Review: Mini Cooper Convertible

by Ashwin Kumar, publisher

Flashback to the 1960s. Known in popular culture as “The Sixties” or “Swinging Sixties”, this decade boasted countless political and social assassinations, the civil rights movement, nail-biting international tribulation, a race into space, and an overall libertine mindset garnished with excess and pomposity (I recommend watching Mad Men on AMC to get a feel for this). You’d think during a time where might and the lavished-right ruled, the iconic automobile to define this time period would be a sporty convertible, a muscle car, or an exotic foreign. Well, you thought wrong.

Voted the second most influential car of the twentieth century, just after the Model-T, was British Motor Corporation’s (BMC) Mini. Yes, this first of its kind front-wheel drive, “miniature car”, found its way into the hearts and minds of the Boomer generation worldwide. BMC capitalized on the market’s demand for ‘bubble cars’ and produced and sold well over 1 million Minis during the 1960s – partly due to well-publicized purchases from TV, film and music stars. Since its introduction, the Mini has been the kind of car model that had gone relatively untouched – gathering a loyal band of followers and supporters with a passion for the car that far surpasses any reasonable comprehension. Today BMW owns the Mini Cooper brand and has brought a piece of 60s nostalgia into the twenty-first century. Lucky for you, the editors at Reply decided to take a closer look.

Introducing the 1.6L, 16 valve Mini Cooper Convertible, capable of producing a zippy 118-bhp. At just around 3,000 lbs, this British made 4 cylinder handles like a go-kart but can go 0-60 in 8.9 seconds – that’s 0.3 seconds faster than the Honda Civic Coupe and 1.0 seconds faster than the Mazda 3. Mini also offers the Cooper S Convertible available with a 1.4L turbocharged engine that produces 172-bhp and goes 0-60 in 7.0 seconds flat. If that still doesn’t tickle your fancy, Mini offers yet another convertible version of the Cooper under its John Cooper line with a turbocharged 1.6L engine capable of 208-bhp – 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. Is it just me, or do you also hear Austin Power’s saying “Yeah, baby”?

So we know its quick, but how does it handle?

The Mini Cooper Convertible. Photo courtesy of Mini Cooper USA.

The next time you have a chance, take a walk around a Mini Cooper. If you look really close at it from the front, it kind of looks like a bulldog. And like a bulldog, you’ll notice the car has a much wider body than expected. It’s thanks to this wide body that Mini is able to keep the car’s center of gravity low, which makes taking those sharp turns a whole lot more fun and exhilarating.  Throw in Mini’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), which counteracts any vehicular instability, and the optional Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) with Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), which delays interventions in engine management and braking till the last possible moment, and you’ll be in for quite a ride during those corners. If you are feeling a little Marilyn Monroe risqué, press the sport button to adjust various settings in the Mini to provide for more acceleration and tighter steering – courtesy of the fully electronic throttle.

Didn’t you say this was a convertible?

The Mini Cooper we tested at Reply did indeed come as a convertible.  Mini introduced the convertible back in 2005 and for a car of this size it was quite unusual. A prototype version of the convertible was made back in the 1980s, but it never saw production. Mini’s convertible offers a 3-in-1 roof – sunroof, rear-glass window, and of course a roof. If you feel like having a little air on a nice day, open the cloth-roof part way, or wait the full 15 seconds to put the roof down completely into a compartment over the trunk. Once down, you can look over at your handy-dandy Openometer to see exactly how long you’ve been in convertible mode. Yes, it’s a gadget that tells you the time, to the minute, how long the roof has been down. Let me repeat that in case you missed it – it’s a dial…that measures the length of time…the roof has been open. Not even the Soviets would have been able to compete with that type of technology.

Mini Cooper Convertible Interior. Photo courtesy of Ashwin Kumar.

But wait, that’s not the only thing a bit quirky about the dashboard controls. Mini places the speedometer right smack dab in the middle of the car. And not only that, its larger than normal. In fact, the speedo is so large, that Flavor Flav may confuse it for one of his chained timepiece accessories. If you decide to opt for the GPS, it comes integrated into that same speedo.  The control switches for the door locks and power windows, found just below the stereo, use toggle switches, something you may find in James Bond’s super spy car. Sadly though, there are no switches for oil slicks, machine guns or rocket launchers. The round key fob, cute like the Mini itself, fits into a slot next to the push start button. Altogether, Mini has done a good job at putting together a fairly unique and retro dashboard, but for me, its reminiscent of something you’d see on a boat or submarine. And more so, Mini justifies the placement of its speedo by saying 1) that’s where it was when they won the Monte Carlo Rally three times and 2) it’s a great thing to share this kind of data with your passengers. I don’t know about you, but if I (and my passengers) were driving down Pacific Coast Highway in California near Huntington beach with the roof down, my fellow riders certainly wouldn’t be eager to watch the speedo’s needle move up and down.

Speaking of passengers, you may not have too many. The Mini Cooper Convertible can comfortably seat two people in the front, but it’s the rear seats that have very little space. It was fairly difficult, and uncomfortable to fit the 4 Reply editors in the vehicle. If you somehow managed to make it work, don’t worry too much about safety. The Mini is equipped with 4 air bags with side protection and an active rollover protection bar. An excuse to not haul more than two people can be the fact that there is virtually no trunk space. So you can forget about those golf clubs or large suitcases as well, because they aren’t going to fit.

Ok, so tell me how much it costs.

Well, you certainly don’t need to pull an Italian Job to pay for this car (although having a few handy seem to help). The Mini Cooper Convertible starts with an MSRP of $24, 950 and goes up from there with the additional extras. That’s actually quite a steal when you throw in the fact that owners receive free maintenance for the first 3 years/36,000 miles (oil changes, brakes, fluids, etc…) and 4 years of free roadside assistance. What more, the Mini Cooper Convertible delivers an impressive 33 hwy and 25 city gas mileage on a 13.2 gallon tank. That’s about 436 miles per tank average. Not bad considering the steep petrol prices on both the east and west coasts of the United States, as well as abroad. Another perk that will come in handy for Mini owners in big cities is its ability to park in smaller spaces. The Mini requires only about 12ft of parking space compared to the average 18ft required for most passenger vehicles.

So there you have it. To be honest, the Mini has a certain charm about it. It’s a car that bridges retro with modernity. It’s a driving experience without gruff or loud engine noise. It offers simplistic luxuries and a youthful, liberal spirit.  It stands out from the rest, but is easily accepted by many once understood. There is simply no black or white reasoning that justifies why exactly this car is so beloved around the world. Perhaps during a time of change, the Mini offered those of the 60s a chance to dream as high as space and helped usher in a new era of peace and love. Perhaps the time has come again for the iconic Mini to do just the same. Only this time, it’ll be doing it with the top down.

Special thanks to Momentum Mini in Houston, Texas.