Anyone who already owns an '02-04 Cooper S get the oppurtinity to drive an '05? Is the transmission that much better?..opinions..? Also, is the limited slip offered a quaife unit? The dodge neon SRT-4's standard diff is a quaife, so I'm wondering if the '05 cooper shares this. I'm considering a gearbox swap in my '03, I called the dealer and the price($3,700)wasn't as bad as I'd expected!

 

I test drove two '05 MCS (One convertible and a hardtop) and the tranny doesn't feel that radically different from the one in my ex-'04MCS that I sold a couple of days ago. However, the combination of added torque (155 vs 162 pounds feet), 5 more horsepower, revised ECU programming, revised eaton supercharger and shortened gearbox ratios does help to improve low end acceleration. The '05 MCS does feel faster and more robust that the '02-04 MCS stock cars. It feels more like a '02-'04 with the original 200HP JCW upgrade kit...Is that good.


I can't wait to take delivery of my new '05 MCS in March. My advice is that if you don't intend to trade/sell your current MCS, do not test drive a '05 MCS stock because you are going to want it.

 

Wow, that different!? I was just curious...Nope, not gonna trade, but my plans for my 2003 Cooper S will make it more than fast enough! I have probably close to 200bhp now with 15% pulley/skunk2 cat-back exhaust, madness intake and AMD 1-click, and my next 2 mods will be the Webb motorsport front mount intercooler, and the Unichip. These two will get me well over 210bhp and keep me grinning until I go for the Helix turbocompressor(twincharger kit) for the big power. I may get the 2005 supercharger as well because it is said to be more efficient.

 

I have never had the chance to drive an 02-04 w the JCW however I have been told by several tech that the 05 is just as quick as the 02-04 w the JCW kit.

I also had an 03 MCS which I sold before delivery of my 05 MCS and I agree with Cooper4us........Its that good. I am looking forward to the Norcal Pulley party in the next few weeks and seeing what my car can really do

 

Nope.
http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/...s_limited_slip