2005 BMW Mini Cooper from UK and Ireland - Comments

Only problem I have had with the MINI was after the first oil change (11900miles) when the oil filter seal was fitted incorrectly and the oil leaked out under pressure, dealer came out within 2 hours, replaced the filter, topped up the oil and gave us a full valet and undercar degrease.

My 05 Electric Blue Body and Black Roofed MINI Cooper was specced up with £4500 of options as new, and has had the John Cooper Works Sound Kit fitted recently. It has given me more smiles per mile than any other vehicle I have ever driven!

Original spec includes chilli pack, panoramic sunroof, full leather seats, chrono pack, harmmon kardon 400 watt hifi, 6 disc boot changer, bonnet stripes, sports suspension plus, folding heated mirrors, chrome line interior and exterior and factory fitted alarm.

As stock the Cooper is pretty quick, with excellent handling characteuristics, the Sports Suspension Plus is harsh at low speeds, but excellent when you get above 40mph. Acceleration was good, but the real torque didn't cut in until 4000revs, now with the JCW Sound kit the car is much more responsive throughout the whole rev range!

Looks wise the car is stunning, and build quality is excellent, really gives you a feel of a much bigger and more expensive vehicle!

I have nothing bad to say about my MINI, sure the boot space is limited, but I didn't buy her for carrying things in, I bought her to have fun and as a reasonably economical means of rather quick transport!

These aint fast, if you want a quick one it has to be the special edition s works with 210bhp the rest are gutless and boring.

I had a Mini Cooper as a courtesy car for a week and all I can say is that the car did not live up to all the hype surrounding it. In my personal opinion if you are over 6ft in height the car is uncomfortable and both rear and front visibility are poor. If your shoe size is anything over size 10 you are doomed to braking while accelerating and inadvertently braking while down shifting. The rear view mirror position is appalling and obstructs your forward view and if you can get anyone in the rear seats (children only) you will have almost zero vision from the rear view mirror. The gear shift was beautiful, tight and slick, the interior is beautiful to look at, but not practical. Who needs a speedo the size of a dinner plate? Another annoying feature is the door pockets. They look great, but get anything in there like a remote for the gates and you will be literally left like me having to open the door to get the control out unless you have hands that are the size of a cd cover. Acceleration for such a small engine was good and it is quite economical. The seats are definately not good for long distances as they felt under padded and uncomfortable after 30 minutes. The car is almost glued to the road and handling was very good and the brakes were good as well. Nothing much happens acceleration wise till after 3,000 rpm, but its quite a heavy body which always feels safe.

This car is perfectly formed, especially for those of us who are vertically challenged.

I've had my Cooper S since March this year and I love it. It handles like a dream and sticks to the road like glue. It is a hard ride, but who buys one for comfort? This car is quick and looks good. I have a permanent smile on my face every time I get in it.

The fuel consumption isn't great, but if you want to drive a supercharged car, then you have to be prepared to keep visiting the petrol station.

I cannot believe people spend this much money on these cars, and then even more getting the specification to something resembling decent. For the same outlay you can have a late, low mileage "proper" (i.e. German built) BMW which trounces it in every way, or for less, a hot hatch which out performs, out handles and out specs it. Focus ST? Golf GTI?

Cooper S with options, or a 2003 BMW 330Ci with 20k, a full BMW warranty, free servicing for 18 months and enough left over for a fortnight in a 4* hotel in Lanzarote? That was a tough one for me, I can tell you.

RE comments from 6th Jul 2006. You can get a used 2005 Cooper S works (210bhp) with around 20k for about £15k which is an absolute bargain in my book. The MINI is just about the best handling FWD car out there and a Cooper S Works would put an ST or a GTI to shame around a track. As for straight line speed theres not much in it either, may be half a car's length? Not much anyway, it's certainly not outperformed in any department.

If you wish to follow the crowd and buy a Focus or a Golf then that's your choice, everyones entitled to one, but I for one (and many other MINI owners) like a car to be different, exciting, good to drive, all of which contributing to a great ownership experience.

And best of all I'm very happy with my free servicing for the next 5-years and my MINI warranty. Try driving one then come back with a more constructive comment.

I am not personally an owner of a mini, but my brother is. Regarding the comment on size and practicality of the mini, I will say this. My brother is 6'8". He loves his mini because it actually and very surprisingly fits him best, and he was VERY picky about choosing a car, for the very reason of his height. He loves his mini. No problems.

By all means, buy a BMW or a VW. Or you could buy a MINI and keep the good British workers of Cowley in decent occupation in good old England. My new R56 MINI Cooper is fantastic. It's no road rocket, but it has more character and soul than and BMW or VW will ever have, and it will have a much better resale value in 2 years time.

Referring to some of the comments; people who buy the BMW Mini probably want a Mini and not a BMW. There is quite a difference!

And how much power the car has is not always of interest. The car with the most power is not necessarily the fastest - if that's important anyway.

RE comments from 12th Jul 2006 - the Cooper S works is still no match in performance or handling for a 330i Sport. The wrong wheels are driven, and no forced induction 1600cc Chrysler engine is going to be a match for the crisp, snarling, VANOS equipped straight six in the Beemer. No irritating supercharger whine, no anodyne four cylinder hum.

You will never convince me that the Focus ST or Golf GTI don't do significantly more, for a lot less cash. And yes, I have driven a Cooper S. A £10k car masquerading as a £15k one. On an engineering level, there is nothing in it at all that justifies the sticker price. You're paying for the BMW name.

Your comment that buying a MINI is somehow a symbol of individuality and "being different" cannot be serious. I don't know where you live, but these things are absolutely everywhere round these parts.

I have an 05 cooper s works and as for an annoying whine from the supercharger, you sound like a 60 year old, it is an awesome sound! They are amazing cars that is why you see a lot of them but they are all quite unique because of the huge accessories available! a golf gti and focus sts are very good also but don't slag off the cooper s because if you read any reviews, they are fantastic!