Mini Convertible prices released

26 March 2004

The new Mini Convertible carries a £2920 premium over the hard-top with prices starting at £13,325 for a 90bhp One, BMW announced today.

The 115bhp Cooper is priced at £14,625 while the 163bhp Cooper S arriving soon after is likely to cost £17,525, although no official announcement has been made on this model.

Besides the electrically operated canvas roof, the Convertible offers extra features over the hatch including a remote-control alarm, ISOFIX child seat mountings, parking sensors and a rev counter.

The One Convertible is almost a second slower to 60mph than the equivalent hatch with a time of 11.8 seconds. Top speed drops 3mph to 109mph while fuel efficiency falls from 42.8mpg to 39.2mpg on the combined cycle. Higher emissions shift the car from the 18% to the 20% company car tax band.

The Cooper Convertible reaches 60mph in 9.8sec and accelerates on to 120mph, 0.6 seconds and 4mph slower than the hatch. Fuel consumption is 2.8mpg worse at 38.7mpg while company car tax jumps two bands into the 21% slot.

Dealers have been taking orders on the One and Cooper Convertibles for some time so ask for a car now and you'll have to wait three months. First deliveries start in July for the One and Cooper and late summer for the Cooper S.

Those willing to pay over the odds may be able to get behind the wheel sooner by buying someone else's place in the queue, or picking up a nearly new model. Look for classified adverts in What Car?'s sister weekly Autocar.

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