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2008 Mini Cooper S Convertible
2008 Mini Cooper S Convertible
The Opposite of Cooped Up
An already-fun-to-drive car becomes downright exhilarating with the addition of a versatile soft top.
The Mini Cooper S Convertible offers a lot of fun per dollar. For its affordable price, you get head-turning style, a fun driving experience and good gas mileage.
Its main drawbacks are a tiny trunk, dangerously large rear blind spots with the top up or down, and a price tag that can sour with added options and accessories.
The hardtop Mini Cooper was redesigned recently, but the convertible models, which include the base and S models, continue in the old body style (it looks almost exactly like the new one) for now. The convertibles also retain the previous-generation engines, which aren't as fuel efficient as the new ones in non-convertible Mini Cooper models.
The Mini Cooper S Convertible has a power-operated fabric top that incorporates a glass rear window with a defroster. One unique feature is that the fabric top can be opened part of the way, like a sunroof.
The diminutive convertible features a supercharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which provides markedly quicker acceleration than the non-supercharged engine in the base Mini Cooper Convertible. Six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions are available.
The Mini Cooper S Convertible includes a few exterior styling tweaks, along with larger alloy wheels and run-flat tires, to distinguish it from the base version. Run-flat tires allow a driver with a flat to keep driving at reduced speeds to reach a safe place to pull off the road or get to a facility where the tire can be fixed. But drivers should understand that run-flat tire technology isn't a cure-all for flats; some blowouts can be severe enough to strand any vehicle, even those with run-flats.
The Mini Cooper S Convertible comes standard with a sport suspension that is optional on the base Cooper Convertible. It delivers extremely crisp cornering. Advanced safety equipment includes antilock brakes with cornering control and electronic brake-force distribution along with front and front-side airbags. Dynamic stability control is optional.
The interior of the Mini Cooper S Convertible is as stylish as the exterior. Metal toggle switches substitute for the usual plastic buttons for some functions, and an extra-large speedometer is located at the center of the dashboard. The non-traditional look and center-mounted speedometer isn't for everyone.
Supportive sports seats are standard on the Cooper S Convertible and optional on the base Cooper Convertible. The rear seat can accommodate two small-to-average-sized adults. The trunk, however, is quite small.
A number of unique paint schemes and interior color combinations are available to further dress up the Mini Cooper S Convertible, along with a litany of practical, performance and purely cosmetic accessories. But beware: adding options and accessories can really drive up the price.
Is the Mini Cooper S Convertible for You?
| Buy the Cooper S Convertible if | You like to think small and love convertibles; you live in a densely populated city; high style and high efficiency are priorities; you enjoy nimble, sporty handling. |
| Keep Looking if | You need seating for five; you need a large trunk; you prefer high power over high efficiency; you feel safer in large cars. |
| Who Fits? | With an interior that's roomier than you might think, two adults fit comfortably in the supportive front seats. Two more can squeeze in the back without too much discomfort, but rear-seat access can be tough and rear foot-room is minimal, especially with tall or large people in the front seats. |
| Closest Competitors | |
| Did You Know? |
The Mini Cooper is a modern-day embodiment of the original Mini, which debuted in 1959 as a tiny, four-seat car designed to efficiently navigate the U.K.’s narrow roadways. It gained prominence throughout the 1960s via its championships in international rally racing, as well as its mushrooming image as a fashionable petite car owned by the likes of the Beatles, Peter Sellers and even Enzo Ferrari. |
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