Having been a serious lover of my R53 soft top JCW, but suffering from having the roof replaced 4 times in 2 years I am sceptical.

But are others willing to take a risk and order the first ones or are you waiting?

Rakey,

This is worrying - we were seriously considering swapping our Dark Silver R56 MCS for the new R57. What's the problem with the current cabrio's roof?

No way for me - but then I'm quite wary of all convertibles. :p

The new roof is completely redesigned and made by a different company. I don't see why a bad experience with one company's product should make you MORE wary of another company's product.

I'll wait another year and a half before getting mine- we'll see by then how things have panned out!

Sony,

You going down to Sytner for a look this weekend?

Looking through the reviews of the R57 avidly. Yes I'd like one and would like one now!

But I'd want a MCS or MCS JCW and I'd want lots of extras and before i Knew it I'd have spent 28-30k (again) which buys an 18 month old Jaguar XK convertible. It doesn't make financial sense.

The fact that the roof on my MCSC was embarrassingly shabby, BMW mucked up the launch and the residuals on the higher specced/higher bhp models were poor means that I would be wary about buying another. The fact that BMW treated complaining customers with disdain didn't help

The car that I would buy is the convertible D preferably with the BMW 2.0 diesel engine in it. If they can bring this in at less than 110g/km it would be unique among convertibles. I don't think the convertible is much heavier than the clubman so it should be possible.

However the question is does MINI's track record with new models put me off buying an R57 now? And the answer is absolutely! Leaky petrol caps, rattly engines, dodgy gearboxes and dodgy roofs among others. The roof fiasco IMHO was never properly sorted and the answer which was amongst other things to prevent full retraction of the roof detracted from the looks of the car. I have never seen a convertible of any age with no trace of roof wear.

Having said that, the new convertible is gorgeous and the loss of the unsightly rear head support looks much, much better. and yes, I am profoundly jealous. However I certainly wouldn't buy another car from Sytner.

My new Clubman D works well, is very economical, carries five people, massages my tax bill but remains unloved, unwashed and has never been driven just for the hell of it. I think that says it all about what I'd rather be driving:)

I went to a pre launch night last night... The cars look great... Having said that, there doesn't 'seem' to be as much room in the back... You'd be able to seat a toddler, but that's about it... Had a few probs with the boot too... It took some effort to keep it closed... I really liked the Cooper S though. The colour scheme on show was black with cream leather upholstery... If I were to buy one I'd have to have black leather in there...

I keep thinking a JCW cabrio might be fun.....:o:D:cool: Not in the market for a while though.:(

I went to a pre launch night last night... The cars look great... Having said that, there doesn't 'seem' to be as much room in the back... You'd be able to seat a toddler, but that's about it... Had a few probs with the boot too... It took some effort to keep it closed... I really liked the Cooper S though. The colour scheme on show was black with cream leather upholstery... If I were to buy one I'd have to have black leather in there...

Loads of photos of a black/cream I'm soon to review on Flickr: Collection: MINI (http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmullett/collections/72157600699358865/)

As for rear space...

Car seats in the Convertible


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3388966287_7f4e3b11e5.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmullett/3388966287/)

Leg room...


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3388967223_0b272a9c04.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmullett/3388967223/)

So it doesn't look any different to the old cabrio in terms of leg room?
And probably not much different to the hatch

Sony,

You going down to Sytner for a look this weekend?

yep, went this morning and it was dead!!! No one was there but a load of salespeople and a big chocolate fountain!
Still didn't stop me loving every minute of looking at the babies! test drove the S, I really really love it- there is no doubt it'llbe my next motor (JCW though), but I really want to see how the rooves will hold on first.

The new roof is completely redesigned and made by a different company. I don't see why a bad experience with one company's product should make you MORE wary of another company's product.
Because its a new design, it was a new design last time, its untested in terms of long term user testing as it was before.

Its still a MINI designed part, no matter who is making it, and that worries me still a bit after having had so many issues last time
Looking through the reviews of the R57 avidly. Yes I'd like one and would like one now!

But I'd want a MCS or MCS JCW and I'd want lots of extras and before i Knew it I'd have spent 28-30k (again) which buys an 18 month old Jaguar XK convertible. It doesn't make financial sense.

The fact that the roof on my MCSC was embarrassingly shabby, BMW mucked up the launch and the residuals on the higher specced/higher bhp models were poor means that I would be wary about buying another. The fact that BMW treated complaining customers with disdain didn't help

The car that I would buy is the convertible D preferably with the BMW 2.0 diesel engine in it. If they can bring this in at less than 110g/km it would be unique among convertibles. I don't think the convertible is much heavier than the clubman so it should be possible.

However the question is does MINI's track record with new models put me off buying an R57 now? And the answer is absolutely! Leaky petrol caps, rattly engines, dodgy gearboxes and dodgy roofs among others. The roof fiasco IMHO was never properly sorted and the answer which was amongst other things to prevent full retraction of the roof detracted from the looks of the car. I have never seen a convertible of any age with no trace of roof wear.

Having said that, the new convertible is gorgeous and the loss of the unsightly rear head support looks much, much better. and yes, I am profoundly jealous. However I certainly wouldn't buy another car from Sytner.

My new Clubman D works well, is very economical, carries five people, massages my tax bill but remains unloved, unwashed and has never been driven just for the hell of it. I think that says it all about what I'd rather be driving:)
That is totally it, track record of any new launch with MINI is not good.

Roof history is extremely poor, from fabric wear, to rear glass exploding, to mechanisms breaking, if it could go wrong it did and still does.

So glad that someone else is liking the look of it, but has the same concerns over ever buying a MINI convertible.

I keep thinking a JCW cabrio might be fun.....:o:D:cool: Not in the market for a while though.:(
I loved mine to bits, even the bits that kept breaking lol

The most fun ever is a JCW convertible, well after a GP that is ;)

Speaking of the JCW Convertible, I hope you've all read my review: MINI John Cooper Works Convertible | theSwitchback (http://theswitchback.com/driven/mini-john-cooper-works-convertible) ;) :D

Rear leg room is compromised versus the hatch, not a huge amount, but you can tell the difference. The rear bench seems slightly wider on the new model over the old, although that could be an optical illusion.

After seeing Minis on the road for years and thinking, "How cute," and then going out on six test drives over as many months, I ordered a lazer blue convertible Mini S.

I am moving from a Gold Wing Trike and think the Mini will be a lot like it. Small, open and lots of fun.

Possibly lighter too! :D

Just popped out to Wollaston to have a look at the R57. Had a black S in the showroom that looked rather good....:D

Just come back from styners, the place was dead, hardly anyone in there, just 1 lady sorting out something and me. The launch consisted of a few balloons, wished I had gone to Park Lane yesterday now!Lol!

Still thinking about ordering a hot choc with choc inside on a cooper, now thinking, to wait a few months and see if any demos are available.

Having seen it in the flesh, I'd love one. I just need to be able to afford one! I rekcon about 2012 should see me in one :D

The new roof is completely redesigned and made by a different company. I don't see why a bad experience with one company's product should make you MORE wary of another company's product.

Do you know who makes the new roof for them? I had no idea they switched vendors for the roof. My girlfriend drove a new R57 this weekend and said it was a very sturdy top, almost felt like a real hardtop.

I got mine today and it's great!

Some more pictures of my old and new.

Oh very nice Chris! Congrats!