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2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk Road Test

It may not necessarily be the best time of year to drive around with the top

The hatchback Cooper has moved to a new body style, but the Convertible remains the same for another year. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

down in one of the cutest convertibles on the automotive market, but hey, a sunny day is still a sunny day! And whether it's raining or shining, Mini's supercharged Cooper S Convertible, enhanced with the Sidewalk Package is bound to bring beams of sunlight and warm feelings to all inside.

The MINI Cooper S Convertible was introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model and still continues to make heads turn pretty much everywhere it is driven. For example, within the first hour of me taking possession of the oh-so-cute drop-top, I returned to my car from picking up a birthday gift only to find a lady and her dog standing next to it. She started up a conversation with me and said how much she loves her own Cooper Convertible and how neat my “Sidewalk” looked. She also commented on how 'awesome' the newly designed 17-inch night spoke alloy wheels with the two-tone silver and anthracite combination flattered the sparkling silver metallic finish coating the exterior. The interior's special too, with the Sidewalk package, and includes malt brown English leather sport seats that look like they're hand made with contrasting light piping, giving the interior the appearance of a much more expensive car. The rich color of the leather is also featured on the

Way cool leather-trim adds a lot of class to the Mini's interior. Who says subcompact cars can't be lavishly trimmed? (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

multi-function sport steering wheel.

OK, she might not have said it in those exact words but I'm pretty sure that's what she was thinking! Nevertheless, she was impressed with the whole 'package' and wished that she had held out to get the Sidewalk edition, because she just loved the rims. I told her it's not too late to trade hers in. She agreed but thought her husband, who she shares the car with, might not be as keen. See, the Sidewalk package is a bit of a specialty model; it's Mini's way of giving the old-style Cooper one last hurrah before it goes out of production. The new generation Cooper Convertible hasn't yet made its debut, but it'll arrive soon given that the slightly rounder second generation hatchback model has been on sale since spring and the new Clubman station wagon will arrive shortly.

But back to the conversation - what's not to be keen on? With 168 supercharged horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, the little 1.6-liter four-cylinder delivers more punch than you'd expect. Now add a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual gearbox with a sport-tuned suspension and life is good. What more could I ask for? Well, I would ask for heated front seats, dynamic

Sidewalk package includes unique paint and some very cool looking wheels. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

stability control (DSC), automatic climate control, xenon headlights, a chrome lined interior, an on-board trip computer and a kick butt Harmon/Kardon sound system just to name a few things. Would I get what I'm asking for without paying a fortune? Of course. The value-added package is only an additional $4,000 on top of the base price for the Cooper S Convertible of $26,550.

Price aside, the feeling I got when driving was, as MasterCard likes to put it, priceless. Whether I was driving my same boring route to work during the week or running errands, or for that matter visiting friends, the MINI is such a blast to drive that it turned humdrum chores into fun-filled excursions. Especially since it's a convertible. On the days when it was overcast and not raining - which don't happen too often on the Northwest Coast - the top was down, the seat warmers were cranked and heat and music was turned up. And not surprisingly, going highway speeds with the top dropped wasn't all that cold or loud. My previous experience with the Cooper Convertible family led me to this conclusion and I still stick by it years later. I could carry on a conversation with my boyfriend or any other passenger without having to yell or without freezing my head off!

Roof automatically latches and unlatches itself from the header. All you've got to do is press the button. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

Even though the 2007 MINI Cooper hardtops received a brand new image this year, the S Convertible carries on the legacy of the first generation body style and interior configuration, which, in my opinion is a great thing. There is still the novelty-sized speedometer situated in the middle of the center instrument cluster and the pint-sized tachometer (in comparison to the speedometer) perched in front of the steering wheel that I absolutely love. Furthermore, there is a lot of people room with the top up or down. David, my significant other who measures in at 6'3”, found he had more space in the MINI than in most other compact cars. And when he's happy, I'm happier! Less fortunate would be anyone sitting in the back; although the new Mini improves on the old one in this capacity, the rear seat is more upright than in the hatchback.

What also makes me happy is the ease at which the top drops. There aren't any latches or knobs to twist, just the convenience of a two-touch system. Press and hold the 'top down' button and the cloth top opens up to create a large sunroof, convenient for when you want a bit more air, but don't want the whole drop-top experience. Push and hold the button again and the world opens up in moments. Push and hold the 'top up' button and voila, protection from the rain.

Perfect, even when the weather isn't. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

The great thing about the cloth top configuration is that it doesn't infringe on trunk space too much, as the folded roof sits behind the rear seats, neatly piled up in a stack. Trunk space isn't exactly a strong point of any Mini, and less so in the case of the convertible due to the extra structure added around the rear section to accommodate the roof's power mechanism and add some chassis strengthening. The result is a mere 4.5 cubic feet (5.7 cubic feet with the seats folded) of cargo space. There's enough room for some groceries, a backpack or two and maybe a couple tennis rackets, but that's about all. It does, however, hamper rear visibility when backing up or parallel parking. In fact, rear visibility is better with the top up as there is a rear window to peek through, but it's definitely not as scenic. Rearward parking sensors are thankfully an option.

Whether I was driving with the top up or down, the feeling behind the wheel of the 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk remained the same; funtastic! It's got the features of a luxury convertible with the funk and pizzazz of a street legal go-kart. Stability wise, it doesn't get any better than the MINI. Its ground-hugging composition enabled me to take those tight turns at a generous speed without feeling like I was losing control. It not only looks pretty, it's pretty awesome on the performance front.

Was I sad to part with the MINI after my test fest was over? You bet. I still get that rush of excitement when I pick it up and drive it around, and that same somberness when it goes home. I guess after all these years, the MINI novelty has yet to ware thin. It still kicks asphalt in my books.

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