I really love my Cooper but a string of recent events is pushing me over an unforseen precipice. Not sure how I feel about the whole thing. An overwhelming sense of nostalgia seems to be taking over...and love is now becoming devotion. The fact is, many of the things I love and purposefully spec'ed for my Cooper are gone or going away, but I still love them as much as the day I first placed my order. It all started so simply:

2-spoke steering wheel.....gone

and then:

Kaliedo cloth seats....gone
4-slat grill....gone
bumper strips (chrome or otherwise)...gone
Indi Blue.....gone
Midlands 5-speed (if you want to count that).....gone

and now the latest news:
7 hole-wheels....soon to be gone (not a total shock really)

I know not everybody loves all these options as I do, but the point is that (for now anyway) they're gone. And I still love AND prefer them!!!! Its as if major chunks of my own beloved MINI suddenly don't exist any more!

So this leaves me in a quandry of sorts, but in the end I think I'm going to keep my virtually unmodded Cooper for quite awhile....and thus my attention goes not so much to appearance upgrades and performance enhancements...but to restoration and keeping my Cooper in the best shape possible. Unknowingly, I've already addressed several projects in this regard.

Whoda thunk it of a 2.5 year old car? Even now at local club events there are maybe 4 Coopers among 30 or more MCSs....one or two perhaps feature the original Cooper styling. Even NAM probably has not much more than a dozen active Cooper owners, or so it seems.

My only point here is that within a few years the original R56 will be gone. Styling-wise it is gone. A page will turn. Cooper owners got the first jolt of this with the big cosmetic changes in the '05 models. The cheeky little MINI seen in the original Stephenson drawings isn't made anymore. Brace yourselves for '07.

I was driving around the neighborhood the other day and saw a little classic Mini parked along the street. In a flash I saw my own Cooper in a similar light...love, nostalgia, and respect all bundled together. After all, given the entire scope of Mini history, who doesn't have something of a soft spot for a Mk1, sliding windows and all.

Something to think about as the changes roll on. I don't mean to sound too dire here...I think the '07s will be awesome as are the '05s. But some of us in the MINI (and even NAM) community, as time passes, will inevitably decide to stay behind. I'm anxious to watch our community grow, develop, and deepen as these events unfold to embrace all the emerging faces of MINI ownership.

 

No more holeys... wow. I'm going to go way out on a limb and predict that another 12-pound wheel doesn't show up to take their place.

I hear you about some of the changes you mentioned, mainly the chrome bumper strips and the steering wheel, but as I wait for my '05 Cooper (with holeys!) to be built, the blow of the changes I'll have to get used to is definitely softened by the looming spectre of the 2007 redesign. That's going to dwarf the changes we've seen thus far, and turn the car into something quite different than what we've all got (possibly nicer engine, but far uglier looks).

I'll definitely be taking obsessive care of my '05 from day one...

 

I had an 02 Cooper I now have a 3/03 S still the original new MINI. The only item I see that would not be missed is the 5 speed The Getrag is deffinatly an improvement. Wish I had the rear power outlet. I hope to keep the S reliability long term will be the deciding factor.

 

I do agree. The Getrag 5-speeds I've driven have a more notchy feel, but then that's a minor point...reliability is the real issue. If the all the Midlands boxes performed as well as mine has to date, it'd be an even toss up. The overall feel of the Midlands box is slightly softer, but still very good, imo...purely a matter of preference.

 

Oh no John,

The holeys are gone How we loved our little Coopers with their holeys I still get sad when I think about Louie But I have my little MC Cabrio & in spite of what they say, she keeps up with the best of those S's. Or then maybe it has to do with the driver I think in a few more years we'll all be driving MINIs that don't exist any longer

Lois

 

IMO, holeys would look NIFTY on an MCS - Anyone got a set I could stick some BF Goodrich V-rated TA's on? (now watch those tires don't even come in 205/50/15).

Return to topic: Select the appropriate response, and you're not limited to only one selection -

1) Change is good
2) Change is not good
3) Ya can't please all da people, all da time
4) Gosh I sure appreciate my fun, trouble-free '05 MCS
5) Where did I put that link to Zainostore.com?

I did see the point about only a few COOPER owners being active in the NAM neighborhood. Anyone know "sales" numbers for MC to compare to MCS? I bet it's more or less proportional representation, I dunno. The COOPER owners that are posting in NAM, without naming names, are of Massive Value, and they should know that I appreciate their input and hope that they don't disappear.

Do enjoy the long weekend,
Tatt

 

Minor thing but I don't like the plastic plug on the 05's that fills the hole where the back-up light is on my 03. I guess if you order a rear fog light it's in this space? I also like the chrome bumpers on my car. About the only change to the MC that could be called an improvment would be the transmission, though the feel of my Midland tranny is just fine, as I hope the reliability will also be.

The first time I called up MINIUSA and configured an MC I wanted it to be....Silk Green. A year later when I got serious it wasn't available anymore, so I got CR/W. Still haven't seen an actual Silk Green MINI.

 

I agree that the holeys would look good on an MCS, but I was hoping for 16" size. Nothing wrong with a traditional looking wheel. Can you imagine a D Type Jaguar with spoked wheels? Naw. It's gotta have those steel Dunlop wheels with the oval holes in them. I miss MINI's knobby textured leather that was available in the 2003--what kind of animal produced that?

 

Yes that unsightly little cover is the reason some folks order the inexpensive rear foglight.

I guess I'm lucky to live where I do, since I get to see a couple of the Silk Green (and Velvet Red) MINI's once in a while. Maybe in 2007, to soften the blow on any "design changes", they will be offered in those lovely colors... (what can I say I'm far too optimistic).


That leather was from a (farm raised) "Golf-Ball" cow, no growth-promoting hormones were used, and it's just another choice, now rare and cherished by many who anguished over the cloth vs. leather decision at ordering time.

Peace,
Tatt

 

Funny about the golf ball cows. It did perplex me why anyone would have thought to do that to hide--although I would have ordered it if it were still available.

Tatt, kinda late night (or early morning) in Chicago now. No? Weather must be changing from balmy spring to muggy summer. I always enjoyed this time of year when I was going to school there.

 

Ok, I am confused, what holey's? Got pics? Thanks.

Doug

 

Look up Gabe's Motoring File (www.motoringfile.com) and read the article on seats and wheels. You might recognize the names of the posters after the article. Not everyone misses the holeys.

 

It's been a colder than hoped for Spring, but despite the nights in the 40's (ticking ppl off who want to shut down their furnaces), we HAVE had the requisite 3-4 PERFECT days that Chicago sees during a typical (abbreviated) Springtime. The native wildflowers are having a good year, not minding the cold nights (but they don't have have to pay NiCor for furnace gas).

I'm fully prepared for the coming 12 hours that it will take to transition from highs in the 70s and 40s lows, to 90 degree humid nights. I figure I'll just jump in the MCS and take the performance hit when I crank the A/C.

Calling on Mother Nature to hurry up and make me sweat right out of the shower in the morning,
Tatt

 

Didn't know it has been so unseasonably cold. Yuck. Even shorter spring.

PS: I ordered the full toggle bank after having read your stats although I confess to not needing the fogs.

 

R81 7-Hole Design Light Alloy Wheel
Silver, White
5.5J x 15
175/65R-15 All-season tire
Model Years 2002-2005
Standard on the MINI Cooper and optional on the MINI Cooper Convertible ($0)

The leather discussed above is called Panther Black Profile Leather. I got it in both my MINI Coopers. I don't think it was available on the sport seats, but I'm not positive on that.

I got my 2004 MC before they discontinued:

1. Indi Blue
2. R82 8-Spoke Design Light Alloy wheels
3. Panther Black Profile Leather seats
4. two-spoke multi-function steering wheel
5. White center reverse light
6. Original chrome strip bumpers.

James

 

Thanks, James. And Trevor is beautiful. The MINI shape looks so clean without the airfoil over the hatch.

 

That's kewl, the extra light at the rear, even with the extra "effort" needed to turn it on, has been well-received. I turn it on when the headlights are on (unlike the front fogs which I only use when it's actually foggy).

Goofy story - back in November I came to like Chili Red enough to change my mind (once per decade I guess i DO that) on paying >400 for metallic paint. I used the fake price reduction "windfall" to spec both the Cold Weather Pkg and the Rear Foglight. I don't know exactly what my MA meant when he delivered the car, he said my car was a "tastefully done" MINI. I suspect he wished I had bought more options/packages, oh well.

Tatt

 

I agree! Just one of the reasons I have stuck with a MINI Cooper over the MCS. That and the smooth bonnet and chrome grille at no extra cost.

Thanks for the comment about Trevor. I do think he looks great, classic style and 100% stock.

James

 

Poco is looking and feeling as good as the day I got him.Oh he has had some issues,but all were taken care of by a great tech. at my dealer.The car is solid,goes where I point it, gets waves and from people.And puts a smile on my face every time I look,motor,or think about it.

Coming up on 50K miles,will be 2 years in July.My original plan was to trade in after the extended warrenty ran out,about 2 years from now at this rate,but will rethink this once I see and test an 07,and probably wait for the 08.

Most of the cars I have owned,I drove till their dying days.This car may just be another one of those,it just feels so RIGHT for me

 

I'm all for the changes and updates across the MINI line....the market demands it and, for the most part, these tweaks represent real improvements. I keep up with the new stuff....test drive the new stuff...and am a fan of the new stuff. I just think we'll be seeing some owners hanging on to the older styling and thus, may wind up eventually in more of a restoration mode and that really hasn't had a chance to happen much w/ such a new car. We are, however, developing a history....which is kinda cool!

Consider the updates to classic Minis.......lose the exterior door hinges (for a cleaner look), introduce wind-up windows (a market-driven update?), reconfigure the dash. No problem. They were improvements. Yet how many of us now looking back love the quirky features of those earlier Minis...whether they were improvements or not.

Considering how passionate and devoted we are about our MINIs at present, I think this is going to happen real quick with our cars, too (...kinda of no-brainer, I suppose). As such, there'll be enthusiasts of a different ilk, and...lord help me...I may be becoming one of them!

Wait til that clamshell bonnet goes! Only the old-timers will remember what Midnight on the Dragon was all about!!!