Hello people! I am new to the forum and will be joining the Milwaukee Mini's at Gillies in August. I have one question for you Convertible owners. Have you noticed that the interior rear area of the Convertible Top is a potential danger to pets and small children? I brought this up to the Mini engineers and haven't heard anything back yet. Where the top is expected to retract and store is a WIDE OPENED space that a 2 year old stuck his arm into. I was lucky enough to see this before the top went all the way down. The child would have lost his arm. Until the engineers address this issue I just thought it might be wise to warn other Convertible owners of the potential danger. I will look forward to the information shared through this forum. I also have a Corvette and belong to Corvette Clubs and know how much fun a mutual interest can be. Hope to see you on the road!... I will be the one waving at ya!
LUKYME

 

Just curious, but why wasn't the child restrained in a safety seat? I would imagine it would be difficult for a child to put an arm back there if in the seat.

 

Welcome to NAM Luky

I would think any motor driven convertible top would be a threat to animals & small children. You just gotta keep your eye on them when lowering (& raising) the top.

 

In response to the restraint.... you CAN'T raise or lower the top while DRIVING! It was while the car was in PARK and NOT moving yet! Some people DO prepare their vehicle before it moves ya know and it is MUCH easier to PUT the child in the child seat with the TOP DOWN! Hope that answers your curiousity.

 

Actually, you can raise and lower the top while moving. Why not leave the tyke in the stroller until after the top is down, or in your lap? It takes all of what, 15 seconds to lower the roof?

Ummmm... I do own two convertibles, (a Porsche and a Maserati) and they all have "big open spaces" where the roof stores. It is the nature of the beast.
Not sure why that has anything to do with you not keeping an eye on your kid though?

 

Actually, you can open the sunroof while moving but you cannot open the top while moving. However, I would think in any car there are many many moveable parts you should be carefully watching children and pets around.

 

There are warning signs near the button saying to keep your eyes open for little hands and arms before opening. Read the warnings and hed them. I always make kids show me you're hands before I open the top for them. They love having the top open.

 

Excellent strategy - everyone wins! <-note that this thumb will not be pinched.

 

Lucky, welcome to NAM. As for the opinions on why the child had their arm there... don't even listen. First off, you can't judge if you were not there, so why bother. Secondly, considering your concern on this topic I doubt you were being careless with the child. I am sure everyone has the same goal here, just different ways of getting there. ;-)

I had a convertable Eclipse before and whenever I would ride with the top down and people in the back I would always put the top down first because getting in and out was soooooooo much easier that way. In the future I would just use the "show me your hands" idea or lower the top before anyone gets in.

The top MIGHT have a non-pinch sensor on it though. Some windows have this, and I would imagine tops do too. If the motor senses a bind or something in the path it will automatically stop, and usually reverse direction slightly.

Drew

 

I just had to reply to your post.... you are SO kind! I was beginning to think posting at this site was a bad idea as people seemed to take opportunity to assume you are SO dumb! The incident scared me so much that I was just trying to warn other owners of the potential danger. I am NOT careless that is WHY I put the top down before moving the car and YES it is SO much easier to place the child in the car seat with the top down and if people would just THINK.... where do you put the child while you are IN the car getting it down! This was a friend's small child as I do NOT have small children so it was not a usual circumstance for me. Thanks again Drew for your kind words and understanding. You really made my day!
LUKYME

 

Lukyme,

I even warn adults to show me their hands when lowering & raising the roof on my Cabrio. You sound like a very thoughtful person

Could one of the moderators please move this to the Cabrio Forums. We may get some better input there for Lukyme.Thanks

Lois

 

Our daughter actually did get pinched by the top. We all know now to be extra careful when the top is moving. Thank you for bringing the topic up for others.

As to other comments, we all know that with all things children, you can't be 100% on top of their safety 100% of the time. Judgments are not necessary.

 

I have noticed this as well. We have a 2 1/2 and a 4 1/2. Both can reach the top frame area when seated in their car seats.

We have a drill when taking the top down. Both kids will say "Hands on Laps" and keep them there till the top is all the way down.

We go thru the same drill when putting the top up..