2004 MINI Convertible Cooper 1.6L 5MT FWD (115 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Following the successful revival of the brand MINI in 2000, the now German-owned British carmaker felt much obliged to add a facelifted version and revamp the range.

Some mandatory changes had to be done so the car could comply with the Euro5 emission standards and updated a few things that bothered the users before. But there were few things that the MINI convertible couldn’t solve, such as the tiny, sandwich-sized trunk and the Chrysler-developed inline-four under the hood.

The car’s exterior slightly changed at the front, where clear-lens headlights could have been fitted with Xenon lamps for better night-time visibility. Like the rest of the range, the Convertible featured a scoop on the hood that helped the supercharged version get some fresh air. In the open-top configuration, the MINI featured a pair of chromed roll-over protective arches behind the rear seats. They were fixed, and the canvas roof could retract completely behind them.

Inside, the cockpit was fit for two adults at the front and a pair of small-sized seats in the back. Of course, there was not enough room for four full-size grown-ups, but still, there was room enough for a large purse and some shopping. The dashboard featured the same big, round dial on the center stack. Depending on the version and options, an additional tachometer was added in front of the driver.

Under the hood, MINI had to go with the 1.6-liter, Brazilian-built powerplant available with either 8 or 16 valves. On top of that, the Cooper S version added a supercharged version that boosted the power up to 170 PS (168 HP). A five- or six-speed manual was available as standard, while a six-speed auto was offered as an option for the most potent version.