This past Friday I had a few hours to drive and photograph a 2005 Hot Orange COOPERand a Cool Blue COOPER S convertible.

Comparison: 2005 to 2002

As a 2002 Cooper S owner (intake, 15% pulley, exhaust, springs, rear sway), I was very impressed with both of the 2005's. It's clear MINI has done *a lot* of work to the COOPER and the S since 2002.

The quality of the interior materials has improved considerably, particularly the seats (both the leather and the stitching). The steering wheel felt better, but I have to say I'm not a fan of the new MFSW layout. The change to the gear ratios was a welcome change too. The exhaust note on the S has been changed as well. It now sounds like an aftermarket exhaust with a more pronounced pop-pop-pop-pop sound as the throttle is released.

Cabrio Impressions

The soft-top operation is very smooth. In the first stage of movement, the top retracts back to effectively make a sunroof. Then during the second stage, the top fully retracts. I was actually surprised with the amount of room in the boot with the top down.

Visibility out the back with the top down was pretty poor IMO. The fixed hoops and the black plastic that encases the base of the hoops sticks up rather high and does block quite a bit of the view out the back. The cars I drove had park distance control. This was my first experience with PDC and in the Cabrio it seemed well suited given the poor rear visibility.

The cabrio seemed to be quite rigid. It didn't seem as rigid as a hard top MINI, but it definitely seemed to be more rigid than the VW Jetta I owned previously.

Here's a picture I took of the Hot Orange Cooper in motion.



Final Thoughts

Nighttime rolled around too soon and I had to turn the key over and head for home in my '02. I like my '02 a lot, but it does show it's age when compared to the fourth model year examples I had just driven.

Kudos to MINI and MINIUSA for all of the improvements they’ve made to the design and materials used in the COOPER and COOPER S.

Dave

 

Nice review.

Substantial improvements in terms of quality of materials, fit and finish, etc were introduced with the 2004 model year. My '04 MCS feels like a much more substantial car than the '02 Cooper CVT we have. The materials and textures found in the 2004's are virtually the same as the ones found in the 2005's.

A person coming from a 2004 MINI to a 2005 probably will not see and feel that much of a difference, but for someone going from a 2002/3 to a 2005 is like a heaven an earth difference.

I also dislike the current 3 spoke steering wheel. Nothing beats the functionality and looks of the original 2 spoke sport steering wheel. Even the leather in the late 2 spoke sport wheel was perforated and of higher quality than the flat leather they are using now on the 3 spoker.

About a month or so ago I test drove a Cool Blue '05 MCSC and it was a very nice car but not for me. Visibility with the top down towards the rear was OK and terrible with the top up. The car does feel heavier and does not accelerate as briskly as the lighter hardtop model. Although I didn't drive the Cooper Cabrio, many rags comment on the anemic acceleration characteristics of this car even with the new close ratio 5-speed Getrag.

Convertibles are an acquired taste and if you like them, the MINI Cabrio will not dissapoint. I personally prefer the hardtop MINI because much of the hallmark looks of the car are lost when the solid roof is replaced with a canvas. Also the cabrio loses the appeal of the true hatchback design and the car is not as practical as its 3 door breathen.

Still well job done on the cabrio, but not for me.

I want a Traveller MINI station wagon instead.

 

Hell with the cab, thats a friggin awesome picture!