Hey everyone....

As I mentioned in the thread about someone's mom wanting a new MC, my mother wants to buy my CVT sometime in the next year (potentially).

If she did this, I would place an order for a new MCS. I got the CVT originally because my daily commute is in HEAVY traffic; and I love it for that. However, I'm finding myself longing for more speed and modding potential more and more lately.

My question is, is the 2005 MY a good MCS to trade up to? What I mean is, I'm perfectly happy with my car as-is. I know there are some more powerful engines coming eventually, but how soon? If it's the 2006 MY I have no problems waiting until next summer to place my order... if it's 2007 or 2008 I'd have to consider taking the plunge early as I can't afford to wait for my resale value to drop that much (and still sell my car to my mom for my loan payoff amount).

Sooooo, anyone got any solid (or as solid as can be found) info on when exactly the new BMW/PSA engine will make its way to the MCS? Also, what kind of performance is expected of such a thing? Thanks!

 

ask gabe at www.motoringfile.com

 

Yes 2005 will be a great year! Tons of great new features, colors and more power.

At the earliest Late 2006 (as a 2007) may bring the new version of the Cooper engine and the Cooper S should follow that almost a year later. However that's 2-3 years away. Buy your MCS now and enjoy it for three years. Then you can think about trading up again

 

But arent the rumors that is will be less of a car when they make that change. Something about mot making any $$$.

 

I've been assured by someone at the factory (who would know this stuff) that much of the money savings will come from things like the changes we've already seen on the '05. For instance the 5-piece dash becoming the 3-spiece dash. I wouldn't worry to much.

 

Damnit....

You people are making me want to do something stuuuuuuppppiiiddd.......

My SO will probably s**t a brick for buying a new car within a year of getting this one; but I gotta do it

I won't have the money situation worked out until probably March or so of next year to make this possible, but that works out well because I can place an order (perhaps) for a 2006 MY and get any requisite changes they roll in to that year. But, I definitely think I'll be taking the plunge....

Can I expect my MINI to depreciate any great deal in the next 9-10 months that I should be worried?

 

I think the '05 model year will be a good one for the Mini. This model year is really a culmination of fixes for small problems/rattles/irritations that have occurred over the last few model years. There are also a lot of small design changes, that still make the car appear just as nice as the original (in my opinion). Add the power additions, and if you wait until January the LSD, this is going to be one, really nice and polished car. You may not want to wait until the next big change in 2007/2008, because you may not like the car. Without being negative one way or the other, the next big model change will involve new engines that are turbocharged. The turbocharging will change the current characteristics of the supercharged 4-cylinder, which provides a lot of torque and linear power band, to a power band that may be more peaky. Turbochargers have come a long way in preventing this, but there are plenty of examples of bad turbo applications. We will have to wait to see. But I think I can safely guarantee it will not have the same characterisitics or feel of the Supercharged engine, which you may or may not like. The flipside is that the turbocharged engine may offer more tuning options, since the turbo is more geared for this type of activity. There are also a lot of questions around the design look of the next big model change. Will it or will it not have a bulge in the hood? Will the interior be cheapened.....? Just a lot of open questions at this time, which when answered may not agree with what you like. I think you will really like the 2005 and feel the difference quite quickly. Good luck in your decision.