First, my great thanks to MINI Peabody (Martin especially) for allowing me the chance to test drive a ’05 MINI Cooper S convertible!
Quick conclusion: STUNNING!
Things that impressed me:
- In 1st and 2nd gear, the car seems to pull as quickly as my JCW equipped ’03 MCS!
- The ride quality is massively better than my MCS, even though GBMINI is no longer on runflats!
- Selecting reverse is much easier
- The HK stereo had ample volume – it was nowhere near full volume at 70mph with the top down and windows open
- There is negligible wind, even though I sit very high and straight
- The car brakes better than GBMINI (but I have previously noticed that the Green Stuff brake pads are not as good as the stock pads)
Things that bothered me:
- Very poor rear visibility, especially with the top up but even with the top down
- The rearview mirror vibrated wildly on the ready-to-be-resurfaced route 1 near the dealership
I was particularly impressed with the power of the car off the line – it appears to pull away even better than GBMINI, which presumably is a result of the better gearing of the ’05 models. The ride comfort was also impressively better than GBMINI.
In 5th and 6th gears, the car had obviously less power than GBMINI, no doubt due to the JCW kit in GBMINI.
I did not notice any handling differences from what I am used to.
I would say if you have a high mileage ’02 or ’03, you should test drive an ’05 – they are so much better! And if you are considering a JCW upgrade of an ’02 or ’03, you should definitely consider an ’05 upgrade instead.
For fun, here’s a photo comparison with another cool convertible – the Audi TT (thanks to Scott at Ira Audi who recently sold an A4 convertible to my wife):
M&I / GBMINI 
So then, sounds like you just have to find out how to get a custom-woven UJ roof and you’ll be placing your order then! 😉
Josh,
I have even wondered about that in recent months – but I have only had GBMINI#2 about 1.5 years so far … too soon to be trading in again 😉
Oh, I can see it happening..! How long did you have the Cooper before trading up to the S..?
Can you point me to a site showing the performance differences between the ’05s and earlier (BHP torque)..? I thought they were very similar. Is the performance you felt all down to gearing rather than raw numbers?
I assume you traded the SLK for the TT or do you already have two convertibles in the family..! 😉
Gavin,
The ’05 MCS has 168 instead of 163; MotoringFile is a good place to learn such things.
And yes, Margaret traded in the SLK (and the Hyundai) for the Audi, so we are back to two cars.
I always planned to trade from the MC to the MCS, but I don’t plan to trade from my ’03 to an ’05 (not unless I get a huge christmas bonus at least!)
Ian,
I think you need to order up a MCSC and go for the complete body UJ repaint ala Austin Powers!
-Michael
I’m sorry but, and I love my ’02 MSC, but I would have to select that beautiful Audi TT convert over the MINI convert. No CONTEST! That is a fine looking convert as the MINI convert is CUTE.
The Audi TT, not the convert, was my 1st choice before I drove a Cooper at my local dealer.
Drove the exact same spec MCS-C at Motor City Mini yesterday. Was also fortunate enough to drive the MC-C afterwards. While the MCS is tuned to near perfection, I was extreamly happy with the new gearing on the 2005 MC. I’ve heard all of this talk about the 116hp not being adaquate for the heavier cabrio and I must disagree. The car performed light years above previous Model Years. The BMW/Mini design team has really done an incredible job with this new MY. Oh…that TT-C looks incredible (imo better than the Cooper – yikes!)
BTW: IAN- The pamphlet is in the mail.
The TT is nice but is it fair comparing a roadster with a convertible? Where are my 3 friends going to sit when I want to take them out for some wind in the hair fun if I owned the Audi?
I would rather have a fully loaded MCSC Works than the Audi anyday – the only thing the Audi has got going for it is a slightly better color but then the Cool Blue on the MINI isn’t the best color to have it in anyway (it should be a Hot Orange one!)
Do the new models not have a front license plate thingie? I don’t see one in these photos. I have an ’03 and I hate how the plate holder comes up and covers up part of the chrome. Can it be removed completely? Oklahoma doesn’t require a front plate.
I currently own an Audi TT Quattro Coupe and am trading it in next week when my Mini Cooper S Cabrio finally arrives. I actually got to test drive the 2005 S Cabrio on Saturday and was amazed at the power. Off the line, it has more pull than my TT (no turbo lag) and a much better gear box on the lower gears. In the higher gears, I’ll tip more to the Audi. The TT still has the upper hand on the interior quality, but they are both amazing fun to drive cars.
“is it fair to compare a roadster with a convertible” … I don’t know. I did! Both cars have some design flair, which is why I took the opportunity to compare them.
Is it fair to compare cars which are so different in price?
Angie – the front license plate holder is never attached to a MINI when it arrives at the dealership. It is added by the dealership unless you can persuade them not to do it.
Also, check the front of GBMINI; I have the plate bracket from the aero kit which mounts lower and does not cover the chrome …
It would be nice to have one in a climate where the top could be down year round. I still hate the lines with the top up…horrible.