2007 Mini Cooper Cabrio CVT review

[Pinch]

I have enjoyed reading the different user reviews of other car types here, so I thought I would review our relatively new toy for you – a 2007 Mini Cooper Chilli Cabrio CVT.

On the road:In many aspects it drives like a much larger car. Front seat accommodation is fantastic (although we aren’t exactly basketballers) and the rear seat for 2 is more than a token effort, with a 6ft 4in friend able to reasonably fit in for a short city drive. Great design of the seats makes the most of the small space. Storage is clever too and what you can fit in the small boot amazes people. Both the rear seats and glovebox lock to create secure, roof down storage area. The power operated roof itself is a little gem, taking only 15 secs all up which is about half most other convertibles. The 3 layer fabric roof also has a sunroof that can be operated on the move, and a demisted glass rear window. Roof up or down, the cabin is really quite serene. A long distance, 2 up, roof down trip would not be an issue. Likewise, roof up, there is no wind buffeting of the roof and you really have to look around to see that you are not in a hard top. Cars passing the rear quarter can be heard more clearly though and roof up the thick C ‘pillar’ section might make it a bit claustrophobic in the rear. Rear ¾ vision is restricted significantly roof up, but this is made up for with excellent wing mirrors and standard reverse sensors. There is very minor scuttle shake only over the worst of road imperfections. We have had no problems with roof leaks, apart from copping some drips when you open the door – the same as we do with the frameless window Forester.

Power:
The 85kw 1.6 CVT doesn’t sound like much, but even in the heavier Cabrio (1080kg v 1045kg) it’s reasonably zippy, although can be a little sluggish immediately off the line. Once under way basically all rolling responses are more than adequate. That said you simply don’t have to wash off speed as you come to a corner! Despite being only a single over head cam design (2nd generation 88kw twin cam engines are now in the hardtop with the Cabrio later to follow in 2008), the engine is quite sporty and free revving with a lovely little exhaust note that is noticeable at idle and during spirited driving but not boomy at speed. The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is a revelation and comes with a sport program and gated gearshift and steering wheel paddles for the 6 pre set ratio’s you can use. At highway speeds the CVT can keep the engine around the 2000-3000 range, with 100k on the flat seeing about 2400rpm. This is remarkable for a little 1.6 auto or manual. When in CVT mode there is no hunting for the cruise to maintain the preset speed either. On the open road the 1.6 is sipping an average of 6 litres of 95 unleaded per 100 with air con on, down from about 8.1 in city commuting.

Handling:
Of course the handling is the best part of a Mini. What this 85kw base engine (base for Australia – Europe has the 66kw Mini One) lacks in out right grunt, is more than made up in agility. There is very little body roll even at cornering speeds which saw our BA XR6 start to push wide. It feels like it wasn’t even approaching the limits of adhesion, but until it can be taken on track, the true handling limits are unable to be found on a public road. There is a trade off though for the handling, on the16in Good Year NCT run flats, along with Sport Suspension, the Chilli Cabrio can be quite a firm ride. It never really feels ‘crashy’ and skittish over bumps, but can be quite jarring. You learn to wander within the lane avoiding potholes and going slightly angled over expansion joints. Most roads, even those that I thought I’d have a problem with have proved not an issue. What was surprising though was the torture that is the 10km section of the F3 around Dora creek. The mismatched bridge height to carriageway and the generally poor concrete surface see the cruise control ditched in favour of a less than speed limit ‘comfort speed’ through this section, and the end of freeway ripple strips at the northern end of the F3 and southbound at Raymond Terrace on the Pacific Highway are the Mini’s worst enemy. The wheelbase is exactly the wrong length to deal with them and they are actually like a series of speed bumps that can’t really be taken at 70 or 80 km/h. The Mini doesn’t pretend to be a GT car though. It is about corners and agility and fun. Arguments about its motorway cruisability are probably better left with a discussion about the fuel economy of a FPV GT-P – it is largely irrelevant to why you buy the car.

Equipment:
Equipment wise the relatively cheap Chilli pack brings an expensive base car more into line with its price. Leather sports seats, multifunction steering wheel with cruise, front fogs, Chrono pack (dual chrome steering column binnacles with extra instrumentation), sport suspension and the 16’s with the dreaded run flats add to the standard air con, four airbags, ABS, EBD, BA and a curious Corner Braking Control. Traction control ($300) or ESP ($1150) remain options for the Chilli pack. On a car that handles like the Mini, ESP seems over the top for the base engine. Similarly on an uphill right hand, wet turn the CVT with 16’s is not going to catch you so unawares that you need the traction control. The 6 speaker MP3 CD stereo works extremely well at higher volumes, and is 100% effective even at open road speed with the roof down, but could benefit from a loud button to enhance lower level listening. The MP3 connection seems a bit dodgy with my Samsung T10 though. The Chilli pack also adds the Chrome Line interior and exterior which really sets off the styling. The red interior lighting with mood lighting, little red LED’s behind the door handles, and little red LED’s that shine on the silver dash from the windscreen header rail are fantastic. Likewise ‘puddle’ lights that light up the ground under the doors when they open. For the truly adventurous there is even the option of backlit scuff plates with your name!

Ownership Experience:
The BMW based dealer structure is simply phenomenal and beyond comprehension when compared with Ford. The delivery was made into an ‘event’, and things like conditions based servicing and other nice touches simply give the feel good ownership factor. You don’t buy a car, you are welcomed into the Mini family. I hope this continues.

Want to try one for yourself? Thrifty rents base models (no Chilli pack) CVT Cabrio’s for about $100 a day. Make sure it’s a nice day though, it is simply feel good motoring at its best.

Overall, rain or shine (no hail) the Cabrio is one fun, feel good car, both for the car itself, and the whole ownership experience. No wonder Mini drivers still wave at each other!

Keep an eye out for further reviews I will submit such as for the MY07 Forester (after I finally take it on a proper off road expedition) and a bit about a Fiat Grande Punto and Peugot 207 and how well they take me around their respective homelands.