HI : I have a '06 MCSconv't and I was wondering if any of you went from a cabrio to hardtop ? What are some of the differences and is it still a ton of fun to drive as the cabrio? I see alot of post that hardtop drivers want to get a ragtop but hardly any the other way around...

 

I drove a hardtop as a loaner while having my top adjusted (there is a difference). Much tighter. Made me want to have both. For hard driving I'd prefer the coupe. For cruising and driving fast, the cabrio is a dream. Both is really the only alternative, eh? I'm working really hard in explaining to the wife why she needs to buy a MINI too.

 

I have a hard top and my dad has a cabrio, we drive eachothers sometimes, and he says he wouldnt trade a cabrio for a hard top, and I say I wouldnt trade a hardtop in for a cabrio... so i guess its just preference

 

Do you like blondes or red heads best?

 

Redheads...

 

I have driven both extensively. The cabrio is a sweet car and the power top is amazing. but with open top motoring, also comes compromises that may or may not be justifiable if going the ragtop way.

I personally, much prefer the hardtop for the following reasons:

1) More shoulder room in the rear seat area. This is immediately noticeable when hoping in the rear of the hardtop vs the cabrio

2) Curtain airbag protection for rear passengers. Cabrio rear passenger all they get is the 2 roll over bars. There are no side airbag protection for cabrio rear passengers

3) More cargo space. The hardtop here wins hands down. With the seats folded down you have 25.5 cubic feet of capacity and around 5 and some cubic feet of cargo area with the seatbacks up (2002-2006 hardtops, I understand cargo area has increased slightly in the new R56 hardtop). The Cabrio has a small trunk and the lack of a true hatchback design limits its capacity. For instance it is hard to fit a baby stroller inside the trunk of a Cabrio without having to fold one of the rear seatbacks.

4) less weight, no shake cowl, better ride quality, stronger structure due to the solid roof.

5) Better handling.

6) MCS hardtops come standard (2002-2006) with SS+ suspension. SS+ suspension is not available in the cabrios whether they are MC or MCS, period.

7) Chrome gas cap in the MCS hardtop. Not available in the MCS cabrio.

8) No rear wiper in cabrios. Huge visibility problem in bad weather.

9) hardtops have much, much better side and rear visibility than Cabrios with the top up (Horrendous blind spots)

10) The signature solid MINI roof is lost in the cabrio.

11) Issues of leaks, rattles and power top problems are possible. These are non-existant in the hardtops.

12) Signature wrap around rear glass (2002-2006) in the hardtops, missing from the cabrios.

13) Cabrios are much easier to steal and brake into. That rag top can be cut like butter. If your rear glass is shattered, the whole entire top has to be replaced..ouch!

14) Cabrios are in average $5,000 more expensive than their hardtop counterparts

Someone told me once...Lease a Cabrio, buy a hardtop.

Don't get me wrong, the Cabrios are extremely fun cars and if you don't mind some of the compromises I listed above and enjoy open top motoring, the cabrio is the car for you. But for me, I'll take a hardtop MINI any day of the week and twice on Saturday.

 

Cabrios need no rear wiper I have driven in bad weather with no visibility problems. If a chrome gas cap will make or break the deal then the cabrio is not for you for sure Mini went to a lot of trouble to keep the signature roofline intact on a cabrio Issues of leaks, rattles, & sunroof problems are also frequently reported on tintop sunroofs The cabrio roof cannot be cut like butter just look inside at all the metal on the underside & get out your butterknife & give it a try I dare you & then hunt around NAM for the post about the guy who had his tintop side window smashed in recently by thieves

 

I don't believe the MINI has ever had any kind of rear passenger air bag protection.

 

All depends on your driving style. If you're into competitive driving or push your MINI hard you'll find the hardtop is tighter than a cabrio.

Also consider the weather conditions where you live. I owned a convertible when I lived in Florida but have a hardtop now that I live in northern Virginia. I do have a sunroof which gives me the best of both as far as I'm concerned.

Another consideration is the cost of replacing a convertible top and security. Unfortunately I had someone slash my convertible roof to get access to the radio.

 

15) Cabrios weigh more, so you get less mpg (not a factor for the S 'vert folk, I'm sure)

Love the roofline, storage space, sunroof, and "security" of my hatchback. But I sure did have a great test drive in the cabrio.

ok, my 15) is listed under 4). Sorry.

 

If you're a cabrio person you won't be happy with a hardtop. And if you're not a cabrio person, I'm sorry. Just kidding, it's really just a matter of preference, right?

 

Hardtops have side airbag curtains that run front to back passenger seats. Cabrios have a huge side/head airbag that protects only the front occupants. No airbag protection for rear riders.

Trust me, I sold these cars and became well acquinted with the differences

People, don't get offended. I have stated the reasons why I prefer the tintops over the cabrios. I drove my fair share of cabrios back to back and I enjoyed them every single time. But for everyday, I prefer the tintop model.

The customers that bought Cabrios, were folks that wanted open top motoring as their top priority and this is why the car serves them well. If a ragtop is not at the top of your list, you'll be happier in a tintop.

Florida is too hot for enjoyable open top motoring. This time of the year is nice because is "Cool"and not as humid, but come May, this place turns into an unbereable hot and humid swap