MIGLIORE: This Mini convertible is fun for the most part and reminds me of my experience in the Honda S2000CR. At first it's a little unsettling, and then it's a lot of fun. I found the cabin quite comfortable. The gauges are very over-the-top and the neon plastic fittings are kind of crazy. But overall, there's a lot of attention to detail in this ride, from the stripes to the chrome to the wheels.
Most significant is the fun factor. This truly is an addicting car when the weather is nice. The six-speed manual is golden. It's truly an interactive, enthusiasts' car. Dropping down gears during turns with the top down and enjoying the grip from this tight chassis is an absolute riot. Steering is precise and rigid.
The top works great, and even as the temperature dropped to a chilly low-50s reading, I left it down with the heat and the radio cranked.
The seats are very comfortable while still offering a good road view and driving position. The seatbelt flops all over the place and seems to have a penchant for getting caught in the door. With the top up, there are some humungous blind spots thanks to the rear-window cutout.
The open-roof meter is pretty pointless, and the huge odo is a gimmick. But overall, this is a well-done execution of a niche product that seems right for the times.
SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: To paraphrase singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, "You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows." You don't need an Openometer to know whether you're having fun in a convertible. Of all the money-wasting gimmicks ever inflicted on the car-buying public, this may be queen mother.
Luckily, the gauge measuring your top-down time doesn't distract too much from the joy inherent in driving a Mini Cooper S, top down, on a perfect, sunny afternoon. The roof folds away flawlessly at the touch of a button, with the option of merely opening the front half of the fabric roof for a large sunroof effect, if desired. Wind buffeting, even with the windows down, isn't too rough, making it possible to still converse and/or enjoy listening to music or a ballgame while motoring top down.
There's little to dislike about such a great-driving little car, but the top peeves likely would be the lack of utility because of the cargo-space-eating roll bar in back, and the $30,000-plus price tag on this baby. Leave out the Openometer, and maybe make a manual-folding roof model, and then the price becomes reasonable (translation: more fun). Also, on this test car, I found the driver's-side seatbelt's lack of retraction a pain. Finally--and this applies to all Cooper S models--why does it require the driver to activate the "Sport" setting each time the car is started to access the engine's high-strung tuning? In a car that's all about being sporty, it seems that the default setting should be "Sport" and those who want to be dull can punch a button to turn it off.
2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible
In Fleet: April 27-May 11
As-Tested Price: $32,700
Drivetrain: 1.6-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed manual
Output: 172 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 177 lb-ft @ 1,600-5,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,855 lb
Fuel Economy: (EPA/AW) 29/28.5 mpg
Options: Sport package including 17-inch black bullet alloy wheels, dynamic traction control, xenon headlights ($1,500); premium package including multifunction steering wheel, antitheft alarm system, chrome line interior, chrome line exterior, automatic air conditioning ($1,250); interchange yellow cloth leather ($1,000); cold-weather package including power-folding mirrors, heated mirrors, washer jets, heated front seats ($500); rear park-distance control ($500); Bluetooth, USB/iPod adapter ($500)
Most significant is the fun factor. This truly is an addicting car when the weather is nice. The six-speed manual is golden. It's truly an interactive, enthusiasts' car. Dropping down gears during turns with the top down and enjoying the grip from this tight chassis is an absolute riot. Steering is precise and rigid.
The top works great, and even as the temperature dropped to a chilly low-50s reading, I left it down with the heat and the radio cranked.
The seats are very comfortable while still offering a good road view and driving position. The seatbelt flops all over the place and seems to have a penchant for getting caught in the door. With the top up, there are some humungous blind spots thanks to the rear-window cutout.
The open-roof meter is pretty pointless, and the huge odo is a gimmick. But overall, this is a well-done execution of a niche product that seems right for the times.
SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: To paraphrase singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, "You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows." You don't need an Openometer to know whether you're having fun in a convertible. Of all the money-wasting gimmicks ever inflicted on the car-buying public, this may be queen mother.
Luckily, the gauge measuring your top-down time doesn't distract too much from the joy inherent in driving a Mini Cooper S, top down, on a perfect, sunny afternoon. The roof folds away flawlessly at the touch of a button, with the option of merely opening the front half of the fabric roof for a large sunroof effect, if desired. Wind buffeting, even with the windows down, isn't too rough, making it possible to still converse and/or enjoy listening to music or a ballgame while motoring top down.
There's little to dislike about such a great-driving little car, but the top peeves likely would be the lack of utility because of the cargo-space-eating roll bar in back, and the $30,000-plus price tag on this baby. Leave out the Openometer, and maybe make a manual-folding roof model, and then the price becomes reasonable (translation: more fun). Also, on this test car, I found the driver's-side seatbelt's lack of retraction a pain. Finally--and this applies to all Cooper S models--why does it require the driver to activate the "Sport" setting each time the car is started to access the engine's high-strung tuning? In a car that's all about being sporty, it seems that the default setting should be "Sport" and those who want to be dull can punch a button to turn it off.
2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible
In Fleet: April 27-May 11
As-Tested Price: $32,700
Drivetrain: 1.6-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed manual
Output: 172 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 177 lb-ft @ 1,600-5,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,855 lb
Fuel Economy: (EPA/AW) 29/28.5 mpg
Options: Sport package including 17-inch black bullet alloy wheels, dynamic traction control, xenon headlights ($1,500); premium package including multifunction steering wheel, antitheft alarm system, chrome line interior, chrome line exterior, automatic air conditioning ($1,250); interchange yellow cloth leather ($1,000); cold-weather package including power-folding mirrors, heated mirrors, washer jets, heated front seats ($500); rear park-distance control ($500); Bluetooth, USB/iPod adapter ($500)
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