On this week’s Cooper Cast, Dale and Producer Kodi (who still refuses to speak but continues demanding executive dog-treat compensation) kick things off with a quick look at the infamous start-stop feature. Good news: that universally hated gremlin might finally be headed for retirement… someday. We’ll take it.

From there, we dive into the brewing storm around those “5-Star Safety Ratings” every automaker crows about in commercials. Turns out, all those giant touchscreens replacing knobs, switches, and buttons might start dragging those scores down. Will MINIs eventually bring back the good old tactile controls we all miss? Dale’s calling it now: absolutely. Safety matters, and nobody wants to hand NHTSA and the EU NCAP  a reason to grab a red pen.

Then we shift gears to something a lot darker than a simple annoyance: the explosion of fake and spoofed MINI Facebook event groups. These aren’t just harmless copycats — this is an organized data-harvesting mess targeting MINI owners, baiting them with cloned logos, stolen event names, and misleading posts. Dale breaks down what’s happening, why it’s dangerous, and how to protect yourself and your club.

Finally, a little tease for the true motorers out there: a beloved MINI run is gearing up for a comeback in 2026 — and this go-round, it’s shaping up to be a team effort like no other. We only let the cat peek out of the bag, but trust us… you’ll want to keep your calendar loose.

Another fun, informative, and slightly mischievous episode of The Cooper Cast — with Dale at the wheel and Producer Kodi supervising from the passenger seat like a furry rally marshal.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave!