No, I’m not color blind. The above photo is really of an orange MCS Convertable on which I applied bonnet stripes but 9 out of the last 16 MINIs I’ve put stripes on have been Chili Red. I think the trend curve has finally caught up to me since my Chili Red MCS was a far rarer breed almost two years ago when I picked it up. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Chili Red MINI but I’m having lustful thoughts about a 2006 Hyper Blue MCS. I’m waiting until the 2006 models are released because I hear there will be special options offered for the last year of this particular model. Maybe even new colors.

The 2006 MINI Cooper S will also be the last supercharged MINI as the 2007 Cooper S will sport a new Peugeot Citroen turbocharged powerplant under the bonnet. I’m skeptical about this change but I trust that BMW won’t kill the MINI with this move. I think there might be a dip in sales for a year or two.The upside may be that those of us with supercharged Cooper Ss will possibly have more valued cars, at least for a short time until the new engine “proves” its worthiness as a MINI contender.