I'm thinking about trading in my 2003MC for a 2005MCS. I love my MC but it does not have the acceleration that I'd like to have here at the higher elevations of Colorado. My MC has been absolutely trouble free. Reading the postings it sounds like the MCS might have a lot more problems. I've also read a review that did not like many of the design changes found in the 2005.

What do you think?

 

You are crazy...


To ask this question. You already know the answer. Now the question is can you afford it. But think of the fun...so many options to choose from...ordering...the wait...

Hell I am ready to trade in my 05 MCS for another one...If only my wife would let me.

 

go for it

 

I am in exactly the same predicament as you ... should I get a new Auto MCS ... OR .. get a new 3 Series in 2006?

 

In the big picture, the design changes were not that major. Headlight here, chrome there, etc., but the body style is pretty much the same. Nothing major here.

As for the problems, I'm not sure because I have an '04, BUT, not that many people post that "I haven't had any problems!", but they DO post the problems.

I say GO FOR IT!!! This car is ALL about fun, and you want to max out your fun potential!

 

review was just one person's opinion...

some of the changes for 05:

mp3s on stock stereo: good thing
7 more horsepower: good thing
new gear ratios: good thing
side sunvisor: good thing, even if it didn't help that reviewer, i for one love not having to switch the visor from front to side while canyon carving...
chrome options: love em, but that is ur option
LSD: great thing, wish had when i got mine in November
less rattles/etc than earlier models: good thing, tho u could get a bad one...
puddle lights: in door handles, floor, etc...helpful...
lockable glovebox: can't be bad thing...good when u need it
storage behind cupholders: good for wallet/glasses/cell phone/etc
cup holder on pillar: holds big drinks...if u don't like, can take off and sell for $40 on ebay...
new supercharger: later model that should be even more reliable...

do those changes sound good to u? if they sound good to u, then who cares what that reviewer thought? i think that is a lot of great features for one year...

 

Actually those changes do sound good -- even the sun visor. So what if I'm crazy. I must be the sdame cazy as everyone else on this site! As far as rattles, my 03 has plenty of them but I easily overlook that due to the fun factor. Besides, I love the Electric Blue.

What is the average delivery time for an 05MCS? When I bought my MC it was 8 months.

 

I got rid of my 02 MCS for a 05 MCc but my 02 MCS was problem free for the most part. I say go for it, the MCS is a great car!

 

I was considering the same thing...trading and '03 Cooper for an '05 MCS...except I really have no use whatsoever for more power, and as much fun as test driving the S was, I'm opting to keep my Cooper for the foreseeable future.

With no need for added power I even considered getting another Cooper, but since we are denied EB as a Cooper color here in the States, that idea was out, too. Besides, after analyzing the whole situation, I found that I'm quite attached to the cheeky '02-'04 Cooper styling.

If you would find the added power useful for your driving conditions, yeah, I'd say go for it. Sounds pretty sane to me.

 

Do it. MCS > MC 8 days a week. Regardless of it's year.

 

I don't think you are crazy. Take advantage of the MINI's resale value and go for a new '05 MCS.

 

We have both, an 03 cooper and an 05 S the changes are all for the good, a few of them are personal opinion if they are better or not. They also made the mirror bigger and that is a big bonus to me. I hated that little mirror.

The 05 is definatly tighter than the 03 and there is absolutly no comparing the performance of an s vs a cooper.

 

I'm no expert on MCS problems through the years, and I've had my 05 MCS only 11 days and 800 miles, but my car has no drivability issues, with terrific throttle response up to 4,000 rpm (still breaking in) and a more audible exhaust than the earlier MCS with stock exhaust. This car is all that I hoped it would be, much more satisfying than the 04 BMW 330Ci I traded in.

I prefer the new three-spoke sport wheel to the former two-spoke, although either version looks good; I'm simply used to the three-spoke sport wheel in late BMWs and SC era 911 Porsches. With narrower spokes at 9 & 3, the 05 wheel provides more grip area where it's needed most. The Xenons are brighter than those of the 04 330Ci, and the MCS gives the impression of handling better, although that perception in part might be enhanced by the narrower width of the MCS over the 330Ci, offering more room to spare on the narrow roads I like to run; the width is close to that of the 911. The cackle of the new exhaust is amusing and gives the impression of low restriction, yet doesn't intrude on steady cruise. My sense, from reading criticisms of earlier MCS cars, is that the 05 is the most sorted to date.

Of course, my car may turn into a pig with more miles, but I don't think so. I've had 5 911 Porsches through the years, many BMWs, and this 05 MCS is the most satisfying car I have driven to date.

 

I remember the first time I ever sat in a Porsche. (1999 911 turbo). It reminded me of my Mini.

 

takes about 2 months to get an S if you find a dealer without a waiting list...i know Atlanta has no wait, whereas Cali has a wait and a markup...

 

I'd say pay the first one off and get another. I love my 02 MCS, wifey will be getting the new one when we are ready.good luck!

 

Does anyone have trouble w/ brand new MC05 manual in terms of feeling like 1st,2nd gears are not smooth? sort of a choppy drive? just curious.

 

Go for it! 13,758 trouble-free, and rattle-free miles on my 2004 MCS. My September 2003 build is as tight as a drum! My wife refuses to drive the car because it's a stick, but after 6 months of being on Long Beach Mini's wait list, I finally received a production number for a 2005 6-speed Steptronic w/paddle shifters MCS. A thorough test drive of a 2005 MCS with the Steptronic tranny will be in order once one arrives at a local dealer. I understand it's the same 6-speed tranny used in the New Beetle and Audi TT, so it's a proven design.

 

DO IT! I traded in my July 2002-build MC (as much as I loved her), which I took delivery of on 8/28/02, for my Wanda. I saw a photo of an all-black MCS, which hadn't been available in the '02s, and FLIPPED OUT! Went into Long Beach MINI on January 13, 2003 and ordered Wanda. Took delivery of her April 4th, and have 37K happy miles on her now! (When I traded in the Cooper, she had about 13K on the odometer.) I totally support your desire to get the new one! I am tempted to order another one, again!


Clover

 

I recently sold my 02 Cooper and am awaiting the delivery of an 05. I was able to make a little money over what was owed on the car and now have every option I wish I would have gotten the first time.

 

You can find other reviews if you do a search of "review 2005" on this site, and there is a good review on MINI2 which you might find interesting, discussing the "philosophy" of some of the '05 changes. I am awaiting my '05, lots of trouble with my '03, but the tradeover day I am certain will still be remorseful on some levels. The turnaround time from order to delivery though, is much faster now. I wanted to do a couple of "add ons" but the car had already been produced and waiting for a boat after only a few weeks! I was really taken aback. So go ahead and enjoy just be sure of what you want when you order...

 

I love my '05 MCS. I've put 4K on it in about 3 months without a single issue, once I found out the exhaust burble was intentional.

As for wait, I walked in to a dealer in So. Cal and walked out the same night financed, with a markup. I guess I was lucky and not too picky. Though I did get everything I wanted except the Sport package which, once I found out you normally have all kinds of Stability Controls stock, didn't bother me much at all. I ended up with the Premium Package MCS. Added the stripes.

I dunno, sounds like an easy decision to me.

 

Well, I did it. I'm going to trade in my 03 MC and ordered my new MCS. I got the Sport Package and the Cold Weather Package. Now I have to decide on what dealer installed accessories to get. The lighted door sills look pretty cool.

 

not me! It took me 2+ yrs and 61k miles to get mine exactly to my liking. I'm going to have to keep this one for a while!