Hi All - I'm exploring purchasing my first MINI and I'm going back and forth between a Hardtop Cooper S and a Cooper S Convertible (4 seater, not the roadster). I'm in my 40's, father of 3 and I'm currently driving a BMW 135i convertible. I keep reading reviews of the Vert that call it a girls car. What say you NAM readers? If you're driving a convertible, are you a man, women, young or old? What color are you driving? S or Justa? Lets figure this one out!

 

Personal opinion, it doesn't matter if it's a vert or hardtop, it's a cool, fun car regardless. I have seen men and women young and old in both and often it has been the color choice and/or mods done that have made a car seem "girly" or not. I wouldn't think you less of a man for buying a Vert, unless perhaps you covered painted it pink and covered it in daisies

Good luck in your search! I say go with what feels right to you though, drive both and if you just like one better than the other go with that gut feeling. In the end this is going to be your car and what you feel is what really matters

 

It's an absolutely ridiculous statement. A car is for whomever wants it. There are no "girls" or "guys" cars. Drive whatever makes you happiest.

 

From our club events, I'd say the gender split is about even when it comes to the 'vert owners/drivers. Personally, I'd love to get a 'vert.

 

So very much this!

The car is a "girl's car" if a girl is driving it, or if the owner says it is. It's a "boy's car" if a boy is driving it, or if the owner says it is.

If you like the 'vert, get the 'vert! It may get called "cute", and there may be some who would cast aspersions on your gender identity. Who cares? You'll still be driving a fun happy useful VERY VERY FUN car! Smile at them as you motor away--it will make them wonder what you're up to....

 

My wife drive the R57 but I actually like it better then my Countryman. I drive it on the weekends. So much fun!

 

redacted

 

You know what's mosting interesting about lists like this one http://www.forbes.com/sites/michelin...en-and-women/? It's not what cars on on what list, but the fact that, on the Male list, the most popular models are bought OVERWHELMINGLY by men. 80+ percent of those models' sales are going to someone with a Y chromosome. But on the female list, the MOST lopsided sales figures are only in the high 50s, and quickly fall to just barely over half. That means that even the CHICKIEST car out there is actually chosen fairly evenly by both men and women.


FWIW, I think the best reason to buy a hardtop over a convertible is that it's going to be a better driver for the twisties. And the best reason to buy a convertible over the hardtop is that it's going to be a better cruiser in temperate weather, while still being a pretty decent canyon carver.

 

If your a sunworshipper like me (55 Y/O male) the get the convertible. I've owned many of them, currently have an 08 MCSc in Lightning Blue, and love driving top down.
I even have a 4 door Jeep Wrangler and this past winter the hard top stayed in the yard. This was the first winter I did this but the soft top works well even in the cold.

 

Bah. There is something inherently sexy about a man who is comfortable enough with himself to drive the car he likes, regardless of what others might say.
That's far, far, far better than getting a lesser car because other people think you should. Are they making the payments on it? NO!

Get a vert, paint it nail polish pink with daisy decals, install fake eyelashes on the headlight rings, name it Lucy, and motor around town in full style...

...wearing a thick mustache and lots of denim. You know, just to balance it out!

 

Since I have a JCW Cabrio I always notice the other Cabrios out and about; Most are driven by men. I am a 50 year old girl! My dad loves driving it also when I'm away. Cabrio's aren't sexist, they are sexy! (corny! hahah)

 

JCW Cabrio here. In red.

Don't let other people tell you what you should buy. If a convertible will make you happy, buy it. They're not the ones driving it. The worst thing that could happen is you put out a lot of money for the car you didn't really want.

My next car will probably be a Miata. My girlfriend insists that she will laugh at me. I don't particularly care. It'll be my car.

 

i agree that a car is for whoever wants it.. no boy or girls cars (even though some are made by manufacturer and marketed to certain genders)....


except this...

this is a girl car. a teenage girl car. lol