Astro Black is here !

[alinnes]

Just picked up my '05 Astro Black / White. Here is a pic (if it works) to get you going. Have posted a few more in my personal gallery.

Have to confess that taking photos of a Black car in sunshine was a bit of a challenge and I've reduced the resolution so hope they post OK.

[alinnes]

By the way, mine is the first '05 delivered by dealer, Barons Hindhead.

[robfenn]

Wow, fantastic. Facelift looks cuter too! Mine will be the same externally..

How long did you wait for it?

I can't wait now!

-Rob

[alinnes]

Was very lucky, ordered car on 18th June was built 1st July and turned up at dealer on 8th.

[robfenn]

That is good.

I will now sit here being exceedling jealous

[robfenn]

P.S Have you got a big version, of the second picture you could send me? Ideally 1024x768 for my computer?

-Rob

[kimd]

Hi alinnes - are you pleased with the colour? I have same (without roof) coming next week but haven't seen the astro black on a MINI in the flesh yet, so it's quite exciting!

[radar_station]

I have the exact same on order (even down to the alloys). Looks really cool, mine is due late sept/oct - but having a dilemma, have ordered privacy glass (rear windows tinted) but am having second thoughts, does anyone have an opinion?

Thanks for the photo's, has convinced me I have made the right colour choice.

[robfenn]

I wouldn't get tints on a black car, especially just rears. It will look like a van. Doesn't mean you won't like it though, which is the point. Plus you can get up to all sorts of things in the back!

-Rob

[alinnes]

Am really pleased with the colour - I wanted Black / white, my wife wanted Pepper White / Black.

The colour looks black but on closer inspection and in sunlight it has a definite blue/black look to it. I wouldn't change it for any other colour now I've got it.

If any of you do have the chance to amend spec, the one thing I think really finishes the car off is the Anthracite headlining - the best £100 I spec'd on the car by far.

I don't have darkened glass and if I had the choice again I'd probably go for it if you can afford it - but not over the Anthracite headlining by a long way.

Robfen, I'll pm you the photo you're after but I took them on 640x480 so I could get them onto the thread. Will take some higher resolution photos for my personal gallery at weekend.

[L13 Cooper]

Hey alinnes love the car, im waiting for my astro black, do you have any pictures of Anthracite Headlining? i might spec it if it looks good

Love the car

[alinnes]

No, but I'll take some tomorrow. Don't know if the pics will do it justice, but it's definitely worth it - looks fantastic in the flesh believe me.

[Tracie]

Congrats..colour looks fab!

[alinnes]

Ok, so the 05 Cooper is really cool and here's a quick update after day 3.

1) Astro Black is phemomenal (personal taste of course) but I really wouldn't change for any other colour.

2) The anthracite headlining is awesome - I take the view that I spend more time looking at the inside of my car than the outside, so this being my second Mini (previous was Indi/White MCS) getting the correct interior spec was really important.

3) In line with above, my main regret from the MCS was lack of panoramic roof which I've put right with this one. Wouldn't be without it.

4) Interior chrome pack is pretty smart - recommended.

5) Originally ordered the chrono pack, saw a few pics and decided that the central speedo was such an integral Mini design feature that I deleted the chrono pack- no regrets on that score as I saw one on a MCC they had in showroom and really didn't like it at all.

6) New 05 Boost single CD does play MP3's (but not WMA's) but I have to confess that I'm underwhelmed by the sound quality. On reflection wish I'd held back the £210 quid and spent on an aftermarket HU. I went for the Mini unit purely from an ergonomic perspective and whilst it looks good, I want to source most of my sounds from my Ipod and as such the main priority for my aftermarket iPod set-up will be usability and particularly the ability to navigate folders and view ID tags on the HU screen (which you cant on the 05 Mini HU)

7) Performance - a bit early to say really. As a downtrader from MCS ( do so few miles I really didn't get value for money from MCS) I really notice a big difference, not off the mark where the Cooper is nippy, but particularly in 2nds gear where the gearing of the Cooper doesn't feel quite right - a bit flat. But hey, the car car is brand new and needs to loosen up a bit and anyway what should I expect going from 165 to 115 BHP.

8) Build quality - seems loads better that on my 03 MCS - tighter all round and more attention to detail.

Overall - early days as yet. The main things I'd really point out are the colour which is really cool but difficult to describe (and I appreciate that colour is very personal - I also love Pepper White and was tor between that and Astro Black), and the anthracite headlining which for £100 makes a huge difference (my MCS had the standard whitish headlining) and although I can't really explain rationally why it makes such a difference - it just does !

[alinnes]

.. and forgot to mention..

The only aftermarket additions I plan to make (at present) are sharks gill side grills as I think the Astro black needs them badly - the standard black plastic with orange repeaters don't really go - why don't Mini do chrome ones as an option ??