Two yellow convertibles have joined the fleet at 120 E. Liberty just in time for summer! The Mini Cooper S convertible and Mazda MX-5 Miata are cabrios of the point-and-shoot variety: Just point them in the direction you want to go, and they shoot forward.

Though they both have the smile-inducing capability of turning around a gray Michigan day, they couldn't be more different in personality. As our two drivers noted, sending a lot of power through the front wheels can lead to interesting effects, but both convertibles continue to prove to be a lot of fun without having to be exceedingly fast.

What follows is a recipe for setting up a pseudo-chase scene of your own:

Step 1: Set your sights on a bright yellow convertible. It helps when you're already in another yellow convertible. The Miata fit snugly in the Mini's oversized side-view mirrors.


Step 2: Avoid stoplights.  They just remind you about the inevitable torque steer when you put the Cooper S back in gear.


Step 3: Camp out surreptitiously.  There's no better time to admire the rolling stock on your pursuit car.


Step 4: Show off a little.  The paler yellow of the Cooper S shows against the Miata's fiery orange-tinted glow.


Step 5: Eventually, call it a draw.  A tale of two convertibles comes to a close. And hey, not a bad use of an afternoon.

Jeffrey Jablansky