 mph 8.2 Quarter mile 16.4

2003 Mini Cooper S (John Cooper Works) 0-60 mph 6.1 Quarter mile 14.3

2003 Mini Cooper S (Manual) 0-60 mph 7.1 Quarter mile 15.1

2004 Mini Cooper S (Manual) 0-60 mph 7.1 Quarter mile 15.1

2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible 0-60 mph 6.5 Quarter mile 15.0

2007 Mini Cooper S 0-60 mph 6.1 Quarter mile 15.0

2008 Mini Cooper 0-60 mph 7.6 Quarter mile 16.1

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman 0-60 mph 7.8 Quarter mile 16.3

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman (Turbo Charged & Intercooled) 0-60 mph 6.2 Quarter mile 14.9

 

what's missing from all those is the trap speed in the 1/4 which is a direct function of power. The 0-60 is usually meaningless as it's traction limited (as is the ET for the 1/4).

Anything that can break 100mph in the 1/4 is usually considered 'fast'. A 15sec ET is not. There are lots of cars in the MINI's price range that are >100mph and in the 13's. No, a MINI isn't about straight line speed but that's what this thread is about so

"I live my life a quarter mile at a time"

 

you just need a Dominic Toretto behind the wheel.
GG.

 

some of us had/have very fast MINI's (R53's mostly). The R56 aftermarket isn't very mature.

A friend who's got a 450whp Subaru STI drove my R53 MINI and said "I can't believe how HARD this thing pulls and how linear the power is!". I think that says a lot about the car's capabilities. That said, I've driven a stock JCW R56 and it was almost as much fun, though very different character.

 

The one time I had my '07 MCS on-track it was clearly quicker around the track than my capable-driver buddy in his GP. Ok, I was on Hoosiers and he was on NT-01's, but still, it was obvious the bone-stock R56 was kickin'-butt.

Stock for stock, the R56 is a better handling, more predictable, and more neutral car on the track. That's my experience anyway. My R53's suspension geometry has been modified to be somewhere between the R53 and R56 to get the best of both worlds [feel, feedback and neutrality, predictability]. That said, the R53 is more fun to drive if there isn't a clock or competition involved.

$0.02,
Ryan

 

I'd agree. Seat of the pants, the R53 is better. Doesn't mean the R56 isn't faster when a stopwatch is in play.

 

Much better. Steering feel is just on a whole different level.

 

But stock to stock...

the R56 is faster, quicker and is more capable in pretty much every way.

Matt

 

Need more 05-06 R53 hard top in the mix.
Seen a recent post that GP was 6.4, but Nathan posted a R53 JCW at 6.1?
And GP lit read it at 6.1?
R56 owner claimed the R56 was faster than R53 GP?

 

I think thats pretty good for a little car that gets good gas milage and hanels as well as the mini there not set for drag racing

 

AHHH but an R53 won a NASA National Championship not a R56... Both are great cars but with the easily modded motor and the linear power of a supercharger, the R53 wins hands down in my book!! Unless they come out with the rumoured 2.4 coupe, I'll keep the R53 until the wheels fall off or I, ick, get something else... 2cents

 

I had a friend following me in a similar high HP STi and was impressed at the high-speed pulling of a MINI as well, it's not a drag car for sure but it has some attributes that makes it quick.

 

While on paper the R56 S is a faster car the R53 is just easier to drive fast. Both have great handling. The R53 just feels better and that instills more confidence.

 

Well, just this past weekend I pulled a beautiful pass in the turns on an R56 at the track in my R52 MCc (no S) with the top down. Of course he had better lap times since I just don't have the straight away speed. Faster is subjective in certain respects.

 

The R53 certainly has a reputation for better handling.

What make the difference?

What mods improve the R56 to R53 "feel good handling"?