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Original poster

Mini convertible?

32 replies

Rebecca980 · 01/06/2020 23:24

Hello! We made the move down to Hove from London at the end of February, just before the lockdown.
Never needed a car in London and for a while we thought we’d get away without here.
I’m thinking of buying a convertible mini. Top up when DD in the back, but aching for those too down drives to and from work (when we can finally go to the office) or down the seafront in the sun!
Can anybody recommend? I’ve seen that a car seat can get in the back...also have two Shih Tzus who could easily (I think?) fit on the other back seat for trips to the Downs.
Not planning to use often. Mainly just commuting, Homebase trips (ha!) and local day trips.
DH has been convinced after initially (and reluctantly) thinking something more practical would be good.
Are they good runners? Would get it second hand, no older than 5 years...

OP posts:
Original poster
Rebecca980 · 01/06/2020 23:26

Should also note, my husband doesn’t drive....so I guess I get the main say! Grin Just a bit of an outlay at the moment when money’s tight (he is a freelancer so works dried up)...but seems like the deals are out there right now.

OP posts:
2007Millie · 01/06/2020 23:28

I think you'll be aching for more space, and they're notoriously unreliable
Have you considered an older convertible A3? Much more room and much more reliable

marvellousmaplesyrup · 01/06/2020 23:32

Agree with pp - you will definitely need a car with more space. I had a mini convertible when I lived in London and was single - and I had still had a struggle to fit everyday things in.

Pineapplemonkey · 01/06/2020 23:34

Awful visibility when the roof is up, instrument panel in a stupid place and unless you have very short hair, if you have the roof down on the way to work (or anywhere) your hair will be a birds nest. Plus too small for kids and dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I love a convertible, a proper one (I’ve owned several) though, not just a normal car with the roof cut off. Maybe try an Audi or one of the Peugeot’s that names escape me right now

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 01/06/2020 23:37

Had one as a courtesy car when mine got hit a few years back. OK for a couple, but after having it for 3 months with dd who was a baby at the time, I was glad to get my fiesta back.
The boot only just fit the wheels (we had a travel system so the car seat just clicked in) but we couldn't have anything more than me, dh and dd in the car, it was too small.

Nice little car, great to drive, but wouldn't recommend for a family.

Original poster
Rebecca980 · 01/06/2020 23:45

True! I’ve actually seen a Peugeot 207 GT or something that might do me for now.
Interesting about them being unreliable too. I would have thought being owned by BMW they might be pretty robust!
Interesting shout on the Audi too. Already started looking and it does seem much bigger and a good few automatics, whereas can only seem to find manual Minis.
They’re just so cute though! Maybe I’m being seduced by it and my fantasies of driving around like Noddy.
Hair is shoulder length...but also curly. Could jump in with wet hair and give it the air dry of its life ;) haha.

OP posts:
2007Millie · 01/06/2020 23:47

No no no
BMW's are consistently bottom for reliability! Don't be fooled

GrumpyHoonMain · 01/06/2020 23:48

I second the Audi. That’s going to be what I buy when I get more driving experience

Giggorata · 02/06/2020 06:47

My DS and DIL have one. It goes wrong a lot, spares are expensive, and there's no room for anything in the back or the boot. They had to get something bigger when the baby came.

Rebelwithallthecause · 02/06/2020 06:50

We’ve had 4 and never had a problem with reliability.

Just avoided the years where certain parts were known to have common faults

They are relatively cheap to buy and fun for short journeys

Yes they are small and tiny boot but if you needed space you wouldn’t consider a mini in the first place

Far better than the alternatives from Fiat

Rebelwithallthecause · 02/06/2020 06:51

The most reliable ones are post 2013 so buying a 5 year old one should be fine

oohnicevase · 02/06/2020 07:14

I'm thinking of one too , I love the way they look , my dh has a Porsche though so not practical either . I think I'll just get one and then sell on if it's not good or when I'm bored ( read realise it's unpractical ) .. I have also looked at the golf cab and Audi A3 cab .

Rebelwithallthecause · 02/06/2020 09:52

Yes @oohnicevase sometimes you just need to scratch that itch. You don’t have to keep a car forever.
There’s no harm in buying one to suit what you want it for now and sell it again when it no longer fits

oohnicevase · 02/06/2020 09:56

@Rebelwithallthecause exactly .. my daughter will start to drive this year and I've had to have big cars because my son is disabled and needed all sorts of stuff but as he has aged he has improved so I don't need a massive boot .. so for the first time in 10 years I can choose a car I like .. I'm going to get one I think and change it when I tire of it 😂

BubblesBuddy · 02/06/2020 10:03

They are not unreliable. I don’t understand this comment. A mini is a mini in terms of dashboard! It’s part of the heritage charm. There are very many options on a mini and I suggest the Mini Cooper with a decent spec is best.

I’ve had three minis including a convertible. There are issues with all cheaper convertibles. When you take the roof off a car you have to strengthen the body and floor to avoid scuttle over rough surfaces. The car has to be rigid. Therefore you loose out on power and the car is heavier. I loved ours but I wouldn’t think a child and 2 dogs in the back is a great idea. The wind deflector also cuts out use of the back seat when deployed. The boot is tiny so a day out in it will mean you take next to nothing with you.

We now have a hybrid 4x4 mini. It’s amazing. As for a cheap convertible, there are few great ones due to build quality. A Golf might have more room and I wouldn’t touch a Peugeot. You really have to see them as a fun car and not a practical car. So evaluate how you will use it.

BubblesBuddy · 02/06/2020 10:05

The mini convertible boot takes a couple of shopping bags. It’s very small.

MrsNathanDrake · 02/06/2020 10:12

I loved mine! As a fellow Hove resident I would be wary as the amount of seagull crap will seriously damage the soft top.

And yes, space is appalling but it's a great little car

FaithInfinity · 02/06/2020 10:29

I have one. I love it! It’s a fun car to drive. I’d always had hand me down cars or been sensible and now we have a bit more money coming in I wanted a fun car.

Mine is a Mini one. I would describe it as ‘high maintenance’, it complains about problems a lot!!. Pros: fun to drive, it’s got a 1.6 engine in a small car. Heated seats (compensates for cold, flappy roof in winter). Cons: the boot is ridiculously small! Not just the size but a really awkward shape. As in I can’t fit a full shop in it (but we mostly do Online food deliveries). High maintenance, not very economical on fuel. Adults struggle in the back.
I use mine to travel to work (short distance) and for pootling around town. It’s not great on long journeys due to fuel consumption and small size. I doubt you’d get much back from Homebase in it! But it’s fun. I don’t regret buying it (we have a sensible bigger car for long journeys) but I imagine the novelty will wear off after a couple of years.

PlausibleSuit · 02/06/2020 11:06

A good friend of mine has a Mini convertible. Until recently, I had an A3 Cabriolet. (I also had a Cooper S hatch myself, many years back.)

On balance, I preferred the A3. It felt larger and more 'planted' on the road, if that makes sense. More refined with the roof up, and better on motorways.

The Mini is cute but the space feels very compromised. It 'flexes' a bit more (although almost all convertibles do this to some degree) on uneven surfaces and round corners.

The Audi has lots more space in the back, and also in the boot (mine was the most recent model, so it had a saloon-like body shape, and therefore quite a large boot). It's much better for long journeys.

That said, if you're only doing small trips it doesn't really matter that much. Life's short, buy the thing you like!

(Not sure how useful a Mini convertible would be at Homebase, mind you...)

2007Millie · 02/06/2020 11:42

@BubblesBuddy

The unreliable comment comes from the fact if you research the most unreliable car, Minis are often bottom. Quite simple really.

Rebelwithallthecause · 02/06/2020 11:59

Never seen that. They were often higher than the other euro hatch backs on the market

Roselilly36 · 02/06/2020 12:18

I owned one for a couple of years, boot is very small, it’s a bit of a pain to get to the rear seats if you have a baby in a car seat, my boys were primary school age when I had mine, the vision out of the panel at the back is really appalling with the roof up, even with parking sensors.

Mine was a couple of years old, never needed a repair during my ownership. It was a really lovely looking car, special edition, DH hated it, pedals were very close together, but it was fine for me.

Not sure if I would buy another one, doors very heavy, but I really enjoyed it when I had it.

Just be careful with young children and with the roof down, my boys shoulders got sunburnt on one occasion, I am embarrassed to say.

BubblesBuddy · 02/06/2020 13:09

I tend to ignore the surveys on unreliable cars. Who takes part in them? I’ve owned cars for over 40 years and no one asks me. They are perfectly fine. Never had any problems with ours.

“Reliable” cars are often ones hardly anyone actually buys. It’s easier to get reliability with tiny sample numbers.

BubblesBuddy · 02/06/2020 13:13

What Car puts the mini at 14th most reliable in smaller car class. That’s pretty good.

LilyE1234 · 02/06/2020 13:32

We wanted a newer model and had to decide between the sport or convertible. Went sport in the end - it’s a great car and the boot space is fine. We also got the 5 door so better for using a car seat