2009 MINI Cooper Convertible - Review

By Marty Padgett

Marty Padgett

Editorial Director BIO

Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations... More

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2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

The powertrain's at least as entertaining as the looks--so long as you opt for the turbocharged, 175-hp four-cylinder that's an option on hardtop and convertible. Both its available four-cylinders displace 1.6 liters and direct injection. But while the base car toddles along to 60 mph in an eventual 8.5 seconds with the six-speed manual, , the turbo Cooper S hits it in about 7 seconds and delivers thrust with the kind of driving feel that makes you want to also point a finger and speak the Star Trek mantra: "Engage." Teamed to a snubby six-speed manual, the turbo S also scores 26/34 mpg in EPA testing. We didin't fill up once, even after four round trips into deepest, darkest Bergen County.

To counter the grim realities of driving in New York, there's the MINI Cooper's shiny happy attitude. Everything about the MINI's driving experience forces a grin (especially in lemon yellow paint with racing stripes, no?) The joy emanates from MacPherson struts up front and a central-arm rear axle, which tag-team each other for sublime balance and razor-sharp reflexes in town. Though the sport suspension brings with it some stiff ride motions, its dizzying levels of grip reward aggression--and you need aggression to thread around tourists crossing when they shouldn't and cabbies parking where they oughtn't. You could complain that the MINI's electric steering feels a little digital, and that its "sport" mode for throttle and steering feel is about where it should respond normally, but you'd be nitpicking.

2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible: Silly distractions

Lastly, let's talk about size. What, you think you need a Dodge Challenger to run down the West Side Highway and back? The Cooper S Convertible's more suited for that task, unless you're doing a bi-coastal Bullitt scene. It's parking-spot perfect--no valet is going to snub its nose against a guardrail, and it slots neatly in the compact spaces really meant for the bicycle rickshaws, and they deserve to circle endlessly anyway.