Young, free and female

In association with Motorpoint

 

This car is a real stunner. In hyper blue, the mini cooper convertible 1.6 is an absolute head turner. This model is a really popular one, selling out very quickly

on the Motorpoint showroom floor so you’ll have to be quick if you want to get your hands on one of these.

I was lucky enough to get a drive in the mini cooper convertible 1.6 2dr on a 2007 plate, unfortunately, for the wettest week I think we have ever experienced!

I was able to take the roof down once for about twenty minutes before the heavens opened and I looked like one of those people I laugh out loud at when I

see them pulling over in the pouring rain to put the roof back up.

On the outside, mini have been really careful about not loosing too much of the minis original charm. With body coloured bumpers, brushed steel door sill finishers

and chrome door handles this car really looks quite special. The interior has been sympathetically renovated to feature chunky round dials and instruments that

remind me very much of the mini cooper, in British racing green, that I had as my first car many moons ago.

The mini cooper comes as standard with a five speed manual multi point fuel injection gear box, 15 inch alloy wheels, electric windows, abs, driver front passenger

air bags (front and side) and cornering brake control. The electric roof mechanism is really simple to use. It is as simple as pressing a button located just above the

rear view mirror twice. The roof folds back half way, drops the front windows slightly and another press fully reclines the hood to reveal the good looking chrome

effect rear passenger roll hoops. A great addition to the sporty look of the Mini Cooper convertible.

To drive, around town, this car is bags of fun. It handles round corners effortlessly with energy and stability – sticking to the road, even in the wet like glue.

It still has the go-kart feel that it always did even though the new model is far bigger than the oldies. With the roof down, there’s no comparison, in my mind

to other cars. It shouts, I’m fun, I’m young and I’m having a good time. It’s certainly a car I would consider as a purchase for me.

Unfortunately, there is one major down fall with the mini cooper convertible 1.6 and that is poor visibility. With the roof up, your rear view is seriously limited by

the large canvas roof, which has of course no rear passenger windows and a very small rear window. It makes your blind spot very difficult to check when you

are overtaking which is something I am absolutely obsessive about. I’ve never been one to trust the wing mirrors without having a quick glance over my shoulder.

The mirrors are large and automatically adjustable, but still not enough for the peace of mind I get from that lifesaver over the shoulder check.

The problem is made far worse, where visibility is concerned, by heavy rain and speed. Motorway driving in the wet isn’t much fun. As the canvas roof gets wetter

and the air inside the car becomes warmer, condensation becomes a big problem for the mini convertible. Even with the air re-circulation on full blast the windsreen and side windows steam up in bad weather. This makes the mini an absolute liability on a very wet day. Be very aware of this, if you plan to use the mini for a day to day commute. You won’t find it

much fun to drive throughout the winter.

To tax, the mini cooper convertible will cost you £175 per year and is in group H. For fuel economy the mini doesn’t win any prizes for prudence

but it won’t break the bank either. It returned just under 34 miles per gallon which is ok I think for a car with as much get up and go as this.

The mini is not a car built for economy, it is a car built for style and drive and it delivers on both counts. Despite its misgivings, I loved driving

the mini and I loved being seen driving the mini.

 

This isn’t a car for the weekly shop or taking the kids to school and it isn’t a car that is particularly economical or kind to the environment.

The mini cooper convertible 1.6 16 valve manual is a car for the young, free and female ….. I loved it.

All cars are supplied kindly by Motorpoint Newport. Founded in 1998, Motorpoint is the UK’s number one car supermarket group. It currently operates

from five locations – Burnley, Derby, Glasgow, Newport and Peterborough. In 2008, Motorpoint sold 35,000 new and nearly vehicles.

For more information call Motorpoint Newport on 084... or visit www.motorpoint.co.uk

I am comparing nearly new forecourt cars with within the same year of manufacture and with similar mileages. Prices featured are available at

Motorpoint at the time of going to press. These prices may be subject to change at any time.