Please excuse me if this is a dumb newbie question, but I have noticed on my newly-purchased Mini '05 Cooper S Convertible that there is a slight but perceptable change in the power curve at around 2500-3000 rpm, particularly in 1st and 2nd gear. It's hard to put my finger on it but it just feels like it very slightly (but smoothly) reduces its rate of acceleration between 2500 and 3000 RPM. No misses, engine sounds normal, etc. Is this the norm for a Cooper S with manual trans?

I also notice a very slight lag when starting from a dead stop, no doubt due to the supercharger. It will take a little time to get used to this (so far I sometimes tend to either slightly under- or over-rev on takeoff). But I see that in the latest Motor Trend issue, in their Long Term Verdict article on the Cooper S (extremely positive, by the way), they commented on the same thing: "The Mini has a noticable lag off the line, requiring a learned technique for swift, non-NHRA-grade launches without hesitation or clutch roasting."

Other than the question about the power curve, I love my new Mini! I've had my original Mini Cooper for some time (a '74 Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 Export) so this is a bit of a change for me - it seems absolutely huge compared to my classic Mini! But I continue to be amazed at how good a job they did transferring the "character" of the old Mini to the new. (And I feel much safer putting my 6 year old in this one!) I have already replaced the headlamp bulbs with Sylvania Silverstars. Next will be the K&N filter mod and a 15% smaller pulley, but I think I'll wait until I get about 1000 miles on it to do that.