My dealer thinks I am crazy, because I will have the top and windows down, with the seat heaters on.

 

I've thought about this for a couple days, and you're right on a couple points. I can't conceive of the other choice (a hardtop) being superior, but the responses are predictable (and I echo just about every one- my MCSC is simply the most fun to drive car I have ever driven).

But we probably can be a little more creative in coming up with convertible regrets. Here's one I have: on a nice cool fall morning (50's) last week, my coffee was cold in about 5 miles. So my regret is that the MINI coesn't come with a heated cup holder to go with the heated seats. . .

 

On a recent run to Bear Mtns, I had the only Cabrio in the group of possibly 18+ MINIs, and was loving it.
I saw one other MINI Cabrio on my way home.
Do I regret having a Cabrio being that most MINI owners seem to have tin tops?
Not on your life !


PS One wisenheimer in the group said a few times that particular day that my MINI looked like a boat.

My response was ...... "No, that's my other car, a SeaRay.

(Maybe he was a little jealous?)

 

The only reason I regret having the cabrio over the tin top is I can't join in on track days, at my local tracks. I don't regret it enough to trade though!!! In the long run the cabrio is saving me money..

 

"Regrets, I have a few,but then again too few to mention"---well I have some...- I have' 07 MCSc and every time I need to fill up it hurts... but when I get on the the road in the 'cool of the evening' with the top down,it's the best..no regrets. I can't think of any other car I would rather drive on PCH(Calif.Hwy 1, ocean view with tons of curves) with the top down . I think I will hurt again when I try to sell it for a newer model...I have a bit over 10k miles on the tires and at the free 10k maintenance they said I needed new tires, 'What the Hey" those Run-flats sucks ...In So.-Calif in the summer with that BLACK top and black leather seats is not a cool spot to be in.. .The A/C is a joke so I try to limit my 'Raider' for un-hot, un-sunny days and I love those nights.. . KM

 

I live in the southern part of Texas where we are hot and muggy 9 months out the year and I have no complaints about my convertable. My other two vehicles are truck and suv so the gas fill up on the mini is a dream come true. Mine is an 05 mcs 6 speed. So my advice is to keep a smile on and love the ride.

 

No regrets. I put the top down almost all the time. I don't put it down when it is frozen stiff. Sometimes I put it up in summer thunderstorms. My lowest temperature driving with the top down is 4 degrees F. (Actually I've put the top up more often to avoid desert heat at mid-day than to avoid the winter's cold.) I have 47000 miles on the car of which perhaps 1000 are with the top up.

What non-convertible drivers don't seem to know is that it is warm in the car with the top down even when it is very cold outside. Seat heater, heater, windshild, windscreen, down lap blank, leather helmet, gloves, coat, neck scarf . . . COZY!

 

He John, welcome.

 

OMG... Why didn't somebody say something sooner??? I can't belive I paid extra for a MINI without a top I mean I paid more should I not at least get a top???

 

I love my convertible! Even if I didn't live in SoCal, I'd have the top down just about all of the time. I can get my cello in with the top up in either the front seat or in the back with the seats folded down. On Sunday, I got my mom's walker in the back (seat down)! She likes it because she can get in and out of it easier than my 02 VW Golf that I traded in for my SWEETMC! (CB/B MC 07).

 

One time I was driving with three women in the car. I stopped at a light and a Honda 2000 pulled up next to me with a lone male driver. Who do you think left that light with a smile on his face? Regrets...Hell no. The top is down as often as I can tolerate the temperature. If the sun is out anything from about 35 degrees and up qualifies. As far as trunk space, you'd be amazed how much stuff you can get into that car.

 

I just got mine (Oct 07) and I will own one for the rest of my life. I have never been happier with a car. As long as it's not raining the top goes down. If this car had a tin roof I would not have even considered buying one. I love it, I love it, I love it. If the hardtop seems reasonable to you, you are not a ragtop person. Sure there are compromises but those compromises will never matter to me. I have zero regret and 100 percent fun. My son loves the little blue car. To quote him, "put the roof down, daddy."

 

I love my MCSC

 

Hey! No fair! You stole my one-of-a-kind feeling!

 

Regrets; I have no regrets with the cabrio. There are times that I am sure that my friends think that I am crazy. I will motor with the top down on a sunny day so long as the temperature is above 29. Of course the wind screen is in place the windows up, the heat is full on and the seats are warming my buns. It is great to see the expressions on other drivers faces. I bought the 'vert so that I could drive with the top down; not up.

 

My biggest regret is not putting sun screen on more frequently during my first years of ownership. I feel that I've grown hypersensitive to sun exposure and only really enjoy the top down at night at the right temp. I still rarely have the top down during the day but usually only with sun screen since I don't like to put it on my skin constantly. PUT SUN SCREEN ON CONVERTIBLE PEOPLE!!!

 

SSSHHHH! Don't tell my wife....but I "accidently" tracked her Cabrio a few times autocrossing in HAWAII Region SCCA

 

Oh, yeah, the only regret, my wife got the CVT

 

My regret is that I didn't get one!!

 

My only regret is that I can't afford multiple ones. It's the best car I've ever had, even with the smallish trunk.

 

I regret not getting one, kind of.

I'm a percussionist, and the roominess factor of the hardtop was very desirable. All that storage? Ridiculous.

I've not read this whole thread. Are there any drummers out there who own the convertible, and what are your thoughts?

 

Reminds me of driving my mom's vw ragtop w/ my friend and his tuba in the backseat.

 

I'm only about 3 months into my MCC experience and ...I not only have no regrets, I am pretty sure I will never buy anything else. I cannot overstate how much pure FUN I am having with this wonderful little car. I learned to drive in 1971 in a Fiat 850 spider (a rag-top). My MINI is even MORE fun than that.

It amazes me on a routine basis.

-B

.

 

Wow .... A Fiat 850. Man I remember those. They were sweet. Ahhh the Italian open air experience. I always wanted one of them. My brother used to let me drive his Austin Healy Sprite ragtop. Now that was a car! The bug eye headlights. My Dad hated it though.

He warned my brother not to buy it back in '67. He said he'd pay $850 for it used then, and pay someone to haul the piece of s** away for $50. The junkman and his tow truck did just that for the $50. lol ... I guess the English cars were pretty iffy back then.

 

yeah English automotives were pretty unreliable. But when they worked, they worked GREAT and looked even better. A good friend of mine was drivnig an Austin Healey at the time. It was cool. Hardly ever even see those around any more. Too bad.

I used to miss my old 850.

Not any more!!!

-B

.