180 replies to this topic

[ferrit]

Any new mini, no matter who it was designed by would have had to be bigger because of the crash safety regulations.

I disagree, the Smart Car is smaller than the original Mini and can pass current safety tests

The MINI was designed to suit a fashion and not be a utilitarian cheap car, hence why it got larger and more plush

The Smart For 2 (the original shape) is a two seater though with sod all boot space though.

[nurseholliday]

Any new mini, no matter who it was designed by would have had to be bigger because of the crash safety regulations.

I disagree, the Smart Car is smaller than the original Mini and can pass current safety tests

The MINI was designed to suit a fashion and not be a utilitarian cheap car, hence why it got larger and more plush

Would you drive a Smart Car? They had a horrendous safety record until they redesigned them.

[998dave]

And the Smart hasn't been nearly as successful as the BMW Mini.

[Ethel]

The MINI is no more a Mini than a Ka or Smart would be if you stuck MINI badges on it. Does the MINI raise the profile of the Mini? Most probably, if only by highlighting the virtues of the original that it doesn't have. Would we be better off with out BMW and their brand protectionism? I couldn't say, you'd have to balance how it discourages Mini based commerce against how it also supports the likes of Minispares and Mini Sport who have larger businesses catering for both. And if Mini went to the wall with the rest of Rover? Who knows, the receivers could still have sold it off separate to the rest of Rover, the Mini was already out of production so there was nothing more than the name on offer really. The Chinese have resurrected the Moke so, just maybe, we could have seen a new Mini clone with a 3 cylinder engine or leccy motor?

[Racer_Pete]

Nothing wrong with the k-series engine one of the best engines they ever did, yeh okay.. people can moan about the headgasket problems etc.. And if they started to use the LandRover Multi Shim gasket this would have helped enourmosly but its to late now.. I also think that they should have ditched the Rover name and just kept MG. People like Jermery Clakson and Tiff Needal dident exactly help the Rover badge.

[ferrit]

Nothing wrong with the k-series engine one of the best engines they ever did, yeh okay.. people can moan about the headgasket problems etc.. And if they started to use the LandRover Multi Shim gasket this would have helped enourmosly but its to late now.. I also think that they should have ditched the Rover name and just kept MG. People like Jermery Clakson and Tiff Needal dident exactly help the Rover badge.

I didnt have any problems with the k-series in my 25GTi, nice and responsive. Maybe I was a lucky one or maybe some people were just unlucky.

Edited by ferrit, 16 December 2008 - 12:58 PM.

[mab01uk]

The MINI is no more a Mini than a Ka or Smart would be if you stuck MINI badges on it.

So is the latest bigger VW Golf Mk 6 not a Golf anymore? (note: the original Mk1 Golf was the same size as the current VW Polo). the new Ford Ka not a Ka? the new bigger Fiat 500 not a Fiat 500? new Beetle not a Beetle? new bigger Focus not a Focus? new bigger Fiesta not a Fiesta? new bigger Corsa not a Corsa? completely new VW Scirocco not a Scirocco anymore, Volvos not Volvos because they are owned by Ford? Jaguars not Jaguars because they are Indian owned?...................

At least the Mk1 MINI and much of the Mk2 was originally designed by Rover, is still built in Oxford by British workers at the site of the original Cowley Mini plant and is one of our rare export successes with 80% of them going abroad to other countries.

No one could ever have created a replacement for the classic Mini to please everyone and be a financial success but as an established brand MINI is always going to be a valuble asset for long as cars are manufactured.

[maph2]

Nothing wrong with the k-series engine one of the best engines they ever did, yeh okay.. people can moan about the headgasket problems etc.. And if they started to use the LandRover Multi Shim gasket this would have helped enourmosly but its to late now.. I also think that they should have ditched the Rover name and just kept MG. People like Jermery Clakson and Tiff Needal dident exactly help the Rover badge.

what he said - K-series is one of the best production engines ever made. HG niggles now sorted so nothing to complain about.

rover made new minis:-

[Deathrow]

Any new mini, no matter who it was designed by would have had to be bigger because of the crash safety regulations.

I disagree, the Smart Car is smaller than the original Mini and can pass current safety tests

The MINI was designed to suit a fashion and not be a utilitarian cheap car, hence why it got larger and more plush

The Smart For 2 (the original shape) is a two seater though with sod all boot space though.

As opposed to being able to stick a surf board in a classic Mini boot?

I think he's raised a good point, they could have retained the size and style of the Mini and got it through safety regulations, it'd have cost alot, but I'd rather have paid the money and kept it the way it was meant to be.

Any new mini, no matter who it was designed by would have had to be bigger because of the crash safety regulations.

I disagree, the Smart Car is smaller than the original Mini and can pass current safety tests

The MINI was designed to suit a fashion and not be a utilitarian cheap car, hence why it got larger and more plush

Would you drive a Smart Car? They had a horrendous safety record until they redesigned them.

As opposed to classic Mini's being safe?

Personally, I think BMW have done a reasonable job at the new MINI and I do like them, but as far as the classic Mini and the new MINI being associated, in my books they aren't, nothing has been retained in my opinion, they're both fantastic, different, cars.

I do thank BMW for keeping the name afloat though.

Edited by Deathrow, 16 December 2008 - 01:21 PM.

[Ethel]

So is the latest bigger VW Golf Mk 6 not a Golf anymore? (note: the original Mk1 Golf was the same size as the current VW Polo).
Not sure, is a Man still an ape?

. the new Ford Ka not a Ka?

Yeah think it's, just one step on the evolutionary ladder.

the new bigger Fiat 500 not a Fiat 500? new Beetle not a Beetle?

Nah, they're not - Mini rule applies.

Marketing consultant's opinions count for jack

'n Snickers are still Marathons! >

[ferrit]

Nothing wrong with the k-series engine one of the best engines they ever did, yeh okay.. people can moan about the headgasket problems etc.. And if they started to use the LandRover Multi Shim gasket this would have helped enourmosly but its to late now.. I also think that they should have ditched the Rover name and just kept MG. People like Jermery Clakson and Tiff Needal dident exactly help the Rover badge.

what he said - K-series is one of the best production engines ever made. HG niggles now sorted so nothing to complain about.

rover made new minis:-

Wasn't the cityRover a bought in badge job though?

[mab01uk]

Any new mini, no matter who it was designed by would have had to be bigger because of the crash safety regulations.

I disagree, the Smart Car is smaller than the original Mini and can pass current safety tests

The MINI was designed to suit a fashion and not be a utilitarian cheap car, hence why it got larger and more plush

The Smart For 2 (the original shape) is a two seater though with sod all boot space though.

As opposed to being able to stick a surf board in a classic Mini boot?

I think he's raised a good point, they could have retained the size and style of the Mini and got it through safety regulations, it'd have cost alot, but I'd rather have paid the money and kept it the way it was meant to be.

Any new mini, no matter who it was designed by would have had to be bigger because of the crash safety regulations.

I disagree, the Smart Car is smaller than the original Mini and can pass current safety tests

The MINI was designed to suit a fashion and not be a utilitarian cheap car, hence why it got larger and more plush

Would you drive a Smart Car? They had a horrendous safety record until they redesigned them.

As opposed to classic Mini's being safe?

Personally, I think BMW have done a reasonable job at the new MINI and I do like them, but as far as the classic Mini and the new MINI being associated, in my books they aren't, nothing has been retained in my opinion, they're both fantastic, different, cars.

I do thank BMW for keeping the name afloat though.

It is impossible to build a very small cheap economy type car in Western Europe and still make a profit, even Fiat decided to build the Panda and Fiat 500 in Poland for that reason, as are Ford with the new Ka in the same Polish factory.

Mercedes lost millions of pounds on the Smart Car and quickly canned all the unsuccessful spin off models, not surprising if you drive one, bad steering, handling and gear change...........

Audi also lost big money and canned their Audi A2 small car and are about to try again with a sporting small car copy of the new MINI.

Likewise Ford have turned the latest new Fiesta into a desirable sporting small car in an effort to steal MINI sales.

[Lukie-J]

I agree, both classic and new mini are good cars, but not realy associated.
But, if the car was designed to please us classic mini fans then they wouldn't have made enough money.
The original was designed to appeal to many.
And so is the new one.
Think about it, did the design of the new mini force other manufacturers to make their small cars more interesting?
New fiesta?new clio?citroen c2?

[haz]

I've got both new and old minis... I think they're both ace! Theres no doubt whatsoever that the MINI is by far the better car, its modern car. But I could say that about almost any car from the 80's onwards, the fact that it isnt anywhere near as fun to drive or as charming as a classic mini means that I'd never consider selling an old one but I'd happily sell the new one when the time is right. One thing a MINI will never have is a personality!

I think beemer have done a stirling job with the MINI to capture the general style of the roundnose mini, obviously its grown a bit but cut them some N-cap slack already! They've also done a pretty good job with the handling and the engine, power delivery from the cooper (I cant speak for any other model) is similar to the 1275 in that its all low end grunt and it doesnt rev like a honda. Handling is slick and convinced me to buy one in the first place, out of all the modern hatchbacks iv driven (most of them) it was by far and away my favorite... and best of all, its a mini!...kind of lol

What did annoy me was the clubman... which wasnt enough a clubman and this proposed SUV abortion... theres just no need!

Edited by haz, 16 December 2008 - 06:06 PM.

[jammiedodger26]

Nothing wrong with the k-series engine one of the best engines they ever did, yeh okay.. people can moan about the headgasket problems etc.. And if they started to use the LandRover Multi Shim gasket this would have helped enourmosly but its to late now.. I also think that they should have ditched the Rover name and just kept MG. People like Jermery Clakson and Tiff Needal dident exactly help the Rover badge.

what he said - K-series is one of the best production engines ever made. HG niggles now sorted so nothing to complain about.

rover made new minis:-

Wasn't the cityRover a bought in badge job though?

Yeh, it's actually an Indian car isn't it? Rover bought them for about £1,500 each, stuck a couple of badges on at the Port and then charged £5-6k for them!!!....great marketing plan though!! haha!!!