1. Park distance control....where the heck is it? And what does it mean?
2. Convertible Wind Deflector...salesperson said I HAD to have it and it was $250 more, and it is a tiny little thin piece of plastic mesh that is worth about $10. $250, really?? I don't think it makes a bit of difference in the wind effect.
3. Anti-theft alarm system with premium pkg, what does it look like or where I should see it!
Someone, please help me out which may seem like lame questions.

 

1. Park distance control: alerts you inside (beeps?) when backing up as you get closer, closer, too close to the car/object/wall behind you. I passed on this for mine; it's a MINI. Still: some say rear vision is restricted on these cars through the back window, so it's handy. If you always use the side mirrors for backing, it's prolly not a big advantage for you.

2. An overpriced MINI option? There are a few, maybe more than a few. I haven't driven a Roadster, someone can chime in. On my Miata, a similar windblocker (aftermarket) was the bomb. It really cuts cockpit turbulence, and can make the difference of being able to enjoy top-down motoring on a sunny, 50 degree day (with a little cockpit heat or seat heaters), and not (with all the turbulent wind blast). Also, long-haired friends will bless you for having it.

3. No experience with MINI's alarm system.

 

What he said about the backup beeper.

+1 on the wind deflector. We had well over 20+K miles of topless motoring without and finally got one last fall. Don't know how we got along without it.

Who pays attention to car alarms? They're annoying as he!!.

 

Park distance is really handy. It beeps as you backup to alert you of objects behind you. The closer you get to the object the faster is beeps. If you have mini connected it shows a visual display of distance to the object on the LED screen. This is not only handy for parallel parking but it also might save someones life. I had a nephew who was killed at the age of 4 by his own father backing up a pickup.

The wind deflector is a must have. Even though it sounds hokey, it will really knock down turbulence because it reshapes the flow of air over the car. You will want this even if it is overpriced.

The alarm system will activate when you lock-up the vehicle. I would say on a rag top that the alarm system is a must have option. Just think how easy it would be for a thief to use a knife to slit the rag top, reach in and unlock the door. Gaining access to anything in the vehicle . At least with an alarm blazing away the thief might bolt, or might be spotted trying to gain entry by yourself or a good Samaritan.

Personally, I am waiting for the Mini-connected app to send a text message to your phone if the alarm is activated by an intruder.

 

Wow, b&WCM, I will check that out. I still have a lot of "set up" stuff to do. I have mini connected, so I should be able to see the indicators on the screen. And the wind deflector is that little piece of screen that fits between the roll bars?

 

I think you will be waiting a long time for that to come. Mini Connected will not even work unless your phone is hooked up. If your phone is hooked up that would mean that you can't have your phone with you.

 

I have a regular MINI convertible and the wind blocker is great. Even though it is much smaller I believe, on a roadster the concept is the same.

Ever notice when you ride in most convertibles your hair gets blown forward? The air comes over the windshield and then "rolls" forward. The windblocker stops this. The cabin is much warmer and quieter.

My wife calls this "cocoon mode". This, plus seat heat, makes top down driving bearable at 45 deg. Without the wind defector - forget it!! Enjoy your MINI!

 

Yeah, I thought about that after I typed it!

The best it could do is send a bluetooth signal to your phone which would only be about 20 feet.

 

B&WCM, I meant to say so sorry about your nephew. That is awful.