63 replies to this topic

[Shifty]

im mopen to suggestion thats why i asked but when the whole forum start picking holes in an idea for no reason it becomes ridiculous. and dont lecture me on what i should or shouldnt do. i can see why a lot of minis dont get experimented on because at the first hurdle they get ridiculed for the idea

And heres the problem!!

What exactly are your ideas??

What revolution are you bringing to the mini scene?

Which of your ideas have been riddiculed?

No one has said anything about you design ideas(well I haven't anyway).

So far your grand invention is a Black Roof/black bonnet stripe/seat logo and a plaque, hardly ground breaking.

[Down&Out]

How do you expect anyone to take you seriously the way you put things across.

For a start, anyone who types like you do is never really taken seriously.

Secondly, shifty knows his stuff, he wouldnt be asking questions like this if it wasnt needed.

Think of it like dragons den, if you went in, pitched what you wrote at the beginning of the thread, and they did what shifty is doing now, would you get all p*ssy at them just because they dont love your idea?

I know you'll get cross because i dared knock your idea, but lets put this realistically, it would be the same as me registering a business name and making an amateur website in just under a years time, then bringing in other peoples Mini's and working on them with no real bodywork experience and definately no proper certificates to prove i know what i'm doing.

What would then happen would be that a customer would possibly get really mega cross because the work done is terrible, take me to court and i would have to stop trading. Yes that is the worst scenario, but really, to do this sort of thing, you need to be prepared and qualified first.

Right, im going to hide for fear of being raged at.

[The Colonel]

ok tell you what im sorry for being a bit ambious, sorry im dyslexic and cant type properly, sorry i ever even asked topic closed to save the rage

[oli8925]

Amazing. I've missed out here. I'll take some pop corn, m&m's, hell i'll have what ever's left please (i've already had some popcorn today, so i shouldn't)

You came on here looking for advice, one of the most experienced people in this field offered his advice, and you threw it in his face and swore at him, just because it wasn't what you wanted to hear.

The whole point of pitching an idea to people with experience is so that they can pick holes in it, or flaws to the plan would be a better way of putting it. It's not for no need, it's so you don't go bounding ahead and blowing all your money on a business venture that won't work out. You have your base idea of what you want to do, that's great and you can't knock ambition. but now it's your job to take the advice and constructive criticism given to you by those people with experience, go back to the drawing board and find the solution to those flaws, then come back and say 'hey, what do you think'. and it keeps going like that until you have a good solid business plan set out that has a good chance of becoming successful. As Down&Out said, thats how they do it in Dragon's Den, that's life.

And I'm sorry but I'm going to have to say it, you CANNOT survive in any business with an attitude like that. Shouting, defaming, swearing and generally throwing toys out of your pram will get you nowhere in life, and in business it will get you an awful reputation that you can't recover from, and then that's it, business venture over.

I admire you for your goals, and I say that as someone who has similar goals they would one day like to achieve. You've got off on the wrong foot but it's not too late to swallow your pride, apologise and learn from mistakes. I don't mean that in a patronising way, its something we all have to do at many times in life. The advice from this forum isn't meant to anger you or just knock you down, as people say its realistic advice and market research. They're trying to help you!

[davidv]

I think you have seen American Hot Rod builds on the telly all.They make it look so easy,i like the one with the dog who hates every build but so skilled.One way of testing the idea is to build one and see how many people want to buy it and look at the profit for the amount it cost and your labour.In the past i was in small bus. years and had to close down due to a health problem caused by the demand for the product.I would have done much better if i had stuck with my boss as number one over the long term money and health.The Gov. trained me on small bus. years ago.They used to select people to help with free courses on all aspects of bus. .They even found me a nice Industrial estate in the end my garage had got to small.I had to pay for everything but they gave a very good discount.On the estate i saw many fold in the first year.
I understand your idea as what you would like in the end.I would start doing services and repairs etc. You can ask them if they would like any basic mods. Exhausts,carbs,heads etc. to start up.Wait till you have to ask some customers to pay.

[the.stroker]

Ok guys,lets take 5 and breath.

Take the advise given,Sean is an expert in the field of restoration,and as pointed out has many years experience under his belt,a lttle constructive critisism is a good thing.Shifty has learned from his mistakes and is trying to pass that knowlege down to you.

Thanks dan!

[midridge2]

Maybe shifty is just been a miserable old git. lol

[998dave]

Well i dont know im going to the ford automotive enginnering college in dagenham? working on my own car as a demo for this HOBBY!
its not a conversion its a modifictaion place! all it is something different to what people normally do with minis! i knwo the TV people make it look easy! but they still started somewhere!.

Hi,
I'm going to try to bring this back onto track a bit, what are you going to be doing at CEME?
I imagine it'll mostly be Diesel systems, but am not really sure.
(Just so you know I'm currently a lead engineer at Ford, working on Diesel exhaust systems).

So far your grand invention is a Black Roof/black bonnet stripe/seat logo and a plaque, hardly ground breaking.

This may not be the answer you want to hear, but from what I've read he may have a valid question.

John Cooper Garages, I think we can all agree, had a large share of the aftermarket segment, based on a reputation forged in racing and building rally cars. The white roof and stripes are almost a trademark, with the laurels. There are also plaques mounted on the vehicles of the very limited runs, giving vehicle number.

You seem to want to set up a similar business, with smaller runs, and based purely on styling, but without the prestige to help start you off.

It's a good idea, and if you can make sure your products are truly novel, exceptionally engineered, and very high quality then I thinkyou'd do well, however, if there's no real unique selling points then I'm afraid you may struggle.

The CEME training will help you out in parts, but it's not going to cover detailed engineering, or styling practices.

Get some practice in, and make sure everything on your current mini is perfectly presented, it'll be good practice, and help you start up, I imagine you'll want to do 3 or 4 different cars as unique demo vehicles before anyone will start letting you loose on theirs.

Dave

[less is more]

im ignoring shiftyseamus now your getting on my nerves.

Why ignore somebody who seems to have the backing of most people on this forum, the attitude you have is not one I as a customer would like to see, as others have said it's not exactly grounbreaking what you are doing, your not a famous designer that can put a name to a mini such as Paul Smith, Mary Quant or even John Cooper.
I would sit back, do your mini then your mates then get them featured in mini magazine or miniworld, to see how the public take 'em.

It's not a go, and i applaud anybody who is willing to give something a go, but you really need to sit down and work costings out etc

Andy

[Shifty]

Maybe shifty is just been a miserable old git. lol

I had a feeling you'd be posting on this!!!

Heh heh!!

Miserable me?......Bah Humbug!!!

Jackhammer...

As I said I'm not trying to be negative, just pointing out some pitfalls to you.

In all honesty you've approched this the wrong way round, as has been said do a few cars of your own, get some experience under your belt and go from there.

Hell, after doing the one you may even find that getting skinned knuckles, welding flash, setting fire to yourself isn't for you.

Thanks to everone else who's posted on this in support of me, cheers guys(i'm welling up here!!)

[The Colonel]

look im extremely sorry about my behaviour last night i was uncalled for i just had a really bad day, i am genuinly sorry i will now take all your advice in to consideration, seamus i am especially sorry

[Boycie]

Well that outburst unfortunatley confirms the fact you're not mature enough to run any sort of business or 'hobby'. You'll end up messing up someones car and being £10k out of pocket.

Honestly dude, you can't go on a forum asking for people's opinions then losing the plot when someone (who is considerably experienced) says something you don't like!!!!

There's a lot of experience on this forum, in a wide range of subjects and I'm constantly amazed at those who chose to ignore it.

[The Colonel]

iv just apologized why are you starting this again?

[Bean]

look im extremely sorry about my behaviour last night i was uncalled for i just had a really bad day, i am genuinly sorry i will now take all your advice in to consideration, seamus i am especially sorry

Wow - That's refreshing to hear! Thanks Jackhammer!



I do have to agree with a few people here, though - You may have a good idea in that you want them all to have a "corporate look", as it were, but behind all that is the boring bit - Full of really hard work and a lot of time.

I think you need to focus on getting the skills and the foundations first - then you can get to the fun bit of designing them.

Be patient & work for it - It's a long old road, but if you've got the skills, determination and, inevitably, funding - Then good on ya!

[The Colonel]

yeah i know the work will be extremely difficult but if i can get a decent car to start with its half a battle won aslo im going to be using my own mini as the demo car once i get a bit of cash should be after april