Happy new year, everyone ...

Other than two additional seats, is there a difference between the mini convertible and the roadster ? Why did you select the roadster instead of the convertible ?

 

No comparison. Two very different styles. Sure they have the same engin/drivetrain and front hood design, but that's we're the similarities end. Convertible has no spoiler, top does not lay down perfectly flat, and it's not a classic roadster design.

 

I swapped from a Convertible to a Roadster six months ago and I can't say there is really a huge difference between them. Sure, they look different but other than that and what the space behind the front seats is used for, they aren't that different.

So to some extent you choose big(ger) boot/trunk .vs. rear seats. I like the look of the Roadster but it's not much different to drive.

One thing worth noting is that the Roadster is noisier and more blustery than the Convertible (both with OEM wind blockers in place), both hood up and hood down. The Roadster has a single-skin hood that lets more noise through when it's up. The difference, hood down, depends on your height - for six footers, the Roadster is very blustery but for short folks is quite peaceful.

 

The team over at Motoringfile claim that the Roadster is much more rigid and planted than the 'vert, most likely because of all of the extra bracing underneath. And then there's the looks...

Here's the link if you want to read their review:

http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/01/...er-s-roadster/

 

I depends on where you want the extra space.
The convertible has more inside space due to the back seat.
But trunk space is very limited.
Where as the Roadster has a pretty decent size trunk and no back seat.
We went with the Roadster due to the trunk space, we plan on traveling a lot, And the trunk is big enough to hold all our stuff.
But Both are nice cars.

John

 

There's a lot of opinion coming, but the OP asked for our opinions. Please don't take this as Convertible-bashing, it's not meant that way. Many people love their Convertibles, and find they work for them, they just don't work for me...
It's the windshield angle that makes all the difference for me in the looks department. The more sloped version on the Roadster makes it look like a sports car. The regular rake on the Convertible doesn't work for me with the hood down. (I'm still annoyed that the graphic in the Openometer on my car is that of a convertible, not a Roadster, by the way.)

I never really considered the Convertible even when there was no Roadster available. I know many people here love it, but for me it seems like too much of a compromise, a four-seater in name only. The Roadster doesn't compromise, it sets out to be a two seater and does a darn good job of it.

The rear seats on the Convertible seem to be smaller than the regular hatch, the seat back looks much more vertical, and most times I have seen an average-sized adult in them after a decent length trip they don't look particularly happy with their lot. The wind blockers I have seen make it difficult or impossible to use the rear seats. I do like the "sunroof" feature on the convertible, it's unique and I do see a lot of people using it. If I see someone using it on a nice sunny day I do always wonder why they didn't just put the whole roof down though.

Almost all convertibles (lower-case, all cars not just MINIs) aren't bought to be completely practical cars. The Roadster is a bit of an exception here, as it looks like the perfect road trip car for two. It's quiet enough, amazing fun, plenty of cabin space, and a giant boot that can take a couple of good-sized suitcases and some extra stuff as well. The Roadster doesn't have an origami-style metal folding top that takes up all of your boot space when folded. You can fill every nook and cranny with the top up and then put the top down with no crunching noises. While I love the nod back to the classic cars of the bottom-hinged boot on the Convertible, there doesn't seem to be a lot of point opening it unless you only have one or two small bags of groceries to stash.

If you don't need the back seats to put people in, then get the Roadster. If you only need occasional back seats for short trips you could look at the Convertible. If you do need the back seats to put people in on a regular basis for more than very short trips, then I personally wouldn't buy the Convertible, get a Clubman with the sunroof...

 

The operative word is 'roadster'. When we picked up our R52 there was no MINI roadster. After 5 years of driving our li'l guy it is still a love fest. My first two cars back in the early '60s were English roadsters so I do have a perspective. I can't say that the fun is any less or more one way or the other. With a heavy sway bar, the MINI handles the local twisties a lot more smoothly that the old TR or XK. I do like the lines of the roadster but haven't had a chance to sit in one and would never presume to be allowed to drive it. An old rule of thumb in photography states that for everything you gain, you have to give something up. I think that is true in motors as well. There are tradeoffs and it all comes down to what one is willing to accept or do without. I'll not give up our R52 gladly but if the time ever comes I'd sure give the roadster serious consideration.

BTW, OP, interesting idea for a thread.

 

A similar topic brought up earlier:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-roadster.html

 

I drove the Roadster S back to back with the convertible S. While they both brought a smile to my face, the Roadster S was the clear choice for me. Better visibility, better looks, more unique, and it cornered better - Feels more rigid.