I am so excited! I sold my 2005 MCS a short time ago and decided I couldn't live without a MINI. I decided to look for a 2005-2006 cabrio and found one in Colorado. We now have a deposit down on a 2006 MC, hyper blue (just like my MCS!) with 20,000 miles.

It was made 9/06 so it still has warranty left, but what sorts of problems were common with the 2006 cabrios?

My hair is going to be a big mess from now on , but I'm going to have so much fun!

 

I have a HO MC Cabrio. Built her myself! She's had no problems at all. Almost 60,000 miles and going strong!!

 

There aren't many convertible-specific problems, but check for all the normal problem areas, like mushrooming strut towers and a leaky passenger-side engine mount.

One potential problem with the convertible top is that you can get excessive wear on the fabric top right over the small rear windows. It was more of a problem with the '05 than with later years, though. It's normal to have a couple of "shiny spots" there, but make sure the fabric isn't actually wearing through.

 

I have an 06 MC and have had no issues with it. I am hair challenged but the breeze feels good going over my head.

 

Here is a list of used Mini purchase questions that are not convertible specific that may help.

 

Thanks! I am familiar with the motor mount problem, and fortunately my MCS didn't experience the mushrooming.
I'm female with fairly long hair and I don't think I'm going to cut it just yet - I'll just keep it braided and up like Princess Leia or something...or wear hats...or both.
Thanks! We've asked many of those questions of the dealer already (they don't know about former drivers, though, and many of the questions they simply don't know the answers to). From what the dealer tells me, the car was set to go to auction and was already there when we saw the ad and asked about it and made an offer. The car had to be brought back to the dealer to answer questions about it - is this normal?

I have run the VIN through the NICB (National Internet Crime Bureau) database (free) and it hasn't been flooded, stolen or salvaged; is it still worth it to shell out for a Carfax or that other one ran by Experian (which is cheaper, if I recall)? Don't dealers have an obligation (we are buying it from a Toyota dealer) to disclose accidents and stuff? It's been awahile since I bought a used car.

Thanks!

 

Every dealer I've bought from ran the Carfax for us at no cost.

FYI, my wife has long hair and just puts it in a pony tail or wears a hat and doesn't have problems with the wind. The wind is much worse in the back seat than it is in the front.

 

It's mine!

My SO just called to say it checked out and he bought it. Now, I just have to wait patiently for him to drive it back from CO (I'm at home taking care of our elderly dog).

 

I am glad you are back on a MINI! Now each of you should be happy!

Are you keeping the Mazda?

 

Two weeks ago I bought an '05 convertible. My first Mini, my first rag top. So far I've noticed two problems. Well, maybe not problems exactly. 1) My drive home from work has gotten noticeably longer when the weather is nice enough to put the top down and 2) I have a window office at work and I've noticed that on sunny days I am continually distracted by the thought that I could be out motoring in my Mini.

 

Yes - we've decided we can afford both. Of course, all my pouting and heavy sighs probably helped convince him...
We got the convertible cheap enough that it should be OK. I'd have loved a brand new one, but I figure with one with 20k is close enough. It will be a switch for me to go from an S to a regular Coop, but if I feel the need to go faster, I'll take the Mazda out.

 

Yes.. I was going to say that. Big change going from a Supercharged S to a regular Justa. You have to plan your traffic moves a little more in advance than before and the car really needs to be driven in the upper RPM range. Also keep in mind the convertible is heavier than the hardtop you used to have, so you'll feel that too (And rigidity is not the same so a front sway bar is recommended).

My first MINI was a 2002 MC hardtop and enjoyed that car a lot. But once I switch to the S I never looked back (I have owned 3 Cooper S, including the Clubman)

 

Ladidah,

Excellent, outstanding news! When you were suffering from your mini deprivation/seller's remorse, I was hoping things would work out for you soon mini-wise. The only thing I would add in terms of cautionary advice would be that the convertible model does have a bit larger area of "over the driver's shoulders blind spots" that you'll need to adjust for when the top is up. Happy motoring and I know that you must be smiling big-time already!

 

Thanks! Just a few more hours...

 

What color is it? Equipment? I am sure you will love the open top motoring experience...

 

It is Hyper Blue just like my old MCS. I really like blue cars. Before my MCS I had a Blue Lagoon Jetta VR6.

This one has:
Sport, premium and cold weather packages.
Manual transmission
Space grey cloth seats, which I plan on getting Wet Okoles for
Body color dash
16" Bridge Spokes.
Harmon Kardon upgrade
Aux in in the glovebox
Tinted windows
Clear bra (despite that, my SO says it has some tiny rock chips in the bonnet where the bra doesn't sit).
It should have around 21,000 miles when he gets it home...

No Xenons (), that was the only thing (besides being iffy on the cloth seats) I really wanted that wasn't on it.

I've driven regular Coopers from the dealer and I think they're still pretty peppy. The added gas savings will be welcome, and I'm a little prone to getting speeding tickets anyway.

 

Are you sure it is a 2006? If the car has 16" Bridgespokes it is more than likely it is a 2007 or 2008.

By the way, nice spec!

 

I'm pretty sure, as the VIN checks out to an '06. Here's the car; maybe they aren't Bridgespokes? I just matched them up on that Mini Cooper wheel page - the dealer didn't list them.

 

Sweet!

Yes they are BridgeSpokes (My Clubman S has the same exact wheels) so probably MINI did offer them towards the tail end of '06 or the previous owner changed them.

More pics please!

 

I'll get pics when it turns nice out again! I did snap this one after the car wash to get the dealer stickers off yesterday:



I like the wheels - they seem easier to wash than the Web Spokes or the Voxx wheels I had on the MCS. The car is a 9/06 and I was also surprised to find it had the Aux In in the glove box - a little searching here on NAM told me that it was standard as of 09/06 on.

 

Sweet! Sure glad the SO got it to you without any mishaps!

Driving with the top down & the heater on full are you?

 

Nice MINI! Congrats!

 

Ladidah

 

You totally "get it"!

 

I have some news for you

If your build date is 9/06 your car is officially a 2007 MY MINI. That explains why you have the Bridgespokes on it as those were not available in the option sheet prior to MY 2007.

The "new" production year for MINI starts on the second half of the prior year. Let me give you a quick example:


MINIs built from october 2002 until August 2003, were 2003 MY vehicles

MINIs built from September 2003 until June 2004, were 2004 MY vehicles

MINIs built from July 2004 until June 2005 were 2005 MY vehicles

and so on and so forth.


So I am 100% sure your new MINI is a '07