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

.....but you have to split it with me if you win!


:cornut:

 

You know I will...lol

 

Keep bailing.... :wink:

 

Hey, thanks y'all for all the "likes."
Maybe I am finally starting to get it?
A few days ago I was thinking that people just don't like change.
But the education that I have gotten from M/A made me know in my heart there is more to it.

MINI should do a 10 year promo featuring some their first buyers and what they are driving today, preferably their original MINI with a new MINI added to their family.
More importantly, MINI should have a focus group of first buyers and see what comes out of it.
They know where to find you, don't they?
They sure know where to find me.
Or, did you drop off their radar when the last warranty ran out?

Lately I am seeing dedicated enthusiasts leaving the brand.
Hatred of the new models alone wouldn't cause that.
Lack of a new model to fit their needs causes that.
Some people just like to change it up a bit, but in others I sense sadness and a reluctance to go.

So, Gen 1 loyalists and others dissatisfied with the current line up -
What would you like to see?
What would compel you buy a new MINI because, WOW!, you just have to have it?

 

OH, I misunderstood or misread or misfired or sumthin.... :crazy:

 

One of the few Japanese cars I ever wanted to own.

Getting back to the MINI being MINI thing, as I think most have pointed out, there needs to be a base line, a flagship that needs to remain unmolested when it comes to the basics of looks, handling and drivability. From what I have read the coupe in R53 trim seems to be the choice. IMO upgrades should occur but in the terms of performance, say maybe like a Sprintex SC I am sure our communities motoring gurus could hand a list of componenets and systems over to MINI/BMW for upgrade on the R53. Maybe even a few interior bits, real cup holders should be on the first wave of upgrades, just my 2 cents :wink:.

For the history buffs, please correct me if I am wrong but didn't mutiple companies use the term mini in their product line, Morris, Austin, Leyland... There were a few diffrent models under those names, all with the word mini attached. Maybe this where the full circle has taken place, they do have a model for almost every one, cept for a MINI truck :cornut:. In the terms of getting individuals out and driving they, MINI is doing what it has to I guess.

The only thing that I would ask, like most of you, is bring back the R53 .

 

As we all know the R53 is gone and won't be back.. Even if they know they messed up there is no going back to fix it now.. We can only hope that they hit on something in another Gen to right the ship for those of us that loved the 1st Gen cars... Alot of us thought the 2 seat Coupe was going to be it but it fell short in most opinions... but hey they are still selling cars and that is what they are after.. I for one have never bought the same car 2 times in a row.. It was my plan to buy the Coupe till it came out, now when I decide to buy a new car I'll probably leave MINI as well, unless something special comes out by then.. Keep hoping for an engine change, maybe the new BMW 3 cylinder!!

 

Good point... A loaded JCW now is in the mid 40s! :eek6:

And no, burning through a quart of oil that quick means something isn't right.

 

My 2006 Mini Cooper S was a great car for it's price then, for this enthusiast there was a lot of value there! Not so much now for what they are charging.

 

They have gone up significantly.
You can get a pretty nice car for 45k outside of the MINI line.

Just sayin' :ihih:

 

I haven't really seen anyone mention the whole reason for the design change mid stream which was the whole pedestrian front end / hood heights being regulated in the UK. I may be wrong but that was a big push to change the design. Or at least a good excuse.

I had both a 2003 and a 2009 Cooper and they both had their pro's and cons, with the reliability of the 2009 being far better than the 2003. But looking past its flaws I still loved the 2003.

I also had one of the first generation Dodge Neons, and hated the new design when those came out so I can see where the 1st gen owners are coming from.

 

The pedestrian thing influenced the front design but the over all redisign was to create a platform that other offerings could he built off of, which the first gen was not. 2cents

 

From what I remember reading it was to reduce the cost & make it easier to build there by making more money for BMW.

 

Shared platforms save even more money...

 

Yes they do, but the first change MINI made was to bring out the R56. I'm not sure that the R56 shares platforms with any BMW. Maybe a Citroen or a Peugeot. :wink:

 

As I have said before. The first gen is gone, except for the pre-owned of course. You folks who can not deal with that are going to have to move on to something else. Simple as that. We 2nd gen folks will miss ya and that is the truth.

Jim

 

Sorry I meant different iterations within the same brand, of course there is the new front wheel drive BMW built from the Mini platform...

There is nothing wrong with them doing that, for a car brand to grow and for dealers to not only survive, but be profitable, they have to have more than one or two models to choose from. The Clubman and the Countryman were great additions to the brand... MINI is a brand that will appeal to a lot of folks for many years to come and I for one wish them the very best. The last six years of my Mini ownership have been filled with smiles for miles..!.

When BMW introduced the first gen MINI, it was a breath of fresh air in and otherwise stale market place!!

 

Exactly, I remember the Classic owners thinking the first gens were abominations...lol

 

Unless the f56 gets a BMW engine I don't think I'll buy another mini

 

Silly me!
When I bought my 09 R55 S, I thought I was buying a BMW engine.
What y'all have taught me...