MSN's Auto page has a very nice and lengthy review of the new MINI Cabrio. Check it out!

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article....c=msn&GT1=5015

Clover

 

Thanks, Clo Now that I have it, I think I'll read a review Actually, my Cabrio is great. All the little quirks of my 03 are gone in the 05. The Cabrio has added stiffness & suspension which makes the handling & driving the twisties a lot more fun. The getrag tranny is super. So smooth & effortless. I know you MCS owners have had it but now us MC owners do too & I love it. The ragtop is a hoot. When you put it up or down, it's like a giant prehistoric bird flying over your head And all in about 15 seconds. There are no creaks, rattles, or strange pops. The exhaust pops but that was done on purpose. The power steering whine is less noticable but it is still there. I've put 900 miles on the Cabrio since last Friday. It's just so much fun

Lois

 

Hey Lois, a co-worker of mine is looking at MINI cabrios (and I think has been to the showroom). She had a question about rear visability with the top up. Any thoughts?

 

I read the MSN review today....and decided that I want another MINI, cabrio this time . I think we're going to have to wait a while though.

It's definitely a sweet looking car. And as much as we've enjoyed our S, I bet it's even better with the top down.

I thought I had gotten rid of the MINI bug when Pig arrived. Oh, well

 

With the top down, the visibility is somewhat hampered by the roll bars but you can see thru them & between them. I am pretty short & that is somewhat of a disadvantage for me but a taller person can actually see above them. With the top up, there is a big blind spot in the back where the ragtop meets the rear window. And of course it is on the passenger side that it causes a problem. I drove the Miata for 8 years & had similar issues especially with the top up. I learned to really use my side mirrors as a result. Given all this, if you have driven a convertible before it is not a big problem. But I could see it could be difficult for someone who is inexperienced. The Cabrios come equipped with the PDC & it works quite well. I avoided killing one of my trash cans today as I was backing out of the driveway

Lois

 

Lois, I have a few questions about the Cabrio:

1. When you put the top in sunroof position, how does it sound when you are motoring on the freeways or at high speeds?

2. What is the sound like when the top is up? Does it whistle? Does it flap? Tell us what it's like to motor with the top up.:smile:

Thanks, sweetie!

Clover

 

Top up? What's that? I did have it up last night coming home when temp dropped to 40 It's pretty quiet. The fabric top tends to muffle the outside sounds. I did hear a little whistle noise on the passenger side but I read in the manual tonight that you must put the back windows up first & then the front to create a good seal. I'll try that. The top is stretched very tight so there is no flapping what so ever.

I haven't driven much with the sunroof option especially at speed.It doesn't seem to be any noisier that the regular sunroof. If anything it's a little quieter. But with the top down, you get a pretty quiet ride. Out on the freeway it's noisy no matter what you do with all the semi's rolling by. I'm thinking about the windscreen but $400 seems a little much. I'm waiting to see if they come out with any aftermarket windscreens.

Any other questions??
Lois

 

:smile: Yes...what is the windscreen? Please explain for we ragtop-newbies! LMAO! I thought that is what the Brits call the windshield!

Clover

 

I guess you can call it a wind deflector also. It can be made of fabric, plexiglass, or a screen similar to the sun screen on the sunroof. It fits between the 2 front seats & redirects the wind. It makes a nice cozy little sauna with the windows up & the heater on In my Miata, the original one just wrapped around the seats but with the style bars, it is plexiglass, like a little window. I haven't seen the one for the MINI, only pictures. It looks like it may be made from a perforated material. And it must be removed when the top is put up.

Lois

 

:smile: Thanks, dear, for the windscreen explanation. That must be what my mother has between the headrests of her Z4? It is great when ZOOOOMING down the freeway with the top down!


Clover

 

That's what's she has. I've seen them on Z4s.:smile:

Lois

 

:smile: Cool thing about the Z4 windscreen: it seems to be the same material as the MINI's sunroof screen!

Clover

 

I have had my Cool Blue Cooper S Convertible for 1 week and 250 miles. It is awesome so far. Here are my observations:

1. The Top is so easy to use. It does make a fair amount of noise going up and down.

2. The S is the way to go. It has so getty up and go... I hear from others that the regular MCC is sluggish.

3. With the top up you have to rely on your mirrors a great deal. You cant see anything out the rear window.

4. I have driven the car with the top down in 45 degree weather and the heater on and the heated seats on and have been very comfortable. The heated seats are too hot. I thought it was going to burn my butt and back.

5. The only problems so far, is when the top is down and the back windows are down and the front windows are up, the front windows tend to rattle a bit. Also, on the drivers side there is a plastic part of the top that almost comes off. I have to push it back into place each time the top comes back up.

6. Question- what is the pop from the exhaust when going from 2nd to 3rd? Someone posted that it was on purpose. I like the sound, but my wife thinks something is wrong.

7. Cool Blue with Blue top has gotten tons of compliments.

8. I cant believe that the wind deflector is $400 clams. Maybe it is because of the cool carrying case it comes in. As of now, I dont think one needs it. The wind hasnt been much of a factor and the noise is pretty minimal for a convertible.

9. The clock is a major disappointment. It is on the Speedometer and is hard to read. They should have put it near the switches to activate the top.

10. I have a 2002 MC and now the 2005 MCS Convertible. I told my wife that there is a huge difference in the feel of the cars. The Convertible seems so much more substantial. Still, my heart is in the 2002 for sentimental reasons.

 

Working rear windows? Did you guys say the ragtop has working rear windows? That didn't occur to me even when I test-drove it -- with a Cabrio, you get working rear windows! I may just reconsider...

 

Yay, yay!!! That's me, too! I currently have a 2003 MC and am expecting my MCSC in December. I CAN'T WAIT!!!! i bought my MC off the lot the first time, and could never understand why people (who ordered their MINI) were so obssessed with tracking their MINI. But now I'm one of them. I just got my production number and will track my progress daily! I'M SO EXCITED!!! Especially since Hawaii has perfect weather 6 days out of the week...perfect for motoring with the top down!

Yay, yay, yay!!!!!!!!

that popping is part of the exhaust. It happens anytime you take your foot of the gas. My motoring advisor was telling me why it does that during the test drive...but I wasn't paying attention to him...hello, I was in a cabio!! anyway...I love that sound!!!!

 

Ditto most of what Wedge said - and yes, wing windows for the rear.... very cool feature I think...:smile: I only have 360 miles on my Cabrio but so far, no complaints at all... She drives like a dream...no rattles, top is tight, no whistle noises......

I'm thinking of getting my windscreen from a friend in the UK - even with shipping, MUCH cheaper than what they want here in the states...:smile:

Chow!

Donna

 

wedge,

My MCC is NOT sluggish. So don't believe what you hear. I'm having a hard time keeping the RPM's down for break-in. I have NO rattles, just a tiny whistle on the passenger side with the top up. But I think I have solved that.
When I put the roof up at the dealers, my MA couldn't believe how fast my top went up & how quiet it was. He said all the others he had seen were much slower & noisier. I have no idea why. The pop in the exhaust was put there on purpose by BMW. It's supposed to replicate the popping sound that was heard in the Classic Mini's exhaust. At least that's what my MA told me.
My Cabrio has 900 miles on it after 6 days Motoring in it is just too much fun Wished I lived in Hawaii where the top would be down 24/7.

Lois

 

I stretched Sunnie's legs tonight. Took her on the river bottom road close to our house. Lots of twisties. She hugs the road & the new tranny is so smooth. The suspension is much stiffer& she handles so much better than Louie. The top was down, heater on, & my hair was flying. What a ride!!!!

Lois

 

SHhhhhhhhhhh!
Louie is going to get jealous with all this cabrio talk.
Don't forget, Louie needs some exercise too.
How come Lois and Donna get all the fun so soon?
I guess youz the leaders and we the followers

 

minihune,

I do feel bad about Louie. But Gary is driving him daily. I sent Sadie a pic of Louie & Sunnie. You will have to take a drive in a Cabrio. With your 24/7 weather, you may decide that a Cabrio is in your future.

Aloha,
Lois