S Speccin' by Aiden,Jim,Mo,Martin,Rakey,Sham,Washy and others !

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

To be fair to Washy, I did point out a few "weak spots" to push and pull. Sorry about that. Even surprised Mr.G from the factory when I told him to try touching the same bits on his One.

I can't stop now.... To redress the balance Sandra's Cooper is very well made indeed, even better than my MCS. I would have no concern about buying a latest model car....

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

There's a few "not so good" bits on the hard top too, over the Convertible. Even someone very high up at MINI told me about those, in an apologetic sort of way.

Please tell me.

[Paul]

I thought you'd been around the MINI scene long enough not to trust the press reports. Remember the taped up Works S they all branded the "new facelifted MINI in testing", we said it wan't, and it wasn't. They have a track record of taking "elements of truth" and expanding at will, or finding a photo and just making up the text to match. Makes good reading, keeps people posting, but I wouldn't make any decisions based on anything much I read in the motoring press about "future models".

[AidenL]

I must admit, I'm quite happy with my 04, there are always a few backward steps, mostly due to cost-cutting with every 'facelift' I feel, that was part of the reason for my sudden order.........

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

I thought you'd been around the MINI scene long enough not to trust the press reports. Remember the taped up Works S they all branded the "new facelifted MINI in testing", we said it wan't, and it wasn't. They have a track record of taking "elements of truth" and expanding at will, or finding a photo and just making up the text to match. Makes good reading, keeps people posting, but I wouldn't make any decisions based on anything much I read in the motoring press about "future models".

True.

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by AidenL

I must admit, I'm quite happy with my 04, there are always a few backward steps, mostly due to cost-cutting with every 'facelift' I feel, that was part of the reason for my sudden order.........

I happy with my 03. There are a few niggles, like the odd creak from the dashboard but on the whole it's pretty solid. But I was hoping the 05 models would be rock solid, especially where the dashboard is concerned.

[AidenL]

The last of a line are always the best cars...........shook down, tried and tested, its a good policy to go for cars near the end of their run, if you don't mind missing out on the latest tweaks - fine by me, as the facelift on the S was relatively minor..........

[LMB]

Watching Top Gear - driving that Merc was like me yesterday in my Works on similar roads. It was awesome for overtaking.

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

Please tell me.

[Paul]

Nothing that's major, but just new niggles to replace the old really. New lights/buttons in the headlining, not good. New centre column/coin tray, not good. Fit of the dash trim on the Convetible near the a-pillars, not good, there was a few other fit and finish issues, but I can't recall them all just now. Exterior trim on the Convertible too, but I've been told that's sorted for production (the short chrome trim strips by the rear side windows being pulled up by the hood/glass!). Like I say, can't recall all the things now.

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Nothing that's major, but just new niggles to replace the old really. New lights/buttons in the headlining, not good. New centre column/coin tray, not good. Fit of the dash trim on the Convetible near the a-pillars, not good, there was a few other fit and finish issues, but I can't recall them all just now. Exterior trim on the Convertible too, but I've been told that's sorted for production (the short chrome trim strips by the rear side windows being pulled up by the hood/glass!). Like I say, can't recall all the things now.

So like all new Models. Cheers Paul.

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by AidenL

The last of a line are always the best cars...........shook down, tried and tested, its a good policy to go for cars near the end of their run, if you don't mind missing out on the latest tweaks - fine by me, as the facelift on the S was relatively minor..........

Wise move.

[AidenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

Wise move.

I like to think it was...............

[jimskater]

All this talk about niggles in the 05 is making me happy that I grabbed an 04. I must say that mine is rock solid. Took it on it's first real run today, did a 100 miles, not a rattle or a squeek. Did smoke the tires once or twice, pulling away from the line a little enthusiastically--but still under 4K... How, I don't know.


BTW, our mutual friend left me a couple of MINI warming presents.

[Shamster]

its always the case isn't it. Wait for the new model to settle down a bit due to teething problems or be first in the queue because its the latest thing.

There's a lot of sense here but how many of us are prepared to wait a few months or 1-2 yrs until initial problems get sorted out?

Not me - in fact think of the people who right now are paying premiums over list price to get amongst the first batch of convertibles.

I think I will wait this time - I was prepared to get an S convertible with Chili pack if I could've got an August build but that wasn't to be, so I'll probably wait a couple of years and see then.