95 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

new mini is just used to make it clear that people are talking about the "2nd generation" mini, i don't see any harm in it.

 

for a lot of people, me included, part of the attraction of the classic mini is the fact that it never really changed. unlike the ford escort or VW golf they really are pretty much the same car over the production run. that puts them in the same class as the VW beetle.

 

And like the 'New' MINI there is also a New Beetle, now on it Mk2 version I think?.......however like the 'New' Fiat 500 the 'New' Beetle has a completely different layout to the original car,

ie. the Beetle and Fiat 500 are no longer rear engined or rear wheel drive anymore......they are both transverse front engined with FWD, so Alec Issigonis's layout triumphed in the end and the New MINI's like most other modern small cars use his ground breaking design concept as the best for space and handling, etc. Likewise John Cooper's rear engined race car layout triumphed in single seater racing cars and F1.

[THE ANORAK]

not really the layout that im talking about. my corsa and astra are both front wheel drive transverse engines... don't make them minis

[mab01uk]

not really the layout that im talking about. my corsa and astra are both front wheel drive transverse engines... don't make them minis

 

I know it does not make the VW or Fiat minis    but the point I am making is that at least the modern MINI still uses the same revolutionary (at the time - 1959) layout... unlike all the other modern designs of VW Beetle & Fiat 500......they are using the Issigonis layout that people now take for granted, as it underpins so many modern cars, only the likes of larger BMW's and Mercedes have not adopted it, although the smaller BMW's now do so as they begin to share the latest F56 MINI platform.

Edited by mab01uk, 17 February 2018 - 03:09 PM.

[JBW]

Strangely, but relevant, this is discussed in this months (April) Practical Classics, The MINI versus the Mini also the Beetle, Fiat 500, Fiat Spider, VW Scirroco. are also compared.

 

My view is that older cars were fairly simple & straightforward to fix, all the newer ones are far more complex, but don't rust, just have electrical/electronic failures that make even Main Dealers struggle to fix, according to friends in the motor trade.

[Lukie-J]

I guess the answer to the original question "are new minis still frowned upon" has to be yes as clearly there are people frowning upon them within the classic mini scene, my question back to the OP is do you care what any of those people think, do, or say about anything? I don't.

 

It's not that I'm bothered by what anyone thinks, just interested as to their opinions. I'm more interested in whether people think they may achieve a retro kind of appreciation rather than classic status. In my budget I'm looking at an R53 Cooper S, I think the best looking of the bunch. The fact it was designed by Rover makes it a bit more acceptable to me as well. It's always going to be a compromise - I had to sell the mini as we couldn't afford a house with a garage and couldn't see it turn into a rusty puddle! 

 

The main issue I've always thought is the maintenance as mentioned above, with the MINIs it's not a case of 'fixing it at the side of the road with a hammer and 1/2" spanner'. However there are now some very useful guides on forums and youtube, so I suppose where people used to use their basic mechanical knowledge to fix their mini, they are using their technical and research skills to self-teach and repair that way. Same philosophy? Maybe...

Edited by Lukie-J, 23 February 2018 - 09:46 PM.

[CityEPete]

Some people will see it as a modern day take on the classic, I do, others will throw childish abuse at you. Get one and enjoy it I say :)

[humph]

With two threads relating to new MINI closed over the weekend, I'd suggest the answer is yes! TMF is a forum for everyone is it not? By all means point posters to new MINi forums, but locking threads is necessary. If we go down that route we'd need to take off the other none Mini threads that talk about none Mini projects.

[sonikk4]

With two threads relating to new MINI closed over the weekend, I'd suggest the answer is yes! TMF is a forum for everyone is it not? By all means point posters to new MINi forums, but locking threads is necessary. If we go down that route we'd need to take off the other none Mini threads that talk about none Mini projects.

TMF Is first and foremost a Classic mini forum right from the very beginning. Yes we do have owners who own both marques BUT we wil always point new posters who do not seem to grasp certainly from the questions we all have answered to register on here that we are a classic mini forum. The fact we reply to new posters and explain this to them and give them the requisite websites to go to is not Bini bashing. They are more likely to get their answers far far quicker by going to a dedicated forum rather than relying on one of our members who may have an answer.

What you do not see is that they may have had a pm from the member of staff to explain what has happened. No need to jump to conclusions about something you cannot see.

We have thrashed this very thing to death on here so many times now.

Now with regards to the Non mini threads etc, providing they are in the right sub forum that has been created for that very purpose then there is no issue.

On Google search we normally come up as the first item which then leads to confusion. Nothing we can do about that. We strive to give as many clues as possible that WE ARE a classic mini forum on the registration but for whatever reason this is not enough. Even on the homepage there is a picture of a classic mini, not a BMW MINI.

We can only do so much and we rely on peoples ability to desiminate what manufacturer of car is what.

[r3k1355]

Rover designed the supercharged R53 Mini??

[Northernpower]

With two threads relating to new MINI closed over the weekend, I'd suggest the answer is yes! TMF is a forum for everyone is it not? By all means point posters to new MINi forums, but locking threads is necessary. If we go down that route we'd need to take off the other none Mini threads that talk about none Mini projects.

TMF is a forum for everyone but the technical side is for the classic Mini. There is no problem in talking about BINI's but if the technical side is opened up to BINI owners it will be swamped. This is in no way a condemnation of BINI's its just the reality of the sheer volume of BMW MINI's compared to the classic Mini. 

 

Its disappointing BMW MINI owners still register on here for a technical query even though its explained to them at the point of registering this is a site for classic Mini's.

 

There are dedicated sites for BMW MINI's and the best we can do is point the poster in the direction of a BMW MINI forum. If posters feel they need to comment on the technical side of the BMW MINI they will be welcomed on a BMW MINI forum.

[Mrpeanut]

With two threads relating to new MINI closed over the weekend, I'd suggest the answer is yes! TMF is a forum for everyone is it not? By all means point posters to new MINi forums, but locking threads is necessary. If we go down that route we'd need to take off the other none Mini threads that talk about none Mini projects.

I agree, I cannot see why bini related threads are locked. It seems petty and as you say, why lock them and keep other non mini related threads going. Either this is a forum for everyone or it isn't, some consistency wouldn't go amiss.

[Northernpower]

 

With two threads relating to new MINI closed over the weekend, I'd suggest the answer is yes! TMF is a forum for everyone is it not? By all means point posters to new MINi forums, but locking threads is necessary. If we go down that route we'd need to take off the other none Mini threads that talk about none Mini projects.

I agree, I cannot see why bini related threads are locked. It seems petty and as you say, why lock them and keep other non mini related threads going. Either this is a forum for everyone or it isn't, some consistency wouldn't go amiss.

 

It perfectly consistent. The technical threads on this site are for classic Mini's. Technical threads for BMW MINI’s are on the BMW MINI forums. Read the explanations in post 53 and post 55.

[sonikk4]

A new member joins who clearly does not understand this a Classic mini forum. He / she is then given details of other websites that will help them with their potential issue. We then close the thread. 

 

As i have already mentioned a pm may have been sent to explain this to the member in question. Thats it.

 

AND as i clearly stated providing the non mini threads are in the correct section then all is good. If not then someone can report it and we will then act on it.

 

Why keep a new starter thread open that may not get a single reply like in this particular case we are discussing. It sits there. The new member will more than likely have moved on to the right forum that they need for their answer.

 

We are not discriminating against them, better to point them to the right place that will get an answer.

[Lukie-J]

I did drive an r53 the other day (220bhp!) and the outlook when you're driving isn't too far from the original. Steep windscreen angle, high sides, seeing the Headlight 'humps' from the driving seat. Now, just to sell the alfa...

[mab01uk]

Rover designed the supercharged R53 Mini??

 

The R53 Cooper S was also designed, developed and tested by Rover engineers at Gaydon and Longbridge with Michael Cooper involved as a consultant and BMW funding the project but it was not officially unveiled until October 2001 several months after the R50 MINI One and Cooper were launched.

One of the few surviving supercharged Rover MINI R53 prototypes was sold on ebay in 2013:-

http://www.motoringf...ows-up-on-ebay/

 

Quote from an ex-Rover worker on the above prototype:-

"I was working at Longbridge in 1997/8 and was asked if I wanted to look at one of the new Minis in 'methods' building, It was very interesting and the spec list read from something out of a bmw 7 series options list!
You have to remember that the New MINI was a risk and a lot of people thought they'd never sell a 12k mini to anyone! 200,000 a year proved that wrong but at the time...
I seem to remember that early cars had the indicator repeater green light in the stalk, now where have I seen that before?
It quickly got deleted (shame) and just the alarm was on the other stalk , I think,
Anyhow we built the first R53 s with battery in the boot etc and with hand modded bonnet as per photo above and by the following Wednesday there was a picture in Autocar !
There was also an R3 Rover 200 with Cooper 'S' running gear and supercharger which used to fly around as a disguised test mule.
I can't imagine there are any other prototypes that escaped as process is to scrap em, maybe they forgot about this one!"

 

If you want to know more on the interesting story of the R50/53 development by Rover & BMW then the (2005) book 'New MINI' by Graham Robson is a great read.

https://www.amazon.c...n/dp/1844251357

Edited by mab01uk, 26 February 2018 - 07:52 PM.