A Mini Cooper Convertible is a natural. In the days of the old Minis, an open car was always a part of the lineup. Today, Mini expects that the rag top models will be strong sellers, estimating that 30-percent of Cooper sales will be convertibles. After spending some driving the new 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible, it seems a fair bet. The Mini Cooper Convertible is practical by sports car standards, and the wind-in-the-hair appeal of top-down motoring goes hand in glove with Mini's fun-to-drive credo.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Test Vehicle: 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible
Engine Size and Type: 1.6-liter inline four (standard); 1.6-liter supercharged inline four (Cooper S)
Engine Horsepower: 115 at 6,000 rpm (standard); 168 at 6,000 rpm
Engine Torque: 111 lb.-ft. at 4,500 rpm (standard); 162 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 27/35 (standard manual); 25/32 (Cooper S manual)
Curb Weight: 2,700-2,888 lbs.
Competitors: Audi TT 1.8 roadster, BMW Z4 2.5, Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible, Ford Mustang convertible, Honda S2000, Jeep Wrangler, Mazda Miata, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, Nissan 350Z, Toyota Camry Solara convertible, Toyota MR2 Spyder, Volkswagen New Beetle Cabrio

Photography: © Dan Lyons 2004