57 replies to this topic

[CooperMad93]

Went to my local BMW garage today to have a look at a mini one, unfortunatly the one i was looking at was sold there n then! darn... but i took one for a test drive, (keeping my usual bini hating thoughts in my head) but as soon as i got in the car i fell in love with it, it has such a welcoming interior and was an absolute dream to drive, going back tomorow to look at a cooper with a few more horses under the bonnet.

I know its mini blasphemy, but does anyone else think they're actually an alright car?

[MiniRFC]

The one thing I love about the Mini is that the shape was barely changed for 50 years. Then BMW came along and killed all that.

Seems like a bit of a sell out if you ask me.

[kingbenvolio]

If they didn't have the name, I would like them!
Simple as that really..!

[stickycreambun]

Seems like a bit of a sell out if you ask me.

really? like, seriously?




Actually, yerp, the Cooper S that I drove a while ago was a great car! From what i've heard if you do go for one the runflats are a no-no though

[CooperMad93]

Why cant they just accept the name BINI then we can all get along haha, yeh the runflats are a no-no indeed!

[Tupers]

Don't worry we wont hate you, I'm sure you'll have lots of fun waving to your fellow hairdressers and estate agents.

[joakwin]

I think the new mini's are great, there not classic mini's by any means but they are still great for what they are, I've also seen video's with the new mini without the BMW name on them but with a British car company name of them in the mid 90's,
I would daily drive a new mini, but would have to park it outside because no way would I be able to move my classic mini outside overnight

[minimarco]

People who hate bini's are blind to truth if they can't see that it's a good car. They fear change and is the kind that will never progress and make anything of themselves in life. Unless they are just lying and secretly fancies it.

I couldn't be happier with what they have done with it, making a popular car that is on pace with original mini sales is not easy. Killing the mini name would be making a terrible car that bankrupts the marque. Now they just have to win a WRC title.

All this Bini bashing is just reverse snobbism if you ask me.

[CooperMad93]

Don't worry we wont hate you, I'm sure you'll have lots of fun waving to your fellow hairdressers and estate agents.

haha love it!

[CooperMad93]

People who hate bini's are blind to truth if they can't see that it's a good car. They fear change and is the kind that will never progress and make anything of themselves in life.

I completly agree! on the plus side, at least it was BMW a premium car maker that bought the title, not something like hyundai or daiwoo lol , hmmm the hyundai hybrid mini or the 700cc daiwoo mini haha insted were blessed with at LEAST a 1.4 engine!

[TA2DMAC]

I have both. My 1978 Austin and my 2011 JCW. Both are great cars in their own right.

With a changing world come products that must meet the demand of that erra.
The BMW Mini competes globally in a market that is very demanding and agressive.
To succeed as they have says a lot for the product.
No it's not a classic, just as a 2012 Mustang is not the same as a 64 Mustang.

Each have a unique and special appeal to me and to be honest, I don't really give a rats a$$ what someone else thinks about my ride anyways.

[Mabird]

I have both. My 1978 Austin and my 2011 JCW. Both are great cars in their own right.

With a changing world come products that must meet the demand of that erra.
The BMW Mini competes globally in a market that is very demanding and agressive.
To succeed as they have says a lot for the product.
No it's not a classic, just as a 2012 Mustang is not the same as a 64 Mustang.

Each have a unique and special appeal to me and to be honest, I don't really give a rats a$$ what someone else thinks about my ride anyways.

Now what would you feel like if somebody like Honda started making Cameros or Mustangs.
I'll be honest I hate them like poison, we have our own name for the here, which is not repeatable in mixed company

[minimarco]

If mustang was in the same position as the mini was, never had a major redesign, sales dwindling and after 40 years in production, barely able to pass new safety regulations, then Honda comes along and funds the redesign of a new mustang by Ford themselves and sells the Mustang as a Mustang without a Honda badge on it and keeps making them in America, I would have no problems with it.

Now what would you feel like if some Indian company bought Jaguar and land rover? what if the Germans bought Bentley and Rolls Royce? what if the Malaysian bought Lotus and the Chinese bought MG?

Edited by minimarco, 03 June 2012 - 04:06 AM.

[TA2DMAC]

Now what would you feel like if somebody like Honda started making Cameros or Mustangs.


I don't think GM or Ford would sell them out and as far as I can tell, are still in business.

However I understand what your saying. They are icons of your country and to have someone
else own it, takes a little bit of your heritage and pride away.
Heck the 2015 Mustang is being Euro-fashioned so it can be sold globally.
Another piece of Americana being sold out for the almighty buck.
But I guess that's what they have to do if they want to stay in business.

If we hadn't had the 2011 Mini, I would have never found my 78.

[leroy26]

if i hadnt had my 2003 cooper i wouldnt have my 1989 mayfair, just listen for any engine rattles ( timing pre tensioner) it killed my 2003 cooper so now i only have the mayfair! strange huh??! lol