Agreed. MINI does need a little spicing up, something to grab everyones attention, something that would make even the most hardcore R53 owner have a serious sit down with the little voice in their head :ihih: and debate wether or not to trade in or add to the stable. Nothing about the 3rd Gen does that for me. For those just joining the MINI family the F56 is the most logical route, its new, it kind of resembles a MINI and it's under warranty. I would want a new platform under warranty, thats just me. IMO Rocket Man should have been the 3rd Gen MINI. There are so many things about the design that scream MINI. The over all shape is there, the size fits the bill and the minimilistic interior IMO is on traget with the orginal. IMO it looks fun to drive even while its standing still. Almost everything about the the Rocket Man is innovative. Probably not all of those ideas could be accomplished on the first outing but there is nothing saying it couldn't build on a 3 or 4 year plan. Granted there are somethings that I'm not really all that crazy about, but if it showed up on the showroom floor tomorrow, I'd be having that debate and theres a better than average chance that I would be finding away to justify another MINI in the garage.
There is a whole crop of R53 / R56 potential customers, that at some point, would consider buying a new MINI if they would just get the design right....
I am not getting rid of my R53 and I would NEVER buy another MINI again unless it was an 05-06 or Original GP. The new cars do nothing for me and are not "special" in anyway except overpriced and full of stuff I don't want.
Didn't you just now go missing while out test driving a F56? The locals are looking for you right now...
That would make it hard to drink the milk If they made a light weight coup and supercharged it that may get me.
If I was looking at a new car I would be looking at a VW GTI, a Camaro ZL-1 or a CTS-V Coupe. What I could buy right now is a new POS Hyundai beater which comes with a 10 year 100 K warranty. Why a Hyundai? Because I would not want to mod it at all unlike the others above.
Golf R, Civic Type R, or Ford Focus RS, BRZ Sti (if it actually happens), for me....If any of those make it to the USA, I will take a long look, when/if it's time to let go of the MINI. If they don't, I would look at a spec Miata, or Miata that I could mod to 275-300WHP. Once I get my car on the track this year, if it's still running well, and hopefully it will, that will hopefully be awhile.
Why would anyone get rid of the MINI they already have? I am never selling mine. Heck, I still have my very first car, a 1952 MG TD.
Oh don't get it wrong I am never getting rid of my R53 but I would buy another one or two R53's or a original GP.
Cars wear out. I love mine, but it does require TLC, and a MINI isn't exactly an easy car to work on. To replace one part, you have to remove three others to get there. I still love the car, and it may last me forever. If it doesn't, an easier to maintain car, like a Miata, with easy to find, cheap replacement parts would be very tempting. Guys do jobs on the Miata, and it takes them an hour. The same job on the Mini may take four times that. But if I put a TVS in the MINI, I'd try to make it run forever, warts and all.
The wife promised our grandson the GP when he turned 18, he is only 5 now so I have a ways to go. With BMW's current direction and the more I drive it the less likely its going to happen. We might have to get a project car here in a few years, extend an R53 the chance to reach "classic" status.
I'll have my R53 at least 9 to 10 more years. Who knows then we may not even be able to buy gas. (src) Anything out now will be that old then so I'll have to see what's left. I know maybe a post apocalyptic duce and a half. They run on anything.:idea:
I just don't see anything I like more than my MINI. The GTI is nice and so is the BRZ but I just can't give up my MINI. Their are a few mods I would like to do. Then it will be perfect.
Mine turns 10 Dec 13th. I'm not actively shopping but I am looking around getting ideas.:idea: Not worried about gas, I know how to make my own.