The cross-section of technowonks who regularly visit that site is pretty clear based on the flavor of the comments being left. They show overwhelming and somewhat blind support for adapting these largely untested (in the real world) technologies. I wonder how the comments would have looked if this article had been posted on Autoblog...
General rule is if you want relilibility..... Do not buy the first couple years of a new technology.... To say that you will have a cost effective, bug free system mainstream in 6 years IMO is reaching a bit too far.....top end of the market...say flagship models, maybe...but what are the chances a owner of a 10+ year old mini will be making that jump...or would want that jump $$$ wise...or all the extra complexity and "nannies".....maybe I'm oldfashioned, but car technology should be seem less and helpful....some tech that is getting added is just for the sake of technology, not for true usefulness.... Just think....you are driving in the snow...your car says " Hal, I can't let you go faster, the road conditions counter indicates driving so fast....you are going at the max speed for our safety!".......
P.S. Having spent several thousand hours in an airplane with an autopilot on in cruise....it is mind numbingly boaring and very HARD to pay attention to what is going on so you can effectively takeover when needed or when the system disconnects.....and even on a multimillion $$$$ craft, these systems are trouble prone and need constant repairs and adjustments.....to say a car will have a system that is reliable and cost effective in a few years is a bit like the old news-reel clips saying we would have a flying car in every garage in 10-15 years.........not to mention thounds of other "forward looking" technology stories about items that have not come to fruition in decades of work..... Every generation has their dreamers..... Reality tends to be more harsh and harder to achieve....
I've said this before and I stand by what I say. I've never had any BMW issues out of the ordinary, and I've owned one in one form or another since 1976...
My first thought is; if BMW products are all you've owned, how would you know what's ordinary? If you've had multiple other brands while owning BMW products, what brands are you comparing your reliability issues to?
217 attendees of the "future of magical energy" symposium agreed that, by 2020, we would get all our electricity from positive thoughts and rainbows. Anytime you put a completely homogenous group of people in a room with the same vested interest, you get group-think. And completely unrealistic predictions of the future.
I've owned my share of variety since 1972, Foreign and Domestic, and certainly far too many to list here. Sorry if you've had other luck...
Firebro17 does not state that he has owned BMWs only. As for me, I started with the first Mini [a used '59 Morris Mini Minor] and moved on to a new '66 VW Bug, then, in order, to a new '72 Ford Pinto, a used '77 Ford Maverick, a used '78 Chevy Malibu, a new '85 Chrysler Laser, a used '96 Eagle Vision TSI, a "new" used '03 R50, a new "new" '06 R53, a used '06 Hyundai Sonata, and a used "new" '06 R53. Of all the above cars, only the R50 and the 2 R53s are still in my possession. The fact that I have owned various "ordinary" vehicles kind of points to their reliability. The cars I have right now are the R50 and the 2 R53s. The R50 is now mostly a car show car, although it has seen various track days as well as MOTDs. The R53s are both driven daily and one has seen many track days and MOTDs, too. All 3 MINIs have had wear and tear issues, but, as for me, I am staying with these and DO plan to each well past 2020.
I wonder if my MINI will last until 2020? Depends on how much you are willing to spend to keep up with maintenance/repairs/etc. These things ain't cheap.
If you love your MINI you will do more then regular maintenance and change all the "lifetime" fluids. This will help any car last well past 2020 easy which is only 5 1/2 years away. If a modern day car can not last 5 1/2 years it's not worth buying to begin with. My MINI is 9 1/2 now I see no reason 5 + will be an issue.
I've had my '03 R50 since early '04 with no significant problems other than maintenance issues and it has a cvt. If you keep your car maintained ok, you should be able to have them a long time...at least that's MY plan. I realize it can be expensive to maintain anything made by BMW, and the MINI is a "poor man's Bimmer", but, it's still a quality vehicle and I don't mind the costs. Ditto my 2 R53s.
Nor will anyone's if they're willing to do as you and others suggest and pay attention to their needs. Afterall, they are our significant others (and your Mistress) for the great outdoors. I'm gonna try my best with my R53, it's all anyone should do. And, I'll bet money my '70 MkII will see 2020.....
"By 2030, the group estimated, you’ll be able to buy a car that is so fully automated it won’t even have the option for a human driver." Ok, but why would you? If we are all going to be that lazy in the next 10 - 30 years why dont they just develope a mass transit system that works. Wait :idea: that sounds exactly like what they are doing, think I, Robot. These so called automated functions seem like they open the driver up for more distractions than what are already out there. But hey why pay attention to piloting a 4k metal projectile when the car will do the work for you? :frown2: [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKL_cn8vhjo"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKL_cn8vhjo[/ame]
I'll never have something with four wheels that drives it's self without me. On the other hand, I might be able to use that auto braking thing so I can gawk at hot chicks all day...
I now present you with the 2020 MINI JCW Countryman. :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Also don't forget the group photo at the Dragon.