R50/53 03 vs 04 vs 05 Cooper yearly changes?

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Jan 1, 2009 | 04:45 PM

#26

erickvonzipper

6th Gear

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 2,384

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From: LI, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClubmanS

No headlight turning feature. In fact no MINI has ever offered it.

My honest advice..... Get a 2005 or 2006 MCS. The R50 Cooper lacks a proper 6th gear for highway cruising....Too noisy and tiring.

Just my opinion.

I could be wrong but I thought I had read that the 5 and 6 speed Getrags have identical top gear ratios. The difference is that the 6 speed's extra cog allows better acceleration due to more closely spaced ratios, making it easier to keep the engine 'on the boil.'

Jan 1, 2009 | 08:23 PM

#27

ThomasW

Thread Starter

3rd Gear

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 197

Likes: 0

From: Greenville, SC

That is what I was thinking too, makes more sense when it comes to performance cars. With Jeeps they changed to a 6spd for lower highway rpms and 'better' fuel economy.

Jan 2, 2009 | 01:19 PM

#28

ClubmanS

6th Gear

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 2,972

Likes: 3

From: South Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by erickvonzipper

Nope. About a year and a half ago I had a 2006 R50 5-speed loaner. In 5th gear the engine was turning at least 3.5K RPM. In the MCS in 6th gear going 70MPH the engine is not going more than 3K RPM give or take.

The R50 begs for a proper 6th gear. Even the R50 CVT runs below 3K RPM in "normal" mode at the same speed.

For a city car, the R50 5-speed is great. However, I did not care for it as a highway car.