It's fun and exciting to see the changes coming out
for the '05's... the cabrio, the bumper changes, the
dash and steering wheel...

But is this bad for us current owners? I mean, if
you plan to hang on to your '02, '03, etc., and the
newer models are somewhat different, does ours
look negetively dated? Does this hurt the value
of ours? Or does it make the earlier MINI models
more unique?

God speed.

 

Yes, new is fun.......but it too gets old very quickly. Earlybirds who bought the new Mini in '02, '03 should be proud of their insightfullness in purchasing the first models.....a car ahead of it's time and we are the people who recognized it immediately. The '02's will always be special because they were in production for only 6 months for US delivery.....much more unique than newer models will ever be in this respect.

The bottom line is that if you are satisfied with the quality of your Mini as I am with my '02 MCS, changes in newer models aren't really going to make a difference. Anyhow.......I don't even like some of the changes that are being made and the modifications I have done to mine make it much more satisfying than any new stock model that comes out.

 

This is not a bad thing, actually is the normal "product cycle" evolution of any new car design in production today. Many of these changes were probably conceived even before the car was introduced worldwide in mid-2001. When a manufacturer launches a new car, part of the long term design cycle strategy is to know which changes the car will see during its production cycle and when these will be introduced. Any car manufacturer in the world does this. Most people think that "Freshen ups" are done right before the beginning of that model year or on the fly, when in reality these have been pre-planned from long ago.

I applud MINI for keeping the car fresh and interesting which is a very daunting task considering that any change, no matter how minor it can be, can absolutely ruin the looks and feel of the car.

If you read your sales brochure literature, the small letter sections says "MINI reserves the right to make changes to the design or specification of the vehicles without previous notice".

2002 buyers were the "first kids on the block" to have a MINI and they enjoyed that priviliege to be the first ones. Now owners of '04s, '05s and beyond will enjoy thier cars in different ways...better quality, improved looks, etc.

But the truth remains...a '02 MINI is as much car as a '05 MINI

_________________
'02 Cooper CVT PW/B, Bone stock (Hers)
'04 MCS CR/W/Chrome Grille and mirror caps (His)

 

I agree. I love the changes for '05....bring 'em on. But '02s and '03s are unique and special in their own ways, too. The MkI, II, and III classic Minis are a good example....different engine combos, suspensions, cosmetics....but each is special (...and valuable! ). All MINIs are great!

 

I certainly hope that MINI will always continue to improve and update the cars, while retaining the special uniqueness of the MINI.

The MINI has a classic design and will always look like a MINI in the same way that a Porsche 911 will always look like what it is and has always been.

I'm happy that I got one of the first new MINI's (even though it is a 2003). Mine was among the first MCS's to be painted in BRG, so that makes it somewhat special.

 

Being an owner of an '04, I can only adimire the owners of '02's and '03's. I only wish I was in a position to get one sooner. I now know first hand all the fun I was missing!

 

One of the many reasons I bought a MINI was because I know the changes from model year to model year will be small/unnoticeable. Once a car design is "Retro'd" back to an earlier model it's difficult to make major changes too. The MINI and VW Bug will maintain there body lines for sometime to come. Unlike a Camaro, Corvette, Mustang where they want to maintain the modern designs of the cars the MINI will be stuck with Retro and be limited from major body changes or they won't call it a MINI anymore. I think the only people who with be able to tell the difference between a 05' and an 02' is someone who own's one.

Not to say they may not come out with a New MINI down the road that is radically different (like the original MINI Conecept Car, glad they kept that one in their pocket), but if they do I will be glad to have the MINI I have now and I won't feel like I'm driving something that is no longer "NEW" because the MINI design doesn't need to be moderized. I think the MINI and the VW bug will evolve much like the original Mini and Beetle, minimal changes the really don't affect the overall body lines of the car.

:smile:

 

I think the new and old MINIs can co-exist easily, because the number of MINIs is very low and the design changes other than the cabrio are fairly small. Either you like the face lift or not. The new design is more of a slight update than a radial change so the essence of owning and driving a MINI is the same.

If we think that the original MINI of 2002 is a classic design then even with any changes to come it will still be good on it's own and not be lacking anything compared to the newer models to come. Also as used MINIs, the prices may be a bit lower for the 2002 compared to the newest MINIs.

I plan to keep my 03 MCS for ten years or more. So far I made one year and my MINI is doing fine.

 

MINI should continue to update and improve the breed, and where change is not for the better (e.g. the '02 12vlt. boot mounted accessory plug, deleted in '03 brought back for '04) MINI should continue to recognize and rectify its mistakes. I applaude any manufacturer who cares enough about its products to listen to the consumer and then go back and "get it right" on future production. I think MINI did a great initial job, and has continued to express interest and enthusiasm in making its cars the best that they can be for us Motorers. I can't wait to see the '05 models, especially the cabrio in the flesh.

 

Why does it matter?
Do you love your car???
That's all that really matters.

motor on. :smile:

 

I like the way the current MINI looks. I will be sad to see the center mounted speedo go. I also like the current bumper style. (With the big sections of black mesh.) Will it stop me from buying a new one someday, I doubt it. My wife wants a Cabrio, so (arm twist) I guess we'll just have to get one.

 

change is good, but........with that said, I am not worried about my 02 MCS being "Dated" I have had a great 23K on the odometer and will do another 23K and still be just as excited as I was the day I picked it up on June 15, 2002.

As for me, I am not sure I like all the changes of the 05, I surely don't like the buttons on the steering wheel, I like the old style wheel, in fact I like it better than my M3 steering wheel, it is much easier to use..

I do like the change of the nose and tail, but that is not enough for me to get a new car, I need more than that, like a stronger motor, cabrio, etc.

 

>>Why does it matter?
>>Do you love your car???
>>That's all that really matters.
>>
>>motor on. :smile:

It does not matter (to me)

YES I love my MCS

Most manufacturers change body styles about every three years. The idea is to get you to move up to NEW AND BETTER (read as to lighten your bank account).

Earl

 

It really doesn't matter. If you play that game, you will never be happy. The marketing world's goal is to constantly have you spending money, by making you feel that what you have is not the best and what you could have IS. We as a society are constantly being set-up for disappointment. Enjoy what you have and live below your means.

 

The pics that I saw of the '05 still had the center mounted speedo... who says that is going away?

 

One of the many reasons I purchased my MCS was that is was the 1st year of release....2002.
1st has...... it's problems as well as it's....plus's.

It will be 4 years running w/ essentially the same body style and IMHO only minor cosmetic changes. As an example..... I'm not a fan of the new steering wheel, but like the new bumpers. It's all personal taste.
I'm sure someone has a better guesstamate of when the body style is expected to change?????.
With all the aftermarket accessories and performance mods currently available and currently in design....we'll all be to make our MINI's as personally unique as we choose them to be

I'm a believer that change is good.... some do not agree with that stance

Peace,
D

 

changes is good, it means that there was enough of a following to keep producing these great cars. It's when they stop producing the car that we should worry

 

The changes to the MINI are only minor. Some car manufactures make drastic changes every 4 years or so (like Honda and Toyota). Some of these changes improve the looks but many IMO do not, and they change the character of the car. Some cars look great and still the manufacturer changes the looks and sometimes looks worse to me than before. They change just for the sake of change. Not good. They also make them larger, i.e., longer and wider and heavier, then with that extra weight, they need to put bigger engines in them. I hope the MINI stays the same size with the overall same looks. I like more power but don't want the car bigger to get it. Improvements in technology is another matter, and I like those. But let's keep the weight down as I would like to see the car lighter, i.e., use of carbon fiber, and other light materials.

 

If this is an issue, aero kit might be the solution.

From the looks of the new MINI, the updated bumpers and lights (both front and rear) can probably retrofit on the "old" MINIs.

 

:evil:

what we all should be worried about are the 2005 greennick nanny mobile eu bumper requirments.

it will be interesting (or disgusting) to see if this spreads worldwide; whether the europeans manufacturers have eu only bumpermobiles and good styling for the rest of the world; whether other manufactuers also sell eu only uglies; whether the aftermarket will step in; etc.

one thing is sure: these regs will make the stock eu mimi ugly and make bangle cars look good by comparison.

flyboy2160

 

>> :evil:
>>
>>what we all should be worried about are the 2005 greenick nanny mobile eu bumper requirments.
>>
>>it will be interesting (or disgusting) to see if this spreads worldwide; whether the europeans manufacturers have eu only bumpermobiles and good styling for the rest of the world; whether other manufactuers also sell eu only uglies; whwther the aftermarket will step in etc.
>>;
>>one thing sure: these regs will make the stock eu mimi ugly and make bangle cars look good.
>>
>>flyboy2160


Sorry, you lost me...


Besides the '05 changes are meant for MINIs sold in all worldwide markets.

 

Change is good because that makes my car all the more unique without me doing any mods. The more little tweaks they make the more interesting it wil become to poke around the different cars at runs and rallys.

The early adopters will be recognizeable. Did we buy our MINIs because we all wanted to be the same?

I'll hold onto mine but then again I love life with my Bride of 33 years.

 

>>Sorry, you lost me...
>>
>>
>>Besides the '05 changes are meant for MINIs sold in all worldwide markets.


He's referring to the new European bumper standards for the protection of pedestrians. Don't you read car mags?

X2

 

>>>>Sorry, you lost me...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Besides the '05 changes are meant for MINIs sold in all worldwide markets.
>>
>>
>>He's referring to the new European bumper standards for the protection of pedestrians. Don't you read car mags?
>>
>>X2


Geez, sorry! Yeah I do read industry magazine and are familiar with the Eurocap pedestrian protection standards. To me the '05 Cooper bumpers resemble the MCS bumper style so much more and I personally like the new covers better than the old ones.

 

I just read about those new pedestrian EU bumber standards (for 05 I think it was) for all cars sold in the EU. If your car is already in production (as the MINI is), then the new bumper requirement will only apply to major revisions. So, as long as the MINI's revisions are always minor, then our beloved design should not change.