2nd Gen R59 Roadster Most liked posts in thread: Saw a New Roadster Today

Totally agree there...

I am a big Mustang guy as well as Mini fan and have an '06 Mustang GT Convertible... Back then, I got it fully loaded for $28k (after some nice rebates. I think MSRP on it was at $35k)... I *was* looking at getting maybe a new '13 GT Convertible, but they now *start* at $35,000! Fully loaded, you're looking at around $45k! Maybe more... So $34,000 for a nicely equipped Roadster doesn't sound too bad... In comparison...

 

I look at it from the same perspective Dave. A justa, leatherette seats, with great MPG and fun handling fits in there just fine. The go-fast, leads to tickets, which leads to more money and so on.

Jim

 

I presume the sales guy didn't have the draught-blocker in place while demonstrating this, as it looks to me like you would have to take it out and put it back every time the roof goes up or down:



One thing I read suggested that the electric partial assistance is just concerned with the last bit of movement down to the locked position or up as far as needed to grab hold of the roof with the draught-blocker in place.

 

It was in place, but he put the top up and down from outside the car, not while sitting in it... So yeah, that would make a little difference... LOL!

Honestly though, for me and having a convertible currently, whenever I put the top up or down, 95% of the time, it's in my garage or parking space where I could get out and put the top up or down... Rarely do I put the top up/down while I am actively driving it (ie: stop light, etc.)... So I don't think it would be a huge deal... Although, having the motor would probably help on resale down the road...

I'd also be interested to see how much of the boot the motor will take up... Cause without the motor, the boot was almost as big as the one in my Mustang! PLUS, it had the hole to go from the cabin to the boot, which my Mustang does not have (because of the motor and well for the top)... Of course, my Mustang does have a back seat, so... :wink:

 

Not really sure what that blocker things does, other then cost money. There is no back seat to catch air and the folded top, to trunk is smooth.

Jim

 

Yea as long as it still works. That's one of the killers on buying a used Mini convertible. Don't know how many people in my area that have tops not working and it's around $2500. To repair

 

Wow, really? That's not good!

I had my top cut on my Mustang a few years ago and had to get a new one, but other than that, it works great... And it's almost 6 years old with normal use...

*knocks on wood*

 

x2 My Fiancee had one in her S2000 that you could flip-up or down. It was amazing the difference it made when it was up. The effect is similar to the tailgate-up has on an open bed puck-up truck.

 

Drag? Is that a good thing?

Jim

 

Nope. Aerodynamic Drag (Thanks Nathan :ihih: ) is BAAAADD.

However according to Mythbusters ep. 43: Driving with the tailgate down actually increased drag on the pick-up and caused it to consume fuel faster than the identical truck driven with the tailgate up. It was later revealed that the closed tailgate creates a locked vortex flow that created a smoother flow of air over the truck. With the tailgate down the trapped vortex was dissipated and the drag increased.

More, non-Mythbusters, detail here: Truck Test Digest: Tailgate Question

Same sort of effect with that little window thingy (yes, a scientific term there :lol: )

Cool episode if you can catch it. They did water tunnel tests (small medium scale) and actual real world driving tests. The amazing thing was the the truck with gate up went like 50 or 60 miles further before running out of gas. :eek6:

 

Very interesting, thanks for the link.

Jim

 

I used to have a Mercedes SLK (the 200, only sold in Yurp I think, with the Sesame Street motor) that had a similar size wind blocker and a similar degree of protection from the trunk lid as a Roadster. The blocker had a dramatic effect - I was happy to drive 400 miles at highway speeds with it in place but that would be tiring without it.

The Merc one did also fill in the headrest loops but then that is behind the headrests, so not a big difference, I would think.

 

Thanks all, I learned something today.

Jim

 

Wow, I just had an epiphany......

Soooo all the gas guzzling rednecks that drive with their tailgate up are really "High Milers".

And all the eco rednecks that drive with their tailgates down are really "Gas Guzzlers".

Now that's a real paradox......

 

OK, did some re-figuring. As I was fighting with the folding side mirrors, which decided not to unfold, I realized that the fewer options you get, the fewer things can go wrong. So getting back to basics, getting rid of the "nice to have things", I brought in a "S" at $29K and should still have a fun car. It is all the "extras" that really jack the price up.

Jim

 

I went with "really need" and the price came way down. My hair can get messed up, as that screen is worth many hair cuts and I wouldn't be able to hear the stereo or the blue tooth (for example).

Jim

 

Makes sense to me...

The only options I added were:

Grey paint color ($500 extra for paint? Really?)
Heated seats (cause the wife *has* to have this option in all new cars we buy, LOL)
Mini Connected (cause its cool and for some reason my iPhone doesn't like to work right with the little audio cable in our current MCS)
Sports Suspension (We have it in our current MCS and love it)
and the redwood accented Steering wheel, Gear shift boot and E-brake boot (cause they don't have a red seat option)

Made a few changes to some of the other options, but they were the no cost ones...

 

We have just the normal headlights in our MCS and they work fine... Never had a problem with them or a problem seeing with them... I live in California where there is ALWAYS traffic of some sort and the chances of actually riding alone along some baron road and needing super bright lights are pretty slim... LOL!

I would love to get the Recaro seats, but don't *need* them... Again, the seats we have in the MCS are fine... I commute 90 miles daily and we drive from the Bay Area to LA all the time (about 350 miles) and they are comfortable enough... The Recaros would be nice though...