MCS Wins MotorTrend Test

Sections: In the Press Jan 12th, 2005 31 Comments

This month's MotorTrend has a comparison between 5 small cars including the a new 2005 MCS. To the surprise of probably few here the MCS walked away with top honors. The most notable thing about the test however was the incredible 0-60 time that MT recorded – 6.4 seconds. This time is almost a full second faster than thir previous time for a '03 MCS. Obviously there should be a change due to the increase in horsepower, torque and the shorter gear ratios, however almost a full second is hard to imagine. Or maybe not.

The article is not yet available online but is in this month's issue available at newsstands now.

FYI – Here's a NAM thread on the difference in feel from a heavily modded '03 to a bone stock '05. A word of warning… if you don't have an '05 and currently have no plans of upgrading you might want to skip this thread. For those with an '05 or have plans to purchase one – enjoy!

Written By: MF Reader

Ben

Well thats great to hear! Did it have a LSD? I just ordered my '05 MCS yesterday. It's going to have the LSD and just about everything else that it can come with from the factory, except the sunroof.
http://www.gbmini.net/ Ian

I believe it … as I wrote last year the stock '05 performs as well as my JCW equipped '03, off the line.
Jim

This car was an early '05 no-option stripper, MSRP $20,449, thus no LSD. I'm sure the 0-60 time was aided by the fact that this was the lightest MCS you can buy.
Josh

What were the other cars they tested? RSX? tC? Cobalt?
Nozz

Sweetness! I just placed an order for a red on red, MCS with the JCW kit and LSD, and all the packages. Bring it on. Now, I just have to wait 6 months. Damn!

Nozz
tetrax

Wow.. Has anyone seen any 0-60 numbers for an '05 MCS with the JCW kit? Motor Trend gives the '03 MCS 0-60 in 7.2s, while the '03 JCW MCS gets there in 6.2. If they claim the stock MCS does it in 6.4.. Wow.

Can't wait for my '05 MCS with JCW and LSD. :)
SuperCharged

That's great news… I am expecting my 05 HB/W MCS (with bonnet stripes) with most extras in about a month. Looking forward to it.
allan MICHAEL

That is why my '05 MCS with a 17% pulley, CAI, lowering springs,and short shift kit– just flies!!!!

allan
allan MICHAEL

,,,so, i gues i gotta be rite near 6.0 sec.

:)

allan
DutchMINI

According to the Dutch MINI-site (for those of you who can read Dutch: http://www.mini.nl) the Ã¢â‚¬â„¢05 JCW MCS should do a 0-62 mph (100 kmh) sprint in 6.6 seconds. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a bit strange that they did it in 6.4 with a standard MCS. Maybe they forgot to look under the bonnetÃ¢â‚¬Â¦
michael Boice

Strange yes. I too am wondering just how quick my 05 JCW is; 2,561 lbs with very light BBS wheels. The Mini S tested had the standard 16″ wheels with all-season Dunlop run-flats. Not sure how much these affect acceleration, but they do lengthen braking distances and limit cornering and slalom speeds. I'll tell you this much; my 05 had a late 04 JCW kit installed (the exhaust hangers being the only real difference). It now has the complete 05 JCW kit. The car felt a bit more punchy without the 05 upgrades. There is, by way of my fanny dyno, some flattening of the power curve. It is still quick, but it feels 10-15hp shy of 210hp
suoersand

I wonder why the official MINI 05 specs lists the 0-60 time as 6.8 sec only 1/10 faster than previous model years.
SuperCharged

I think the revised ratios and small power increase in the 05 spec is more significant when it comes to overtaking than it is in acceleration. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it doesnt show up in 0-60 as well. I personally think that there may be a bit of an error in the calculation of the 0-60 times spoken about above. Just my opinion.
Erik

Their test MCS should have had an open diff. as the LSD only entered production Jan. '05. I wonder if Mini slipped a preproduction unit in there???

My MCS w/LSD should have rolled off the line yesterday….the wait is killing me!

-Erik
Christian

Motor Trend 0-60 times have historically been more optimistic compared to other car magazines. I subscribed to all of them one time or another.
05DSMCS

So can someone let us know what other cars it is is being compared to?
GB

From their website it looks like:

Ford Focus ZX4 ST, Mazda3 5-Door, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, and Scion tC
Frank

After reading about the improved performance in the '05 MCS, I am seriously considering selling my '04 MCS with 17K troublefree miles and upgrade to a new '05 MCS. The availability of LSD is also pretty tempting too.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Frank – you aren't the only one :)
Frank

Hey Gabe, spill the beans!
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Well you didn't hear it from me… but I heard one of the guys responsible for MotoringFile is seriously thinking about selling his trusy MC and stepping into an '05 MCS :)
http://mini.uglydoris.com Sean Bartnik

It seems that when the manufacturers release 0-60 times they are always conservative. The motoring press always seems to get faster times. I'm sure the manufacturer doesn't want to specify a time that the press cannot match!

At any rate, the '05 feels much quicker than the '04 and earlier.

We have a client at the dealer with an '04 JCW MCS who came in and drove our '05 non-JCW MCS demo car. When he came back he said, “I wouldn't have gotten the JCW kit.”

I've driven an '04 JCW MCS. It's great. But the stock 168-hp '05 MCS feels as quick, if not quicker. Gearing makes a huge difference and the '05 MCS is proof of that. I didn't think it could possibly be that big a difference until I drove an '05.
allan MICHAEL

MT and Car & Driver pound thes cars out for test that the manufacturer would never do. [but we would:)]

allan
Eric

From their website it looks like:

Ford Focus ZX4 ST, Mazda3 5-Door, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, and Scion tC

If this is true, then the result was DEFINITELY never in doubt.
MINIpablo

I have the issue, and the cars finished, 5th- Focus; 4th- tC; 3rd- Lancer; 2nd- mazda3; 1st- Cooper S.
The article says they were just as shocked to see almost a full second come off of the 0-60 time from their last Cooper S, but they do seem to have one of the best drivers out there.
BrantV

Does anyone know when (i.e. what season of the year) the 03 test was performed?

I say that because in southern CA, I've been enjoying the extra oomph from the colder more humid air temperatures of the last month or so. Really, really, really enjoying it :-)

6.4 seems totally obtainable if not slow to the adrenaline soaked butt meter.
Johnny

Yeah, their line up is completely illogical. The competition should have been GTi V, RSX-S, tC with supercharger, and Cobalt SS. Then it would have been genuinely interesting.
BillW

I don't have much to add…just to say that I just checked Onwer's Lounge and discovered that my W/W MCS w/LSD has been built!! I am going a little nuts here!Gotta call my dealer for the ETA. I am trading in an '02 325I, and this post has me thinking that's a good call. I love my 3-series, but I am now a MINI addict.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Bill – I traded my 325i for my MINI almost 3 years ago :) No regrets!
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=14409 Chris Kaminsky

Yup, I also traded my '89 325I in on an '04 BRG/WHT MC last April. And now I find myself putting on twice the mileage, getting twice the economy, all while enjoying it twice as much! :)
Frank

OK, I test drove a new '05 MCS hardtop yesterday (Stock) and whooooa! The low end in the new '05s is soo much stronger coming out of 1st and second gears that I would call it “Neck snapping”. The acceleration reminds me of '02-04 MCS equipped with the 200HP JCW Kit. Yes it is that good.

Needless to say, I already put my order for a new MCS….

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