I cannot tell all the mind/emotional/physical benefits of topless driving. I've had convertibles off and on for 40 years (49 Ford with Police cruiser flat head V8, 58 Chevy with 348 Wedge, 61 Chev, 65 Chev, and a 76 Fiat X1/9. You want undependable, try a Fiat. 12 month ownership, 6 months shop time. We've had KoolBlu for 2 years, 20, 000 miles, long distance roadtrips, and everywhere when weather is right. Still parade worthy.

 

An electric travel blanket is great for rear passengers.Rear passengers do not have heated seats and are much more exposed to wind than in the front seats.

 

I love that I found this forum. Here I was feeling overly indulgent putting on the heated seats so that I could put the top down.



Yeah, um, the other day, I thought I was safe to do this at a stoplight. I didn't realize how much oomph they have! d'oh

 

After driving all winter long with earmuffs, gloves, and heated seats, when the first warm days in spring arrive, and all the ragtops have their tops down, I am almost disappointed that there is no more challenge in it.
Well, for about 5 nanoseconds, that is...

 

I bought my 06 last November, and for whatever reason So Cal has not been hit with any of the usual heat waves we can get. So, I have my mittens, scarf & jacket for those early morning drives to work, along with the heater blasting and the seats toasting. I hear from others that have or had convertibles that it gets "to hot" for the top down in the summer, but if I can have the heater on, I can run the AC too

 

ok so I have two cars because in Boston you need a backup if you want a Miata. I was about to trade both cars (and still might) on a mini vertable (probably S if not JCW)

But after reading some of the top issues I am a bit concerned. To lower a yata's top you press a button and latch it down (06 model). the backup is a 08 Si civic with blizzzacks. and goes great in snow

I read read somewhere that a S vertable that weighs more than mine and has err 10 more hp will blow a miata away.. Hope that poster will share as some say

 

Hey Roland - what top-down issues?
The only negativce I have is the pretty crummy visibility withthe top up...that's seriously not much of fan issue for me, because quite literally, the top is down 95% of the time - regardless of temperature. (I'm in CT, and drive topless even through our winters.)

We have a second car that is awd that we take when it's snowing, but I do put the snows on mine, and it does fine.

As for ease of lowering/raising - doesn't get any easier.
There are no latches. You can open it remotely, and you can close it from inside the car, or close it with the key in the door.

Oh yeah - and it's also got a sunroof mode!!!! (Though I hardly use that - it's down all the way for me.)

Rear window has defogger. I can't think of anything bad about this ragtop beyond the visibility...

 

Package tray must be in place before top will operate!

 

I wish I just find this thread when I bought the Cabrio...lots of fun and useful tips!

 

I have found that with the front windows down that the rear windows should also be down so that the incoming air has a exit area. behind yourself. with the rear windows up the air comes in and right back out past your head. this is fopr the sunroof open or closed on the convertable. Sorry to say that i have decided to find a new owner for my cabrio...If anyone is interested.

 

Looking for the gear for the top motor for my 05 convertible. can't see spending 500. plus for the whole thing when all I need is the gear. Any ideas??

 

Is there a replacement gear for the top motor? I can operate manuel, but it'd be nice to have it operate correctly.

 

No idea myself but post your adventures as you work this out. There has to be convertible specialists out there who just wants to make a living, not a killing the way MINI does. Good luck.

 

if just the motor needs replacing, you might want to check here for partnumbers and technical drawings
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...44&hg=54&fg=10

and here
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...16&hg=54&fg=10

 

Definitely agree with the earlier comment about driving with the top down and windows up. If you're a serious top down motoring enthusiast it's a major pet peeve to see someone driving with the top down and all their windows up! Why did you get a convertible if you don't like the wind? That's why the heated seats is a must have option with a Mini convertible!! My favorite time to drive with the top down is when it's around 50-60 degrees, heated seats on if you need it. That's rag top weather baby!

 

My question was about the power steering. It goes away intermediately, when I shut the car off and restart it comes back on, but then it goes away again. What's my problem?

 

With all due respect, spoken like someone who lives in a mild climate!!
Yeah, I know, Atlanta gets its share of snow and cold... But I drive top-down when it's so cold that the screen on my gps won't turn on. I'm talking days upon weeks of sub-zero weather.

Come up here for whet WE call a cold snap and see how you drive.
It is an absolute blast to have top down on a crisp, brilliantly sunny, frigid day. Windows up makes that pleasurable - I'm not out to prove anything or be uncomfortable.

Chacun á son goût!

 

Yeah zzMini, I'll admit we don't get many days below 30 down in Hot'Lanta. It's 75 degrees right now but this has been an unseasonable warm winter even for us. I'm just impressed at how many postings there are about people braving freezing temps with the top down and loving it! You don't see this in anything else but a Mini! I'm currently looking for a 09 or 10 cabrio after I test drove one and couldn't stop smiling for about 2 days. My first car was a 68 Camaro convertible and I haven't gotten over the fever!

 

Jeep guys do this too. There is this one Jeep I see all the time on LI roofless and doorless even in the snow. I didn't even put the hardtop on my Wrangler till the middle of Jan this year and that was because some nice individual decided to slice my side window open for me.

 

I've been driving around CT with my top down the past few days. Gotta love the fact we skipped winter this year. But then again, I woke up to snow on the ground. WTF is up with that?! I can't open the roof today. Damn!

 

Why not!!! Is there snow on the roof??
(Do you have a yellow vert? If so, I saw you yesterday...but I wasn't in my MINI. I said to the others in our car - now THERE goes some one who loves their ragtop!!) I think we were in Roxbury, Bridgewater, or thereabouts...was that you?????


Dawg - not easy to top a 68 Camaro - but a MINI is a good way to try!

Insanitize - I've heard that Jeep owners also have a real cameraderie, and a great motoring spirit.

 

My advise is to drive open even in the harsh conditions. It is so much fun because you surprise people...

In Netherlands it's been very cold this year; colder than i've ever seen before.
So , to make the best out of a bad situation, in middle of the night I drove 200 miles to the coldest place available and re-set my own "Always Open" record at minus -19 degrees celcius.

(in Fahrenheit (US measurement) that is negative -02 degrees F.)

It was cold but fun !!! I don't (want to) accomplish anything with this action but it is great fun.
I know you guys in Northern-USA and Canada can easily beat that!! Let me hear your record!

 

I wish I still had that 68 Camaro convertible. I paid $2500 for it in 1983 - it would probably be worth about $40k today. I keep telling my wife the Mini will help me get over it. . Days like today make me wish I had it right now. 61 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. I already have the road picked out to break her in!

 

These hat clips are great! I have one I use for snow skiing when I wear a baseball cap. I've had it save several hats that blew off when I was going fast or encountered a strong gust. I clip it just above the adjustable band and then to the top of my collar. Never used it in a convertible but I bet it could save a few favorite hats! I bought mine at REI but I'm sure you could find them online.

 

Hah! You are so right!!
As for your challenge, you have me beat. I think the coldest for me was about 12F, or about -11C?

Dawg...besure to post here when you take delivery...

And my hat story...
Baseball cap flew off on a local road...I pulled a uie, parked, and walked all around looking for it.
Finally, realized it could still be in the car - sure enough - there it was behind my seat!!!
I def need one of those clips...and a few spares for passengers...