HarryHBMCC
Oct 25th, 2009, 11:29 AM
Took almost 8 weeks from ordering to pickup and I've been oogling the next generation ragtop since last winter so it felt like forever before I got it but at last it's here!
So, what do I like better over the 2005 Cooper convertible? The engine obviously with about 60 BHP more and over 70 ft-lb more torque with overboost. The tranny with 6 gears and hill assist. The rear visibility with the power roll bars. The top works much better, can be put up and down at low speeds instead of just while at a stop and operates much quicker. The new h/k with 10 speakers and the big amp is great, much louder and still no distortion. Bigger brakes. Little touches like the settable mood lighting colors and the time open gauge which I'll have buried in no time, the extra dash cubby.
What don't I like as much? I wish there was body coloured interior panels with Laser Blue as I enjoyed that with Hyper Blue. Horizon Blue gets it this year but I found that colour was too dark for my tastes. Still, having a change is nice so I do like this interior (I also went without interior chrome this time finding it a bit dazzling in the sun with the top down). And the engine note of all things, I hope it improves a bit otherwise I'll have to change something in the exhaust as my 2005 sounded much better, the 2010 is too quiet to be honest!
What didn't I get in my spec but should have? I had the Universal Remote in my 2005 and somehow left it off my 2010 spec. Ah well, hand held remotes work fine. I'm sure it would be $1000 to retrofit as the whole dichromic mirror would likely need to be changed so not worth it.
What may I miss? In winter in deep snow I usually turn the traction control OFF but I wonder if I'll miss DTC. I didn't get it as it is in the Sport package here which gives you other wheels (2-piece web spoke or black star) neither which I fancied and the sport suspension (I find the regular S suspension is tight enough, with our awful roads I figured a tighter suspension would be back breaking in the long run). So I left that package out which is the only way to spec DTC with the electronic pseudo-diffy. Hopefully I won't miss it. And the JCW package which I think is too much power for FWD (I go through tires like crazy with a 115HP Cooper so I'm really heavy on the pedal) and is expensive but again I hope I don't miss it though perhaps I could get the tuning kit to help the exhaust noise.
OK, onto pictures...
New 2010 Cooper S Laser Blue convertible and old 2005 Cooper Hyper Blue convertible (have to change my username again):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4039830845_e4a3b5f52b_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4039830845_e4a3b5f52b_b.jpg)
The scoop, no longer a fakey! New for 2010 it seems they put some holes in the scoop blocker so it is now a semi-functional hood scoop:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/4039839129_7c01160484_m.jpg
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/4039839129_7c01160484_b.jpg)
Under the hood:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/4040622136_6f0c2b603b_m.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/4040622136_6f0c2b603b_b.jpg)
Low rollbars, hooray! With the top up you can even see out the back now, what a concept ;-)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4040606630_ef3c34d7a6_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4040606630_ef3c34d7a6_b.jpg)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4039852881_fbf2fce162_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4039852881_fbf2fce162_b.jpg)
Interior with 10 speaker harman/kardon amazing sound!!!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/4039846629_1163026029_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/4039846629_1163026029_b.jpg)
Going to see if I can bury the needle on the always open timer. Let's hope it works at -20C!!!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/4040600432_4e0e01e11e_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/4040600432_4e0e01e11e_b.jpg)
If you aren't bored already you can see more at:
2010 MINI Cooper S convertible - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hpulley/sets/72157622653492450/)
More to come soon when the weather clears for longer. I enjoyed the sun we got today to drive rather than take sunny pics.
Harry
So, what do I like better over the 2005 Cooper convertible? The engine obviously with about 60 BHP more and over 70 ft-lb more torque with overboost. The tranny with 6 gears and hill assist. The rear visibility with the power roll bars. The top works much better, can be put up and down at low speeds instead of just while at a stop and operates much quicker. The new h/k with 10 speakers and the big amp is great, much louder and still no distortion. Bigger brakes. Little touches like the settable mood lighting colors and the time open gauge which I'll have buried in no time, the extra dash cubby.
What don't I like as much? I wish there was body coloured interior panels with Laser Blue as I enjoyed that with Hyper Blue. Horizon Blue gets it this year but I found that colour was too dark for my tastes. Still, having a change is nice so I do like this interior (I also went without interior chrome this time finding it a bit dazzling in the sun with the top down). And the engine note of all things, I hope it improves a bit otherwise I'll have to change something in the exhaust as my 2005 sounded much better, the 2010 is too quiet to be honest!
What didn't I get in my spec but should have? I had the Universal Remote in my 2005 and somehow left it off my 2010 spec. Ah well, hand held remotes work fine. I'm sure it would be $1000 to retrofit as the whole dichromic mirror would likely need to be changed so not worth it.
What may I miss? In winter in deep snow I usually turn the traction control OFF but I wonder if I'll miss DTC. I didn't get it as it is in the Sport package here which gives you other wheels (2-piece web spoke or black star) neither which I fancied and the sport suspension (I find the regular S suspension is tight enough, with our awful roads I figured a tighter suspension would be back breaking in the long run). So I left that package out which is the only way to spec DTC with the electronic pseudo-diffy. Hopefully I won't miss it. And the JCW package which I think is too much power for FWD (I go through tires like crazy with a 115HP Cooper so I'm really heavy on the pedal) and is expensive but again I hope I don't miss it though perhaps I could get the tuning kit to help the exhaust noise.
OK, onto pictures...
New 2010 Cooper S Laser Blue convertible and old 2005 Cooper Hyper Blue convertible (have to change my username again):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4039830845_e4a3b5f52b_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4039830845_e4a3b5f52b_b.jpg)
The scoop, no longer a fakey! New for 2010 it seems they put some holes in the scoop blocker so it is now a semi-functional hood scoop:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/4039839129_7c01160484_m.jpg
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/4039839129_7c01160484_b.jpg)
Under the hood:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/4040622136_6f0c2b603b_m.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/4040622136_6f0c2b603b_b.jpg)
Low rollbars, hooray! With the top up you can even see out the back now, what a concept ;-)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4040606630_ef3c34d7a6_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4040606630_ef3c34d7a6_b.jpg)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4039852881_fbf2fce162_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4039852881_fbf2fce162_b.jpg)
Interior with 10 speaker harman/kardon amazing sound!!!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/4039846629_1163026029_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/4039846629_1163026029_b.jpg)
Going to see if I can bury the needle on the always open timer. Let's hope it works at -20C!!!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/4040600432_4e0e01e11e_m.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/4040600432_4e0e01e11e_b.jpg)
If you aren't bored already you can see more at:
2010 MINI Cooper S convertible - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hpulley/sets/72157622653492450/)
More to come soon when the weather clears for longer. I enjoyed the sun we got today to drive rather than take sunny pics.
Harry