2011/12 Mini convertible as a daily

[the_fatadder]

With my wife's car having just failed its MOT she is looking for a new daily driver, having long wanted a mini she has now decided that a 2011/12 Cooper Convertible would be perfect, likely to be kept for 3 years or so and used for about 20 miles a day commuting.

I am a little nervous around an electronic fabric top, along with the risk of leaks etc through the winter.

Would love to hear the experience of those who have owned a similar aged mini convertible and whether it would in your opinion stand up to daily driving in the winter. My worry is she's caught up in the idea of roof down motoring while its nice and warm and not fully thinking it through. (More so I have just found a very nice looking Cooper S that is in budget / right sort of mileage but on a 60 plate so making me even more nervous roof wise).

Thanks

[blue al]

2 other options to consider

Mini roadster if 2 seats work it has a Massive boot no shortage of space and fun to drive
Seem cheap to me
Or
Hatchback with big panoramic roof

Either way look for N18 motor

I have a F56 and worth budget creeping compared to Bogo hatch R56 if looking at 3 years and a fair few miles.

[ds666]

My wife ran one for a few years - was one of the first s convertibles (54 plate ) , and bought new . Never had any issues with leaks or indeed anything . It was nice to have the first element of the roof that you could open without opening the whole roof . Boot was quite a challenge - we had to buy a specific pram that came to bits to make it fit .
Great fun cars .
If they did a serial production run in electric mini convertibles she’d have one straight away .

[ds666]

ds666 said:

My wife ran one for a few years - was one of the first s convertibles (54 plate ) , and bought new . Never had any issues with leaks or indeed anything . It was nice to have the first element of the roof that you could open without opening the whole roof . Boot was quite a challenge - we had to buy a specific pram that came to bits to make it fit .
Great fun cars .
If they did a serial production run in electric mini convertibles she’d have one straight away .

Not long after the mini she had a 135 convertible and ran than everyday for 8 years - never leaked once .

[blue al]

ds666 said:

My wife ran one for a few years - was one of the first s convertibles (54 plate ) , and bought new . Never had any issues with leaks or indeed anything . It was nice to have the first element of the roof that you could open without opening the whole roof . Boot was quite a challenge - we had to buy a specific pram that came to bits to make it fit .
Great fun cars .
If they did a serial production run in electric mini convertibles she’d have one straight away .

They did and were 50k each—purses and wallets around the country clamped shut

I think some as new are available mid 30’s

[ds666]

Yes , I know - they were not “series” production . I think it will be an MG Cyberthing next .

[S2r]

I run a 12 plate R57 cooper s as my daily (N18) and if it's not raining then the roof is down. I have been caught in a few showers though but at 70mph you do stay dry

Never had a problem with the roof leaking although it can go a bit green if not cleaned regularly.

The only problem I have had is water can get through the door seal at the bottom, but it's only happened a couple of times over the last few years and when it was parked on a cross slope (side to side).

I don't know what I would charge it for.