2005 MINI Convertible: In The Autoblog Garage Day 2
On my second day with the MINI Cooper Convertible I got the chance to take a good look at this soft-topped MINI's exterior, as well as put some quality miles on the odometer. The first thing I am struck by in looking at the exterior of the droptop MINI is how well BMW/MINI kept the shape intact (I think the only better job I've seen in this area is on the New Beetle Convertible). But, it is when you fold the top down on this MINI that you really understand how this car was meant to be. It just looks fun, as though you should literally jump in and start driving the world's largest go-kart.
And driving the MINI Convertible is a lot like driving the worlds
largest go-kart. As I stated on day one, the car is magnificently solid, and only an everyday hardtop MINI driver will
notice the bodyflex of the softtop version, as BMW/MINI did a fantastic job of re-enforcing the convertibles frame.
Initially, I did have some skepticism about the powertrain setup of this base Cooper though. With a 1.6-liter
four-cylinder engine, putting out 115bhp, and mated to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), I figured this MINI
wouldnt be able to get out of its own way. But I have been pleasantly surprised to find that was certainly not the
case. Now, the standard MINI Convertible isnt going to win many drag races, but it was never intended to do so. I
think a manual transmission would make my time with the MINI Convertible more pleasureable, but by no means has the CVT
been a disappointment. Being the first time I have driven one, it has taken some getting used to, but having the
ability to switch between full automatic, sport drive, and step-tronic mode does help give the driver a better sense of
control.
Like its hardtop bretheren, the MINI Convertible loves a twisty road. It was built for a twisty road, and this is
where it truely shines, but around Chicagoland finding a twisty mountain or coastal road is, well, somewhat difficult
to say the least. So the MINI leaves you looking for that road with that one great turn, that great highway on/off
ramp, or that section of paved road that if you hit the stoplights just right turns into a series of great turns, as I
found myself going a bit out of my way to take an alternate route to work in order to hit that great right hander. With
a touch of oversteer, and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) to keep the rear-end from swapping ends with the front, the
MINI really inspires confidence through corners. In fact, Im sure I could have pushed this vehicle much harder around
corners, but that angel over my right shoulder always seems to win out when the vehicle is not mine (that, and Im not
so keen in owning a totaled vehicle).
The one big complaint I have about driving the MINI Convertible with
the top closed, is the terrible rear visibility. Not that other convertibles are better per say, but the MINI seems
particularly bad, so it is nice that MINI includes the back-up assist feature (which scared the crap out of me the
first time it beeped on as I was backing up). With the dual rollbars above the rear seats, rear visibility is limited
at best, and blind spots are especially bad, which left me checking and double-checking lane changes, especially on the
highway. On the highway, I am really impressed with how quiet the car is. It has been a while since I have driven a
convertible on the highway, but I remember it being pretty loud, the MINI Convertible however, is quieter than some
hardtops I have driven at highway speeds.
Now this is what everyone has been waiting for, what the MINI
Convertible is like to drive with the top down. Well, I can tell you that in mid-December it is cold. On day two, it
warmed up to 43-degrees, as warm as I figured it would get while I have the car, so I had to fold the top back, don my
hat and gloves, kick on the seat warmer, blast the heat, and go motoring. You get a lot of funny looks when you are
driving your convertible with the top down in mid-December in Chicago. With the roof opened up, the MINI Convertible
seems a lot more open than other convertibles due to the more vertical windscreen and seating position that puts the
driver at almost dead center in the car. Even in mid-December though, driving the MINI Convertible with the top open
was, for the lack of a better word, fun. You are completely awash in everything that is going on around you, and from
time to time you will have to remind yourself that you are actually driving, as you just want to look around at
everything and take it all in. I only wish now that it was mid-June, and I could ride around with the top down at all
times. Once you drive with it open, there is no other way to go.
Read about Day 1 in the MINI Cooper Convertible.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Meek 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
Looks like Steven likes sporty convertibles. Maybe he should have had the S2000 for the week it was available?
Reply
Steven Diver 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
Well, who doesn't like a sporty convertible :)?
There are some drawbacks, which I've mentioned, and I'll go over more of them tomorrow. But overall this car is a lot of fun, and the positives outweight the negatives (for me at least). I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who could never get past certain glaring deficiencies this car has that I either dont' notice or can live with.
If you have any questions, or there is anything else you want to know, let me know here in the comments, and I will try to cover them in a coming post.
Reply
David Thomas 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
Meek,
I read other posts you know! man.
Reply
cdog 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
I would like a 2+2 seat replacement for my Mazda Miata (MX-5 here in Oz). Do you think one of these would make a good choice? I wouldn't expect it to handle as good as the MX-5 but everyone says it feels like a go kart so I'm curious.
Reply
David Thomas 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
I don't find the Cooper as good a handler as the Miata or , forgive me, the S2000. I don't think you'll find a 2+2 convertible to handle as well as any roadster.
Reply
Meek 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
DT-
That comment was meant for you to read, I should have started it with Hey David. No slight intended against the review of the S2000. I wanted to point out the differences in the review perspective on similar cars. Again, thanks for providing these articles. BTW, should I change my name to HondaFanBoy Meek, for full disclosure? ;)
Reply
Steven Diver 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
Can't we all just get along? ;)
We're all going to have different taste's in automobiles, it's a fact of life. Just because I like certain aspects the MINI that David doesn't particularly like, doesn't make his opinions any less relevant. We all have different opinions on what we like/dislike in cars...that is part of what makes Autoblog great.
Of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't argue David to the death that I think the hardtop MINI would outhandle a Miata or S2000 ;).
Reply
Geoff 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
Speaking of rear visibility, I've brought this up before, but I even find the rear visibility in the coupe to be limited. I was trying to figure out why, and it dawned on me that it has to do with the position of the rear view mirror with respect to my head. In the Mini, the rearview mirror sits a lot further in front of me than in most other cars and as such, I have a limited view of the rear glass. It drives me nuts that I can't see the whole rear glass in my mirror.
Reply
Rocketboy 11:02PM (12/18/2005)
Geoff.. I think the problem is the huge c-pillars, and the fact the car is so small. Stetch the rear seat out a few more feet, and you would be able to see out the back better. MINI did increase the size of the rear view mirror, but I would think that the increased blind spot would greatly offset any advantages.
Reply