This might have been a discussion of past threads but I couldn't find it.

Is anyone else bothered by the non-functional hood scoop. It bothers me to no end. I always liked the MINI's no apologies approach (harsh ride for a reason, short wheelbase etc.), and I think that's why I'm so disappointed with the scoop.

Does anyone have information if it will become functional with the JCW package?

Vladimir
2006 MCS

 

My guess would be no. It can't be used for the airbox since that is in back near the firewall. The IC is down low in front, so it can't be used for that either.

One thing it can used for, is to throw some cool air on the turbo.

 

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Yes others are bothered. That's not changing anything though.

No, it will not be functional (at least in terms of the way you want it to be functional).

 

According to Dave's review there was apparently no reason for the harshness.

dean.

 

Define functional.

It is still letting cold air into the engine bay to help cool the bay down overall. Now if it the scoop wasn't open to let air in I think that would be ridiculous.

 

It's not open at all.

 

That's a shame. If the hood had to have something to distinguish it from the Cooper, they should have considered something similar to the Mitsubishi EVO's hood.

 

The question is, does having that wee bit of airflow really help?

To really help, I think, the scoop would have to provide airflow to the intercooler, radiator, or intake.

Another "poser" feature are the side vents (aka repeaters). They're not open anymore, they're just badges.

But, there's a long history tradition of this.

Take a look at a 60's Mustang, or the latest designs See those indented bits on the side with what you could consider to be a scoop at the back?

Well, that's what they are. Non-functional scoops. The Mustang concept care was a rear-engine vehicle, and the scoops were functional. They carried over as a design element.

Concept:
http://www.automag.be/IMG/ford_musta...t_car_1962.jpg

Reality:
http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/showro...5/stangbig.jpg
http://metamedia.stanford.edu/imagebin/2005-Mustang.jpg

Even the 2007 Shelby Mustang GT has hood scoops -- that aren't functional either:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=116496
"A lower front fascia with a brushed-aluminum grille — minus foglights — sits below a Cobra-inspired, non-functional hood scoop."

I don't mean to hold up Ford as a paragon of design, but rather to illustrate that this is common, and the days of form strictly following function are long gone, and left a long time ago. Now cars look they way the marketers want them to look.

Heck, do you think the fins on a 50's Buick or the much-loved Harley Earl side vents really worked?

 

MINIUSA has said that it lets air in, but those who've seen it say it's blocked.

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I've seen the car in person at the Detroit Auto Show. The scoop really is blocked off by a plate that has surface detailing to match the other front grilles.

I'd prefer to have the scoop be functional, but in the end I'm fine with it being "just" an aesthetic differentiation to the Cooper. I'm much more interested in the front mount intercooler than a scoop-fed intercooler of the R53. That said, I wouldn't count out the aftermarket putting the scoop to good use by removing the blocking plate and routing it somewhere effective.

 

Does anyone else not care if the scoop does anything or not? It looks wicked cool ...that's reason enough for it to be there for me.

dean.

 

I doubt a functional scoop in that position works as well as where MINI has located the air intake and intercooler. If the choice is a fake scoop vs. one that provides less optimal function then fake it is. As a styling feature I can take it or leave it.

 

Amen!

The S model is supposed to have a scoop. Functional or not.

Heck I may even mess up the ground on the stereo system just so I get the altenator whine to make up for missing the supercharger whine

 

Speaking as a past turbo charged car owner any additional air is better than none but, if it is just for looks then I suppose Ill have to get over it. My '07 will be here soon and I can think of many other things I'd rather worry over. (modifications!)

 

It looks easy enough to take out the plastic insert and with a little care and a jewelers saw to remove the mesh fascia from inside the scoop. I imagine it will be a short time before the after-market molds their own plastic inserts that indeed push airflow under the hood.

 

Anybody that's "bothered greatly" by this non functional scoop needs to GET A LIFE.
Remember the port holes on Buicks? (Yeah, you're young, I'm old ) 55 Buicks had em with LIGHTS inside as an option. Some models had 3 on a side, upper end models had 4.
I'm "bothered greatly" by the death toll in Iraq. By our open borders.
We're talking about a HOOD SCOOP HERE.
Oh, you girls! Isn't it time to get daddy's credit card and head over to Macy's??
This NAM group needs a good enema to clear out the whiners.

 

Amen, Surfblue!!!!!!!!

Who cares, enjoy your car!!!!!

 

+1

 

And for what point? The engine is water cooled. The hood scoop and repeaters, functional elements of the R53 are now visual design artifacts of the R56. They serve as ornaments on the R56 MINI, nothing more.

 

The scoop is funtional.
It functions as a delinetor between models.

For those who don't like it -- get the Cooper model or keep your another differently functional scoop model.

By the way, for those who don't like it I'd love to hear what they think would be appropriate visual elements to differentiate the 2 models.
Name it!

Criticism that is distructive is useless and says more about the person delivering it and less about the subject matter.
Criticism that is constructive is never a waste of time and also says much about the person delivering it.
Put your ideas (not your disgust) where your keyboard is.

 

One word - badges. 'nuff said.

 

It's a little know fact that any go faster hole....aka (hood scoop) will add at least 10 additional horse power.

It really doesn't bother me that it's a fake. The looks are pretty nice & someone will come out with an aftermarket way to open it up. Really a non-issue for me.

 

I do not think, in todays market in the US, a badge is enough to get some buyers to dole out the extra money for the more musclular model (I do not know about other markets.) Some people need the external distinction.
If a badge was enough then that would be the case for all other manufacturers. It is not, there is always something that distinguishes models.
That's reality (or at least reality as I understand it.)
Maybe in a idealic world a badge would be enough, but people like visual touchstones.
A badge is all that is necessary to distinguish the models but isn't enough to sell cars.

 

LoL.. tell that to the kiddies who put acura badges on the back of thier civics..

and to the owners of acuras who are missing thier badge...

 

I disagree. If you look at the underside of the hood there's a HUGE flat plastic panel that supports the "plug" for the hood scoop. I can't see it being that difficult to modify and replace that plug with somthing that connects and funnels air to the airbox in the rear of the engine bay (think of and upside-down dustpan with a tube on the back that connects to the top of the airbox). Match that with a mass-flow style filter (K&N, UNI, whatever) and you've got a terrific cold air induction system.

Matt (DrOBNXS)? Imput here? Want to be one of the first (and apparently ONLY) people to produce this with me? It will be done.