MINI Cooper S Road Test | Conclusion

MINI Cooper S Convertible

What We Liked

• Almost everything
• Open top motoring at the touch of a button
• The exterior and interior styling
• The Kudos
• The engine, gearbox and handling
• The overall driving experience
• Powerful heater

What We Disliked

• Fiddly switchgear
• Lack of rear vision
• The quality of some of the plastics (the plastics in the new model have been improved)
• Lack of air-conditioning as standard on a vehicle with this price tag
  

What We'd Like To See

• Heated seats and air-conditioning as standard
• An auto-dipping rear view mirror as standard on the Cooper S model

Build Quality

The MINI Cooper S Convertible, offers buyers a premium product within the small car sector. Overall, build quality is very good and the majority of the materials used are of a high standard which should prove durable in the long term. We felt that some of the interior plastics felt a bit cheap for a car with this price tag but MINI have addressed this shortcoming in the new model.

Value For Money

This is subjective, at £17,935 OTR the MINI Cooper S Convertible might seem expensive - of course you could buy a more practical car for less money. However, one thing is for sure it's not going to be as much fun to own and drive as the MINI.

The MINI has managed to retain high residual values and we guess the same will happen with the Cooper S Convertible; in fact they should retain a higher percentage over 3 years. Remember if you are a private buyer in particular it is not just the initial purchase price that is important to you, the resale value is just as important (depreciation) - you need to look at the true cost of the vehicle throughout the duration of ownership.

Overall Opinion

The MINI Cooper S Convertible appeals to everyone and transcends class, age, income and nationality. Owners include original MINI enthusiasts and relative newcomers to the MINI brand who want a stylish, small car with attitude and more horse power or should I say miniature pony power under the bonnet.

MINI have retained the excellent handling characteristics of the Hatchback model and combined them with the benefits of being able to go topless. Strap on a Supercharger and when it comes to smiles per mile, few cars for under £20,000 can compete.

If you are looking for a convertible car with personality, performance and real driver appeal then the MINI Cooper S Convertible is a must.