With the launch of the 2012 Mini Roadster Cooper S, the company has officially transitioned from making the purely versatile to the mostly fashionable. It's the first time Mini has ever offered a two-seater convertible, and it sits alongside the new two-seat Coupe in a six-car lineup.
Built to squeeze more life from an aging platform, the 2012 Mini Roadster Cooper S is being put forth as an alternative to the Mazda MX-5 Miata. That's no small task given the Miata's history, but Mini has plenty of history of its own.
Like the recently introduced Coupe, the Roadster is less an all-new model than another reinterpretation of existing themes. It's fractionally shorter and just under an inch lower than the familiar, four-seat Mini Convertible, and the Roadster shares a nose with the Coupe. Priced from $24,350 for the Cooper to $34,500 for the John Cooper Works, it's just a smidgen cheaper than the four-seat ragtop but seeks to score a new audience with its charm and exclusivity.
Why Choose the Roadster?
There are two key reasons why people will choose the 2012 Mini Roadster: the way it looks and the fact that it's more exclusive than the Convertible. Mini would add, "the way that it drives," too, but we'll come to that.
First shown at the Frankfurt auto show in "concept" form in 2009, the Mini Roadster has barely changed for production. The only obvious addition is a pop-up rear spoiler, which rises above 50 mph and retracts below 37 mph.
The "three-box" shape with the flat trunk lid echoes that of the Coupe. To our eyes, though, the canvas hood is more aesthetically pleasing than the Coupe's inverted baseball cap. It's nicely integrated, too, avoiding the Convertible's awkward hump when the roof's folded down, although the absence of rear seats is a high price to pay.
Mini is proud of its 'go-kart' handling, but it shouldn't mean a go-kart ride quality.
Familiar Chassis
The Roadster's suspension has been plundered from the Mini parts bin. The dampers are from the Convertible, while the springs are from the Coupe. Otherwise, it's the familiar setup of MacPherson struts at the front and a multilink rear. A sport suspension with changes to the dampers, springs and antiroll bars is available as an option.
Mini is offering three versions of the Roadster in the U.S.: the 121-horsepower Cooper, the 181-hp Cooper S and the 211-hp John Cooper Works. All feature a variant of the 1,598cc engine, while the "S" and "Works" also boast a turbocharger. We drove a Cooper S on modest 16-inch rims and the standard suspension.
Mini claims that the addition of a steel bulkhead behind the seats has increased the rigidity of the Roadster by 10 percent compared with the Convertible. On the road, that makes a huge difference. While the sportier versions of the convertible have an awkward tendency to flex and torque steer, the Roadster feels impressively solid. The steering is suitably quick-witted, and while the electric system is not overburdened with feel, it delivers a level of agility matched by few other cars. The performance of the Cooper S — Mini claims zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds and a 141-mph top speed — also feels nicely suited to this car.
The trade-off, though, is a ride quality that remains on the firm side of acceptable. It's as if to differentiate the Roadster from the standard hatchback, Mini has seen fit to deliver a "sporty" ride, by which it means solid. Mini is justifiably proud of its "go-kart" handling, but it shouldn't have to be accompanied by a go-kart ride quality. And this is the standard suspension. Overall, the rear-drive MX-5 remains the purer, more rewarding driving experience.
No Abundance of Refinement
In a bid to reduce the cost and complexity of the 2012 Mini Roadster, the fabric hood now has just a single layer, compared with the Convertible's dual-layer setup. On the road, this has a significant bearing on refinement. The Roadster is, to put it bluntly, crude. Wind noise at highway speeds feels like a '90s throwback, and the exposed roof elements hardly smack of premium appeal. Moreover, with the roof up, the over-the-shoulder visibility is dreadful.
Another throwback of questionable merit is the absence of electric assistance. It is possible to raise the hood from the driver seat, but only if you have arms that combine the length of Mr. Tickle with the forearms of Popeye. At $750, the semiautomatic soft top is a must-have option. You still have to twist a handle to lock it into place, but at least it rises and falls without human help. In the U.K. it's standard, but U.S. buyers are forced to cough up extra for it as an option.
With the roof down, the Roadster ensures you're at one with the elements. That steeply raked roof line also generates more buffeting than you'll find in the Convertible, although the problem can be alleviated with the purchase of a wind deflector. That's another ($250) option and another must-have.
At least the underpinnings have afforded the Roadster decent practicality. In common with the Coupe, the Roadster has a broad hatch that links the cockpit with the trunk. The latter has a capacity of 8.5 cubic feet, which compares more than favorably with the Miata's 5.3 cubic feet.
Worth the Sacrifice?
The Roadster is a logical extension of the Mini brand, but is hardly the last word in originality. The big challenge for the Mini types in Munich is to conjure something more imaginative without offending its more traditional fans. The handsome, innovative Rocketman looked like the way forward, but has now been cancelled.
We have no doubt the Roadster will find a willing army of fans who must have the latest Mini. It is fun to drive and, to our eyes, better-looking than the Coupe, but the ride quality is still questionable and the roof is crude. For $28,000, we expected more.
After considerable seat time in the 2012 Mini Roadster Cooper S, we couldn't help but think that we still find the original Mini (the modern one) the best of the breed. The constant tinkering over the years has brought about some different looks, yet the dynamics of that first hatch were spot-on from the start. The Roadster's funky styling scores it some points, but it's not enough to make up for its other notable shortcomings.
Add A Comment »
andys120 says:
10:24 AM, 03/03/2012
I certainly don't think that you need to track a car or drive like a hooligan to enjoy RWD. Every time you turn a corner, at normal speeds, a good RWD rewards it's driver by the way it feels. That's not to say that a good FWD feels horrible but I've driven all kinds and I definitely prefer the feel of a good RWD.
andys120 says:
07:43 AM, 03/03/2012
I don't think you can say that RWD is a "status thing" when it comes to roadsters. Minis are fun to drive because they're beautifully engineered and the light weight minimizes the disadvantages of FWD. That said, there is nothing as fling-able or has the handling characteristics of a light RWD roadster...unless it's a mid-engined RWD roadster.
If I were a product guy at BMW-Mini I'd ask the engineers to turn the drive train around and put it behind the driver (ala Fiat X1/9 or VW-Audi Blue Sport) and Market it as the Mini Sp[rite.
pofthep says:
04:14 AM, 02/28/2012
pointless.......
btrdayz says:
03:27 PM, 02/21/2012
I've test driven a Miata, and owned an SLK 280 and a TT-S Roadster. MINI always surprises in that you think the car will be small, cramped and hard to get into, but it never is. I passed by the MINI dealer to sit in the new Roadster and it was as roomy as my old TT-S. I'm a big guy. In the Miata, the steering wheel rim touches my thighs and makes ingress/egress difficult. Not so in the MINI. I really like this car.
Some folks have to buy practical cars that serve many purposes. My children are grown, and 90% of the time, it's just me in the car, commuting to work. I don't see the need of having the excess utility of a 4 door sedan or truck that I hardly ever use. Nor do I see the sense of owning a coupe with rear seats that no normal human would want to sit in. I like the coziness of a roadster. Private... more personal. It's yours, like a pair of jeans. Just enough.
RWD vs FWD? Sure, technically, RWD is better for handling at extremes, but where are you exploiting it? Are you seriously trying to engage power oversteer on public roads? Do you fantasize about being a driver in 2 Fast, 2 Furious: Tokyo Drift? You simply cannot exploit 10/10ths handling limits safely or legally on public roads. I've been lucky to rent racetrack time ONCE in my life. How many drivers actually venture onto a track? Not many. And frankly, when a car is my sole transport and I'm making monthly payments on it, I'm damn sure not going to take it and beat it to a pulp on a track. So in the real world, FWD vs RWD won't matter to most people.
varezhka says:
01:27 AM, 02/19/2012
firelicked
I agree whole heartedly. The original (new) Mini Cooper and the convertible had its own driving dynamics and inherent goodness that was unique to itself and different from MX-5.
I don't see anything in the Mini Roadster that set itself apart or bring anything new to the equation.
It would have been different if they had made the car transverse MR layout by flipping an FF platform (like the Toyota MR2 or VW BlueSport concept), but as is, I don't see anything more than a styling excercise.
benior says:
09:30 PM, 02/18/2012
Actually, my only big complaint (besides price) with the Mini Cooper S I drove was the non-linear throttle response, but from what I've been told, the now-available Sport mode has rectified that.
In terms of raw handling numbers, I'm guessing that the differences are indeed small, but as a former Miata owner, when choosing something like a roadster that's likely to be a second car for a lot of buyers, I'd put a big emphasis on feel of RWD. I have an easier time excusing that on the more practical Cooper S hardtop.
firstwagon says:
08:25 PM, 02/18/2012
benior
Driven both. I used to work for Mazda and have driven lots of Miatas... one of my favourite cars ever.
Yes the Miata is better then the Mini but the difference is minor and more something you would only see at the extreme limits.
A great car is a great car. The Mini is a great car just like the Miata. If you don't think the Mini is a great handling car then that's your opinion.
Most will disagree with you.
benior says:
08:04 PM, 02/18/2012
firstwagon, I'm sure the Mini Roadster handles fairly well (I have driven a R56 Cooper S).
However, if one can't tell the difference between an MX-5 and a Cooper S Roadster in handling, they probably don't care that much about handling in the first place.
firelicked says:
04:38 PM, 02/18/2012
I have a real hard time making a case for this car and the coupe. They really add nothing to the table and take away some inherent goodness that comes with the original cooper and to a lesser extent the convertible. I agree with the comparison to the MX-5 but only in passenger numbers. It loses it's uniqueness with the the coupe and roadster. This reminds me of when Lotus did a front wheel drive sport coupe... and the world asks a resounding WHY?
firstwagon says:
03:13 PM, 02/18/2012
newcar71
So how does being FWD hurt the Mini? Ever driven one? When they say it handles like a go cart they are correct. It's great.
I'm guessing RWD is more of a status thing for most people then an actual performance feature.