57 replies to this topic

[CooperMad93]

I ended up going for the 1.8 civic over the cooper, those Japs' just have so much tech haha the mini felt a bit empty and cramped in comparison! but it had charracter, i'll give it that

[blacktulip]

im a die hard classic fan but i can see that a new mini is a good reliable car, if thats what you want then go for it. each to their own i say.... now... GET OUT!!!! lol only joking. good luck with it.

[Jimmy Hat]

Perhaps its the number of women with no idea how to drive who buy them... or the fact that the new version they released in 2006 is absolutely hideous, or the numerous stupid even uglier 4x4 versions and estates (which don't deserve to be called Minis at all - they're huge!) to sell to a wider range of women with no idea how to drive... :@

Other than that, I like them

[Furyblade_Lee]

As far as re-launching an old name, I think BMW could not have got the new mini (Bini?) any better. It is a benchmark to which all quality small cars have to be judged, and they normally come worse off...

They look good, drive well, have styling cues from the original mini, and importantly comply with all modern laws on safety and emissions. I honestly cannot see why people get the arse with them? I dont own one, but am on my 9th original mini ( a 1971 ) but will probobly buy my daughter a Bini when she is 17. My wife and I both had 80's minis as our first cars, but times have moved on a bit since then.....

I do think it is sad when people go WAY O.T.T. tarting Binis up, some look hideous and as for the "limited edition" factory sticker jobs etc. they can be horriffic, just like the hideous coupe thing and that nasty off-roader. But a simple Bini is a nice thing, simples. VW could only dream of making their new Beetle that popular, that car does not really work for me.

In some ways the LTB mini run is spoilt by Binis, but pretty soon if they are not allowed in the run will be reduced to <500 classic minis, then it will probobly have to stop due to revenue loss. I dont want that.

I just wish folk would stop bashing Binis and stop feeling threatened by them, they are not a classic Mini and never will be. But they are great cars in their own right. I can see the day, because they dont rust and last well, that one day the Bini club movement will be bigger that the classic mini one as ours all rust away to oblivion!

[CCX]

I always see the MINI as a great car, but nothing more. Fantastic as a stand alone car, but as a Mini? No way.
Still, I agree that BMW really couldn't have done a better job with the MINI, and I think that's something that all classic Mini fans should accept. Whether or not you agree with BMW's decision to relaunch the Mini name is another matter, but there's no doubt its been very successful.

Edited by CCX, 04 June 2012 - 08:56 AM.

[TA2DMAC]

I dunno, the 4x4 Countryman looks good if it's done up right. My friend has one and she does Ralley with it. It's not just for looks like most Off road vehicles I see. She also usually qualifies in the top 10.

[minimarco]

Does the "4x4" (I use the term loosely) system work well for her in rallies?

[TA2DMAC]

I does when she's driving through creek beds, mud boggs and back roads. I'll see if she can send me one of her videos.

[coopdog]

my mate has a Bini and its a good car,
the only problem i have is they sound CRAP, the power steering sounds like a load of angry bees and the exhaust note is none existant :L

[maggies_minder]

dont know if this has been said as i havent read this entire thread.

im fairly certain the only difference between a mini one and a cooper, is a slightly different ecu map.

get a one and chip it and youll have a cheap cooper.

[james962]

dont know if this has been said as i havent read this entire thread.

im fairly certain the only difference between a mini one and a cooper, is a slightly different ecu map.

get a one and chip it and youll have a cheap cooper.

also there is the exhaust, interior trim level, suspension package, few exterior differences (mirror caps, grille, wheels etc), i believe the final drive is taller in the One. Then as you say the engine. So a bit of difference, not just a remap.

I have a facelift R56 BMW mini. Great car, beats driving round in my old 316 or Focus!

Edited by james962, 06 June 2012 - 11:41 AM.

[jaydee]

dont know if this has been said as i havent read this entire thread.

im fairly certain the only difference between a mini one and a cooper, is a slightly different ecu map.

get a one and chip it and youll have a cheap cooper.

also there is the exhaust, interior trim level, suspension package, few exterior differences (mirror caps, grille, wheels etc), i believe the final drive is taller in the One. Then as you say the engine. So a bit of difference, not just a remap.

I have a facelift R56 BMW mini. Great car, beats driving round in my old 316 or Focus!

You forgot sports supentions on the cooper, but maggies minder is correct, as at the time you can buy all the cooper stuff as option for the one and re-map it.
Dont know how cost effective it is..

[minimarco]

I like how the MINI hatchback have their grills styled to look like a mk1 mini grill, and the countryman is styled to look like a mk2 grill.

[surfblue63]

I've been driving this for the last 6 years



It's been left to rot under tonnes of salt (I stopped washing it about 2 years ago)



driven through snow drifts



and killed most of the insect population.



I've done over 100,000 miles in it, replaced the exhaust twice, replaced the pads and discs twice, the radiator once and just replaced the gearbox and clutch (130,000 miles). The run flats help you get home when you get a puncture (no room for a spare), the power steering is only noisey when parking, it sounds ok when you get it over 4,000 rpm, was assembled in the UK, is in insurance Group 8, can do nearly 40 mpg if driven steadily, but the best thing is it handles like it's on rails. So when I'm blasting about chasing rallies accross the North of England, I have a real laugh.

Edited by surfblue63, 06 June 2012 - 08:53 PM.

[CooperMad93]

As a person cant bear the view of a dirty car, i must come to your house and clean that mini. lol