2005 Mini Cooper Review

Specifications

The Same, Only Better

Climbing into the MINI Cooper is much like climbing into the Audi TT; theres no center armrest to brace oneself against. Vehicles without this much anticipated ingress aid ought to be clearly marked with a warning sticker big enough to be viewed from across the street. I jest of course, but the absence of a center armrest sticks in my craw like nylon to Velcro, especially when the offending vehicle is a pricey import.

Although an armrest isnt one of the gains for 2005, horsepower is, but only in the Cooper S. Its supercharged 1.6-liter (98 cu in) 4-banger has been enriched with an extra five ponies for a total output of 168-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 162 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. Also on the credit side of the balance sheet are new headlights and taillights, plus a revised front fascia and grille. Under the debit column is the MINIs roof, which is gone. For 2005 the MINI is available as a convertible, featuring a power-retractable fabric roof.

The drop-top arrangement is really quite a slick design, which can be partially retracted to create a sunroof effect over the front seats or opened fully to expose all four seating positions to the sun, stars, and wind - of which there is plenty. This isnt one of those cabriolets that minimizes buffeting and hair repositioning with the use of pop-up screens and turbulence-reducing roll bars. Expect a full-on hurricane at high speeds, making music hard to hear and complaints from rear seat passengers even harder. But if its wind in the cheeks and go-cart performance that puts a smile on your face, the MINI Cooper S convertible will stretch your kisser ear to ear, its just that much fun.

Unfortunately practicality sometimes impedes upon fun, and in the MINI, practical impediments can be severe. Legroom in the two-person rear bench is crushing unless the front seats are moved far forward, more so than I as a long-legged driver can tolerate.

Combined with its limited human space is limited cargo capacity. The trunk, or boot- reminiscent of the original Austin Mini, is dreadfully small. Folding the rear seatbacks down increases the MINIs cargo volume significantly, but its still no wagon any way you slice it.

I found capacity limitations in the MINI convertible a little frustrating to live with. The vehicle is clearly targeted at youthful, active urbanites. So where do the skis go? How does the bike rack attach and what about the white water kayak? Theres no provision for installing a roof rack to the soft-top. On several occasions I stood my road-bike on its rear wheel behind the front passenger seat and let the frame and front wheel extend above the interior of the car like a NASA satellite dish; great on a sunny day, but otherwise impractical.

Extraneous accommodation issues aside, the MINI Cooper S possesses many fine automotive talents sure to please even the most jaded of commuters, starting with its gutsy powerplant and robust exhaust note. Listen carefully and the hiss of the supercharger is plainly audible at low rpm levels, a device that gives the little mill plenty of low-end torque. Dip the right foot and the engines punch firmly kicks-in as the tachometer needle swings past 2,500 on the dial. For such a small engine, it produces an astonishing powerband as wide and flat as the Prairies. Accompanying a run to the 6,800 rpm redline is a Kujo-like growl from the center-mounted twin exhaust tips.

Making full use of the generous powerband in my Cooper S tester was a cinch thanks to its slick-shifting 6-speed manual gearbox. Throws were clear and direct, although not as well defined as in the Honda Accord Coupe I recently tested. The Coopers clutch actuation was progressive, leading to smooth gear changes and engine engagements.

Beyond the spirited mechanicals of the Cooper S, what really stands-out in my mind is its deft agility and instantaneous steering response. Partnering its diminutive size and bulk with massive-for-a-MINI, 17-inch 205/45/R Dunlop Sport 9000 rubber, enabled the little cart to attack twists and turns with inertia-defying speed. Rapid directional changes occur without front-end plow or significant understeer, both of which often beguile front-wheel-drive formats. Playing with a radio-controlled car gives one a sense of the MINI Coopers cornering ability.

Should someone “let the dogs out” in the course of a hard turn or when the pavement runs slippery, an available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) program will intervene, cutting engine output and applying wheel-specific braking in an effort to re-kennel the hounds. My guess is that any activation of the DSC program will almost assuredly be due to slippery road conditions. With pavement as dry as chalk, the road adhesion ability of the MINI Cooper S is outstanding. Purposely pushing the Cooper S hard enough on public roadways to awaken the DSC electronics is plain crazy.

However there are those that live on the edge, and for them and for all MINI drivers, the Cooper S is fitted with incredibly effective 4-wheel antilock disc brakes. My convertible tester weighed-in at just 2,838 pounds and came to such immediate stops I no longer have a receding hairline. Nosedive was minimal during these maneuvers and vehicle control was never placed in doubt.

Overall, the MINI Cooper S is an interesting study in emotions. Its connection to the long gone, but highly revered Austin Mini is as much spiritual as conceptual, even if German auto giant BMW is MINIs parent company. Under BMWs guidance, the MINI has returned as a highly respectable performer. From day one I have been head-over-heals with its retro-design, including the homage its interior architecture pays to the original Brit. The large, centrally mounted speedometer is a work of art and the after-market-looking tachometer mounted on the steering column is an example of pure genius in automotive design - too bad its somewhat obscured by the rim of the steering wheel.

The MINI Cooper S with a Sport Package rides on the firm side, but it does so as a solid unit thanks to a very rigid body shell, something not all convertibles can attest to. And not all convertibles can attest to the splendid array of comfort and convenience amenities delivered as standard Cooper S equipment, including frontal airbags and side airbags for both the driver and front seat passengers, and Park Distance Control warning - the latter item being most useful given the convertibles poor rearward visibility with the roof up or down.

Standard Cooper S convertible fare also includes a power-operated soft-top, power windows, keyless entry, cruise control and air conditioning - basically all the content we have come to expect in well-equipped modern automobiles. The midtown Cooper S convertible can be sent uptown with several options groups including a Premium Package, the aforementioned Sport Package and a Convenience Package in addition to a Cold Weather Package. Among these packages are such goodies as Harmon Kardon premium audio, automatic climate control, a limited slip differential, a 6-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic manual actuation via paddle shifters, a multifunction steering wheel, heated seats, and a navigation system.

So in the final analysis, the MINI Cooper S convertible is more about broad smiles than broad loads; and more about fun for two than fun for four. Nevertheless, this is a very capable sports car with refinement and luxury beyond expectation - that is until its sticker shock hits. Unlike the original Austin Minis premise of frugality, todays MINI is more about personality and performance, all of which comes at a steep price of entry.

Just the same, for those willing to buck up for some serious style and driving thrills, the MINI Cooper S convertible can be personalized with a long list of accessories and classic appearance enhancements, such as stripes, checker boards and Union Jacks. Sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same. After all, the MINI is still built in jolly old England.