Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
If you’re like most car owners, your daily ride is more about shuttling from A to B than hanging it all out on a sweet set of S curves. It’s ok. Even we auto scribes spend most weeks behind the wheel of regular cars for regular folks, so we understand completely. Just the same, wouldn’t it be nice to buy yourself something totally frivolous? And I don’t mean going wild on a double ristretto venti half soy nonfat decaf organic chocolate brownie iced vanilla double shot gingerbread Frappuccino. No, I’m talking about some real serious fun. Isn’t it time for a grin-inducing, sun-seeking, three’s-a-crowd, two-seat roadster from the company that doesn’t know how to make boring cars at all? That company is Mini, and the car is the long and lean looking, low-slung Cooper Roadster.
It’s
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
My
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
That’s one thing I love about Minis. Unless you’re particularly huge, there’s probably enough room inside any Mini to accommodate you. The image of a lanky six-foot-five (1.96-m) John Cleese clambering into his late ’60s-era Austin 1100 MkI Countryman Estate might cause a smirk as it comes to mind, and while these original Minis were ridiculously roomy for their outward measurements, the British brand’s new lineup is made up of even larger and more spacious models. The Cooper
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Heading out on the road, something white and black popped into my rearview mirror, making me think I’d left the trunk open. Not so, as this little sportster comes equipped with a standard pop-up rear spoiler that extends at 80 km/h – eat your heart out MX-5 Miata, this little Mini is playing in Porsche Boxster territory. Panic quickly replaced with pleasantries,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Before you remind me that the standard 2014 Mini doesn’t exactly push out supercar performance numbers, let I remind you that it doesn’t take a lot of cute little Shetland ponies to pull a 1,195-kilo car. My six-speed automatic-equipped tester weighed slightly more at 1,230 kgs, but I’m sure you get my point. The Roadster weighs only slightly less than the Cooper Convertible, so if you’ve driven the latter you can expect approximately the same off-the-line performance from the former – Mini quotes 9.6 seconds to 100 km/h.
Behind that impertinent looking grille is Mini’s 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder engine, good for 121 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque, which is again ample for the job at hand. If you want more, a Cooper S Roadster can be had with direct-injection and
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
While I never say no to more power, there’s something truly fun about being able to legally get the most out of the power you have. The base Roadster’s mill needs a thorough wringing out to exact maximum thrust, and thankfully for only $100 more even this car’s entry-level powertrain can be had with a set of paddles on a sport steering wheel for upping revs to redline, when the optional autobox is ordered that is. I’d be sorely tempted to purchase the six-speed manual if this were
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
As mentioned, acceleration isn’t the Roadster’s topmost dynamic, unless we’re talking lateral acceleration. Bend the little two-seater into a corner and you’ll quickly learn there are few cars that will be able to keep up, even ones with a lot more power on tap. The Mini advantage is its ability to maintain momentum through a corner, allowing the power that’s there to carry the speed on exit. If you
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Again, if you want better you can opt for the S or the JCW, both of which up wheel and tire size plus spring and damper rates, but generally the substance of each car is the same. A Mini’s short wheelbase, use of lightweight premium-level materials and taut body structure makes for a strong, rigid convertible that’s rattle free, even over bumpy railroad ties and other road irregularities. The rigidity makes for a safe car too, at least as safe as cloth covered ragtops can be.
Mini incorporates a set of roll hoops behind the driver and passenger’s headrests, while the reinforced windshield frame acts as another roll bar, so as long as you’re securely locked into the seatbelts you’ll be kept as safe as possible even if a rollover
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
But let’s change the subject, as it’s much more fun to talk about sport, comfort and convenience when contemplating a car of the Roadster’s pedigree. To that end let me fill you in on a short list of standard goodies. For its base price of $28,900 plus $2,295 for freight and pre-delivery prep you’ll get pushbutton ignition, tilt and telescopic steering, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with cruise control, power windows with one-touch up/down, heated power remote
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
My tester wasn’t totally stripped naked mind you, but rather Mini had outfitted it with a number of packages and standalone features for a real premium look and feel. First off, the roof was semi-powered, which is a standalone option costing $750. Next was $2,000 worth of Toffee Lounge Leather for an ultra-luxe appearance inside. My car also included the $500 Style Package complete with additional
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
While I felt like I was reenacting Robert Wagner playing Jonathan Hart next to my gorgeous sweetheart as we traveled down the road in our mini Corniche Convertible, I certainly wasn’t guzzling fuel at the rate of a 6.8-litre turbocharged V8. Rather, the Cooper Roadster is rated at a very thrifty 7.4 L/100km city, 5.7 highway and 6.6 combined with the manual or 7.6 city, 5.6 highway and 6.7 combined with the as-tested automatic, making it anything but a frivolous commuter. Rather, the Cooper Roadster is as affordable to operate, as it is to purchase.
At the end of my drive, Mini’s Roadster had me asking myself how much I truly value the time I’ve been given. Ask yourself the same question. Must we merely endure our daily commutes and errand runs, or do we want to savour every moment behind the wheel? The Mini Cooper Roadster was designed for those who embrace life to the fullest. That a car so special can be afforded by so many makes this little two-seater particularly wonderful.
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