Car Magazine Test Drives the R56 Cooper
Car Magazine takes the R56 Cooper out for a test drive with mixed results:
>So does it drive just like the old one?
>No. And this is a good news/bad news story. The new engine is quieter as well as more powerful and economical, and the Cooper now gets a six-speed ‘box and taller ratios. So it’s a more relaxing drive, better able to whisk along the motorway in reasonable comfort.
>The downside is that some of the outgoing Mini’s verve has been lost. The longer gearing (to help give better fuel consumption) blunts some of the hyperactivity that has always been a hallmark of the Cooper. At times, the car feels downright slothful. Also, the new electric steering, though quick-geared, lacks the feel and sharpness of the old hydraulic rack-and-pinion set up.
And here’s something we haven’t heard about the R56 before:
>Keen drivers now really need to save up and pay extra for the substantially more entertaining Cooper S.
[ MINI Cooper – First Drives ] Carmagazine.co.uk
Perhaps MINI has diluted some of the “edgy” character of the outgoing R50/53 model, in the name of “refinement” and increased market audience (Read: Larger profits).
While I am not going to praise nor condemm the new car until the day I get to test drive it, It seems to me that MINI’s aim with the R56 is the current MKV VW Rabbit/GTI which is a fine goal to pursue, but the problem is that a MINI ain’t a VW Golf and viceversa. In other words, MINI doesn’t need to imitate VW, but rather keep the “MINI” feeling alive and well in its products.
I hope the R56 is not a VW GTI disguised as a MINI.
I can’t say that I agree that MINI is pusuing any VW likeness. It doesn’t need to. I think their goal is a performance luxury sport compact goal.
This is very similar to a review in “Automobile” magazine, although they reviewed the S. Their bottom line was that the newer car was more refined, and for the everyday driver was a bit better than the old, but for the enthusiast, the older model was a more enjoyable driving experience. The main complaint was identical to the one here–that the car has lost some of it’s “verve” in translation.
That’s been my fear about the car to date–that BMW may have increased the quality of the parts on the car individually, but diluted it’s soul in the process.
This happens with each new BMW group introduction. I can’t remember one report of the new gen being so much better than the last gen. Ever. The problem with great cars is that they’re hard to improve upon. Take the 3series- every new one comes under the same- “why did they dilute it with better refinement and more power?” I remember everyone missing the E36 when the E46 debuted. And then it was the E90 not living up to the E46….and so on. The only side-step in recent BMW history is the 5-series…
Anyways. Let’s drive the Cooper ourselves. America probably forced a lot of the refinement/drivability changes.
Maybe new Cooper owners will just have to check the sport suspension box. Refinement always takes off the “edge”.
As much as I love the MINI I must now reconsider a purchase. Seems to me that the essence of MINI has always been its enthusiast-oriented driving characteristics. If this attribute is sacrificed, i.e, “diluted” the special appeal of the vehicle will no longer attract drivers like myself. There is something very enticing about unrefined, raw, edgy performance. I for one am also debating the aesthetics of the ’07 iteration. I hate the unsculpted new bonnet design and the replacement of the beautiful glasshouse rear quarter windows with tacky-looking matte black plastic. Bring back the old design and sell more MINIs!
“Or try a Ford Fiesta” ???????
The only thing that I felt I would like to have had on my ’06 Cooper was a 6th cog – it seemed that both fuel economy and “relaxed” cruising would have resulted. However, as I’ve driven my Cooper over the past year, I’ve realized that generally, if I’m not looking at the tach, I wouldn’t know that the engine was turning around 4K @ 80mph – it is so smooth. My economy has been a consistent 30 to 32 mpg, and I wouldn’t trade the “immediacy” of steering response, etc. for more “refinement.” Can’t pass judgment ’til I drive myself, but . . .
Yep, sounds like the car I need to own. The most troubling thing about my ’06 MINI is that it makes me drive like a senseless fool. I just can’t avoid pushing the spedo past 90 on a straight road and on a curvy two-lane road I’m just hanging on the edge with the outside wheels on the last two inches of asphalt.
Yep, I need one of those more refined ’07 cars.
I, too, am troubled by how insanely fun my R53 is to drive. In fact, I might skip the new “refined” Mini and just go for a Camry.
I’m really glad so many are stepping aside to pass on this one… it’s that many fewer I have to potentially stand in line behind waiting for mine to come in next March!
I dunno, considering Gabe and Paul over at Mini2 both had RAVE reviews about the R56 S, I guess would prefer to take an enthusiast such as them over the word of a journalist whose job it is, quite frankly, to find fault with new products.
In the meantime, for those of you who already have a MINI, congratulations! I’m jealous, and I can’t wait to be motoring out there myself in 6 months. I’m guessing my drive will have roughly the same amount of insane fun and senseless foolishness to it. I’m a little surprised, actually, so see so many ’06 owners posting on here how little interest they have in an ’07. I don’t think many people were expecting you boys to do much but enjoy your current cars for many years to come.
If, however, you’re trying to develop a sense of superiority over a car that has yet to be released and stress-tested by the public… Well, I’m not sure if that says more about the car or its driver.
One of the hallmark is the soul of the mini and quality is second. I think the R56 is a tame cheetah
That’s a pretty thin review to base a car purchase on. Can’t wait for some objective facts about these car’s performance. Maybe if they had just left the car in 5th instead of 6th they would have felt the verve and hyperactivity they were seeking?
I think “Verve” is something as below:
R50 = feeling you are doing 0-60 in 8.5 seconds when doing it in 9, feeling you are doing 90 mph at 70mph
R56 MC = feeling you are doing 0-60 in 9 when you are doing it in 8.5, feeling you are doing 70 mph at 90mph
>I dunno, considering Gabe and Paul over at Mini2 both had RAVE reviews about the R56 S
Just want to clarify that – I’ve not drive any of the R56 MINIs and have no opinion on them other than the way they look.
al I know is that the KBB value on my 03 MC went up about .5K in the last 3 months … no joke.
and Gabe, I cannot wait for your review! Of all the people out there, you are the one that tells it like it is. However, as much as I disilike the looks of the new models, I am confident in BMW’s ability to still make a monster when it coms to driving agility/ability.
I recently took delivery of an 06′ MCS JCW. I fairly well loaded up (and ordered) the car with the express purpose and thinking the 06′ JCW car could be sold within a year and cover the cost of an 07′ S … should I fall in love with it. Can I give up an 06′ JCW for an 07′ S? Not yet … not even close on what I’ve seen.
Agree with SB^…..my JCW has an edge that I’m looking for in a MINI. I hope that by the time the JCW kit is available for the R56, that model retains the feel of the current model….
I’m betting / hoping that the review is a little misleading and the new Cooper will be as good a handling car as the new MCS. I don’t need the power, I do need the handling.