I was just looking at the mini site, and they have this video of a guy who notices it's raining, so he jumps back into his car, and starts driving around, they show the rain water 'jumping' over the passenger compartment.... Now, I seem to remember seeing a BMW commercial some time back, where a guy drove in the rain ... and I have a friend with a BMW convertable, that I have noticed, if you sit in the back seat, wind is not an issue.... which I noticed in the back seat of the mini convertable, there is definately more wind that in her BMW convertable.

So, for those that have the convertable, can you actually drive it in the rain, and not get wet? Or get the inside wet? How fast do you have to be driving to stay dry?

Doug

 

I don't have a convertible, but you would have to stay moving to stay dry. So maybe if you were going on a highway trip and passing through the rain it would be fine, but what about stop signs and red lights?

 

I'm not a MINI 'vert owner but have had several. I'd say that my old rabbit 'vert even reminds me of the basic layout of the MINI. Others were a Miata - still in the stable - and a 66 Mustang (I miss that one)

Ya need to be going about 50 or better and then you can generate an air bubble but you won't stay 'dry'. There will be plenty of mist and usually there will be a stream off the windshield and/or wiper splash that won't clear the cockpit. A wind blocker might alter the bubble but I've no experience with that.

But in a pinch when caught by rain I've put on speed until i could get to an underpass and put the top up (all mine were manual and I usually use the boot {cover}). Bad are those times ya try this then get caught behind someone who likes to slow to 25 cuz it is raining. You know, they guy who moves to the laft lane and turns on his 4 ways while going 25.....

 

MINI actually has a chart that shows how fast you need to go to keep the car dry. It shows where the rain falls in at different speeds, too funny.

Go to MINIusa.com and try this link: http://www.miniusa.com/link/ourcars/encyclopedia/nature

 

Like Okeefe, I've got a Miata, and indeed at highway speeds you stay dry. The most irritating issue is that water creeps over the edges of the side windows and sort of dribbles down the side. I just keep a cloth handy to mop it up before it pools. Looks like the MINI would do the same thing.

Did a 4k road trip all top down - hit rain twice, but was able to drive through both times. I remember passing a trucker who just looked down and shook his head. :smile:
On another trip through Oregon we made it for half an hour before the rain got really heavy. Whipped off the freeway and under a covered gas station with only a slight wetting.
The best part is if you have a rental - then you can just put up your umbrella when you stop. BTDT.