The London Times Reviews the R57 Cooper S Convertible

More good press for MINI’s latest drop-top. Here’s an excerpt:
>As with the Mk1 and Mk2 hatchback, you’ll have to concentrate hard to be able to tell new from old, although if you look closely, you’ll see that the new convertible is larger, plumper, and with higher body sides and gentler curves.
>This combines to make the Mk2 drop-top better looking than the original version it replaces, especially now that the rear rollover protection bars are hidden inside the car — only to be activated in an emergency. With those awkwardly high-set rear hoops banished, it no longer has the look of a gigantic pram.
>There’s more good news with the hood. When retracted, it doesn’t hang clumsily over the edge, as with the old car, instead settling into a neat concertina at the car’s rear. It retracts in 15 seconds via a button above the driver’s head, can be opened while driving at up to 20mph, and has two settings — partially open “sunroof†and full convertible mode.
>To drive, the Mk2 feels a good deal sturdier: put a few miles under the wheels of the old car and it would often rattle in a distinctly non-premium fashion that must have made the bosses of BMW’s warranty department shiver. Better still, there’s precious little wind noise or buffeting with the roof open.
+ Mini Cooper S convertible / London Times
4 Comments
Good deal. I still think the R52 was a nicer looking Cabrio. But the R57 seems to improve on the inherited weaker areas that plagued the R52.
I am looking forward to a test drive. I am not in the market for a new car and likely won’t be until we are well over this recession. My 2005 MCS still has plenty of life left on it.
Let the 2009 R57 Guinea pigs do all the quality control for MINI. This should be a nice “facelift” car come 2013-2014.
<p>Yep, I agree with that. The R52 was slapped together as a convertible off the R50 platform more as an afterthought, and from a functional standpoint it showed. It looks like the R56 was designed with a convertible in mind down the road, and it’s a much better conceived package.</p>
<p>“with no metal and glass between your ear and the tailpipe, you’re treated to its full and surprising repertoire” This reminds me of one of my local dealership’s OctoberFast two years ago whereas they had Skip Barber drivers take us around an autox course setup at New Hampshire Speedway. It was practically freezing however the most visceral ride by far was a JCW R52 with the top down. The sounds were intoxicating. Now if only they could add some clutch-feel that is sorely missed from the R52/53 compared to the R57/56…it might then be perfect. Things are looking good for a factory JCW R57.</p>
<p>Just looked over one. The boot hinge system is better. The pop-up roll bars improve rear view but not by much. When the hood is down it still looks like an after-thought. The rake on the rear seat backrest is still somewhat upright and uncomfortable and no extra room for long legs. But the pluses are more than the negatives. Certainly an improvement on old model.</p>