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Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
Extraordinaire
Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2007 Mini Cooper Convertible by Cordell Koland Summer is here and if you're as smart as you think you are, you've must be considering a new convertible. What better way to cruise the beach. So whether your taste runs to an elegant and sophisticated beach club, a small coastal village or a cool mountain lake, few vehicles make the scene better than a Mini Cooper Convertible. By way of definition, a convertible is ostensibly a four seater, while a two-seat open car such as the Mazda Miata is a roadster. So a real convertible is a social as well as an automotive statement. The Mini franchise still seems to be riding a wave of public acceptance. Over the last decade, I'd say that Mini is second only to Apple in terms of creating and sustaining buzz for its products. Mini is all about being on the cutting edge with style leaders and a convertible gives the brand a triple-espresso jolt. Mini brews its convertible in two versions, the Mini Cooper and the supercharged Cooper S. But since being seen is often more important than going fast in the convertible world, there's no reason not to order the basic unit. And you will save several thousand dollars. With a number of options, including Cool Blue Metallic paint, the sport package consisting of yaw control, sport seats, premium package, fog lamps and 16-inch wheels and tires, our test convertible may not be a choice for the bargain hunter. But style does extract a price and the MINI convertible is all about being the cutest thing on the road. The car looks at its best with the top down, but that's usual for convertible models. The convertible looks particularly good in the blue color that makes a show-off car all the more obvious. If you're single, the Mini Cooper should enhance your chances of attracting all kinds of attention. Our test car was the standard Mini Cooper with its 115 horsepower engine. This is not the aggressive Cooper S version, so performance is not a strong motivator for purchase. As a long-time coastal resident, I see the convertible version of the MINI Cooper as the perfect beach car. You know, that's the automobile that takes up permanent residence at the executive beach house and is available to any family member or guest with a driver's license. It's great for hauls to the supermarket, grog shop, or restaurant. In this mode the top is always down, ready for a fast getaway to buy a dozen donuts for breakfast. And you can easily toss a surfboard in back. Alternatively, full-time residents of the Sunbelt would also find the Mini Convertible a useful lifestyle enhancement. But I see the MINI convertible as a fashion accessory rather than the main form of transport. Because of the construction of the fabric top, visibility is somewhat limited to the rear with the top up. And with less than optimal outward view, one must be careful with lane changes or risk being crushed by a cement truck. The Mini Convertible is fun to drive; it is extremely agile and can cut across traffic lanes with ease as well as subdue any country road in existence. Although there is a more powerful supercharged version of the MINI, the 115-horsepower model does quite will, thanks to the car's modest weight. Once you are up to speed, the car moves along nicely and even has extra zip for passing on two-lane country roads. Yes, there a few flaws in the package. In particular, I found both the location and the design of the audio and climate controls a pain. The control panel is placed very low on the center console and the buttons and switches are small had hard to distinguish. Just changing a radio station takes more concentration than it should. Vehicle:
Mini Cooper Convertible
Price as tested: $28,650 Engine: Type: 1.6-liter inline four Horsepower: 115 @ 6,000 rpm Torque: 111 lbs.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 25 mpg Highway 33 mpg  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
