Cooper S - R52 compared to R56???

[300bhp/ton]

okgo said:

300bhp/ton said:

Thanks.

I'll be honest and say I can't really see the difference in appearance. I've looked at pics but they are always different colours shots.

I know there are differences, but they seem so minor, like the difference between a 200 and 300TDI Discovery. Only a few can tell.

Are the MK1 and 2 physically different in size? Guess it would be good to see them side by side - - Pics anyone??

Honestly go and look at some of these cars, then this thread need not continue the way it is going, what you have said is so far from accurate its not funny

The cars do not share one panel I don't think, the interior is 100% different, not to mention the mech changes. Go and look at some.

Just had the dealer on the phone actually. Going to sort out a test drive for next week.

I know all the panels are different along with the engines and interiors. But to be fair when I see one coming towards me down the road I can't see the interior or the engine.

And the panels all look very much the same. Yes the lights are different and indicators. But are they really different shapes?? And with the MK1 revisions (2004??) and all the different models, trims and colours. They all look slightly different.

Don't worry I'm getting there, but they look way to similar to say one looks great and the other doesn't.

[okgo]

300bhp/ton said:

okgo said:

300bhp/ton said:

Thanks.

I'll be honest and say I can't really see the difference in appearance. I've looked at pics but they are always different colours shots.

I know there are differences, but they seem so minor, like the difference between a 200 and 300TDI Discovery. Only a few can tell.

Are the MK1 and 2 physically different in size? Guess it would be good to see them side by side - - Pics anyone??

Honestly go and look at some of these cars, then this thread need not continue the way it is going, what you have said is so far from accurate its not funny

The cars do not share one panel I don't think, the interior is 100% different, not to mention the mech changes. Go and look at some.

Just had the dealer on the phone actually. Going to sort out a test drive for next week.

I know all the panels are different along with the engines and interiors. But to be fair when I see one coming towards me down the road I can't see the interior or the engine.

And the panels all look very much the same. Yes the lights are different and indicators. But are they really different shapes?? And with the MK1 revisions (2004??) and all the different models, trims and colours. They all look slightly different.

Don't worry I'm getting there, but they look way to similar to say one looks great and the other doesn't.

Agreed on the point of they look similar enough for them both to look good. I don't see the R56 as a bad looking car at all.

[JJCW]

You will begin to see the differences pretty easily once you have a good look at them

[300bhp/ton]

Ta. I'll keep spotting. I'm normally pretty good at this. I can tell the difference between a 200 and 300Tdi Disco (rad grill, door handles and mirrors) and between an XJ6 X300 and the V8 variant (X350), oval side repeaters, chrome that doesn't run full length of bumper top.

But I'm finding it real hard with the Mini's. Think its because the One and Cooper look different to the S and all of them have varied a little over the years. Meaning there is probably 9+ different fronts on a MINI.




Ok I admit the grill is different, but that's the most striking change I can see.

Anyone able to point out anything else??


BTW - from the side I find it even harder. What's different on the new one?

[Maty]

I had an R53, 03 reg a couple of years ago. It really was a fantastic car, the noise, the interior, the handling everything about it just felt right. I tried an R56 when they came out, I'm sorry but that interior is appauling compared to the R53, the centre section with the radio etc looks like it was designed by a 4 year old, how anyone can say that it is "improved" is beyond me. Also the exterior has been ruined, apart from the R56 JCW the Cooper S just looks like any other MINI, whereas with the R53 I don't know why but you could just tell it was a Cooper S from any angle.

Engine wise, the R56 is boring, as someone else mentioned it pulls very well from low revs but runs out far too early. The R53 with the S/C sounded fantastic and pulled well right upto the redline. Ok the R56 is better economy wise, considerably better actually but I still managed 35 ish mpg on a long run and I used mine everyday driving all over the country.

Thrills wise I'd go for the R53 all day and with the money saved go to one of the tuning companies for some more

[okgo]

The interior on an R56, chrome pack, piano black trim, decent seats looks and performs much better than the R53, which rattles quite badly after a while IMO.

[JJCW]

Maybe these pics show it a little better? The r56 looks taller and fatter to me, much less planted looking.

(r56's normaly have an 06+ plate too, but that's cheating i guess!)

[300bhp/ton]

JJCW said:

Maybe these pics show it a little better? The r56 looks taller and fatter to me, much less planted looking.

(r56's normaly have an 06+ plate too, but that's cheating i guess!)

Thanks

[fivesixseven8]

okgo said:

The interior on an R56, chrome pack, piano black trim, decent seats looks and performs much better than the R53, which rattles quite badly after a while IMO.

I couldn't agree more. The R53's I looked at were all getting a bit too old and not ageing well.

This is the interior on the car I bought the Wife.

[300bhp/ton]

Have to say I look the look of the new interior but I don't really have any basis to not like it. Its funky and fresh and certainly a lot nicer than many other new cars.

Same goes exterior wise, ok on close study the r56 maybe isn't as dainty, but if I'm going for an S with bonnet vent and rear spoiler I can't see it really mattering.

Thanks for all you input though. Looking forward to driving one.

Just need to decide between hatch or vert. But I know what colour I want

[JJCW]

What colour then?

[Snoggledog]

300bhp/ton said:

Bungleaio said:

I had a 52 cooper S, it was the most unreliable car I've had

More out of curiosity than anything else. But is there some sort of global conspiracy on the Mini's reliability??

All the magazine style reviews say reliability it top notch and Parkers say apart from a few teething issues all later MK1 cars have no reliability issues.

However reading on here and a few other Mini forums there seems to be a lot of talk about them being very unreliable??

My 05 plate Cooper S never broke down but there were lot of niggly issues that the dealers were convinced were due to the non standard stereo I'd had installed. Things like wheel bearings sounding like they were about to go and binding brakes. The only major problem I had was with the imobilser software falling over which wouldn't allow me to start the car. Mini recovery sent out a chap with a laptop who fixed it within 5 minutes. Luckily I was at work that day rather than out for a hoon.

Personal preference but I find that the R56 models look a little fat, bloated even. Having said that the R52 was huge in comparison to the original mini.

[300bhp/ton]

Laser blue

Can't make my mind up about the stripes though, I think no, but need to see more pics to be sure.

[okgo]

300bhp/ton said:

Laser blue

Can't make my mind up about the stripes though, I think no, but need to see more pics to be sure.

That's a different choice, for a bloke..

[fivesixseven8]

Is Laser Blue the light metallic blue? If so, then it needs white bonnet stripes IMO.

[300bhp/ton]

okgo said:

300bhp/ton said:

Laser blue

Can't make my mind up about the stripes though, I think no, but need to see more pics to be sure.

That's a different choice, for a bloke..

lol

I think if it had black alloys then black stripes. But it won't so I think it's not me.

I do like the look as is but on some the white stripes do look good.

[300bhp/ton]

fivesixseven8 said:

Is Laser Blue the light metallic blue? If so, then it needs white bonnet stripes IMO.

Yep that's the colour, only available on the S according to the brochure.

[okgo]

300bhp/ton said:

fivesixseven8 said:

Is Laser Blue the light metallic blue? If so, then it needs white bonnet stripes IMO.

Yep that's the colour, only available on the S according to the brochure.

Whats wrong with dark silver?

[300bhp/ton]

okgo said:

300bhp/ton said:

fivesixseven8 said:

Is Laser Blue the light metallic blue? If so, then it needs white bonnet stripes IMO.

Yep that's the colour, only available on the S according to the brochure.

Whats wrong with dark silver?

Nowt, looks very slick. Personally prefer bright colours though, also makes it easier to find in a car park

[JJCW]

okgo said:

300bhp/ton said:

fivesixseven8 said:

Is Laser Blue the light metallic blue? If so, then it needs white bonnet stripes IMO.

Yep that's the colour, only available on the S according to the brochure.

Whats wrong with dark silver?

Only problem with dark silver is that it's not BRG!