2009 MINI Cooper Convertible
Revamped, But Much The Same
If you are in the market for a cute car, you will be hard pressed to find one cuter than the 2009 MINI Cooper convertible. Of course, this is the same thing I thought when I saw the first generation MINI convertible five years ago. In fact, the new MINI looks pretty much like the old MINI, although it is slightly longer, and has all new sheetmetal.
Yet, there was one significant change I noticed was when I put the top down for the first time—the rollover hoops are gone. MINI has replaced them with a pop-up bar that activates if a rollover is imminent. This upgrade greatly enhances the view out the rearview mirror, especially with the top up.
The interior retains the retro styling of last year’s car, with the tachometer squarely in front of the driver, and the speedometer mounted in the center dash. The speedo is even larger than before, and now houses the radio controls, which are small and inscrutable. And if the dash gauges weren’t quirky enough, MINI has added an “Openometer” gauge, that records how long you have been driving with the top down. Does anybody care?
The optional leather-clad seats ($2000) in my test car were comfortable and supportive. There was sufficient head-and legroom for six-footers up front. The seats in the rear have barely enough legroom for small kids. However, if you fold them down, you increase the storage capacity. There’s six cubic-feet of trunk space, top up, which more than doubles with the back seats down.
The convertible top is a snap to operate. Press a switch on the windshield header, and the roof retracts about 16 inches, giving you a moonroof effect. Push the button again and the roof retracts to the back of the car. The whole procedure takes no more than 15 seconds. However, the top does not lie completely flat, so the view to the rear is partially obstructed.
Under the hood, the MINI gets the new 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. It’s lighter than its predecessor, and gets four miles per gallon better gas mileage. It also puts out a bit more horsepower—118 vs. 115 in the standard model, and 172 vs. 168 in the S version. The S now gets a turbo assist, in place of the old one’s supercharger. As with the previous model, a six-speed manual is standard, and a six-speed automatic, with a manual shift mode and paddle shifters, is optional.
Those looking for maximum driving fun will choose the turbo engine and the manual gearbox. My test car had the naturally aspirated motor with the automatic transmission. This is not the sporty combination, but it does get 25-34 mpg. To get the most performance from this MINI, I found it best to use the manual shift mode and keep the revs up over 3000-rpm.
My test car did not have the optional “sport” package, so the handling was not as sharp as other MINIs I have driven in the past. However, the steering was quick, and the car did a respectable job negotiating corners. On the highway, the noise level, with the top up, was surprisingly loud, however, the ride quality, without the stiffer suspension, was more compliant.
Although the 2009 MINI Cooper convertible has changed in many ways, it still retains its quirky charm, but it’s now more expensive. Prices start at $24,550 for the base model, and $27,450 for the S model.
Snapshot Review:
Cute Looks
Quirky Charm
Improved Gas Mileage
Getting Pricey
