The new 2005 MINI doesn't do much for me, just a lil too flashy for my taste. But what I do like are the new taillights. I've always had a little beef with the current taillight design, but have never found anything tasteful enough to replace them. I think the new design put out by MINI is awesome, and I was wondering what others thought, because I would love to put them on my 2002 MCS (if possible). I know its hard for anyone to say if it is possible, though. Here's a pic:

I got the image off of "that other site." So, anyone else thinkin bout a possible taillight conversion?

_________________

 

As many pictures as I see of the new taillights, it's still hard for me to get a sense of what they'll actually look like on the car. I have a much stronger reaction to the new Cooper bumpers, which I don't like. And while I'm sure it's safer to move the reverse light up from the bumper, I like mine where it is.

_________________
"The dude minds! This aggression will not stand, man."

 

Thanks sketchedin for posting the tail light pic.

I have the nice white tail lights for my MINI and like them.
The new 2005 ones are OK.

The heavy rear door industrial sized hinge is pretty ugly and frankenstein looking.

Here are more pics for those with cabrio withdrawal from seeing only one picture.

Interior sky blue dash and door with Nav-Note red seat stitching, chrome dial trim


Enjoy. There were more pictures but I kinda overdosed looking at them all.

_________________
Send a PM to minihune Mele Kalikimaka & Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

 

Is it just me or does the headlight assembly look like some sort of sci-fi energy weapon? I mean the circle of light ports around the main projector are kinda stylized to the bleeding edge...

Set phasers to KILL

 

Actually, I think it's a Gatling gun.

 

Headlights...wow the pics I had seen previously just showed a round reflector...none of that "ray gun" stuff. If that's standard issue I'd be concerned.

Tailights...yeah, hard to figure out what's what from pics but I do like them. I have to admit though, I'm not a conneseur, good bad or indifferent.

Front and rear profiles...the only reason I like the new ones is that (for me) if, given the current config, one has chrome or black bumper strips, then the current bumper molding makes sense. If the bumper is body colored the present profiles really don't make sense and visually get in the way of viper stripes and the like. I like the more streamlined approach. (...but I'll keep my chrome bumper strips, thanks!)

NEW blue color....this color is so hard for me to pin down as it looks so different in different lighting. In some lighting it looks purple. I can't wait to see a gallery of pics like we saw w/ the orange color....or see one in person. No doubt its gorgeous.

Boot...interesting. There sure is a lot going on back there...headrests, roll bars, roof, boot hinges, boot. Regardless of what I think, I'm sure MINI engineers thought this all out and I do respect their previous efforts. I'm happy...can't wait to see one in person!!!

 

>>Is it just me or does the headlight assembly look like some sort of sci-fi energy weapon? I mean the circle of light ports around the main projector are kinda stylized to the bleeding edge...
>>
>>Set phasers to KILL
>>

 

I don't know. There is something lost on these new cabrios.
Things are getting too gimicky !!! Those chrome bits on the interior and the body colored dash panels are too bling bling and toy like.

I am not sure I like anything about this new look except the color.

And those headlights assemblies?!?!?? Can you say Nissan?

This car is definetelly not aimed at the traditional MINI buyer

 

i really like the red stitching and i kinda like the headlights!

red stitching is HOT!

 

The only thing I like about the car are the boot hinges...a nice update on the Classic Mini's.

 

I have never really been a fan of any drop top style cars, however I wonder if there is much of a weight difference between the cabrio and the regular body style. It seems (and this is just from a purely visual interpretation) that the top of the MCS is quite heavy with all the glass, esp. those with sun roofs. It would be pretty fun to drive if it dropped a hundred pounds or so from the top of the car and lowered the center of gravity. DVLMINI, flow on the boot hinges, I like them too.

 

I still prefer the hard top MINI but I do know that a few people are holding off on the MINI (or even worse, buying inferior automobiles which I will not name ) because they really want a convertible....so maybe this will create more MINI converts.

 

What a nice color!
I like this sky blue color as well as soft top style.
When I first saw Mini cabrio, I feel like ...., but now I accept it as a Mini family.

Happy motoring!

 

If I was waiting to order and learned that those are the only headlights available starting in 05....I'd probably have to rush out and order an 04.

 

>>I don't know. There is something lost on these new cabrios.
>>Things are getting too gimicky !!! Those chrome bits on the interior and the body colored dash panels are too bling bling and toy like.<<

I agree! The last thing we want is for the MINI to go the way of the Bug. Style is okay to a point, but let's not get carried away.

 

>>I have never really been a fan of any drop top style cars, however I wonder if there is much of a weight difference between the cabrio and the regular body style. It seems (and this is just from a purely visual interpretation) that the top of the MCS is quite heavy with all the glass, esp. those with sun roofs. It would be pretty fun to drive if it dropped a hundred pounds or so from the top of the car and lowered the center of gravity. DVLMINI, flow on the boot hinges, I like them too.

I'm sorry to say that if anything I would expect the MINI cabrio to be heavier in it's respective body style by 200 pounds.

You might think you are loosing top weight and while that is true you typically loose alot of body rigidity which is the MINI trademark. To compensate for the loss of structural integrity the chassis needs to be beefed up quite a bit and that takes up alot of extra weight. That is why it is very costly to do a sedan to convertible conversion correctly.

I was looking into the Cabrio but the MC version might be too heavy at 2800 to 2900 pounds for 115 HP while the MCS version might be hefty but not as bad with 163 HP.

As a comparison lets look at the new 2004 VW Beetle in different body styles and what their weights are.
Two door GLS hatchback 2.0 L 4 speed auto Curb Weight: 2765 lbs. 115 HP $19.3K
Two door GLS convertible 2.0 L 6 speed auto Curb Weight: 3159 lbs. 115 HP $23.8K
Two door GLS convertible 1.8 L turbo 6 speed auto Curb Weight: 3217 lbs. 150 HP $26K
Difference is 394 pounds and some $4500 for the covertible vs hatchback with non turbo engine.
The 1.8 L turbo for the cabrio with auto trans weighs 452 pounds and costs $6700 more than the base beetle.

That's too heavy! :evil: :???:

 

Ick. Completely overstyled. The color is neat but Im not feeling almost all of the changes. I feel like the car is being pulled in too many directons. The 2002-2004 was a good balance of a modern car with retro touches. I feel like things like the added chrome and the boot latches add greatly to the retro aspect but the headlights are super modern now and they're fighting each other to define the car.

Fast & Furious headlights?
The rear foglight looks out of place where the backup light used to be.
5 spoke wheels with 4 exposed lugs? yuck.


atleast the leather is finally loose fitting on the front seats to match the backseats and wont look like crap after 2 weeks.


--
Cheese

 

I think the new tailights are a nice change. They look updated without going too far (or too rice) unlike the headlight assembly. I haven't seen either in person so maybe it looks better than the pics show. I agree that the chrome interior accents are a bit much (chrome rings for the interior dimmer switch and hazards?!) but at least it's optional. Chrome should be used as an accent not a theme. I'm also not sure about the body color dash/doors. Again, I'll have to see it in person but I worry they may be bringing the MINI in a strange, new direction where no MINI has gone before... sorry, the new headlights have me thinking about Star Trek. KHAN!!!!!

 

Is that a silver Cabrio in the background? I thought orange and blue were the only choices.

 

Trying hard not to, but.... Resistance...... is........ futile.... must post!

OoooK, first I'm paranoid now - in this thread the soft top Cabrio has become "the 2005 MINI"...

It's bad enough to have to wait until after the '05's are available, to get a MINI! I need a Bridger (oops MotoringFile) fix, you know, the article about changes for 2005 being "minor" and "cosmetic"...

What I THOUGHT I'd like the most now that I know my "spec", is a last n' final "heads up" in advance, concerning the colors that are coming/going (for the Cooper S in particular), not the Cabrio-only ones. (Although, that blue aint bad in pics)

And now, you guys using phrases like "pulled in too many directions" referring to design! *siiiigh* (sighing because i agree, or at least i totally see your point).

Steven Wright: "i had a psychic girlfriend once... but she left me before we met".
Tattman23: "i was in love with MINI once, ready to drop about $25k... Alas, she changed, we grew apart... (she left me before we met)"

sorry for rambling,
Tatt

 

>>Trying hard not to, but.... Resistance...... is........ futile.... must post!
>>
>>OoooK, first I'm paranoid now - in this thread the soft top Cabrio has become "the 2005 MINI"...
>>
>>It's bad enough to have to wait until after the '05's are available, to get a MINI! I need a Bridger (oops MotoringFile) fix, you know, the article about changes for 2005 being "minor" and "cosmetic"...
>>
>>What I THOUGHT I'd like the most now that I know my "spec", is a last n' final "heads up" in advance, concerning the colors that are coming/going (for the Cooper S in particular), not the Cabrio-only ones. (Although, that blue aint bad in pics)
>>
>>And now, you guys using phrases like "pulled in too many directions" referring to design! *siiiigh* (sighing because i agree, or at least i totally see your point).
>>
>>Steven Wright: "i had a psychic girlfriend once... but she left me before we met".
>>Tattman23: "i was in love with MINI once, ready to drop about $25k... Alas, she changed, we grew apart... (she left me before we met)"
>>
>>sorry for rambling,
>>Tatt

Wish I could help. I'd venture to say that some of these styling changes will grow on you though. As soon as I hear anything concrete about the 2005 MCS it will be on my site and I'm sure here as well.

 

Thankyasirrr, I've calmed down some already...

And, you may be pleased to know that when I asked a local MA about getting on a mailing list of some sort for early notice on 2005 model year information, he directed me to your site pronto - he had ya bookmarked on his work desktop.
I wonder, should I not have let on to the MA that I been edumacatin' myself there for many moons now...

Cheers,
Tattman

 

I saw pics of the convertible earlier.... still don't know if I like it much, but i do like the headlights a lot. has a Porsche-esque about it.

 

Thanks for the comparison numbers minihune. Knowing the it will prob weigh more and be less rigid (and maybe less fun to drive) I don't see the point in owning one. Especially since this doesn't help detract from the "cute" factor. I can't wait for someone to say that it is a mini convertible beetle. No offense meant to those who like it.

 

I hear you ...

Boy I am glad I got an '03
I do realize that these features, especially on the interior, are mostly optional ... but still ... I am afraid they will be standard soon.

When the MINI came out it was love at first site for me. If I saw this car now, as pictured above ... chances are I would pass.

The comment above of the look being like it is pulled "in too many directions" is right on. Almost like BMW is trying to please everyone, and losing the cars identity in the process.

This atrocity and the horrendous 18" JCW wheels I saw in some other post really make me scratch my head.