There's a ton of cowl shake—so much, in fact, that my radar detector was practically shaken off its windshield mount on the drive home. No matter how hard they try to stiffen up the chassis on convertibles, cutting the roof off is a major compromise to the car's structural integrity. Add to that our always favorite run-flat tires and a stiff suspension, and you end up with a car that is not all that much fun to ride in or, frankly, to drive.
Also, the whole top-down meter thing is just plain silly. Maybe Mini still wants to court the quirky oddball, but I guess I'm past finding that kind of thing fun.
I'm sure there's a market, somewhere, for the Mini Roadster. I know that I'm not part of that market.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This is an energetic, fun little buggy with razor sharp reflexes and dynamics. The Roadster may have the best and most intense on-center steering feel of any car on the market. Pulling hard turns is an exercise in weight and response, which returns a direct, rewarding feel for enthusiast drivers. The chassis is similarly hard. It's stiff, abusive over bad roads and excellent when driven with gusto. With the short wheelbase and small body, this runner wants to be pushed through corners and bends.
I like the six-speed manual with satisfying, true throws that border on the longer side. The clutch is agreeable and nicely weighted, and rowing the gears is a heck of a lot of fun. Stout brakes, too.
The engine is reasonably powered for this small car. It's a mite, so the turbo 181-hp output is more than adequate, especially with this gearbox. It loves to rev, too, and is happiest above the 3,000-rpm threshold.
The cabin is tight, even for a guy of average build, though I found a comfy seating position. The cues—some of which are subtle and some of which are beyond over the top (a gauge for how long the convertible top is down, huh?)—are cute, cool and make for a unique experience.
Some annoyances: The exhaust note crackles upon shifts, which is a little unsettling, and the blind spots are fierce. The interior is also very loud.
I did a commuting lap in this Roadster through the suburbs and some sketchy neighborhoods of Detroit. I'd much rather crack the top off during a long weekend and soak in the summer air. I've done that in other Minis and it's a thrill. This time, not so much. These cars are a riot to drive; however, I just had a rather businesslike night. A lot of people could have fun in Minis, but they're an acquired taste as daily drivers.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I'd have to be pretty desperate to want top-down motoring (or for some reason really hate the Mazda MX-5 Miata) to pick this car at $33K.
There are things I like, such as the styling, which looks a lot better than the funny-looking Mini Cooper coupe. The turbocharged engine is flexible and provides good power; the steering is direct and properly weighted. Handling is quick and responsive and almost as good as the hardtop models. Not quite, but close.
Ride quality is a little choppy, much of which I put down to the run-flats—though the chassis is commendably stiff. There are less shake and less rattle than I thought there'd be and, while potholes should be avoided, it wasn't as bad as I thought.
It's a fun little scooter for the most part. I just don't know why one would pick this over a Miata.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: This car is flat-out fun. Power is awesome and aurally pleasing from the 1.6-liter turbo engine, and the six-speed shifter is easy and fun to throw. And I love that Sport button that opens up the exhaust. If you can time it right, you can purposely get it to backfire every time you shift.
Fuel mileage is amazing, if the digital readout is correct. I saw 150 miles on the trip with only two clicks off the readout, out of ten. That means this thing will get 750 miles to a tank! OK, I'm sure it won't get that, but man, this 2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster will travel far on a tank.
As far as the ride goes, this car actually benefits from having a convertible top. The Mini Cooper coupe rides like it's on wagon wheels, great for the track, not so great for the street. Run-flats and low-profile tires will do that. But this car, with a little extra flex in the frame, absorbs that little bit of harshness and makes the car livable. As of now, this is the only car on the planet I would take in convertible form before I would take the coupe. Of course, I would take the standard Mini Cooper S over all of them.
The Bluetooth function is easy to work and I had no problem getting my phone to work with it. The sound system is Harmon/Kardan, which is always quality. The seats are comfy and I like the carbon fiber accents on the doors. Some interior stuff is a bit cheesy, like the top-down time monitor. But, otherwise, it's a decent place to take a drive. It's just not the manliest place.
2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster
Base Price: $28,050As-Tested Price: $33,550
Drivetrain: 1.6-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed manual
Output: 181 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 177 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,745 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 30/28.8 mpg
Options: Technology package including center armrest, rear-park distance control, Harman/Kardon premium sound ($2,000); Sport package including 17-inch alloy wheels, conical spoke, xenon headlights, dynamic traction control, white turn-signal lights ($1,500); Mini connected with navigation including voice-command, Mini connected, comfort Bluetooth, USB/iPod, Mini navigation system ($750); Lightning blue metallic paint ($500) (not pictured); comfort-access keyless entry ($500); convertible wind defector ($250)
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