the mfsw. i hate the 3 spoke. did they drop the other wheel to cut costs?

why

 

Moving the clock

 

Worst addition: Extra chrome trim on front grille (under the bumper). Do they plan on turning the Mini into a Jetta? New model year? Add more chrome!

 

Best additions? MP3 playing head unit and 7 extra horsepower.

 

I like everything about the '05s.....BUT....I'll miss the chrome bumper strips. The new look is a bit more aggressive (good) but the old look was more cheeky and benign. (very classic Mini.......and missed.)

I'll also miss the four slat grill but I honestly have no good reason why.

 

Due to visibility issues with the clock incorporated into the LCD display of the center speedo, MINI has decided to move it back up high to its previous location.

I wonder how many '05s will have the "Rare" clock in the speedo.....

I am also not very fond of the 3-spoke steering wheel. Most other "updates" are OK but honestly from the pics the car doesn't look radically different from the 02-04's unless you are a "MINIAC" and know the differences inside and out.


Likes:

Map reading lights up front where they should have been since day 1.

Available Homelink remote transmitter, another item that should not have been missed from the options sheet since launch day.

5-speed GETRAG in the Cooper, at long last, a decent and durable transmission for the base model. Bye bye unreliable Midlands Gears unit.

7HP extra in the MCS

LSD and automatic transmission at long last available for the MCS.

Better integrated door armrests.

Like the chrome touches in the Cooper and much prefer them over the old and busy looking chrome inserts in the bumpers.

Better standard seats.

Color coordinated dashboard

The interior chrome pack

Some of the new wheels

 

Worst change by a mile...

Transforming the center speedometer into the
"GRAND CIRCLE OF IRRELEVENT INFORMATION"!!!

Did test marketing really reveal that potential Mini buyers wanted a GCII added? Are they kidding us? The most prominent and distinctive Mini interior feature was the big ol' party speedometer. That was cool! That was design with function and asthetics in mind.

The center dash area is prime real estate. Now, it's completely wasted with a poorly designed clock, and some other measures of irrelevent information. Worst of all, it's highlighted in the dead center of the dash! Why not squeeze in a functioning barometer or Geiger counter?

Come on now. It's looks like an ugly afterthought. Not even an afterthought... more like a bad attempt at filling a void using existing parts for the least amount of additional expense. At best, it's a last second patch job.

The Mini interior is so well designed that the new "Grand Circle of Irrelevent Information" sticks out like a sore thumb.

to Mini design team--> We know you can do better. We want you to do better. Looking forward to the Change!

As for the best feature. Hello convertible! Hello fresh air and blue skies!

 

I miss the original two spoke wheel too.

The new xenon headlights are cool, but not on a Mini. They look too aggressive.

 

I assume you speak of the Cockpit Chrono pack "option"

Stress on the word option

Don't panic, you can still get the speedo in the middle (free of charge no less). From what I've read, they've made that an option as a less expensive way of moving the speedo to the steering column, so you don't have to pay $1700 for navigation.

I myself am thankful it's an option and not standard.

As for me, I'm not into the new Xenon design, and the tail lights don't speak to me that much. Got an eye full of them on the new convertible this past weekend, they were just OK.

 

You're exactly right. They put those silly dummy gauges in for people who didn't like the center speedo yet weren't going to spend big bucks to get the Nav just to move the speedo. But I think digi-mike is right - it looks like a rush job at best.

 

Best: LSD option for MCS (it's true to the spirit of the S)

Worst: Slushbox option for MCS (it's against the spirit of the S)

 

Thanks for clearing that up. That's good news.

How about working some functionality into the side door pockets? Does anyone out there use the side door pockets for anything?

 

Did they fix the self-dumping glove compartment?

 

[QUOTE=Ryephile Worst: Slushbox option for MCS (it's against the spirit of the S)[/QUOTE]


Totally disagree. The MINI is about CHOICE and the more of it, the merrier. There are buyers outthere that crave the MCS but wouldn't or couldn't get one because the manual transmission was the deal breaker. People either with physical limitations, injuries or simply those who don't care or refuse to shift thier own gears (Yes the vast majority of people in this country).

So if we don't like the idea of a slushbox MCS, well tough! No one is forcing us to buy one or trade or 6-speed Getrag for a 6-speed Aisin slushbox, but at the very least that choice now exists and in no way is going to diminish the appeal or performance of our manual tranny equipped MCS.

At least, give the car a chance until you get to drive it.

Remember, MINI is about CHOICE!

 

I have a friend with an 04 MINI and he was complaining about the self dumping glove box. He says my 05 MINI has a different glove box latch. So it looks like they fixed it.

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ja...lbum?.dir=/2494

2005 MCS HB/W, Premium, Sport, Cold Weather, Nav, HB Trim

 

My 04 has the revised glovebox latch. How early of a build was your friends?

 

i'm a big fan of the new design for the xenon's, of course the extra 7hp, the LSD, and as much as i like my 6-speed i'm really excited about the steptronic auto that comes in january. not a big fan of all the chrome trim, don't know why, but i just don't like it. i really like the Hyper Blue, not so big a fan of the purple. but my one big wish color wise, is that they would offer the hot orange on the hard top. i drive a CR/W MCS, i wouldn't have been able to afford a cabrio, but i really wish, if it had been out at the time that i could get HO/W. just my two cents

 

as a new-to-mini person --
what is "LSD" and "slushbox"

 

Peep:

LSD-Limited Slip Differential

Slushbox-Old hot rod term for automatic transmission.

T.

 

thank you kindly...:smile:

 

Call me a purist - I don't like automatic tranny's in my sports cars

...not that it won't sell like hotcakes.

 

Right, right, Rye.

MINI had to offer the auto option for the manual-challenged. Purists needn't know, nor care how many S slushes MINI sells, - though the auto MCSs will demand higher resale values as soon as they arrive in the US market. The segment is too great.

You're right-on too, Cooper4us,- MCS appeal is beheld in our Getrag-eyes.

 

let me correct my self, so i don't have ryan harassing me for the next week . i love my 6 speed, i'm just curious about how well the steptronic will be executed. and from a sales point, the slushbox was prolly the best possible move MINI could have made.

 

New MP3 radio doesn't display ID3 tag support or file names.... What were they thinking????

 

Also why isn't the Bluetooth a factory option? Is it still an option for the 05's? I just don't see why i should have it installed at the dealer at a much great cost..... very interesting....