Written by Sandy Waller
The Mini Cooper is unashamedly not a serious car and has been made with go-karting fun in mind. As we take delivery of the Mini Cooper Convertible, my hearts leaps at the bowls of fun I anticipate in driving an open top go-kart. Our Mini Cooper Convertible comes in a Midnight Black Metallic colour with leather cross punch carbon black upholstery and black bonnet stripes. This is quintessential Mini topped with 17-inch Cosmos Spoke silver wheels. It looks cute enough to put on a mantel piece as a treasured keepsake.
Exterior
The Mini Convertible is a soft top roadster that looks pretty much like all Minis with dreamy eyes and short overhangs. As we are testing the convertible, we couldn’t resist timing the soft top operation. The process of putting the top down takes approximately 18 seconds and can be performed safely at speeds up to 30 km/h.
The reverse process will take the same time we are reliably told and the roof operation choreography is fully automated and can even be initiated via a button on the remote. As with previous Mini convertibles, the front portion retracts like a sunroof in a folding motion if you don’t feel like going fully alfresco. Due to space considerations, the top stack cuts into rear visibility with roof fully opened and as in our test car, you will need backup cameras to ensure that you don’t bump the Mini when parking. As with all third-generation Mini Hardtops, the Mini Convertible is considerably larger.
Interior
Our test car interior came in black leather with Piano Black interior surfaces amongst a list of optional extras including a Harman/Kardon Hi-fi loudspeaker system, Head-Up display, Bluetooth mobile preparation with USB Audio Interface, sport seats for front passenger and driver and a centre armrest. Our Mini also had cruise control with brake function as well as mood lighting in red for the interior. The list of optional extras that bumps up the price should be standard features in our opinion, as it gives the car what Mini should feel like; pure driving pleasure. I shudder to think what the base version without extras feels like! These optional extras push the car to R524,960.40 from a base price of R379,000.00. At this price, you really must want to drive a Mini! It is, however, arguably still the cutest and most fun small convertible around.
Driving
Our drive was limited to the Cooper version with a 1.5 litre 100kW engine with 220Nm of torque. Even when driven in eco mode, the claimed 5.3l/100km could not be attained and we achieved 6.1l/100km in combined cycle driving. I would blame my twitchy foot for that but it was fun! Our test car came with automatic transmission and, although the steptronic gearbox is pretty cool, it is almost sacrilegious to have an automatic go-kart. If I were to buy a Mini, in any guise, it would much rather be in a manual transmission version. Mini claims that the automatic transmission is fractionally quicker and more economical than the manual but where is the fun in that? The Mini is about reckless abandon as you chug the kart in corners, especially considering the Mini’s friendly clutch and easy shift action. We loved the Head-Up display as it helps keep eyes ahead on the road although we also think that this should come standard. Overall, the Mini’s ride quality is far more refined and not as harsh as expected, especially considering the 17-inch alloys shodding our test car.
Overall
With the top down, the Mini is by far the most exhilarating ride in the small convertible segment. The convertible’s four-seat designation is still pretty theoretical despite additional rear legroom and more shoulder room. No adult could seat in the rear seat behind me despite the fact that I am of average height. Backseat riders sit bolt upright thus making the convertible a strictly short distance city stylish runabout. The Mini Cooper Convertible stands out as the convertible of choice for sun-seeking and star-gazing Mini buyers. Pity about the long list of optional extras required to make the car a much more compelling value proposition and the hefty price (R146,000 in our test vehicle!) that the extras put on the base price. We suggest you buy it as a weekend fun runabout or a second car as it doesn’t make practical sense as an everyday car for a family of 4. If you are single, knock yourself out as the Mini Cooper Convertible delivers fun in bucketloads!
fabulouswomanmagazine 