Used car tests

Used buyer's guide: MINI Convertible

The MINI Convertible is one of the most stylish soft-tops on the market

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18 Dec 2012

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What to look for

• Trim rattles and squeaks are quite common, as are faulty fuel gauges and temperamental central locking.• There’s very little luggage carrying capacity, so be prepared to use the rear seats for storage.• Power-steering pump can fail, leaving you with a hefty bill. Listen out for unusual noises.

Most MINI Convertibles have some options, so check the spec. There are three option packs: Salt adds foglamps and a rev counter to the One, Pepper adds 15-inch alloys and chrome bumper inserts to any model and Chili adds sports seats and springs, plus extra leather, to the Cooper Convertible.

All these came with a petrol engine; most had manual boxes, but some are automatics. Auto versions of the One and Cooper have a CVT; the Cooper S got a conventional automatic box.

The CVT is an acquired taste, though, while the Cooper S is most fun to drive when fitted with a manual box, so buy an auto with care.

Recalls

There was a flurry of recall activity in the first 18 months of MkI MINI production, with cars called back five times – but because the Convertible didn’t arrive until 2004, it wasn’t affected by this. And the early problems were clearly ironed out, as there hasn’t been a single recall since. So buyers can focus instead on the service history and condition of their potential purchase.

Check out the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) website for up-to-date recall information.

Driver Power

Our view:

The Convertible hasn’t featured as a separate model in our Driver Power satisfaction surveys, but the MkI hatch finished 80th in 2012. It was last for practicality and scored poorly for reliability, build quality and comfort.

Your view:The 2006 One Convertible featured in our pictures belongs to Marilyn Smith, from Wolverhampton, West Midlands. “It’s fun, stylish and frugal, and build quality is great,” she says.