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Car review: Unrealised potential in the Mini JCW Cooper Convertible

Car review: Unrealised potential in the Mini JCW Cooper Convertible

Straits Times06-06-2025

Driving with the roof down and the music up is the best way to enjoy the JCW Cooper Convertible. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
SINGAPORE – A car like the Mini JCW Cooper Convertible should rightly appeal to boomers. After all, the Mini brand name shares their vintage and the original Mini – which began production in 1959 – could well have been the first car for many of them.
The nostalgic appeal would thus be a natural draw to the salt-and-pepper set, but they should steer clear of this particular Mini variant for two reasons.
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