Thank God for the short wheelbase and excessive width (in relation to other dimensions, of course) that make such handling possible. Add surprising aerodynamics and relatively-low sway from crosswinds and you get outstanding balance on the open road. Imagine, even when subjected to 100-km/h blasts that managed to topple semi-trailer trucks, the MINI flawlessly and proudly kept all four wheels on the ground -- all that with minimum wind noise entering through the fabric roof!
On the flip side, the absence of a hard top obviously results in lower body rigidity, which means some annoying creaking sounds and inopportune vibrations during spirited driving. I had to really pay attention, however, to let these things disturb me.
Top priority
The beauty of the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible, of course, is the ability to experience wind-in-the-hair motoring. The company points out that folding the top takes about 15 seconds and cannot be done at speeds of more than 30 km/h. I got a vivid reminder of that on a particular day when heavy rain began to fall.
MINI is sort of challenging owners to drive with the top down, as evidenced by the small indicator which monitors every hour and minute said top was stowed away in the trunk. That’s fancy but totally unnecessary. (If you must know, I drove topless for a little over seven hours.)
The roof design has been slightly modified and fitted with different mounts. The four-prong goal was to improve access to the trunk (tiny, but still), overall styling, top speed and visibility for the driver. Three quarters have been achieved; rearward visibility is still a problem whether the top is up or down. And since the mirrors are not very large, a few contortions are sometimes needed to safely change lanes.
Finally, I must tell you that a couple of exterior design cues have been altered for the new-generation model while the interior has retained its cockpit theme. The famously-oversized gauges (did you see that speedometer?) are still unusually laid out. Same thing for most of the controls, which are positioned at the base of the center stack.
All in all, the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible has flair, nice curves and pleasant dynamics. It continues to be an awesome friend to share the road with, no matter what the circumstances are.
Geee… I feel like I’m talking about myself!
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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| Thank God for the short wheelbase and excessive width that make such handling possible. |
On the flip side, the absence of a hard top obviously results in lower body rigidity, which means some annoying creaking sounds and inopportune vibrations during spirited driving. I had to really pay attention, however, to let these things disturb me.
Top priority
The beauty of the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible, of course, is the ability to experience wind-in-the-hair motoring. The company points out that folding the top takes about 15 seconds and cannot be done at speeds of more than 30 km/h. I got a vivid reminder of that on a particular day when heavy rain began to fall.
MINI is sort of challenging owners to drive with the top down, as evidenced by the small indicator which monitors every hour and minute said top was stowed away in the trunk. That’s fancy but totally unnecessary. (If you must know, I drove topless for a little over seven hours.)
The roof design has been slightly modified and fitted with different mounts. The four-prong goal was to improve access to the trunk (tiny, but still), overall styling, top speed and visibility for the driver. Three quarters have been achieved; rearward visibility is still a problem whether the top is up or down. And since the mirrors are not very large, a few contortions are sometimes needed to safely change lanes.
Finally, I must tell you that a couple of exterior design cues have been altered for the new-generation model while the interior has retained its cockpit theme. The famously-oversized gauges (did you see that speedometer?) are still unusually laid out. Same thing for most of the controls, which are positioned at the base of the center stack.
All in all, the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible has flair, nice curves and pleasant dynamics. It continues to be an awesome friend to share the road with, no matter what the circumstances are.
Geee… I feel like I’m talking about myself!
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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