I am about to order my MCS, when it dawned on me. With help from some local members. Why not wait till '06 since i am so close to the change over period. I would be ordering in the next week or so and would get it around Aug. and by that time the '06s will be starting production and i will already have a year old car. The only reason i can think for not waiting is i am trying to decide between Electric Blue and Hyper Blue. So if i want EB it needs to get ordered soon cause i hear they are discontinuing the color. If its HB then i can wait till 06. So does anyone know when the switchover happens? Whats the latest i can order an 05 EB? I have been told that June is the last month of Prod. and that they retool in July, to start 06 prod. in Aug. Is this true? Also i know there coming out with a new "Space Blue", does anyone know what that will look like? Cause that might be worth waiting for. These questions are baffling me. Cause i dont know wheather to get the EB and say i dont care about the year change. Or do i wait and see what Space Blue looks like and if i dont like it get the Hyper Blue? The only reason i was picking between the 2 is that as much as i like HB i am starting to see it everywhere. EB is unique and will be rare, and they are both really pretty colors.

 

I personally a big fan of BRG. Though I did happen to run into three others yesterday, I'd still say its not the most common color. I don't know when the change is going to happen or what Space blue is supposed to look like but referring to your comment about having a brand new car that is "already a year old" while the 06's may be out halfway through '05, yours isnt a year old until the CALENDAR year changes. My '03 audi got wrecked Dec 28 2004 and even though I picked it up dec '02 it was still considered 1 year old not two becuase calendar year is used to determine the age of the car. Although that having been said, you would have a year and a half if you got an '06 before it would be considered a year old.

 

The changeover from modeal year to year is not at a fixed time point; you can assume it will occur between August and October.

So far there are few changes for '06, except for the color changes - it does not look like there will be new options or features, although there are rumours of being able to order JCW upgrades from the factory.

If you want EB, I suggest you order soon. Otherwise just order when you need the car ...

 

The 2005 model year change took effect with July 2004 builds.

The 2004 model year change took effect with September 2003 builds.

Not sure about the 2003 model year change.

Not all options are available with beginning of the model year change ... eg. LSD wasn't available until January 2005 builds.

Changes often occur during individual model years ... eg. alloy pedals introduced in the MCS after start of 2003 model year.

I suspect 2006 model year change will take effect with September 2005 builds.

Dealers have probably just received their allocations for July builds.

 

I better put in my order in for a 06 soon since there is usually a year wait at EB mini! EEEK!

 

OTOH, even if you consider an '05 a year old when '06's begin selling, you will have a VERY LOW MILEAGE one year old car!

Since I do tend to put a "few" miles on my car, this has been tempting for me to do - but I'm holding out. I want the Recaro seats, JCW suspension (if it becomes available from the factory, and depending on price) and am still hoping for a small miracle in top-secret, unannounced changes with clock placement and the MFSW controls!

 

I feel your pain, I am trying to decide if I want to wait to see what Solar Red looks like, otherwise I would want a plain black one, which I wouldn't be able to get in 06 :(

When I visited the dealer and told him what I wanted (plain Cooper no options and a roof rack) he looked at me like I was insane and said I would have to special order that? I told him I thought most people special ordered their Mini's and he said they keep some stock on hand, but all dealer stock were loaded, which I think is a total crock, they didn't have a single tester without the automated climet control?

 

That IS total crock...order what you want! The dealers are counting on being able to sell up for buyers unwilling to wait. Fair enough, I suppose...less risk for them, but it does reek from the buyer's perspective.

As for colors, unless you are in love w/ an existing color, why not give the new ones a try? We though the world would end when IB went bye-bye, but now Hyper Blue is a hot item!!! I myself have always wanted an EB Cooper but I apparently cannot have one in the US. So be it, I'm also very happy with what I have.

 

Those would be nice

 

How soon do you think we will find out about Space Blue? Hyper Blue is my Alternate for EB or Space Blue. Either i get EB or i wait for Space Blue and if i dont like it i get HB.

 

When I decided to buy (15 minutes after my initial test drive) I could NOT fathom waiting to let a color decide if I'd by a late '05 or an early '06. Sorry, this car is just too much fun to put it on hold for color choice. The NEXT MINI, maybe...

 

I just ordered an 05 MCS. I gave it some thought to wait for an 06, but there are no major changes, so why not start having fun a little sooner. Besides, who knows what the future brings:
price increases, supply shortages, increased dealer gouging :smile:...

With the resale value being very high already and no major new features, its the mileage that will determine the resale more so than the build year.
so I figured I would go for it now..

 

Factory JCW installs might be worth the wait. Of course, I already have a MCS so I won't have to go through any pain waiting.

 

Considering all the changes that came along with the January production this year I would suspect that there will be 06 goodies not available immediately, and like those change there may not much info about them until very close to production. Knowing that I would ask myself if I'd be willing to wait; I would be really peeved if I got an 06 only to have things made available after taking delivery of my car - at least with the 05s you know that you have every option available and what the price is for them (who know what pricing will be on 06 stuff).

On the other hand it might be worth waiting for - dunno what to tell you

How soon do you want to have fun? :smile:

 

So this morning MotoringFile offers a pic of the new blue!That should help you to decide to go with EB instead

 

It does!

 

I'm a little confused by that red though...it looks just like chili in that picture?

 

If it has orange metallic fleck you probably need a better photo to really see the highlights pop and see the color change.

This is the blue they should have done :smile: