Finish, anyone?
All the more so when said vehicle sports a less-than-perfect finish. What to think of a Cooper S whose door mouldings are sagging? Of a car in which the front seat belt winders don’t wind much of anything? Of a convertible whose stereo system is there not only for your listening enjoyment but to cover up the noisy chassis’s protestations?
Are these isolated issues related to the pre-delivery prepping of my tester? For the sake of argument, let’s assume so – except for the noisy chassis, apparently the result of a platform obviously low on stiffness.
Tip top soft top
This MINI benefits from an electro-hydraulic soft top sporting a rear window and defroster, making life easier in both summer and winter.
The car is completely uncovered in 15 short seconds, and the top can even be folded down on the go up to speeds of 30 km/h. The automaker even included a button on the key fob to remote activate the soft top.
You can also choose to open just the sunroof portion of the cabin in the manner of a targa.
But don’t go thinking convertible and visibility go hand in hand here. The MINI’s rear window is small and limits rear visibility. And even when the top is folded down, it takes up a lot of space over the belt line and likewise limits rear visibility.
How ironic that in such a diminutive car you find yourself nervously backing up, afraid of hitting an invisible obstacle. At least when the top’s down you can lean on the seat back and lift yourself up to try to get a better view behind the car…
smart vs. MINI?
If your budget is a key factor in your purchasing process and you’re thinking of going with the cheapest European convertible available, the smart fortwo (from $21,250), know that the Alsatian munchkin offers neither the performance prowess of a Cooper (with naturally-aspirated engine) nor its engaging ride, despite the “limp” chassis.
The Cooper has an undeniable charm that the fortwo can’t hope to equal. In addition, the cabin can still pleasantly accommodate two adults and two children with flair.
The trunk? Meh. Though the smart offers up 340 litres compared to the ridiculous 143 litres of the Cooper, to remedy the situation you simply need to sacrifice the tiny Brit’s rear seats – two elements conspicuously absent in the smart.
In any case, MINI owners will quickly realize that the rear seats have a wide variety of uses, as much so today as in the past.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
All the more so when said vehicle sports a less-than-perfect finish. What to think of a Cooper S whose door mouldings are sagging? Of a car in which the front seat belt winders don’t wind much of anything? Of a convertible whose stereo system is there not only for your listening enjoyment but to cover up the noisy chassis’s protestations?
Are these isolated issues related to the pre-delivery prepping of my tester? For the sake of argument, let’s assume so – except for the noisy chassis, apparently the result of a platform obviously low on stiffness.
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| The 17-inch wheels are shod in low-profile, run-flat tires. |
Tip top soft top
This MINI benefits from an electro-hydraulic soft top sporting a rear window and defroster, making life easier in both summer and winter.
The car is completely uncovered in 15 short seconds, and the top can even be folded down on the go up to speeds of 30 km/h. The automaker even included a button on the key fob to remote activate the soft top.
You can also choose to open just the sunroof portion of the cabin in the manner of a targa.
But don’t go thinking convertible and visibility go hand in hand here. The MINI’s rear window is small and limits rear visibility. And even when the top is folded down, it takes up a lot of space over the belt line and likewise limits rear visibility.
How ironic that in such a diminutive car you find yourself nervously backing up, afraid of hitting an invisible obstacle. At least when the top’s down you can lean on the seat back and lift yourself up to try to get a better view behind the car…
smart vs. MINI?
If your budget is a key factor in your purchasing process and you’re thinking of going with the cheapest European convertible available, the smart fortwo (from $21,250), know that the Alsatian munchkin offers neither the performance prowess of a Cooper (with naturally-aspirated engine) nor its engaging ride, despite the “limp” chassis.
The Cooper has an undeniable charm that the fortwo can’t hope to equal. In addition, the cabin can still pleasantly accommodate two adults and two children with flair.
The trunk? Meh. Though the smart offers up 340 litres compared to the ridiculous 143 litres of the Cooper, to remedy the situation you simply need to sacrifice the tiny Brit’s rear seats – two elements conspicuously absent in the smart.
In any case, MINI owners will quickly realize that the rear seats have a wide variety of uses, as much so today as in the past.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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