If you are a fan of the Mini Cooper, certainly you have been delighted to learn that the car is now available as a convertible. Marketed in both base and “S” models, the Mini Cooper convertible is sure to turn heads as well as helping you find parking in tight quarters. Please read on to learn what the makes this cute import a hit.

The best thing that has happened to the Mini Cooper over the years was its purchase by the German automotive stalwart, BMW in 1994. Indeed, the current Mini Cooper reflects BMW engineering with a suspension that has been swiped from the BMW 3 series allowing the car to navigate sharp turns with ease.

Key specs of this model include the following:

# A 1.6 I4 engine powering at 115 hp; you can upgrade to a souped up version of this same engine that will kick out 168 horses. Still, for a car weighing in at 2300 lbs the low horsepower should not be much of an issue.

# A 5 speed manual transmission comes standard; a CVT automatic transmission is optional.

# Four-wheel antilock disc brakes; if you get the “S” model traction control is thrown in.

# 15" all-season tires on the base model; 16" on the “S” model.

# Side airbags for front sitting passengers and head curtain airbags for front and rear seats.

# Fixed roll bars.

# Air conditioning, power windows/doors/mirrors and a kick butt sound system are all standard equipment.

# Fun exterior colors including: liquid yellow, hot orange, chili red, cool blue, purple haze, and five other colors. Buyers have a choice of three roof colors too: black, dark blue, and dark green.

In these days of rising fuel prices the Mini is certain to please with EPA figures of 27/35 for the base model and 26/34 for the souped up engine.

Of course, technical specifications aside the convertible offers drivers and passengers the opportunity to drop the roof and take in the wind and the sun. The roof retracts automatically and stores nicely behind the rear seat without sacrificing already limited storage space. Factor in the heated glass rear windscreen and the Mini is ready to go out in all kinds of weather.

The sticker price of the convertible starts at $21,450; well equipped models will top out at around $29,000. Compared to all other convertibles on the market, the price is very competitive.

In all, the Mini Cooper is a fun little car that gets noticed with or without the top down. Buyers will find the car fun to drive, economical, and fairly cheap to maintain – full maintenance is included for the first 3 years/36000 miles – features that are certain to make the car a “hard find” at your local dealership.