Interesting, I'm up in San Fran for the most part it doesn't get that hot but when it does get into the 70's and 80's (with the windows up) the Mini feels like you're in a toaster. The vent just comes out as hot air , usually feeling hotter then the actual outside temperature.
Before I bought my beautiful O2blue Mini I rented a clubman with a sunroof.
I'm thinking it was quieter with the sunroof opened(not retracted) then with the windows down a bit. Am I remembering incorrectly?

 

I actually kind of like this about the mini. In my previous car, a saturn sky, I would get air coming through the vents no matter what, even when the fan was off. Sometimes I just didn't want any air coming through the vents. I looked high and low for a way to stop this but it couldn't be done. With the Mini, it's good to be able to control the air 100% with the fan and if I want air blowing in, I turn on the fan. If I don't, I turn it off.

 

I still don't understand the objection to having the fan on at the lowest speed. My sister insists on driving with the fan off in her Honda and it gets pretty stuffy before long.

 

I like it as well, I have a feeling these people who like it open all the time have never been in a place where they don't want an unpleasant smell to enter the car...

 

I just got back from SF. Love it. ALso spent 7 years out there (for school at berkeley and palo alto). I think the sunroof is perfect for you up there.

On my cars that the air comes in at all times, if I DON'T want air to come in, I just press the re-circ button.

 

Yes I think you're right.
Now I just have to wait for Mini to reintroduce oxygen blue