My wife has a Black on Liquid Yellow '04 Cooper CVT (licence plate reads MY SUV) which is fun but must be more fun for me to switch from my '03 Infiniti G-35 Sedan which is also an auto but a great car with great grunt. I've driven the "05 Cooper S several times with the new standard tranny, which feels much better and it is fun but just not the kind of torque rush I'm used to, even tho the cornering is way cool! Would the Works package really make me happier than the Cooper S? Also would Works be quirkier & higher maintenance? How about the new LSD feature for 2005, must be a good thing right? Can or do I get LSD in the "S" as well? Any comments please? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Your feed back is appreciated! Thanks in advance, "SAILOR" in Vancouver

 

With the Works kit, it's all covered under warranty and if you had any troubles you would be all set. It will increase the "grunt" and the LSD will help launching and with traction, but overall, it's a matter of how much $$ you want to spend. The LSD is great at only $500, far better than aftermarket as far as price, but with the JCW far more power can be had for far less money.

It's all about what you are looking for.

Do you want warranty coverage, or bang for buck?

 

If you really want the grunt/torque of your infiniti V6 you probably won't find it in either setup. I would suggest a G35 coupe or 350Z for that. But if you want handling with decent power, I don't you think you could wrong with either the S or Works.

 

Thanks for feedback, "bang for the buck" is not as important as overall performance & handling, however there is a limit. Warranty will cover to a degree, but what I am looking for is a package that will keep me EXCITED to drive for a longer time. "Sailor" in Vancouver

 

You could read the twincharge thread...that will get your blood going.

 

You'll have an absolute blast in the standard S - but you'll have even more of one in the Works. Hahahahaha that sums it up

If you've got the money to pick it up, go for the LSD and Works kit - it's worth the assurance that if something goes wrong BMW has your back. Its latest iteration has made the MINI competitive in EVO's Performance Car of the Year AGAIN - here's the quote...

"The ride and, more crucially, the wheel control, is much improved, to the point that the car now feels at home on the bigger rims and runflat tires, where before it felt compromised on anything but the standard 16 inchers. The engine has been transformed, and now feels much smoother, keener and stronger than before. It's always been a deceptively rapid car... the MINI is easily overlooked in this company [including a Maserati, STi, new Boxster, new 911, 3 lotuses], until, that is, you drive it."

Their only complaint is the price, and it's a good complaint. Since the general public doesn't care that much about a JCW "option", I'd look in the slightly used classifieds - something with a few miles on it. There's a BRG on here right now that's begging to be stolen.