2005 Mini Cooper Review

Specifications

Worth the Wait

Its been a long time coming, but BMW Groups MINI brand finally officially unveiled its new Convertible in North America after first showing it to European media at the Geneva motor show.

Its first North American stop was the Vancouver, Canada auto show in March, where amid much fanfare it was unveiled to the automotive media. Even more celebratory was its screeching entrance in front of Manhattans Jacob Javits Center, home of the New York International Auto Show. A stunt driver was hired to entertain the crowd and show off the new drop-tops handling capabilities in the process - an effective display of a talented man and machine.

After the tire smoke cleared, it was easy to see that the MINI designers did an exceptional job getting the cars proportions right. With the top in place the traditional two-box mini profile has been kept intact, with the added bonus of a high-quality soft-top available in multiple colors. Its a fully automatic “Z-mechanism” fabric roof, that when upright combines with exposed rear lid hinges for an even greater retro appearance than the regular MINI.

An innovative “sliding roof mode” allows the top to open up to 15.75 inches at speeds of 75 mph, letting in the sun (just like a large sunroof) with reduced wind and noise. The press of a button drops the top completely in 15 seconds, stowing it behind the rear seats without the need of a tonneau cover.

Tonneau covers are normally needed to keep dirt and debris out of the top mechanism, and simultaneously tidy up outward appearances. Putting one on, unless fully automatic like on one of BMWs convertibles, is often a cumbersome process requiring more work than its worth - Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible owners know exactly what Im talking about. As mentioned the new MINI ragtop doesnt need one, a very good thing.

In order to accommodate the top, the MINI Convertible features power actuated rear windows, not available in the coupe. This allows increased airflow when the top is up as well, with the added bonus of a more open environment for those stuck in the somewhat abbreviated back seats.

Up to four occupants are protected from rollover by dual aluminum roll bars located behind the rear passenger headrests. The roll hoops look good too, adding a unique styling detail that further separates the new car from anything else on the road. Additional protection results from an “ultra-strong steel” A-pillar and windshield surround, also combining to increase the cars torsional rigidity.

In case you were wondering if the gold bar toting MINIs as featured in the movie “The Italian Job” had greater payload capacities than Dodges Ram 3,500 pickup, the current light truck leader, the cars actual capabilities are 882 pounds. Not bad for a MINI Convertible just the same, as is its 5.8 cubic foot trunk capacity. That space shrinks to 4.2 cubes with the top dropped.

Other than the fabric top, the 2005 car features unique bumpers with integrated fog lamps, restyled headlamps, plus a revised grille. The rear bumper has also been tweaked, with turn signals now moved upward in the taillight cluster.

Europeans will get the 90-hp MINI One Convertible, while the North American base convertible will be the 115-hp MINI Cooper. A 163-hp Cooper S Convertible has been reported too, coming out later in the year. Rumors of engine upgrades have not been officially confirmed but are rampant nonetheless, with an expected 20-hp improvement, or so, across the MINI line.

While MINI One Convertibles arrive in Europe with standard 15-inch steel wheels, North American bound Cooper Convertibles will feature lightweight alloys in 16- and 17-inch diameters wrapped in run-flat performance tires.

New colors include Hot Orange and Cool Blue, while customers will have the choice of black, blue or green soft tops. Will a blue on orange MINI do the trick for you? MINI has yet to announce which exterior paint schemes can be matched with the top colors, so dont get too excited. There also is no word on the availability of Union Jack adorned soft-tops, checkers, or any other classic MINI “decals.”

Unlike any competitor in the subcompact segment MINI offers luxury car features such as a navigation system, top-tier Harmon-Kardon audio and the list goes on. The Convertible will offer these items as well as safety features currently available to hardtop buyers. Standard are 4-wheel disc brakes, ABS, electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and cornering brake control (CBC). ASC+T automatic stability and traction control and DSC dynamic stability control will be optional.

As far as competition goes the MINI Convertible has little. The aforementioned Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible is one, but its not a performance car and therefore will most likely not appeal to traditional MINI buyers. The new PT Cruiser Convertible is extremely performance-oriented in top trim, while offering more interior and cargo room. Im unsure if MINI buyers would consider the retro Chrysler, but its low price point could be a deciding factor for some.

Still, the MINI is an original. Theres nothing on the market that comes close in styling, features and build quality, and its current crop of owners show their intense devotion by repurchasing, or at least committing to do so. In Consumer Reports recent rankings, MINI scored among the highest for owner retention despite experiences of a worse-than-average reliability rating. Obviously MINI customers are passionate about their cars.

Now theyve got a new reason to get passionate, and for good reason. The new convertible is certain to be a major hit, bringing even more attention to its owners than the magnetic coupe. Expect it to arrive at MINI dealers this summer.