Modern Collectibles Exposed: The 2008 MINI Cooper S Convertible 0-60 MPH Review

( www.TFLcar.com ) The 2008 MINI Cooper S Convertible is a tiny supercharged pocket rocket that will put a huge smile on your face all day long. With the top up it will transport four adults around town in cramped comfort but with the soft top down it will take two adults on a weekend gate-a-way in style. Unlike the current turbocharged MINI Cooper S, the 2008 model is supercharged which means that the 168 HP of power and torque are almost instantly available at push of you toe. In another fun and informative TFLcar Modern Collectibles Exposed episode we drive and review the 2008 MINI Cooper S Convertible 0-60 MPH @ a mile high to see what makes it such a fun topless car to buy and collect.

[@TFLcar]

Kris, you better let MINI know ASAP. The car's sticker says 2008 as does the ID plate on the car. Hard to believe that they would screw up so much or....you need to stop posting misinformed comments and google the dates that supercharged convertibles were sold in the US.

[@damisdad]

I know this is an old post but i just bought an 08 Mini Cooper S convertible last May. British racing green with a black soft top and white stripes. Chrome package, black panther pattern leather interior with many upgrades. I love this car so much. So much fun. It only had 41,000 miles on it and i got it for $7,998!! Still can't believe it.

[@olivergoodwin9821]

@@damisdad me too. 28,000 miles - love it !

[@SimonDedman]

Re: practicality: since it's a convertible it's oddly practical in that sense. We've hauled a weights bench, bars, all the weights, and a running machine back from buying on ebay since you're not limited by height. At other times, two bikes. Loads of bags of river pebbles for a garden project. This is a go-kart that doubles as a pickup truck.

[@cruzjefferson6191]

Instablaster.

[@sltz3]

I loved my 2006 Mini CooperS hardtop. The most fun and lively car I have ever driven. I wish I still had it.

[@mysticstarhf9265]

We bought this exact car brand new; except ours was an automatic transmission and fully optioned. We added the OEM driving lights to the front to give it a real classic MINI look. It was my wife's daily commute car and was garaged when not in use. I even did the fabric treatment for UV and water repellent by hand three times a year to keep the convertible top looking new; and it still looked brand new down to the last day we had it. I only hand washed and hand waxed it. We did all of the maintenance at the MINI dealer on-time including oil changes at 5,000 miles (we ignored the computer's 10K+ oil changes and did 5K full synthetic oil changes), belts, hoses, transmission fluid change at 30K, tires etc. After 6 years of ownership and 60,000 miles we junked it; piece of junk. During the time we had it, it went through: three sets of engine mounts that kept busting and losing their oil; two cracked thermostat housings; one cracked radiator overflow reservoir; one cracked wiper fluid reservoir, two sets of the rubber trim around the top of doors/quarter panels kept shrinking and cracking apart; a few other premature failure of parts; and a full transmission failure at 60K miles. Our best memory with it was taking it up the Pacific Coast Highway, across the Golden Gate, through the Redwoods and up the Oregon coast with the top down. Worst memory was the transmission failure. We junked the car in 2013 and never went back to MINI. The car was back at the dealer EVERY THREE MONTHS for another part failure; miserable. And over the six years, many parts were replaced two or three times. After the MINI, we bought a 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8L Grand Touring and put over 111K miles on it with only three small issues occurring after turning 100K.

[@pedalforsanity]

I own one, I love it!

[@Xenophene01]

Thanks for the response! Really big fan of you two and the show. Keep it up. Always fun to watch. Heres hoping that they make newer mini versions> Dual turbos like some BMWs. Almost like a supercharger. Would be nice

[@larsahnebrink6747]

agree, its a very nice car

[@ChuckyDoll79]

In 2020, MINI R53 JCW and R52S (included JCW) are already collectible. The maintenance and the repair costs created a rarety for those are in good shape. Also, the not reliable (owners that cheaped the maintenance) ones are currently heading to the scrapyard.

[@TFLcar]

Yup, Supercharges are thirsty. We think that MINI switched to the turbo to het better MPG.

[@Fireblaze15]

It's a perfect, all around, topless wonder. Yes.

[@GeoZeppelin1979]

i know that this is offtopic BUT..........if u install supercharge on CNG run car will it reduce the CNG milage consumption? increase or decrease?

[@TheAk47fish]

Man I'm in Utah and was going to move to the mile high site and I was like YES I MIGHT SEE TFL CAR IN REAL LIFE!

[@birdhz]

I owned r52 I love it

[@TheRastasocks]

This will be my car!

[@bizkillall]

The Mini in this video has the Continental DWS UHP AS tires installed. A great tire, the best UHP AS in winter conditions (I use to have a set on my Camry SE), but did the Mini lose any of its sharp steering response by going from a summer to an all season tire? I noticed a huge difference on my RX8 between the summer and AS version of the P-Zero Nero. The AS tires felt like marshmallows.

[@freddieparrydrums]

I just bought one, 08’ Sidewalk R52 :)

[@blackkeymaestro]

I own an '08 Cooper S convertible, slowly making mods to turn it JCW-like. The smiles-to-miles ratio is through the roof (or well, through and through since there's no roof 🤣). Unfortunately I melted a piston due to a failure in fuel delivery, but can't wait to get it back on the road.

[@TCB1468]

Yes I agree that too!!!

[@Sephymuffins]

So I'm planning on getting one and I'm super duper excited. It'll be from California if I'm lucky (as I live in Las Vegas). Thank you for your review, you guys are wonderful!

[@Xenophene01]

Beautiful. Why remove the supercharger? Gas savings?

[@WOW4EVERBEST]

You should review 2011 Acura tl

[@drzellman]

Would the 2007 be exactly the same?

[@hunghuge12]

It was mostly due to euro emissions regs coming in which take into account a makers entire fleet. The extra mpg is just a side effect of reduced CO2 - which was the requirement for the design. The turbo charged engine was a joint venture between BMW/PSA to get a good engine at a reasonable price. While technically better than the S/C engine a lot of people prefer the S/C for it's sound and character.

[@jerifrancis8485]

We have a 2008 Mini Cooper like this. Super charged. SideWalk Edition convertible. Less than 35,000 miles, garage kept. 6 speed. Same green color as this video. We are willing to part with it if you know a collector that would like it.

[@AW-xv7dq]

The cooper s convertibles are difficult to find already. Cooper convertibles are a dime a dozen. But the S with the top down is such a nice drive. I do wish I had access to a supercharged one though, just to see the difference between the turbo.

[@bmwmsport11]

From what I hear, the supercharged Minis were the most reliable. My friend had a Mini Cooper w/ 1.6 NA 4cly. I think the crankshaft or something went, cause one day it decided not to start. And it never did again, so it got junked.

[@XArmyMP]

4 very small adults. im 6ft3 in a 2012 hardtop and no one will be able to sit behind me unless its a toddler with their legs crossed

[@joelcummings]

No, The Cabriolet was changed after 2008, the regular Cooper was turbo charged for the 2007 model year and the convertible in 2009.

[@brooksycc7]

I agree. I was commenting on the nostalgia part. I think the only reason those old Mustangs are so collectible is because there just aren't that many of them in good condition, not necessarily because of the nostalgia. It sure helps, but I don't see that as the driving force. My point is that bringing up 40+ year old Mustangs was a contradiction to your point of them being collectible even though a lot were made. Almost any car would be collectible after 40 years, no matter what "they" say.

[@edwardscully6536]

The official website of the BMW Group states that all Mini Cooper vehicles are produced at BMW's Oxford plant, based in the United Kingdom. The production of Mini Coopers and all other Mini vehicles is integrated into BMW's production network.

[@WarthogRacer]

Would you say a AbarthC is a Modern Collectible? How about a Hummer Alpha/H1?

[@TCB1468]

Yah I am jealous of my uncle who lives right in Boulder! He has probably seen TFL car at least once!

[@AW-xv7dq]

Is the '08 the last year they made the supercharged convertible?

[@TFLclassics]

A Wong Yes

[@yunior12]

Minis are fun

[@testuser8977]

Did he say it's a 2008? Did it come with a supercharger in 2008?

[@olivergoodwin9821]

yes

[@hovazane4091]

Only the convertible. Hardtop went turbo by 07.

[@TCB1468]

Can you review the Mazda MX5? That is a modern collectible!

[@FoodyTunes]

The next modern collectible has to be the Pontiac G8

[@Grajjje]

LOVE Minis. Just their wide range of customization makes all of them unique. You will rarely find 2 of the same Minis.

[@stewartmcminn7773]

He fell out in the first second lol

[@howsoonisnow1985]

For a collectible I'd go with one of the GP models. But I would love a 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW Sidewalk Edition Convertible in British Racing Green with the English tan seats and green canvas top.

[@Codybear77]

I own that car. 2008 cooper s sidewalk, metallic british racing green, green top. Saddle leather seats with white piping. It will be for sale october of 2020. Message me if interested.

[@KevinStephenson76]

2007 Convertible yes, hardtop no it is already on 2nd gen by then.

[@brooksycc7]

That's a nice story but there's also a difference between collecting a car and buying it because of a personal/emotional attachment. If we agree that this 2008 Mini Cooper S is a modern collectible, will there really be that many young guys in the future that say, "I bought a 2008 Mini Cooper S because my dad had one."? Your dad happened to have a car that is now rare and collectible to which you had an attachment. Your attachment didn't make it collectible.

[@wsc31]

OK, so it is collectible and fun to drive but can it get better mileage than a hybrid Lexus? ;-)

[@tmwall25]

kinda sounds like the terminator, svt mustang.

[@adamwpe]

lol that's the other way around in europe all the un-reliable car are made in america / par from a few company / models, most likely due to different driving conditions weather and driving styles

[@blackr0se]

Your lost all credibility when you claimed a Ferrari F430 is a modern collectible. Just like a ferrari mondial, 308 and 348s are vintage collectible?

[@christopherchao3257]

That is not a 2008 car..... It's the first generation model, you can tell by the grille and how when you lift the hood up the headlights go with it

[@mdcohen]

The first gen convertibles ran until 2008.

[@brooksycc7]

Mustangs aren't really that collectible unless they're 40+ years old or a special or limited edition.

[@Veyronp87]

convertible is girly, hardtop is sick though

[@tnetroP]

I don't own a convertible but I'd be happy to. I'd never let someone else's opinion of it being a 'girly' car deter me from enjoying a car like this.

[@DeVron001]

Too much vignetting added to your video, makes it too dark

[@hunghuge12]

Nah. Too many made, too common.

[@TonyTube407]

I don't get it. You tell us all the time how superchargers negate the high altitude penalty, yet here you emphasize there's a 2 second difference.

[@hoodooyouthinkyouare]

It's not a 2008 model seeing as it's supercharged. From 2007 all mini cooper s came out as turbocharged

[@scottbrixey6284]

the convertibles up until 2008 were just like the R53 models. the convertibles were supercharged, also seeing that it is the same body style as the older ones

[@hoodooyouthinkyouare]

Scott Brixey a friend of mine bought the 2008 mini cooper s convertible, I see what you are saying! Thank you for correcting me :)

[@nicklake2902]

It's German not British

[@InshasChoice]

Not very spacious.

[@robertpatrick2892]

It actually is.

[@soulgansgter]

a girl car

[@7mmrocks1]

Made by bmw

[@talegonxsmith9686]

Another female car...