Hi, guys & gals!

I’m thinking of changing our second car, currently an old-ish Renault Twingo, for something a bit more fun. (I intend keeping our (ageing) FF for when we need to carry people and their luggage.)

Down here on the French Riviera, a convertible is a popular choice as rainy days are the exception and winters are mild. We do not need rear-seat space, nor a massive boot, so we are looking at the new Mini convertible, the 3 cylinder, 1.5 litre, 136 HP, with auto gearbox.

The car would be used essentially for the 2 of us (a retired couple) on local trips, but also occasionally on motorway trips of 300-400 km each way to visit the kiddies and their families. I have yet to test drive one (soon!) but I am concerned whether the small engine, although quite pokey, would be man enough for relaxed motorway cruising at say 70-80 mph.

Does anyone have any experience of this car and can give advice?

Thanks in advance!  It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

Hi, we have a Mini Cooper S Convertible 2009 model as our 2'nd car - fantastic driving car, almost like a Gocart when driving it actively on narrow, curvy roads. Even in Norway we drive a lot with the roof down, and then you really can enjoy the nature, hear birds singing, and the really good sound of the engine....

I would imagine the such a car would have been perfect on the French Riviera!!

Ours is older - 05 Cooper S convertible - there seem to be quite a few on here, they must be a natural pairing with the FF

IMHO - it will be better than the Twingo, but not as good as the FF - the engine will be absolutely fine for motorways, the suspension is likely to be a little harder - but fine for motorways.

They are great little cars - ours is 11 years old, has only done just under 50k miles, but has cost me pretty much nothing beyond servicing & normal wear & tear items

I bought a 2014 Mini Cooper hardtop for my son. Excellent little thing. Good fun to drive and the infotainment (XL media) puts the Range Rover (L405 or L322) to shame (by a HUGE margin).

Thanks, guys, that’s all very helpful info
It all sounds good ... I shall have to start counting my centimes now to see if I can afford one after I’ve added in all the “essential” extras!
But … anyone else got anything to add?

The mini … Ah, this takes me back 40 years or so when an old girlfriend (she wasn’t old then ) had an early mini. The rear sub-frame rotted (as they did in those days!) and the car had to be scrapped.
But I started thinking – how many cars today bear more than a passing resemblance to the original model produced many, many years before? To my mind, the mini is one, the Fatty another and then there’s the VW Beetle … Are there any others  It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

Hi Steve, Aston Martin DB4 - Aston Martin DB9?  John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue - SOLD
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT-Sold