So for those of you who have lived with a Roadster foe a little while, which flavor of top do you like, or wish you had ordered? The Semi-Aiuto or the manual?

Also is the windscreen a must have or just a BMW profir maker?

 

I opted for the semi-automatic since my wife couldn't fully lower or raise the top from the driver's seat. I'll know more after I pick up the car tomorrow :-) I'll post back with my thoughts.

 

I got the manual. I can get it down from the driver's seat no problem, but it's tough to "click" it down on the latch for me. I don't know what steroids the guy in the MINI videos was on, because there's no way it's quite as simple as it looks in those to pull it up from the driver's seat without kneeling up on the seat, at least for me. I am pretty skinny-armed though. It's trivial if you get out of the car.

I don't regret my decision for a second though. It's all part of the charm of the car, I have $750 in my pocket, and there's no mechanism to go wrong at exactly the wrong time and strand me in a rainstorm with the roof half-up!

EDIT: I got the windscreen in some pack or other, and I just fitted it and left it there.

 

I went with the manual top. I've had other convertibles that you have to stop and get out of the car to raise and lower the top and never found the minute it took to do that to be a big inconvenience. Also my car was at the top of the range I wanted to pay and preferred some of the other options.

 

I ordered semi automatic... I think the manual top are rather retro though...
Like the cavemen had.... ( kidding )

 

 

ordered the car(sight unseen, i know i know) with manual top with the windscreen. went to car show today as luck would have it my MA was working the show. he showed me how to use the manual and i must admit that i could not operate it from the driver's seat, although i must admit i do have shoulder damage. Neither my fiance or my son had problems. For me it will need some work in technique, from outside it was a little easier.

Still prefer the nostalgia of the of the manual.

 

In the manual camp, for price mostly. Got to drive a roadster before we ordered and I was expecting the top to be tough. Not so, in my opinion. It was easy to do at a stop light. The wind screen was not in though. Im not concerned.

 

When i ordered my Roadster, the semi-automatic wasn't available for ordering. I got the manual and I have to get out of the car to lower it or open it up. I could probably do it if I were stronger and if my arms were longer. I don't think it's a big deal, but I wouldn't make the change at a stop light.

 

I guess it loosens up over time. I was able to wrestle mine up from the driver's seat today. Needed two hands, but I got it done!

 

After a full day of using the top, I'm glad I got the semi-auto...makes it really nice to just hit the switch while driving along slow in traffic and let it go down....and then slow down before getting onto the interstate and let it go up :-)

Plus, something I didn't think about until today, our driveway is pretty steep going up into the garage...which is where I'd be putting the top UP at most of the time before pulling her in....and that incline would make pulling that top shut that much harder.

In all, no complaints, and I think it's worth the $750.....I mean, the car is already well over 30K at least....what's another $750? LOL

 

i got the manual top. at first i thought it would be a pain and i have to get out of the car to open and close it, but the Mini dealer showed me how and i have no problems doing it sitting and driving below 20km to open and close the top while sitting down. I'm 5'7"... and i just turn the ****, push it back and click. and to close... push the release button, grab with one hand and pull up and close. And the best part for manual compared to my other cars with auto tops... less mechanical problems i have always had the 'need to oil joints' or on my Porsche i actually broke the hydrolics cause i forgot to unlock it :P .. so the manual gets my thumbs up and so much faster too than the semi automatic. it literally takes me less than 10seconds to turn, and push it down to open. so my vote is for manual top.

 

Good to hear, thanks for the info.. I feel the same, simple and fast was why I went with the manual.


-Steven

 

Manual has been okay, but there are times the semi-auto would be nice. I like the retro feel and the "less stuff to break" aspect as others have mentioned. (although in fairness, over the 5 years we had our convertible MINI, zero issues with the automatic mechanism)

Windscreen is less dramatic a difference than the one in our convertible, but if you live anyplace with cool weather it's still a must-have IMHO. And the ability to fold it down makes it much less necessary to remove it fully when running top up.

Don

 

i've got the Manuel. Its not as easy as the semi, and the wife will have to get out of the car to lower and raise. but its worth the savings to me.. I put that money to better things. haha
Good luck with your choice!

 

Obviously being in the UK I didn't get the choice but I did try the manual on the launch night (all pre-prod demo models were manual) at the dealership and despite many attempts I couldn't quite get the knack of it. If I'd had a choice I may have persevered but I'm glad I didn't have a choice.

 

I got the manual top as well without even seeing the car and I'm glad I did. I got the car 5 days ago and I've learned how to work the top from inside of the car pretty easily. (I'm a 5'-4", 115lbs female.) The dealer gave me the windscreen for free but I haven't wanted to use it. It's quite difficult to get the top up and down with the windscreen in the way. I'd rather be able to easily open and close the top than have it on.

 

hi Pepper.... glad you can work the top from the inside easily but the windscreen folds down, doesn't it? i have the windscreen in mine and i just push it, it folds down and then i reach and grab the roof to lift it up to close. after you close the roof, flip the windscreen back up. the whole time it stays attached to the mid beam too.

 

I'll have to try that

 

I've had my car about two weeks and have been using the manual top most every day. From the driver's seat it takes two separate motions (unlatch, push back to lock) for a total of about 3 seconds for me to put the top down. Going up, it requires 3 motions (unlock, swing forward, latch) and about 5 seconds. I only need my right arm/hand for either direction. Overall I am very happy with it.

Wouldn't want to do it with a shoulder injury, but at least I could get out of the car to put it up or down if I needed to...

 

I hope to actually try this soon


-Steven

 

BlueToy, did you get your car yet? Like it?

 

Nah, not yet. I like staring at the bad iPhone photos of it I will be at the dealer tomorrow


-Steven

 

semi auto top actually is pretty damn nice, i think it just comes down to personal preference.

 

Just took delivery of mine, a manual roof. I am able to raise and lower it from the drivers seat. What I really like about it is no waiting for anything and can be done at any speed. Hope this helps.


-Steven