Competition
The MINI Cooper S Cabriolet costs $36,600, and the as-tested price for this Sidewalk model is $40,500. This car has few direct rivals, but here's a look at a few $40,000 convertibles:

Ford Mustang GT Convertible, 300 horsepower, $38,099
Mazda MX-5 GT PRHT, 166 horsepower, $36,390
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT-P, 260 horsepower, $37,298
Pontiac Solstice GXP, 260 horsepower, $35,105
Saturn SKY Red Line, 260 horsepower, $38,175
Volkswagen Eos 2.0T, 200 horsepower, $36,900

The Sidewalk Edition adds exclusive wheels, interior, paintwork, and badging.

Conclusion
There are many reasons to love the MINI Cooper. Quick and manoeuvrable, it's a blast to drive. And to top things off, it's downright cute. But the convertible top wastes to much rearward visibility that, eight months a year, you'll feel claustrophobic inside the cabin.

In addition to posting better fuel-economy numbers, I hope the next-generation Cabriolet will fix the soft top's massive blind spots.

I'd be perfectly happy with a hardtop Cooper S. It would also cost much less. That's a nice little Hot Wheels® that I'd hold and cherish for a long time. After all, I've been a good boy lately, and I think I deserve it.


Driving pleasure
Attractive looks
Performance and handling


High price
Noisy on the highway
Climate control lacks efficiency with top down



Huge blind spots


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux