This comes from a friend who got pretty lucky this evening…
Talk about being in the right place at the right time.. I was picking up my Cooper from its 2 year service tonight, and I stopped by to say hi to my favorite salesmen at Knauz MINI. David mentioned that they had just gotten a new Convertible Cooper S today.
Cool Blue with a blue top and blue leather interior. The leather looked more like an “off black” with reddish/orange stitching. Not bad, but not really blue. I didn’t see it with the top up, so I can’t comment on the color. The chrome gauges look very sharp (I was not expecting to like them), and I really like the body colored dash.
It was a few minutes before closing time, but David offered me a chance to be the first customer to take a test drive. It had been almost 2 years since my last test drive in an S, so of course I took him up on it.
Since the windshield is pretty far out in front of you, you really get a feeling of being out in the air. The view out the rear view mirror is a bit cut off due to the height of the top and the chrome rear seat roll bars, but not too bad. Wind protection is great at speeds of 70 and below (I did not try faster), and there is actually less noise than the Cooper with the sunroof open on the highway. WOW, I had forgotten about how much extra power there is in the supercharged engine. Everything was 15 mph or so faster than my usual speeds for a given road (which is actually part of the reason I bought the Cooper instead of the S in the first place). This 2005 model felt smoother and stronger off the line than I remember the early 2002 S version had been. The power rush and engine growl starting at 3500 rpm and beyond is incredible. The exhaust had a nice mellow raspy sound just off idle which was a pleasure to listen to. The six speed transmission does shift better than my 5 speed Cooper. It did not feel stiff, even though it had low miles on it, and the throws are a bit shorter than the 5 Speed’s. The ride was very compliant. I didn’t even take the time to see which wheels were on the car, but I believe they were 16 inch run-flats. There may have been a slight amount of windshield/cowl shake under power over rougher roads, or it may have just been the rear view mirror moving around a bit. Nothing to get upset over, the being out in the open more than makes up for it.
Nice touches on the 2005’s: The painted dash interior, chrome gauges. Nicer on the 2002: Steering wheel. I still like the 2 spoke wheel (although I do like the horn in the center). The leather is nice touch, compared to my stock plastic version. I didn’t play with the buttons, so I don’t know if they are good or bad. I also like the older style key. The newer one is smaller and more angular. I would most prefer a switchblade style key, even if it were a bit larger than the one I currently have.
All in all, a great ride. I am very grateful I had a chance to take it out for a little spin.
Convertible demos should be at many of the dealers throughout the US by now and customer cars should be coming within days.
Big thanks to Steve for sending this in!!!
<p>I just got my 2005 S and I think the engine sounds GREAT!</p>
<p>Did you take it over 4500 rpm?</p>
<p>So the stitching is on these cars. I saw the Cooper S convertibles at the Oxford plant, and they all had the red stitching on the seats. I think it looks really nice. No one has ever mentioned this feature, although I have brought it up a few times. Gabe, do you know anything more about this?</p>
<p>I think Cool blue will be the color. I saw a lot of these already, and when I was at the plant, it was there most popular color at the time.</p>
<p>It's dark orange stitching from what I remember and it's standard only on the dark blue leather seats – only available on the convertible unfortunately.</p>
<p>…for those in the Atlanta Area,I was told by the General Mgr. at Hank Arron MINI that the demo ragtop would be in during the first or second part of September. By the way,great story Gabe. I really could see myself in that car. Smile.</p>
<p>Hey im about to buy a 05MCS, can anyone who has one or has driven one tell me. is it really better than the 04? do you really feel the almost 7hp difference ??
please give me advices or tell me what u think! Thanks</p>
<p>Test drive the car before you buy it!</p>
<p>For those lucky enough to test drive the MINI verts, can you check to see if they have “wear” marks on the top (when top is up). This seems to be a major complaint at the MINI2.com website from early owners.</p>
<p>Jose – read my review of the 02 vs. 05. I'm the spotlight from August.</p>
<p>Here's the link to Kurt's Spotlight [<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2004/08/02/motoringfile_spotlight_kurt_collins">LINK</a>]</p>
<p>Jose, I test drove the 04 S last year, and recently test drove the 05 and placed my order when I got back. I wasn't able to notice the difference, but only because there was a year inbetween. Beyond the improved gearing and +7hp, the 05 is truly better in my opinion because of the myriad of other enhancements made. I think it's unanimous that this is the best coop yet.</p>
<p>Well, I just got back from a Saturday morning coffee run with the DFW MINI group, where I took one of my former employer's new Convertible demos.</p>
<p>I have to say that I am VERY, VERY impressed with the convertible. I took it out on the freeway last night with the top up and there is almost NO wind noise at 70 MPH. The new 5-speed is a HUGE improvement over the Midlands box, a little stiff at first, but they wear in really nicely.</p>
<p>This morning it was pouring down rain, so I couldn't drive it with the top down to the coffee run, but I can say that the car was rock-solid in the rain and with the top up there is no leaking or anything that people usually worry about with convertibles.</p>
<p>I just can't get over how quiet it was with the top up. Take a New Beetle convertible out on the freeway with the top up and it balloons like crazy as well as being super-noisy. The Cooper Convertible is as quiet as the hard top at freeway speeds, with no ballooning at all.</p>
<p>Well done, MINI!</p>
<p>Oh yeah, one other thing…</p>
<p>MINI USA is requiring that ALL dealers keep 1 MC Convertible and 1 MCS Convertible for demos in addition to the hardtop demos. Get down to your dealers for a test drive of this amazing car as soon as you get the chance!</p>
<p>(Note: Not all dealers will be keeping cars out of their launch inventory for demos, so they may not have them available right away.)</p>
<p>Superb to hear enlightened experiences with the drop-top! Thank you for sharing. Been tough deciding to buy after reading some owner reviews….</p>
<p>Q's for CABRIO drivers:
1) Is it concave inside with the top up?
2)Feel scary blind spots via reduced right/left visibility?</p>
<p>I saw the new convertible at MOTML.</p>
<p>It is terrific…but the view from the rear view mirror with the top up is horrible. It is obstructed by the safety bars behind the rear seat and a very small window. </p>
<p>Also, from the inside of the car, the scale of the window feels wrong. It seems like it was cobbled together, not well designed.</p>
<p>Rick: Yes, I did go a bit over 4500 rpm, but only because the car asked me to do it 😉 Since it was new (and not mine) I did drive with it with respect of course.</p>
<p>The view out the back is obstructed with the top down (I didn't drive it with the top up), but I think it is something you just get used to after a while. The view for shoulder checks when the top is down is fantastic of course.</p>
<p>Whitman: I was at a <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2004/06/29/mini_cabrio_in_person_again">showing</a> of the Cabrio back in June, and the inside feels pretty much like a regular MINI when the top is up, The back seat area is a touch narrower, and the top blocks some of the back seat window area, but it is not bad.</p>
<p>Having had the oppertunity to drive a Cooper S Cabrio this entire weekend, I can say with confidence that this car is BAD! Top up or down, it's GREAT!
I will be sad to let go of the key and allow customers to drive my new love!</p>
<p>Convertible MINIs are now at <a href="http://www.minipeabody.com">MINI Peabody</a> and pictures are on <a href="http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive/000450.shtml">my website</a>, including <a href="http://gbmini.net/gallery/2005convarrival/PICT0022">a shot of the rearview</a></p>
<p>Ian C. – Great Pics!!!</p>
<p>Is it me or did MiniUsa change the pattern on the blue and orange seats?</p>
<p>I swear that the orange on the bottom half of the seats had a different pattern when official pics were shown months ago.</p>
<p>I don't like the pattern of orange on the seats at all… I also remember the promo pics showing a pattern like that of the current lapis or cordoba beige sport seats. The new pattern looks incomplete.</p>
<p>Has anyone seen a hyper blue yet?</p>
<p>ordered that colour from photos seen here not due for 6-8 weeks</p>
<p>We have an All Hyper Blue S on the lot right now- I'm impressed with the color! It's nice.</p>
<p>Yeah HB is fantastic – you won't be dissapointed.</p>
<p>Congrats on the MCSC! My sister will be ordering version 2.0 of the MSCS. She doesn't like buying first edition cars (being a guinea pig and all). To “foolsdragon – it's an outright lie to say that the NBC with the top up is noisy-it isn't. Ballooning? Are you crazy? It's suppose to mimic the roof the the tin NB! It's stretch so tightly so it won't balloon.</p>