2012 Mini Cooper Roadster Priced at $24,350

Unlike the power-operated top on the Cooper convertible, the Cooper Roadster has a manually operated cloth top. You open the top by turning a release mechanism on the windshield frame to release the roof, then you push the cloth top down from there (shown above). To close the top, you push a button near the rollover bars to extend the top enough, via gas-pressured springs, so that you can lift it up and fix it back in place.

The base coupe comes equipped with a 121-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual. Its standard features include power mirrors, height-adjustable seats, air conditioning and a stereo with an auxiliary input jack. A six-speed automatic transmission is optional.

The Cooper Roadster S starts at $27,350 and comes equipped with a 181-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder.

The John Cooper Works edition of the Roadster tops out at $34,500. Its 208-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder is mated only to a six-speed manual.

You can learn more about the Cooper Roadster here.