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"It's
better than the sedan version," remarked a journalist
on the way to the Minneapolis Airport having spent
a day driving the new 2005 Mini Cooper convertibles.
"How
so?"
"Well,
it does everything the Mini sedan does and the top comes off
as well."
Point
taken.
When
Bayerische Motoren-Werke (a.k.a. BMW) took on the resurrection
of that extremely British icon, the Mini, doubts abounded. But
BMW got it right as rain. Spang on. Nail on the head. And they
keep scoring full points with every new move, such as offering
a four-passenger topless Mini. And all done with a slightly
off-center sense of humor that's particularly appropriate to
open-air motoring. For instance, there's the matter of choosing
"MINI-apolis" for the press introduction of the convertible.
And including with each car a contract that elicits a promise
from new owners to drive in top-down mode 90% of the time. (The
Mini Cooper convertible motto: "Always Open.")
In
the contract reasons acceptable for top up operation are listed
(requiring the owner's initials.) One such: "After hair
plug surgery." Another: "When within earshot of an
outdoor banjo and/or kazoo concert."
But
there will likely be MINI-mum infractions of the top-down contract
anyway. What may be the cleverest top ever converts from open
to closed in some 15 seconds, a small part of most red-light
stops. And all brought about by one finger pressing one button
- no need to fiddle with fingernail-unfriendly latches or twisting
a handle. The button does it all whether opening or closing.
The
top, on the way to full open, can be stopped at a sunroof-cum-landau
position. This can be accomplished (even at highway speeds)
because the first 15-¾ inches of the soft, unlined top
is board-rigid. The rigid section slides back and allows the
front-seat passengers to look upward at any passing Alps, tall
buildings, traffic lights or down-smiling occupants of looming
SUVs.
The
rigid section also serves as a firm cover when the top Z-folds
itself like so much ribbon candy behind the twin roll bars at
the back of the passenger compartment. (A neat little fashion
statement, those roll bars, as well as functional.)
The
top, whether up or down, looks right with much the same Toastmaster
profile when up as the perky sedan has. (The convertible top
is actually a little lower than the sedan.) With the top down
this Mini looks as inviting as a bubbling hot tub; you just
want to get in it and open the senses to pleasure.
All
this verbiage about a top? (Oh yes, it also features a real-glass
rear window, heated.) And more about that top: the remote locking
device not only controls the doors, trunk and fuel door but
can open the roof from some 49 feet away. Can't you see it?
You're strolling nonchalantly towards your car, whistling "Strawberry
Fields Forever," and the car is contract-compliable just
as you pull the door open. As if the smarty-pants machine didn't
get enough attention. (Won't close remotely though.)
And
still more: the top comes in black, blue and green to mix and
match with 10 body colors, including two exclusive to the convertible:
Hot Orange and Cool Blue. School colors here we come.
Tops,
after all, are what differentiates a convertible from a sedan.
You'll
probably have to park a sedan nearby to notice, but
the convertibles have a redesigned front bumper, headlights
and grille. New taillights, too. All in evolutionary
range of the brilliant original design.
Puppy-cute
as it may be, the Mini ragtop is as serious a motoring machine
as any other Mini, which means it combines amusement with an
astonishing ability to tame twisty roads and wet surfaces. It
is furthermore eminently parkable, emits a pleasing exhaust
note, protects occupants with four airbags and probably offers
more value, esthetically and kinesthetically, than anything
I can think of that has ever graced a roadway.
Standard
on this appealing little package are antilock (ABS) disc brakes
all around. An electronic system allots brake force distribution,
fore and aft and side to side. Traction and stability control
systems are options.
All
Mini convertibles come equipped with PDC - Park Distance Control
- that serves as "eyes" in the rear bumper to sense
the distance from another car or the mailbox post. The warning
is visual and audible. Actually, this is more a necessity than
a convenience because, like most convertibles, this one has
limited line-of-sight rearward, particularly with the top up.
Fortunately the lozenge-shaped side mirrors, when properly adjusted,
afford a fair view to any diligent driver.
Space
in the barely 12-foot length of the Mini is remarkably well
allotted. Four adults can ride comfortably if none of them is
in the NBA draft. Rear seat passengers lose some shoulder room
when the top is down and all must travel duffel-soft and light.
However if just two are aboard they can divide 21 cubic feet
of storage space because the rear seats fold flat. The space
is accessible from the rear, too.
The
trunk lid is a throw back to the mid-century Mini of Mod London
in that it folds downward rather that lifts up. This makes trunk
access easy as provides a sort of tailgate, but therein lies
a danger: the lid will hold 175 pounds. Better to take folding
stools and use it as a table than risk an overweight sitter.
The
Mini Cooper can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a Constant
Velocity Transmission (CVT) automatic, a stepless pleasant enough
manner of going, but the 5-speed is so nice it makes learning
to shift for yourself worth the tiny effort. Better performance,
too. The Mini Cooper S has a 6-speed with variations in the
gear ratios that are new for 2005.
The
engine powering this luxurious little package is a sophisticated
overhead cam 1.6 liter, which revs willingly and struts importantly.
There is nothing base about this base engine, even at altitude.
In
this Mini Cooper horsepower is 115 with torque 111 lb-ft.; the
Mini Cooper S thanks to supercharging (which means no turbo
lag) gets 168 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft of torque.
The
S has been tweaked for 2005 with changes in the supercharger,
the exhaust and the gear ratios in the 6-speed Getrag gearbox
granting the S the ability to reach 60 mph in 7 seconds and
a top speed of 138 mph. The engine's new spirit and the Mini's
celebrated handling means that words like "scamper",
"scoot" and "dart" fill any description
of it.
"Economical"
might also be added. The Mini Cooper is rated at 27 city, 35
highway for the 5-speed manual and 26-33 for the automatic.
The Mini Cooper S is 25 city, 32 highway.
A
list of options ranges from contoured sport seats,
leather, a navigation system, heated seats and run-flat
tires to etcetera, etcetera. Making a Mini one's own
is part of the fun and there's a raft of opportunities.
And the aftermarket is standing by with even more.
I
have noticed that the Mini in its sedan manifestation is a frequent
object of presents - racing stripes, flames, fog lamp covers,
flag designs for the side mirrors etc. The convertibles may
well be even more successful at gift gathering.
Or
as a gift itself. To the Mini hardtop already in the garage
for instance.
Or
me.
For
More Information Click : Mini
Cooper Convertible
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