White Roof Radio #156

Gabe, with your gushing of the R56, MINIUSA should give you the car for free.

Disagree with your opinion on the design of the R56. Best of luck whichever way you want to go.

I hear you Gabe. Actually, your tone of voice implies someone that is truly and deeply in love with the car. Every opinion you seem to really mean it. I say go for it, but if I were you, I would hold a few more months just to make sure MINI solves the reported problems with the 2nd and 3rd gear noises and the clutch flywheel.

I drove the R56 S and I agree with you on that the powertrain is fantastic. It is a well composed car all around without a doubt. My issues with it are mostly the interior and exterior cosmetics. The interior is a bizarre mix of premium and bargain basement materials. I share my dislike of the center speedo and I find that the headliner material is particularly insulting for a car of this calibre. And the speedo is too big and yet it does not house any additional gauges (Like a real temp gauge, essential on a Turbocharged car).

But here what truly matters is that you like it and you connect with its language (See previous post I made in the other thread). MINI has hit a score with you and that is a good thing because you have discriminating taste.

The R53 is a timeless design and the detail on it is excellent. I hope future MINIs go “back to basics”and re-incorporate some of the great design cues of the R53 era.

So are you pretty much set on the color and options? I hear you were not a big fan of yellow cars until this one.

I will drink a good German beer in your honor!

Cheers from Marien Platz!

Let’s face it: they both suck !! (j/k)

I prefer the R53, but I still like the R56–especially the new gearbox and seats, and down the road I might get one, once the Stage II JCW is out. But not until my JCW R53 dies, which if I’m lucky, will hopefully be never.

I understand Gabe’s point of view, with the exception of the steeringhe mentioned in the other thread–give me the R53 any day (except for parallel parking). I can’t believe Gabe felt the R53′s steering felt lighter–the R56 feels light to the point where I’m not as comfortable on a quick turn in; there isn’t as much feedback either–the car I drove felt a bit squirrely compared to my R53, or a stock 2006 S for that matter.

Granted, the R56 I drove had the standard suspension, which may have had something to do with it.

They’re both great cars, and there is no doubt that the changes in the R56 will make it more accessible to the masses. Call me a whiner, but I still prefer the R53, but I still give props to the R56.

Not trying to answer for Gabe but in the cast above he states that its quicker than the old S and even the JCW. There really wasn’t a factory JCW last time around as much as a factory installed kit though, and I know many Mini’s out there that would stack up well against the JCW. I believe Gabe has one ;) and Gabe said that the stock R56 was faster than his own car.

“I gotta say I think it’s faster than a JCW r53″

agreed. I’ve said it before and caught flak for it.

This may be one of the most controversial WRRs yet (unless you own a r56).

Have to agree w/ Edge here. I’ve yet to hear an owner of an ’06 full factory R53 JCW MCS say that the R56 is objectively quicker. Lots of folks talk about it’s quick feel due to its low end torque,but no one who’s owned and pushed the very last and best iteration of the R53 has said that the R56 MCS is actually faster across the board in a head to head driving experience.