Hi,

As a long-time Miata owner, I initially figured I'd get a Mini convertible. But the additional cost (and weight) has me re-thinking this. I've seen the panoramic roof, and it looks like it might satisfy my open-air needs. But, not having had the chance to sit in a Mini with this option, I'm not sure about this.
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

I love it, very open and brightens up the inside greatly. I reccomend it.

Also, when open, it's very airy

 

I love my sunroof! It has all the advantages of a convertible MINI without the complete open air experience. I am not a wind fan so the convertible is too much. There is nothing better than being able to cruise PCH at night with the sunroof open enjoying stars and the ocean breeze. :smile:

 

 

I have an MCS with the sunroof. I have also driven convertibles, and a semi-convertible car with a removable roof (1973 Porsche 914). There really is no comparison between a sunroof and a convertible. With a convertible.. you feel like you are outside with just a windshield in front of you.

That being said.. I love my MCS with a sunroof, and would not trade it for a convertible MINI. I love the look and lines of the car, and with the windows and sunroof open, I get enough open air to satisfy my craving for a convertible.

If you are dead set on having the feeling of a convertible.. I don't know if the sunroof will be enough for you. But it might.. and I think you need to get down to the nearest dealer and test drive a MINI with a sunroof as soon as possible!!!

Good luck!

 

The MINI's Panorama sunroof covers about 60% of the roof surface in the hardtop models. It is made by Webasto, a German company. It is a very nice and airy sunroof. I wished MINI offered here the full electric canvas sunroof that is offered as an option in Europe.

You need to discern what is really more important to you: Full open top motoring or less weight and better handling response which obviously the hardtop model will always be head and shoulders above the Cabrio version.

The MINI Cabrio has horrible rear three quarters and rear visibility with the top up. The rear window is small (Although it is glass) and does not have the much needed rear wiper/washer available only on the hardtop. The rear "C-pillars" in the Cabrio are way too thick and blind spots are considerable on both sides.

With the top down, the blind spot problem to the sides go away, but rear visibility will still be hampered by the raised back seat headrests and the roll over bars. This is one of the reasons why MINI offers park distance control (Radar) as standard equipment on the Cabrios.

The Cabrio's overall body rigidity is not as stiff as the hardtop and this is a given with virtually any convertible car in existence today, so over less than smooth pavement the car will make lots of noises. I noticed this on a recent test drive I took of a '05 Cabrio MCS.

The car is heavier and the handling while still very good is not as sharp as it is in the hardtop.

To me the hardtop is the way to go if you get a MINI, IMO. The hardtop is lighter, cheaper, way more solid, has more cargo space (You lose the hatchback functionality and cargo space in the cabrio) and the handling and performance will be more in line with a razor sharp pocket rocket should be.

However, coming from a Miata, you are probably used to the joys of open top motoring and if so, you may overlook the compromises of the Cabrio model for this driving pleasure. But if you can do without a folding fabric roof, I say, go for the hardtop MCS, it is a much better and sensible choice.

 

I wish I had one with a CF lid instead of the glass.

 

Also.. just incase you weren't aware... understand that only the front part of the sunroof opens. The second, smaller glass part in the back does not open. However, the front part that does open is quite large.

 

I think at one time Randy Webb was looking into this as a replacement. Along with a roof, doors, and other bits.

 

COOPER4US....what is the Full Electric canvas Sunroof??

 

My 2.5 years w/ an MC and sunroof were very pleasant but I longed for a true drop-top. My MCSC will fulfill that desire and I think going from a hardtop MC to a softtop MCSC I'll still feel the benefits of the supercharger.

Both are fantastic in their own right.

 

03 MINI has a sunroof & I loved it. Saying that now that I have my Cabrio, there is no comparison. If you are looking for the feel of a convertible with the sunroof, it's just not there. Go test drive a Cabrio. I have a 97 Miata sitting in my driveway & have not driven it since I got my Cabrio. I don't even notice the weight difference between the Cabrio & the 03. Throw a 200# passenger in the seat next to you & see what it feels like. Like I said, test drive a Cabrio, you may fall in love

Lois

 

I love my MCS with sunroof, but as someone else said, I'm not much of a convertible kinda guy. But sitting in the passenger seat with the seatback reclined, looking around - out the sides, up through the roof, out the back - wow, I love the view!

I had a VW bus when I was in college - the one with all the windows - the little oval windows above the regular windows, the around-the-corner windows in the C-pillars. I counted 'em once - I seem to recall there were 29 pieces of glass? Or was it 26? And the big canvas sunroof that folded all the way back.

My MINI reminds me of that old VW bus. (Soundtrack cue: "Let The Sunshine In" from Hair.)

A MINI convertible is nice when the top is down, but when it's up, I'll bet it's pretty claustrophobic inside. I think one of the reasons why my MINI feels so roomy inside is all that glass!

 

Instead of using glass panels, you have a full canvas roof cover that retracts at the touch of a button, front to back. The benefit of it is that if you are using the MINI's roof opening that covers 60% of the roof surface area, the canvas opens all the way to the back! So this affords more of an "Open top" motoring experience. Really cool. Another benefit is that this type of moonroof is not as heavy as the conventional setups that use glass panels.

Just so you get an idea on how it looks, take a look at this canvas roof in this old French Citroen:

http://www.rekup.net/blackattack/follies/visa/

Webasto manufactures these electric canvas roofs.

In our local Mini/MINI club we have a member that owns a 1997 Rover Mini (Beatiful car in absolutely impeccable condition, fuel injected engine, leather seats, driver's side airbag, real wood in the dash and door panels, 13" JCW rims, Candy Apple red metallic) and his car has a factory installed webasto electric canvas moonroof. That thing looks awesome with it opened all the way to the back.

I'll post some pics next week.

 

In this tiny pic, you can see how a canvas roof looks in a classic Mini. This is exactly what the guy in our local club has in his '97 Rover Mini:



http://www.londonmini.com/picturelib/mini_sunroof.jpg

 

As a former Miata owner, I have a few insights... no, the panarama sunroof option is not the same... not even close. BUT... neither is the convertible... you sit upright, and high... not like the Miata AT ALL. This car was my compromise for the midwest... I could not have a RWD Miata in the snow, and the Mini is just as fun to throw around as the Miata was! So, save the weight and go for the hard-top with the sunroof... that's what I did!

 

I faced the same problem that you did and opted for the cabrio. I am coming from an S2000 and truly enjoy the open air experience which you cannot get from the hardtop.

According to MINI's specs the cabrio weighs 165 lbs. more than the hardtop with sunroof. However, this weigh is down low with stronger I-beams and a beefed up chasis. By taking off the roof you are lowering the center of gravity and this is good for handling. I must assume that the sunroof also has negative effect on handling as taking out that much metal will have an effect on the rigidity of the structure. Read some of the recent reviews mentioned on the Mini Motoring File, one reviewer actually liked the handling of the Cabrio better than the Cooper S hardtop. Some feel that the cabrio may actually be safer than the hardtop and most reviewers feel that cowl shake is very well controlled.

I think that on a race track the hardtop would have a definite advantage with a tighter suspension and a more rigid body. But on the street unless you are taking it to that final 5%, the differences are not that great. At least I didn't feel any differences with some spirited driving.

Perhaps the biggest consideration is the weather and if you will be using it as an everyday car. I really wouldn't want to see a foot of snow on top of my cabrio every couple of weeks. I live in the Seattle area and from May through October the top will be down and (notwithstanding the contract) from November through April it will mostly be up.

 

For many years I have owned and still own a Miata. I owned a 2002 MINI Cooper (Killerbee) with the sunroof. I loved both of those cars to death...but...the new Bee (Cabrio S) is really the cat's meow! Being a Vet I know the cat's meow! The sunroof was wonderful but loud above 35 mph. The Cooper was a great car but the cabrio is fantastic. I drive at the track a lot and drive twisties as often as possible and the cabrio just doesn't flex! The new Bee was driven by a professional MINI driver at Carolina Motorsports Park and he felt the cabrio was as stiff as the coupe. My car has the M7 springs on it and the lowering helps give the car that attached to rails feeling. You don't feel too tall in the seat, too heavy, or like the car flexes too much. Oscar Jackson felt my Miata was the best handling Miata he had driven and I feel this cabrio out handles the Miata by quite a bit. Having the power of the S and the gearing of the 05 MINI makes this quite a remarkable machine.
All that being said, only by sitting in the coupe and the cabrio will make up your mind and your opinion is the only one that matters. And buying a cabrio at this time of year only makes getting one an easier task. They can be had for msrp and ordered to your specs, built, shipped, and delivered in less than 2 months. If you want me to point you in a direction just PM me. The worst case scenario is that you will have two of the greatest test drives imaginable.
Mick

 

This ia an incredible forum. Over the years I have participated in Miata, S2000, BMW, Mercedes, and Evo VIII forums, but this is by far the best. You guys have so much experience, and you are so sharing. I can't remember ever seeing so many long, well-written responses to a question.

I can't wait to get my car, so I can meet up with some of you guys!

March road trip coming up : Ohio -> N. California. My boss will not be happy, but I will be ecstatic

 

I have a 65 Mustang convertible, and I'll NEVER to a sun roof again. I have one on my MDX, and it's noisy, heavy and almost never used. I avoid them like the pluage!

But I do love my top down driving, and in NoCal, I do get to do that a lot! But I'd never go back to sunroofs (or moon roofs, or whatever). It just doesn't butter my bread! So the Stang has the top down ALL THE TIME except when I get cought out and I have no choice to put it up. If it's cold, I let the wind through my hair, and turn up the heater! I just love that.....

Matt

 

I just picked up my MCSC. I have to say that the top down experience is orders of magnitude better than just having the sunroof open. The feeling of being connected w/ the outdoors just can't be beat.

For that matter, I like the feeling the sunroof option on the convertible offers over the hardtop sunroof. The opening is not quite as deep, but with it's full width and being at the front of the car, you get a "near convertible" experience while still being protected some by the elements. 100 miles so far, I think I've joined the "Mini soft-top for-life club."

 

You should time ti to come by A MINI Vacation In Vegas. Its a blast.

Check it out http://www.amviv.com

Nik

 

really.. :smile: I'll ask him about it tomorrow at the pulley party.

 

Another thing to consider when comparing a soft top and hard top is your level of comfort parking the vehicle in disreputable sections of town. Granted, no vehicle is theft-proof but having owned soft tops and hard tops, it's always been easier to have a good time at the show/game/club/whatever without worrying about someone damaging or stealing your convertible.

 

As a long time Miata owner I can relate

When I bought my MINI the trade in was crap

So I kept it

And ya know??? Despite the sun roof there are
some days that driving the Miata is just

'BETTER'

Something about a real roadster.......