2005 Mini Cooper Review

Specifications

Flying at Low Altitudes

It looks like we were all wrong. 2005 is fast approaching, but wheres my flying car? My floors arent cleaned by a robotized vacuum, my homeworks not being done by a room-sized machine full of blinking and flashing lights, and the last time a human landed on another celestial body, my parents were still in university.

Our time is really nothing like most imagined it back in the 50s, or at least its not like the 21st century as projected in that decades sci-fi films and Saturday morning cartoons such as the Jetsons. My heartfelt condolences go out to science fiction script writers who would have had dramatically less successful careers had they known the future would, for a large part, be about looking to the past, indulging in nostalgia.

Speaking of retro, what is it that Im driving this week? A MINI Cooper, an immortalized slice of 1960s pie, an icon that belongs alongside the Beetles, JFK, and the first landing on the moon, hardly the sort of vehicle a person from 1960 would have figured the masses would be driving in the year 2005. Few would have figured that the original Mini would have lasted more than 40 years without a replacement, a testament to its solid engineering and sheer intuitiveness. Heck, it even outlasted the worlds first and only supersonic airliner, the Concord, a glimpse of the future now permanently grounded in aerospace museums. While the original Mini is now grounded just like the Concords, a new MINI lives while supersonic air transport is, for the time being, once again the stuff of dreams. It seems a bit odd then, considering just how long the first generation Mini lasted without a major update, that the new MINI has been called in for a mid-cycle update just two and a half years after its initial introduction.

Now with a successful well-established product, BMW felt that it was time to run over the MINI with a fine-toothed comb, addressing complaints from the first batch of 500,000 or so owners. In addition to adding the all-new Convertible model, a host of minor changes to the exterior and interior were made for 2005 model year MINIs. However hard these alterations are to pick out to the non-MINI enthusiast, they are nevertheless relevant in being proof of the brands commitment to constant improvement.

It will take a sharp eye to locate the visual differences between the new MINI Cooper and last years model. Both have the same cheeky, happy, MINI face, but up front the newer model features revised headlamps and bumpers. The Coopers powerful xenon headlamps take on a Gatling gun appearance with miniature beams surrounding a large center beam at each corner. The cold blue glow of the main units are accompanied by regular halogen twin-beam lamps, which fill in the lower half of the MINIs oversized bezels. The retro-inspired rub strips on the front bumper were ditched in favor of a cleaner lower valance featuring integrated fog lamps and a thin chrome strip that runs across the main intake.

At the back, similar changes can be found: new tail lamps feature integrated reverse lights while the bezel features a different, cleaner look. The rear bumper has also changed, with repositioned rub strips and a low-mounted hexagonal rear fog lamp. A single, subtle chromed exhaust tip pokes out on the far right hand side under the matted black wraparound plastic skirt. Other than these changes, MINI styling has remained the same, its character perpetually cheeky, and cute.

MINI claims that out of every 200,000 vehicles produced, that only two are identical in specification and trim. Such an amazing feat can be attributed to its extensive lineup of exterior colors, interior colors and trims, plus options like chrome trim packages, hood stripes, roof and mirror decals and a variety of different alloy wheels. As silly as it sounds, bright colors such as Electric Blue and Liquid Yellow give the Cooper a bouncy, vibrant personality, while darker colors such as Astro Black Metallic (one of two new colours for 2004), and my testers Pure Silver paint give the Cooper a more mature and sophisticated appearance.

Slide into the drivers seat of the revised Cooper and youll be greeted with an interior thats completely different than any other vehicle on earth. MINI has masterfully fused retro styling cues with modern day functionality, plus BMW-grade build quality in a tasteful package. The height-adjustable leatherette sport bucket seats hold driver and passenger snugly in place, offering support and comfort unheard of in cars of its size. In combination with a full-length glass panoramic roof and a near perfect driving position, the MINI feels much airier and therefore larger than its physical size could ever suggest when on the outside. Cold rainy November days increased the time I spent in the MINIs sublime cockpit, often spent warming up with its heated seats, and soaking in rich “bassy” tunes from the optional Harman-Kardon 6-speaker sound system.

Much like the exterior there are minor changes to be found in the interior, the most significant of which is the new three-spoke sports steering wheel with optional multi-function controls. Aside from being less awkward to look at than the boomerang two spoke wheel, the new one is more comfortable thanks to a thinner rim and better positioning of the spokes. At first, this appeared to be the solitary change, but throughout the week other improvements such as the repositioning of the overhead clock, deeper door bins and new overhead map lights, were discovered. Disappointingly, the complex seat reclining levers werent changed, a small but bothersome oversight.

While still available with a Rover-sourced Steptronic paddle-shift CVT gearbox, the biggest mechanical change to the Cooper for 2005 is on the manual end: the Rover-Peugeot derived five-speed gearbox has been swapped out for a new Getrag unit. While one of the sweetest-shifting transmissions in a car Ive ever driven, the old gearbox was geared far too tall, hampering progress in higher gears. In order to give the Cooper extra kick, reduce fuel consumption and maximize the most of the less than ideal 1.6-liter Chrysler-sourced inline-four, the new gearbox was put in place featuring much shorter ratios.

Off the line the Tritec 1.6-liter inline-fours 115 horsepower and 110 lb-ft of torque punt the 2,524 pound Cooper to 60 mph in 9.0 seconds, an improvement over last years model by 0.1 seconds. But the real improvement isnt felt off the line. Once at speed the Cooper is punchier and more willing to get up and go when called upon. MINIs specs state that final gear acceleration from 50 to 70 mph takes 13.4 seconds, about a second shorter than last years model. In reality the Cooper feels much quicker than the figures suggest. Quick enough, actually, to make it downright fun, even in a straight line. Aside from being slightly notchy, the transmissions short throw is precise.

Far more interesting than the Coopers engine is its chassis, which unsurprisingly escaped change. While small cars are supposed to be fun to drive because of light curb weights, its rare to experience one that involves the driver quite like the MINIs does. It gave me the opportunity to partake in the action of a sharp right hander, and motivated me to execute a sweeping bend by changing the cornering line with both the steering and the throttle.

Variable-speed electrically assisted power steering is pin-sharp accurate, yet well-weighted. It gave me confidence to push it harder and faster in the corners. Understeer is only present at the final boundaries of the Coopers limits, at which point the stability control system, if equipped, will have long cut in. Even with cold tires and damp pavement my MINI Cooper tester remained firmly planted, rarely encountering tire slip.

Part of what helps the Cooper deliver unshakable grip is its 195/55 R 16 Dunlop Sport runflat tires and Sport suspension, available as a part of the Sport Package. For what you gain in downright driving performance, there is a sacrifice to be made: the runflat tires and super-stiff springs turn the Coopers ride from compliant to harsh. Over the pothole-scarred streets of my East Coast town, the MINI jostled and bounced, manageable for short periods of time but irritating if you live in areas of constant construction. The Coopers Sport suspension is much more palatable on glass-smooth autobahns, or at least freshly paved roads. Before committing to the option on the order form, its highly advisable to go for a long test drive. That in mind, a cushy 15-inch wheel and tire package is standard on the Cooper.

The MINI is the smallest car sold in the U.S., but despite its diminutive status, its structure is advanced enough to make even the latest economy cars seem fragile and weak. Under the retro skin lay an unnaturally long wheelbase, ultra-strong pillars and a structure thats considerably stiffer than the current 3-Series. A multiplex wiring system, complex enough to humble even the smartest electrical engineers, allows the Cooper to feature all the technological safety goodies a top-tier BMW offers, including Automatic Stability Control and Traction Control (ASC+T), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and four-channel ABS. Should you manage to slip through the intuitive handling and brakes as well as the elaborate electronic safety net, a total of six smart airbags will protect driver and passenger.

As overheard from friends and family, the main gripes about the MINI Cooper is its interior size. There arent any complaints about the downright roomy front half of the cockpit, but in back its a different story. While the sculpted rear bench can seat two small adults, its not the ideal vehicle for long journeys. Entry and exit is an excruciating task because of the Coopers low roofline and a lack of rear doors. Trunk space is also limited to 5.29 cubic feet, the equivalent of two soft duffel bags. Weekly runs to the grocers may require the use of the back seats, or folding the seatbacks which allows for a total of 23.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Unfortunately, this sad factor limits the MINI second car status for most families, usually the commuter car for getting dad to work. Of course, making every commute an adventure wont cause dad too much distress. After all, the lack of room is the price you pay for also enjoying one of the worlds best rear suspension setups. Besides, no previous Mini ever had so much space in its second row, or in its trunk for that matter. The current MINI is a limo in comparison.

The second gripe, price is something that I feel is unjustifiably high, preventing many from seriously considering it. My Premium Package and Sport Package-equipped Cooper with Premium Stereo and hood stripes seems a poor value based on size and competition, but comparing the Cooper against compact cars, or even sports compacts is a wasted effort. It is a driving machine, a front-wheel drive junior-BMW wearing retro clothes and an iconic badge. It has the same technology, build quality, standard equipment and refinement as a BMW, and because of this it feels much like a BMW. From this perspective, the Coopers base sticker of $16,449 is worth every penny.

When the new MINI made its debut in 2001 the odds stacked against it were as big as they come. In comparison to the Europe-only Rover 75, current Range Rover and 2004 Rolls Royce Phantom, it was the most challenging vehicle BMW had to design, not only due to its un-BMW front-drive architecture, but mostly because the German automakers design team and engineers would be remaking an icon. In making the attempt they have succeeded in bringing to market one of the worlds most enticing cars, and in the process rejuvenating the small car segment in the U.S.

Looking back, nearly every car company over the past 40 years, regardless of nationality or background tried to improve on the modern car template outlined by Sir Alec Issigonis original Mini: a compact exterior, space-efficient interior and transverse front-engine, front wheel drive layout. To this date few have come close to matching the tiny cars attributes. In order to create a vehicle worthy of the original, BMW engineered the new MINI on a different set of principles, of which driving involvement, and lifestyle values such as image, quality and style were at the top. The proof is in the pudding, with 36,010 sold in the U.S. last year, and MINIs trophy case brimming with recognition and awards.

The subtle improvements served up by the 2005 facelift only accentuate the brilliance of this unique “British” car. Above all, its the reason why we dont need flying cars quite yet. For the time being, at least, we can remain very satisfied flying at low altitudes.