Just wondering if anyone regrets getting the convertable?
Do you put the top down enough to make a difference?
Is it worth having virtually no trunk space?
Thanks for your input!

 

I love my cabrio & have zero regrets. I put the top down almost every day from around March til November

You would be surprized how much space you have in there. The rear seats fold down. There is easily room for 2 people & their luggage

 

No regrets at all. The Cabrio is awesome... It's amazing how much stuff will fit in it

Donna

 

i love this car more then i thought i could ever love a car

 

It's a chick magnet- who could regret that?

 

The only regret that I have is that I didn't get a MCSC years ago.

 

I love hearing all the wonderful noises my mini makes with the top down. Now enhanced with a 15% pulley =)

 

Okay.... I'll be the first to confess my deep-rooted regrets.

I regret.... NOT HAVING TWO OF THEM !!!!!

 

if by "virtually no trunk space," you mean "put the top down and fit in much, much more than you'd ever think of" -- then my only regret is that i don't live where its 70 and sunny all year long =)

 

No regrets. We keep it in the garage and rarely if ever put the roof up. If the sun is out, we're taking the MCSC.

 

I suppose we could allow you and your 'vert entrance into the world of paradise here in sunny SoCal, Michelle

 

Traded my Miata. No regrets. Love the motor, love the extra two seats. Only regret is maybe not getting a JCW upgrade, but that may be remedied downt the pike. Plus my wife is pestering for this car so much, I may get a 2008 once they are out for a bit. The car puts a smile on my face, and most of the people driving by. Hot Orange rulez! LOL.

Lee

 

None at all. Our '05 MCSc was an upgrade for my wife, who had recently graduated nursing school and was ready to retire her old '92 VW Cabriolet. For a little while, after first test driving a MINI, we toyed with the idea of getting an MCS coupe and keeping the VW for our "topless days".

That, we would have regretted. We're both very happy that we went the MINI cabrio route. (Though we still kept the VW, which I drive those days she won't give me the MINI)

 

We haven't had our cabrio for quite a year, yet, so its hard to say about the whole year through. We did get Sgt Pepper in late Dec of 06, so we've had snow and weather too cold to put the top down, but since I've carried several pieces of 10' wood trim, it would be hard for me to say I was cramped for space. Basically, what I'm saying is: LOVE IIIIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never sorry for even one minute! Hope this helps!

 

1 huge regret...



...I didn't buy one sooner.

 

I have no regrets either. I have always wanted a cabrio and am SO happy that we were able to get Cecilia. I really wish that I had one earlier! I too ride with the top down as much as possible. I also just look out my window and see the two of them (the other one is a MCS) outside and am so happy that I have one of my own I see people looking at me and wish they had one too.

I have had no problem with boot space. I stuff as many groceries in there and the rest in the back seat. I have stuffed TONS of stuff when we cleaned out my grandmother's house. I am so happy to have it!

 

The only regret I have is that I can't "track" it. BUT it is my wife's car. When we're on the Blue Ridge or the Outer Banks or Colorado Rockies with the top down, I have no regrets at all!

I'll get my own hardtop for the track.

 

That IS the only bad thing... I'm eventually getting a tin top for that purpose.

But I LUUUVVVV my cabrio, and will NEVER part with it. And that's not a joke. It'll be my classic in the garage in 15 years...

Have you had a convertible before? Or had a friend or family member who owned one where you got to spend lots of time with it?

The reason I ask - is that you are one of three kinds of drivers:
1) a convertible person
2) a non-convertible person
3) a convertible person who doesn't know it yet

SOME people get a convertible, and from the day they get it, they see nothing but compromises. It's louder. It's not as comfy. It's not as rigid. It's heavier. It's not as fast. It's not as practical. It won't haul as much. It has poor rearward visibility. It's more expensive. You can't drive it on the track. It has more things that can break. And cost a LOT to fix when they do. These folks will never "get" what other people think is so great about having the top down. It's just hot and windy. Better to have a sunroof.

But some of us will NEVER be without a convertible for the rest of our days. I'm one of those people. For me, there's a visceral experience to driving a twisty road (fast) with the top down that nothing else can match. And I see the fixed top as the ONE compromise I'm not willing to live with... at least not all the time.

But you have to find out, are you or aren't you? Because all the folks who posted above ARE, at least they are NOW.

 

Nope. Felt so funny when I was in a hardtop loaner Mini at my last service

 

+1 to all of the above. Every day starts great when I pull out of the garage and put the top down for my drive to the office. A convertible is like a good fireplace - you can live without it, but why would you want to.

 

No regrets, love it. Top down at least 90% of the time. Probably more.

You CAN track it to some degree.

1. You can use it in many a 'track day driving school'. Because the focus is not exclusively 'trackin it' they often allow converts without 'approved' roll cages. Not race, school. Been there done that loved it. Cone lessons in the morning, two track sessions in the afternoon. Even the instructor was kidding the others that HE got to run in the convert.

2. There are folks who will make a roll cage that's removeable. If it rains you'd not be able to put the top up so you'd need a trailer to remove it and bring it to and from. Still cheaper than a second MINI.

No trouble with space... Of course I also another larger vehicle for when I need that. But I drive the MINI 90% of the time.

 

No way! This thread shouldn't even exist!!

 

No regrets ...at least not so far.

I am top-down about 95% of the time, though this may change when winter finally sets in. If that's the case, I will have to drive MORE, in an effort to contribute to global warming so that we rag-top types can get our man-made wind fix.

As for trunk space ...well, I look at it this way - my MINI has LOTS more tunk space than my motorcycle ever did. If I need more, I just drop the back seats.

Peace, love and MINIs

-B

.

 

No regrets.
Maybe some loss of trunk room,
but look at all the head room you gain.

 

You know, honestly part of the reason I run the top down so much in the winter has to do with the nautre of my commute. The highest speed limit along my commute is 45mph. And if you have the windows up, the wind deflector, and the heat and seat heat on it's amazing how cold a temp you can run with the top down at 40-50 mph in comfort. It's very different at 65 mph when it's in the 30's and not sunny.