Eyeing a convertible for summer? You won't find a lot on the new car market: waning profit margins for niche models and the popularity of crossovers mean the drop-top market has... dropped off.
A few stalwarts soldier on, such as the Mini Convertible. But with prices nearing £30,000, why not consider its predecessor, which you can now pick up from about £3000?
When the fourth-generation Mini arrived in 2014, it proved to be the most mature yet. The doe-eyed face, posh chrome detailing and bulbous retro lights cloaked a deeply modern 'UKL' architecture from the BMW Group, Mini's parent.
It is a little larger than its predecessor, at 3.8m long and 1.7m wide, a lot more refined and more substantial in its feel. This is true of all variants but is felt most acutely in the Convertible as its new roof is far more thermally efficient and quieter than the Mk3's. With it up, you're hard-pressed to tell it is fabric over your head, rather than metal. The roof folds into a neat pile atop the derrière in only 18 seconds and up to vehicle speeds of 19mph too.
Step inside and you're greeted by a different layout from that of past Minis. Instead of a speedo in the middle, a small cluster of dials (or an elliptical screen from 2021 onwards) sits behind the wheel. A head-up display was a reasonably common option when new too.
Replacing the central speedo is a circular bezel with integrated ambient lighting to match the selected drive mode, and a 6.5in infotainment screen with rounded edges or an 8.8in screen as an option (standard after 2021).
The rear only really has space for kids, but even that's a win because two-row drop-tops are few and far between. A saloon-style bootlid means the boot isn't as practical as a Cooper hatchback's, but its 215-litre capacity is decent enough for a couple on a weekend away.
On the move, there's little dynamic sacrifice in opting for the Convertible. True, it's 115kg heavier than a three-door tin-top, but it still moves with 95% of the enthusiasm, the suspension staying firm but well damped and the steering direct. It's a bit of a stretch to say it has the clichéd 'go-kart feel', but it certainly offers more charisma and fun than most alternatives, resisting the chassis flex and scuttle shake that sometimes blight the open-roof driving experience.
It's eminently drivable in town too. Rear visibility is decent and standard rear parking sensors further aid easy manoeuvring.
