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Mini Cooper S Convertible review. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.

Mini Cooper S Convertible review
The Mini family continues to grow in numbers as the Mini adventure grows far beyond the magnitude that the name implies. Here we review the latest addition, the Convertible, in top-of-the-range Cooper S trim.

   



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We're big fans of the Mini movement, and we're not alone. Look on any urban street and you'll see at least one. The Mini has been a huge sales success based mainly on image. But the overall package is much more compelling than that, as we've seen already when we drove the Cooper S, with genuine talent in copious supply. The Mini family continues to grow in numbers as the Mini adventure grows far beyond the magnitude that the name implies. Here we review the latest addition, the Convertible, in top-of-the-range Cooper S trim.

Most companies have been turning away from soft hoods in favour of more complex folding hard top arrangements, but BMW is one of the few companies who persevere with the traditional means of making cabriolets. Needless to say the degree of engineering involved leads to a substantial price hike and also a fairly hefty increase in weight thanks to structural reinforcement to try and offset the loss of the rigidity involved with chopping off the lid. Some fans had been concerned about the potential detrimental effect of converting the cool hatchback into even cooler cabriolet, but they needn't have worried. Looks-wise, chopping the roof off has not harmed the package at all. The roof stows neatly, pram style at the back, taking only 15 seconds to electrically drop at the touch of a button, and the boot hinges are another successful throw back to the original.

The interior is compromised slightly, with the back in particular being a dark and confined space, and the rear view has been adversely affected (I'd be sure to order the reverse park sensors). The lack of a rear wiper is particularly troublesome in the rain as the rear window quickly becomes dirty and useless. On the plus side the roof is well insulated and keeps wind noise down to a low level whilst keeping in warmth, although I did need to keep the fan on low to prevent misting windows. The quality and execution of the design and ergonomics prevails though. Mini traditionalists and fashion conscious youngsters will love the retro cues such as the vents and dials. My personal favourite is the row of toggle switches across the centre console: they look excellent and are quite different to any other car and they also function really well.

Anyone who has travelled in an original Mini will find something strangely familiar about the snorty induction, and the whine of the supercharger actually resembles the gearbox whine of the original. Also familiar will be a nippy nature that belies the cars humble origins, although it has to be said the new Mini has grown up performance to match the grown up price tag. Now packing 170bhp, it's the supercharged 1.6's torque that is the real key to the sprightly pace. 0-60mph in the low 7s and a 135mph maximum are serious numbers, but it's the in-gear shove that is the real party trick.

The supercharger endows the Mini with true grunt and throttle response anywhere from 1500rpm to the red line in any of the six gears. The urge is more akin to the 2.5-litre six we experienced in the Z4 rather than a 1.6-litre, but the supercharger can't mask some of the four-cylinder's shortcomings in terms of NVH. It does have personality though with a naughty pop, cackle and burble on the over-run and the supercharger whine isn't as intrusive as some may have you believe. It's nowhere near as noticeable as in the big Jaguar saloons, for example.

The price you pay for this is a fairly horrendous thirst. In my 1000-mile week with the Mini (of which 600 miles were on the motorway), the Cooper S returned an average of only 27mpg. Drive it as it demands to be driven and that figure drops into the high teens. Think of it as a 1.6-litre and you'll be disgusted; think of it as a 170bhp hot hatch and it's easier to bear. Personally I would prefer an overly long 6th gear ratio whilst keeping the lower five as they are. In real terms, 6th is a cruising gear in any case, and I'd happily swap response for a few extra mpg on the motorway.

Many of the same strengths found in the Cooper S are carried through to the Convertible. Handling prowess has always been a Mini forte and the Convertible is no exception. Big tyres and sports suspension encourage you to push on, though this does annoy the nannying stability control and if you want to avoid some awkward loss of smoothness, and an ever flashing yellow light on the dash, then I'd recommend that you switch the chassis systems off. Things are more fun that way, even if the warning light stays on permanently and you have to flick the switch every time you fire the car up. Overall grip is never in question in the dry with the 17-inch tyre working well in conjunction with the stiff suspension to allow the Cooper to carry great corner speeds. However, the grip does ask questions of the structure's stiffness and spirited cornering induces a fair amount of flex on smooth roads. Introduce a few bumps on the corner and the Mini twists like your granny at a wedding: you can live with it and it does spoil the fun a little, but not enough to undermine the driving pleasure derived from chucking the Mini around. The pedals allow sweet heel and toe shifts and the steering, whilst being a little numb, is quick and accurate.

The only negative side to the chassis is the ride quality. The Mini crashes and bangs into every surface imperfection. If you dropped a pound coin on your driveway I guarantee you'd find it in seconds behind the wheel of the Mini. I guess the low profile run flat tyres are partly to blame and maybe they are culpable for a loss in feel through the steering as well, but have a look at the boot and you'll see why there is no alternative. Alec Issigonis would not be impressed by the efficiency of the use of space in a modern Mini, but that of course isn't the point.

The Cooper S Convertible is essentially peerless in terms of its mix of style, performance, handling and plain desirability. My only reservations are the compromises entailed in the conversion to a Convertible, but these are far outweighed by the other strengths of the package. To be fair if we'd tested the car in the summer most of the shortcomings would never have shown themselves and we would have basked in the open-air stylishness and fun of the car. You could argue that the British climate means the gripes may spoil the fun, but trust me; the good times will far outweigh the bad.

Dave Jenkins - 29 Nov 2004



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2004 MINI Cooper S Convertible specifications:
Price: £17,595 on-the-road (£20,595 as tested).
0-62mph: 7.4 seconds
Top speed: 134mph
Combined economy: 32.1mpg
Emissions: 211g/km
Kerb weight: 1240kg

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Syd Wall.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.



2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Syd Wall.
 

2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 






 

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