Comments on: If you don’t love it … http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/ Life with MINIs (and other cars!) Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:31:43 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: MiniToy http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-6171 MiniToy Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:34:02 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-6171 Ian, I just read your story and I have to say that I join you in the deception of the R56. I have been driving a Mini Cooper 2005 and I was amazed by everything soon I started to drive it. After been hit and got my Mini total by the insurance even if it was fixable :( .I was not sure what to choose between the R56 or an Audi A3. I choose the R56 as I was really missing my MiniToy. I was heart broken. However after a week driving the R56, I am realizing like you describe it so well, R56 in not a Mini anymore but a BMW. I don't like the breaking response where the electronic take the control over the driver, I hate the run-flat tires that give a poor performance at 10deg Celsius, I don't want to imaging the result with temperatures below 0deg celcius like we have in Canada. The worst remain the quality of the Sound System which can't even be replaced. Finally the level of quality really went down all over. It is really sad to see that the big guys (BMW) are not able to keep Mini a car with passion but transform it as a marketing product now at the same level than every other cars. The reliability of my new MiniToy will be what will decide me to keep driving it or finally move to Audi A3. It looks like Audi is the preferred brand for a lot of Mini Fans filled of deception with BMW. Ian, I just read your story and I have to say that I join you in the deception of the R56. I have been driving a Mini Cooper 2005 and I was amazed by everything soon I started to drive it. After been hit and got my Mini total by the insurance even if it was fixable :( .I was not sure what to choose between the R56 or an Audi A3. I choose the R56 as I was really missing my MiniToy. I was heart broken. However after a week driving the R56, I am realizing like you describe it so well, R56 in not a Mini anymore but a BMW. I don’t like the breaking response where the electronic take the control over the driver, I hate the run-flat tires that give a poor performance at 10deg Celsius, I don’t want to imaging the result with temperatures below 0deg celcius like we have in Canada. The worst remain the quality of the Sound System which can’t even be replaced. Finally the level of quality really went down all over. It is really sad to see that the big guys (BMW) are not able to keep Mini a car with passion but transform it as a marketing product now at the same level than every other cars.
The reliability of my new MiniToy will be what will decide me to keep driving it or finally move to Audi A3. It looks like Audi is the preferred brand for a lot of Mini Fans filled of deception with BMW.

]]> By: mark westley http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5793 mark westley Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:13:49 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5793 hi folks, all this negativity over the new r56. well having now completed 40k in one i have to disagree. it has its faults, but what hasn't. new gearbox and steering column early on, various sensors replaced air con pump and the list carries on... but im sorry the car is better than my 55 plate. it just works so much better. the clutch's only last 20k and cost £850 to replace, the stereo is poo but im sorry the car is built better rattles less and doesnt break my back with over hard suspension. the engine does use too much oil, a litre over 1500 miles is not favourite part of the car! stero's speakers need an update, just like most cars! but the go kart handling is still there, ask the mini that i left behind yesterday and when we got to the bends he was miles behind as he kept bouncing over the lovely "smooth" uk roads. he has now been for a test drive and is saving up! i know as he was at the dealer when i called there in the afternoon!! hi folks, all this negativity over the new r56. well having now completed 40k in one i have to disagree. it has its faults, but what hasn’t. new gearbox and steering column early on, various sensors replaced air con pump and the list carries on… but im sorry the car is better than my 55 plate. it just works so much better. the clutch’s only last 20k and cost £850 to replace, the stereo is poo but im sorry the car is built better rattles less and doesnt break my back with over hard suspension. the engine does use too much oil, a litre over 1500 miles is not favourite part of the car! stero’s speakers need an update, just like most cars! but the go kart handling is still there, ask the mini that i left behind yesterday and when we got to the bends he was miles behind as he kept bouncing over the lovely “smooth” uk roads. he has now been for a test drive and is saving up! i know as he was at the dealer when i called there in the afternoon!!

]]> By: goonery http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5644 goonery Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:19:52 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5644 Only just caught up with this thread and posts as I tend to hang around on Ian's GP site. I'd have to agree with the comments by many, and not just about R56 but BMW in general, a lot of the cars have become dumbed down and volumised recently. The R56 lost its "go kart" ride and punchy feel. 3 er and 5 er models got fat and comfy, discounts and hard selling meant that everyone had one on their drive. Hopefully with a new sales head on the board and the 135 showing the way, the other models in the stable will follow suit and get back to what BMW and MINI should be about. Only just caught up with this thread and posts as I tend to hang around on Ian’s GP site. I’d have to agree with the comments by many, and not just about R56 but BMW in general, a lot of the cars have become dumbed down and volumised recently. The R56 lost its “go kart” ride and punchy feel. 3 er and 5 er models got fat and comfy, discounts and hard selling meant that everyone had one on their drive. Hopefully with a new sales head on the board and the 135 showing the way, the other models in the stable will follow suit and get back to what BMW and MINI should be about.

]]> By: agranger http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5504 agranger Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:49:09 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5504 Wow! I missed this news! I had an '07 MCS as a loaner for a few days and, while it was a nice enough car, it gave me none of the joy that my '06 MCS does on even a wet, nasty day. Compared to the R53, the new model was spongy and sloppy. I'll be the first to admit that it probably wasn't a fair comparison... my modded MCS with sticky, low-profile tires and a well set-up suspension against a stock '07 MCS with runflats, but it just didn't give me that connected confidence that I've come to expect. If something happened to my R53 today, I'd be sprinting to the MINI dealership to order a Cabrio before they switch over. Wow! I missed this news!

I had an ‘07 MCS as a loaner for a few days and, while it was a nice enough car, it gave me none of the joy that my ‘06 MCS does on even a wet, nasty day. Compared to the R53, the new model was spongy and sloppy.

I’ll be the first to admit that it probably wasn’t a fair comparison… my modded MCS with sticky, low-profile tires and a well set-up suspension against a stock ‘07 MCS with runflats, but it just didn’t give me that connected confidence that I’ve come to expect.

If something happened to my R53 today, I’d be sprinting to the MINI dealership to order a Cabrio before they switch over.

]]> By: Bilbo Baggins http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5464 Bilbo Baggins Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:13:27 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5464 Thanks for your insights into the inner working of the R56. I had test driven one not long after they arrived and I felt the same loss in the steering and throttle. The sport switch did help the throttle but not the steering. Unfortunately the one I tested did not have the Sport suspension, as it was not available at the time. The ride did not please me at all. Vague, disconnected, spongy were the words that came to mind. Just glad that I bought a 2006. Hopefully it will last for a long time, or until they fix the MINI and give it back it's MINIness. Thanks for your insights into the inner working of the R56.

I had test driven one not long after they arrived and I felt the same loss in the steering and throttle. The sport switch did help the throttle but not the steering. Unfortunately the one I tested did not have the Sport suspension, as it was not available at the time.

The ride did not please me at all. Vague, disconnected, spongy were the words that came to mind.

Just glad that I bought a 2006. Hopefully it will last for a long time, or until they fix the MINI and give it back it’s MINIness.

]]> By: GBMINI http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5444 GBMINI Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:13:21 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5444 If you missed it, there was <a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126424" rel="nofollow">a good discussion on NorthAmericanMotoring</a> prompted by this entry ... If you missed it, there was a good discussion on NorthAmericanMotoring prompted by this entry …

]]> By: GBMINI http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5434 GBMINI Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:46:39 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5434 I was talking about alternatives tonight at HC MINI when I picked up the convertible ... realistically there's not much for me at any price. Margarets BMW doesn't "thrill me" like MINI does; maybe the Z4 is better? I guess Porsche likely might offer the driving experience, but most of them don't appeal to me looks wise. And almost all the "power cars" are rear wheel drive and huge tires, which might make them undriveable in the winter. I'm pleased to have found a near perfect low mileage R52 :) I was talking about alternatives tonight at HC MINI when I picked up the convertible … realistically there’s not much for me at any price.
Margarets BMW doesn’t “thrill me” like MINI does; maybe the Z4 is better?
I guess Porsche likely might offer the driving experience, but most of them don’t appeal to me looks wise.
And almost all the “power cars” are rear wheel drive and huge tires, which might make them undriveable in the winter.

I’m pleased to have found a near perfect low mileage R52 :)

]]> By: GadgetGav http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5433 GadgetGav Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:30:20 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5433 Well, I'm late to the party (been at a conference) but I have to say I'm not surprised... Thank you Ian for saving me some money..! ;) I'd pretty much convinced myself that I wouldn't trade my '02 MCS for an '08 but having never driven one, I thought maybe the driving experience would help me get past all the things I don't like about the new car. Having read all your experiences, I think I'd come to the same conclusion as you. It's a shame because (having been a classic Mini owner) I knew I wanted one of the modern MINIs as soon as I saw one - especially after seeing what might have been with some of the prototypes..! I test drove one in England before they were available over here and had to work to give the dealer my deposit for the Cooper. Nothing about the facelifted car or the gen 2 car has made me do the same. For me, there's nothing out there at the moment that really captures my attention like the R52/53 MINI did. If my car was written off tomorrow I don't know what I'd replace it with. If money were no object (i.e. if I were Ian..! ;) ) there's plenty I'd look at, but if I had to be able to afford it for around what I'd pay for a MINI with my current car's spec today, I really don't know where I'd end up... Well, I’m late to the party (been at a conference) but I have to say I’m not surprised…
Thank you Ian for saving me some money..! ;) I’d pretty much convinced myself that I wouldn’t trade my ‘02 MCS for an ‘08 but having never driven one, I thought maybe the driving experience would help me get past all the things I don’t like about the new car. Having read all your experiences, I think I’d come to the same conclusion as you.
It’s a shame because (having been a classic Mini owner) I knew I wanted one of the modern MINIs as soon as I saw one – especially after seeing what might have been with some of the prototypes..! I test drove one in England before they were available over here and had to work to give the dealer my deposit for the Cooper. Nothing about the facelifted car or the gen 2 car has made me do the same. For me, there’s nothing out there at the moment that really captures my attention like the R52/53 MINI did. If my car was written off tomorrow I don’t know what I’d replace it with. If money were no object (i.e. if I were Ian..! ;) ) there’s plenty I’d look at, but if I had to be able to afford it for around what I’d pay for a MINI with my current car’s spec today, I really don’t know where I’d end up…

]]> By: Dave Newman http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5424 Dave Newman Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:42:30 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5424 my bad typing, sorry What I traded was a 2006 MC with CVT, not a MCS. I look forward to driving the new 2009 Convertible MC and MCS version when it arrives. Gotta give Hrach another customer to satisfy... Dave Newman my bad typing, sorry
What I traded was a 2006 MC with CVT, not a MCS. I look forward to driving the new 2009 Convertible MC and MCS version when it arrives. Gotta give Hrach another customer to satisfy…
Dave Newman

]]> By: GBMINI http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/comment-page-1/#comment-5417 GBMINI Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:09:57 +0000 http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2008/01/if_you_dont_love_it_/#comment-5417 I think actually that Dave had an MC, not an MCS, hence the CVT reference. I think actually that Dave had an MC, not an MCS, hence the CVT reference.

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