Most liked posts in thread: Has MINI lost its Way?

I've been mulling this over the past few days.
I bought a Gen 2, 09 Clubman as my entry car to MINI.
While I don't think that MINI has lost it's way, and I like to see MINI branch out in it's appeal and be successful, I am picking up a sense of betrayal from the 1st Gen customers. It seems to me that it runs deeper than resistance to change or snobbery over being part of an offbeat, exclusive crowd that is going mainstream. I wasn't around then and was never a car enthusiast by any means, but these little cars were turning my head on the rare occasion that one went by starting about 2004.
I see the Gen 1 enthusiasts coming to a point where they would like to replace their car but don't feel that MINI is offering them a viable choice. It must be a bitter and sad thing because they were the first believers in MINI and they are the ones who took a chance and bought these cars that no one knew anything about. They took the risk, they supported the company, and they promoted the brand. Now MINI isn't listening to them or rewarding their loyalty with a new model that they can embrace like they did their Gen 1 MINI.

Just my thoughts, nothing more, and quite likely off base.
If there is anything valid to what I am thinking, what would satisfy those who are unhappy with MINI's current offerings?
Would building the Rocketman as a serious car, dumping the concept cuteness factor, fill that niche?

 

1st Gen, 1st Gen, 1st Gen ! :aureola:

 

Life is too short to leave your MINI parked & drive an appliance. That is just my .02.

 

I don't have to like every model that MINI produces, as long as MINI has a model (or 2) that's just right for me.
I want MINI to be successful and financially healthy.
That's achieved through growth.

 

For now Jim...but that doesn't mean they don't rock!! They are smiles per miles!!!

PS: Don't count me out of MOTD though, we may still be there with Blimey, Jan and another car if ya'll will still have me!!!

 

The same at my location. Didn't see a whole lot of Coupes around. Once the Clubbies hit the road I started to see more MINIs in general, except for the Roadster, still haven't seen one of those yet.

I take back the comment about going full circle, MINI still has another model to go.

 

This Thread has "lost its way" :crazy:ut::smilewinkgrin:

 

When I read the thread title I thought "we haven't lost Way, he's down in Atlanta!"

 

I know I will have to leave the brand one day. In the future I think I am going retire the Mini as DD and get a beater Honda or Toyota and keep my R53 in the garage.

The R53 will be off the road one day and then I will have the down time to have Rotex fitted with a Vipec and a respray.

It will become my Dragon toy.

 

Well you all know how I feel.....

Um, yeah, I traded my '09 in on an '06 :ihih:

When the day comes when I need another car I'm not buying another MINI. I just do not like the new ones. They didn't/don't do it for me.

 

I think it's fine they have lots of models and all, but why do they all say "Cooper" on the back? The brand is MINI, not MINI Cooper. Cooper is the first model. The other models should be badged accordingly.
Still confounds me after all these years:confused5:

 

This has been an interesting thread, both from comments on the original article as well as hearing from forum members about their preferences.

I'll bet that it *is* a challenge for BMW/MINI to keep the brand "aligned" and meaningful. If you're just building one car, and continue to do so: then, not so much of a challenge. Something like Morgan ("we build ash-framed traditional British roadsters"), or Rivendell ("we build beautifully-lugged, steel frame bicycles") perhaps, although even here they have developed different models.

VW had a nice long run: a round'sh 1930's design, air-cooled flat four, sold around the world for decades with continual updates of a basic design. And yes: it was difficult, for them, to get beyond that in passenger cars. The Type III Sedan/Fastback/Squareback sold decently as a "next size up", but then the Type IV (411/412 Fastback, Sedan and Wagon) was...not the answer(we had a yellow 411 2-door at our house. Gasoline aux heater. Circa 1971-1972. Peculiar). So then the Dasher, Rabbit, and water-cooled era we're seeing now.

So what does the MINI brand "mean"? Small, efficient, road-hugging, snarky, white-roofed, UK-made, "fun"? Which of these can be absent, yet what's left is still a MINI?

I think all the car makers struggle with this, and even with particular models. What's a Ford? What's a Mustang? If it's called a Mustang, but it's 2/3'rds former scale, and based on the Pinto, is it still a Mustang? (Most said..."no"...but they still sold a few Mustang II's). Thunderbird: whazzat? A two-seat boulevardier, an LTD in drag, a Lincoln Mark IV clone, a gussied Gran Torino, a 4-cyl turbo coupe? They ended with a two-seat boulevardier, again, finally. But still.

Compare with Corvette, for example: there are Corvette clubs, with lots of members, who love their cars. These folks hang together, with all generations of Corvettes C1-C6. They're all Chevy "sports cars", to some definition of that term, two seats, V8 engines (with one rare, early exception), they rumble, and so on. What would a Thunderbird owner's club look like? 57 porthole roadsters plus late-sixties four-doors plus 1980's Fox-platform two-doors. Seriously? These aren't at all "the same", other than Ford called them a name.

So to MINI. As I got interested, it was educational to read about the emnity towards BMW's brand "revival" from the classic Mini camp. Some of which still exists: if it isn't a 10-foot two-door, 10-inch-wheeled, BMC A-series powered automobile with Lucas electrics, it ain't a Mini-anything.

And what of the R-progression:

R50 - Gen 1 MINI
R53 - Fast Gen 1 MINI (still ok?)
R52 - Gen 1 Convertible ("a Mini/MINI can't be a convertible": blasphemy?)
R56 - Gen 2 MINI ("it's too long / it's less nimble / it's French-, not Brazilian-engined". Okay. But it's still a MINI?)
R55 - Gen 2 MINI Clubman (hmm...Mini had "wagons", must be ok...Gen 2 though)
R57 - Gen 2 Convertible (see above)
R58 - Coupe (still looks a lot like a Gen 2...is still a MINI?
R59 - Roadster (ditto...a MINI that's trying to be a Miata or something. But it's still a MINI?)
R60 - Countryman ("TILT! Four doors...too big"...still: boxy shape, design themes, MINI powertrain, contrasting roof, center speedo. Is it MINI'ish enough to still be a MINI?)

I would weigh in that I don't think MINI's lost their way at all. Everything they're making seems to fit, to share attributes, even have family resemblance. Different capabilities, sure. Hopefully they'll continue to give us new flavors of the same good "stuff" as they expand their range to fit the needs / desires of more customers.

 

And that is a great example of a manufacturer getting back to what made it great. Remember the early Celica's....rear drive and great power.

 

Make a Mini less BMW and more Mini again. If I want a small BMW I will buy a 1 series.

These are just a few things I would like to see MINI do.

Git ride of the crap French motor and turbo and put back something that's unique like the Supercharger.

Get rid of the mood lights, I get happy from just driving my Mini.

Get rid of the built in Navi because getting lost in a Mini is fun.
If I need directions I have a GPS & a iPhone.

Make the Mini smaller NOT BIGGER. again if people want a BMW SUV they can buy an X3 or X5.

Go back to the original look inside and outside that paid homage to the real mini's.

Return the "feel" of driving a Mini to the Mini and stop trying to loose the go-cart feeling of being "in contact" with the road.

Ok short rant over....

 

But it makes cars less unique and more stale in the marketplace.

The best thing about the 1st Gens and Classics is they are different from everthing else on the road.

The 2nd gen cars look alot like the new VM beetle from the front with a grill added. :nonod:

Sorry it's like when someone shows you a new baby and you say; "Ahhh He/She is so cute" but on the inside you are like WTF that thing is butt ugly.:eek6::lol:

 

Very sporty looking and has less wheel gap than the GP!

 

Hear, hear. I agree.

Jim

 

I know you all love the first gen cars, but Dave, it is gone. It won't be long before used models are not around. Leaving the brand will be the only choice.

Jim

 

Have no fear there are many garage queen MINI's. When I wear mine out I plan on buying one of those.