Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It?

2793 Views 57 Replies 36 Participants Last post by Rallybug, Mar 13, 2002

BltByKrmn

Discussion Starter · Feb 11, 2002

What is the big deal about the new Mini or any Mini for that matter? I personally think they are hideous, but lets look past that for now. Are they really going to be that good in the performance department? I could see why they would be great in Europe but why would anyone in NA want one??
Not a flame, I just dont get it.

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PerL

· #2 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

It's that retro thing again. Just like the New Beetle, the new Mini has nothing in common with the old car. One car journalist here put it best when he wrote "this car would be better off if it was named BMW 116i "

l5gcw0b

· #3 · Feb 11, 2002

2

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

Road and Track tested the 115hp Cooper on 175-15 all-season tires, and it out slalomed every BMW and Ferrari they had tested (that's including M3's and 360Modena's).

The original Mini also has a long history of being able to dump all over bigger-faster cars on the right track back to the 60's

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PhilHVW

· #4 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

The Mini was huge in Europe, and England in particular. I'm surprised anyone thinks the new one will do that well in the US, since they sold so few of the original.
The original Beetle was the opposite, it was a hit in the US, but wasn't real popular in Europe (they might have sold a bunch, but I hear the image was more post-war depression than the feel-good image it had in the US). The new Beetle, of course played out the same way, popular in the US and a flop in Europe.

Flacker

· #5 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

I just can't wait to get behind the wheel of an S, and see if that makes me get it.
Also, and I'll say this carefully with my flame suit on, but I'm wondering if the cuteness of it might make it a chick car. My wife absolutely loves the looks of this thing.

BltByKrmn

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (PhilHVW)

quote:[HR][/HR]The Mini was huge in Europe, and England in particular. I'm surprised anyone thinks the new one will do that well in the US, since they sold so few of the original. [HR][/HR]

My point exactly. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

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Eolair

· #7 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

quote:[HR][/HR]The Mini was huge in Europe, and England in particular. I'm surprised anyone thinks the new one will do that well in the US, since they sold so few of the original.
My point exactly. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif [HR][/HR]

That´s why BMW doesn´t target a high volume for the Mini in the US.
Beside the retro effect the Mini has some points going for it:
- Superb handling (haven´t driven, but all the reviews I´ve read praise it)
- it´s pretty well put together
- it´s pretty unique on the US market (which be a pro or a con).
- good power/weight ratio on the Cooper S

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Chris V

· #8 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

The Old mini showed up when the US was in the middle of horsepower wars. Huge wide open areas were not condusive to the longetivity of tiny cars. Had nothing to do with whether the car was any good or not, just that we at the time didn't have a lot of use for a very small performance car. We do now. Which is why the old Mini has become such a cult car in the US, to go along with it's recognized status in the rest of the world.

landrumdh

· #9 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (Chris V)

Mini S would be a great car at the top of my list if I hadn't just bought my golf.

A4Jetta

· #10 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

MINI Cooper was the first mass-production front-driver in the world.

Hajduk

· #11 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (A4Jetta)

quote:[HR][/HR]MINI Cooper was the first mass-production front-driver in the world.[HR][/HR]

Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by "mass-produced".

Chris V

· #12 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (Hajduk)

I would have thought the Citroen Traction Avant and the Cord L29 and 810 would be in line before the Mini for first mass produced front driver awards... Maybe he meant first 2-box, transverse engine front driver...

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Sporin

· #13 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

Looks look a fun little car to me... emphasis on "little."

Eolair

· #14 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (Chris V)

quote:[HR][/HR]I would have thought the Citroen Traction Avant and the Cord L29 and 810 would be in line before the Mini for first mass produced front driver awards... Maybe he meant first 2-box, transverse engine front driver...

[HR][/HR]

DKWs did also already have FWD in the 1920/30s.

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Rallybug

· #15 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (Eolair)

quote:[HR][/HR]Beside the retro effect the Mini has some points going for it:
- Superb handling (haven´t driven, but all the reviews I´ve read praise it)
- it´s pretty well put together
- it´s pretty unique on the US market (which be a pro or a con).
- good power/weight ratio on the Cooper S
[HR][/HR]

evo magazine has a MINI Cooper 'Works' on long-term test, and they're starting to see some problems coming through - they synchro has broken on second gear, and the passenger door window no longer drops automatically on opening the door (they're just waiting for someone to forget to drop the window before opening the door - *smash*). The gearbox problem is apparently un-heard of before now, and it's nothing to do with the John Cooper 'Works' conversion as the power is limited in 1st and 2nd gears (as it will be in the Cooper 'S') - the 'box broke on about 20th December, and they had to get a new gearbox from Germany, which didn't arrive and get fitted until 11th Jan (although they did like the service in the dealership

)

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dr_spock

· #16 · Mar 9, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (Rallybug)

I don't get it either but my wife wants one. I guess we are reliving her childhood when her family had these type of cars. I hope they don't bring the Deux Cheveaux over...

GeoffD

· #17 · Mar 9, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (PhilHVW)

quote:[HR][/HR]The original Beetle was the opposite, it was a hit in the US, but wasn't real popular in Europe (they might have sold a bunch, but I hear the image was more post-war depression than the feel-good image it had in the US). [HR][/HR]

Say what?
The original Beetle was a best selling car in West Germany for a gazillion years. Before the common market (then EC, now EU), there were big import barriers on automobiles so British cars pretty much only sold in the UK, French cars only sold in France, Italian cars only sold in Italy... What do you think the average German drove in 1960... a Mercedes?

2lowA4

· #18 · Mar 10, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (dr_spock)

quote:[HR][/HR] I hope they don't bring the Deux Cheveaux over...[HR][/HR]

What exactly is that?
Anyway to the original poster, you just dont like the way it looks? Have you see one around? Id wait to see before I chose not to like a car. It cant be worse than some of the offerings now, can it?

Lunitixx

· #19 · Mar 10, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (BltByKrmn)

Looks like a great performer, attractive etc.....but I would think twice around here. Here in Portland it is the land of the soccer mom SUV's. I've seen what they do to a full size auto in a collision. I think people will think about that when they consider buying it. I don't think it will take off.

VWteknik

· #20 · Mar 10, 2002

Re: Mini - Am I the Only 1 Who Just Doesnt Get It? (Lunitixx)

Good point, Lunitixx. Driving a car almost exactly the same size as the new Cooper I can identify. Despite the rampant SUV's in the area, I'd take one in a heartbeat.
The car is like the original. It's bigger and heavier yes, but it retains the same engine/drivetrain configuration as the original, unlike the Beetle which it's often compared to. Despite the size, it's still the smallest car sold in the US and still a giant killer, which is 100% true to heritage. The exterior styling really doesn't seem all that retro to me. It resembles the original, but since hatchbacks haven't changed much, it wouldn't look out of place had the original never been produced, IMO. Agree? Disagree?

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