Interesting loaner, a Roadster-S.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,535
Likes: 3
From: Mountain View, CA
Interesting loaner, a Roadster-S.
Algy's in the shop today, so I got a loaner from the dealer. This time it was a Roadster-S with just about every option available on it.
I've never been one for a convertible, and this has confirmed my opinion. The Roadster is just a lot of fun though. The main problem is the sun shining in my eyes, I really need a hat. It gets very windy running down the freeway, so my hair is blowing all over the place. The auto A/C starts blasting out lots of hot air to keep me warm (it was 62F here today), the bun warmers (ie heated seats) also help.
Its got MINI connected, and I managed to get it to play music from my iPhone via BlueTooth which is good, but I can't find anyway of choosing what music to play. MINI connected is just confusing whenever I've tried to use it. I've been playing with all the other gadgets it has as well.
I've never been one for a convertible, and this has confirmed my opinion. The Roadster is just a lot of fun though. The main problem is the sun shining in my eyes, I really need a hat. It gets very windy running down the freeway, so my hair is blowing all over the place. The auto A/C starts blasting out lots of hot air to keep me warm (it was 62F here today), the bun warmers (ie heated seats) also help.
Its got MINI connected, and I managed to get it to play music from my iPhone via BlueTooth which is good, but I can't find anyway of choosing what music to play. MINI connected is just confusing whenever I've tried to use it. I've been playing with all the other gadgets it has as well.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,535
Likes: 3
From: Mountain View, CA
Algy's still in the shop, so I'll driving him for another day. The wife's christened him "Nearly Headless Nick", I was thinking "Silvie" as he's white silver.
I tried driving him with the top up today, visibility is terrible. You can't even see your blind spot if you look back, the convertible top starts at the end of the driver's window. Very disconcerting to not be able to look back there. With the top down you get a much better view, I can even see traffic lights over the top of the windscreen.
The rear view isn't that great either. The mirror's a weird shape and small, its perfect for the limited view you get between the rear roll-over structures. If you add the wind deflector it gets fuzzy as you're looking through a mesh, then when the spoiler deploys it cuts the bottom off your view.
With the top up, the sun was still blinding me as there's no driver's side sun visor.
I tried driving him with the top up today, visibility is terrible. You can't even see your blind spot if you look back, the convertible top starts at the end of the driver's window. Very disconcerting to not be able to look back there. With the top down you get a much better view, I can even see traffic lights over the top of the windscreen.
The rear view isn't that great either. The mirror's a weird shape and small, its perfect for the limited view you get between the rear roll-over structures. If you add the wind deflector it gets fuzzy as you're looking through a mesh, then when the spoiler deploys it cuts the bottom off your view.
With the top up, the sun was still blinding me as there's no driver's side sun visor.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 888
Likes: 105
From: Lodi,CA
roadster s
Algy's still in the shop, so I'll driving him for another day. The wife's christened him "Nearly Headless Nick", I was thinking "Silvie" as he's white silver.
I tried driving him with the top up today, visibility is terrible. You can't even see your blind spot if you look back, the convertible top starts at the end of the driver's window. Very disconcerting to not be able to look back there. With the top down you get a much better view, I can even see traffic lights over the top of the windscreen.
The rear view isn't that great either. The mirror's a weird shape and small, its perfect for the limited view you get between the rear roll-over structures. If you add the wind deflector it gets fuzzy as you're looking through a mesh, then when the spoiler deploys it cuts the bottom off your view.
With the top up, the sun was still blinding me as there's no driver's side sun visor.
I tried driving him with the top up today, visibility is terrible. You can't even see your blind spot if you look back, the convertible top starts at the end of the driver's window. Very disconcerting to not be able to look back there. With the top down you get a much better view, I can even see traffic lights over the top of the windscreen.
The rear view isn't that great either. The mirror's a weird shape and small, its perfect for the limited view you get between the rear roll-over structures. If you add the wind deflector it gets fuzzy as you're looking through a mesh, then when the spoiler deploys it cuts the bottom off your view.
With the top up, the sun was still blinding me as there's no driver's side sun visor.
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 828
Likes: 1
From: Jax, FL
Sounds as if you've had your mind up that you don't like the Roadster prior to driving it. I have none of those issues with my Roadster S, which I've had almost a year now and motored almost 15,000 miles. The only time visibility is an issue is when backing out of a parking spot. Wouldn't go back to a hardtop for any amount now.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,535
Likes: 3
From: Mountain View, CA
I enjoyed the Roadster, but I know convertibles are not for me. I spent a few days enjoying the Roadster for what it is and what its good at. The blind spot issue is just dangerous, it surprised me. I'm not sure how you don't have an issue, unless you're just not seeing that you can't see an enormous section of road where anything could be lurking.
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