With the door about to close on 2005 I thought it might a good time to take a look back. As you can expect it’s been a ton of fun covering the MINI world on Motoringfile this year. We’ve hosted our fair share of scoops and lively discussions throughout 2005.
First up, here are my personal picks for the top ten stories of the last year (drum roll please):
10. MotoringFile Analysis: JCW GP
9. 2006 Special Editions Announced
7. MINI Wins at Targa Newfoundland
6. Factory JCW Kit Confirmed for 2006
5. Getrag’s All Wheel Drive MINI In-Depth
4. Behind the Wheel of the 2007 MINI
3. Official Images of The MINI Frankfurt Concept
2. John Cooper Works GP Kit First Pics
And the number one story of the year…
1. The Next Generation MINI Revealed
Beyond the top ten there were a few more categories that I personally found pretty interesting. The three stories about the selling, ordering and then buying of my new 2005 Cooper S featured some pretty entertaining commetary from MotoringFile readers:
However if you want some really lively discussion you’ll want to start with our coverage of the JCW GP, the introduction of the factory JCW kit, and the Frankfurt and Tokyo MINI Concepts:
John Cooper Works GP Kit First Pics
Factory JCW Kit Confirmed for 2006
Official Images of The MINI Frankfurt Concept
Official Images of The MINI Tokyo Concept
Thanks to all the MotoringFile readers and contributors for making 2005 so much fun. And here’s to an even better year ahead with 2006!
Gabe, thanks for all the fun, hope you have a great 2006!
muchos gracias gabe – and a happy and healthy 2006 to you!
cheers – drew
Gabe
What would MINI enthusiasts do without you! Great job for’05. I’m sure ’06 will be just as entertaining. Thanks for all your hard work.
Best in ’06
Well, who could forget Motoringfile’s 2005 “Brazilian engine”/”not a French engine” mini-controversy? That one nearly caused a riot in Rio. 🙂
Still waiting for a story on New colors and a story on new cloth seats. Hopefully the seat thing will be figured out by february. We really want cloth.
-Larkin
…and there should ALWAYs be a yellow swatch in the configurator.
thanks for a great year, Gabe!
Larkin,
If I’m not mistaken, cloth seats are still available, just not that specific <strong>color</strong> of cloth seats…
Happy New Year, Gabe! Hope to read some more ground-breaking MINI stories in 2006!
Many Thanks to Gabe and all those who contributed to this site in 2005. I learned a great deal about MINI’s this year and I’m very excited about ordering my ’06 next spring.
Thanks for all the news updates, Gabe!
MotoringFile is part of my daily routine. I couldn’t imagine life without it.
Happy New Year!!!
Gabe & Co. – thank you for your wonderful website! I look forward to another great year of MINI news.
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year, Gabe! Thanks for providing my first stop on the web each day. Your sources are remarkable, reliable and make great reading. Now we need to get a garage for the MINI!
Paul
Thanks everyone! BTW I can’t believe no one as commented on how dirty my MCS is 🙂
Gabe,
Dirty?
What I noticed was how nice it was you parked far from the curb to keep your wheels un-scratched!
Doesn’t that come with the climate.
As others have said, MF is a daily habit – many thanks to Gabe and everyone that contributes here for making it a fun, informative place to spend a few minutes each day.
…Gabe, for us Northerners snow, slush, and salt are facts of life that we are forced to accept – which explains why at least some of us look past the grime and see the beauty beneath! 😉
Besides that, I think the photo is apropos. Symbolically, it was a good selection. It is the tail end of a year about MINI – and the tail end of a MINI. Any of us who have motored (literally or figuratively) this year have gotten a little dirty in the process. It is a sign that we actually did something. It is good to get dirty – at least once and a while – and it is good to get clean again. 😀
<blockquote>…Gabe, for us Northerners snow, slush, and salt are facts of life that we are forced to accept – which explains why at least some of us look past the grime and see the beauty beneath! ;-)</blockquote>
Oh yeah… i know snow, slush, and salt all too well growing up in the northern midwest 😉 I was actually referencing a post a while back with a picture of my engine bay. It was pointed out that parts of it were slightly dirty.
Thanks for another wonderful year of MINI coverage, Gabe.
And HAPPY NEW YEAR to all MF readers!
Gabe thank you for all you do I’m so glad I found your site in ’05!
Happiest of New Year’s to you and all the MotoringFile readers and contributors! Here’s to another great year of Mini news and Mini motoring joy! Cheers!
Happy New Year and thanks for doing such a great job!
Thanks for a great 2005. We have been viewers for about eight months. Our 2006 MC Hyperblue/Black Chrome SP PP HK DSCIII Anthracite & chrome everywhere just arrived yesterday. Happy New Year to all Motoringfiler’s; special kudos to Gabe, family & friends. 2006 is going to be five times better than 2005, you’ll see. Here’s a teaser for the upcoming Detroit Motor Show 2006. (“Winter Sports”)
[Winter Sports Mini Cocept in Detroit](<a href="http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1135858314862&call_pageid=970599119419" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1135858314862&call_pageid=970599119419</a>)
All the Best to Everyone in 2006…Happy Motoring 2006
Looks like the just used the previous Frankfurt concept for the photos. The car should be shown to a few select people next week and then will debut the following week. Should be fun. Wish I could make it for the press days.
Well, THANKS Gabe for 2005 ! Updates infos forums . Well you will have to come over here have some sun and warm water …
I’ve posted a few photos on our map site, of my new mcsw , arrived today !! ..your fault ..
Thanks again for your job !!
“iaorana i te matahiti api “
somake – you have one of the best looking MINIs I’ve ever seen. I love the color combo! Do you have any more pics?