We've found that not only is the Mini cute and cuddly, but also that its owners will come back carried on their shields defending the coupe made by BMW. And now, having tested the 2009 convertible version, the soft top is even cuter and cuddlier than the hardtop, though still a tad snug. Just don't tell that to those who own them because there's nothing mini about their rancor. We tested the Cooper S convertible, the higher-performance version with a 1.6-liter, 172-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder; the regular version has a 1.6-liter, 118-h.p. 4, hold the turbo.

The Cooper S is a blast, especially with the top down. And when down it lays along the deck lid behind the rear seat - and the roll bars that deploy automatically when needed - and doesn't fill the surprisingly ample trunk. Taking in the sights with the top down is so much fun, BMW includes an "openometer" gauge in the dash at no extra charge to record the amount of minutes and hours spent with the wind in your hair - and whether it's time to add more sunscreen.

The top is novel in that the front portion is a traditional power sunroof. For full exposure, hold the button and the whole thing retracts quickly - 15 seconds, according to BMW, though our unscientific timepiece suggested a second or two faster. Open-air noise levels are more than tolerable, and there's no slapping or flapping when the top's up.

The openometer is part of the fun BMW promotes with the convertible, which its Web site insists should be left down unless "passengers have frostbite" or when "motoring through locust swarms of Biblical proportions."

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