Mini News Most liked posts in thread: Interview: How The Mini USA Boss Keeps An Icon From Becoming A Fad

I've come around to the F56, and I love the R50/53 and R56.

 

You pretty much answered my argument right there. The GTI really hasn't changed much but yet the MINI has, and it didn't have too.

 

Leave it to me to make a joke about my name... [emoji13]

 

Maybe there is hope. Mazda did just down size the MX5 to close to the original size.

 

Any Ford with a "II" or a "500" (minus Shelby's) after the name was bound to suck... And people knew it!

Just saying.

 

Oh sweet jebus, this is like arguing with a brick wall.

Wheelbase hasn't changed but 1" or so. Width changed but 1.5" or so. It has fatter bumpers due to 'improved' crash test standards. These crash test standards, including low-speed impact ones, help keep insurance costs down.

A R53, while a fairly safe car inside, does not fare well in low-speed parking lot impacts.

Now, to change gears a bit and stop talking about size, the only real things I'm offended by on the F56 aren't even size-related. The moving of the speedometer doesn't even bother me much. But the fact that they made the tach so small it's nearly illegible (should've gone digital speedo readout with normal-sized tach) irritates me. And why'd they do it? Because the sheeple demanded a 'normal' interior with an analog speedometer... and wait, what does that RPM counter thing do?

And now they've gone and made the sport suspension option unavailable on non-JCW cars.

It's the pandering to the incredibly stupid masses that worries me. You can keep the quirk without eliminating it entirely.

 

I wonder how difficult this was to do.... It would be great if it just bolted up using the existing OEM fastener points... Much improved....

Could be a real sleeper car if the Cooper hood was included in the mod, all on the JCW version...

Noticed how MINI was showing some loving to the countries that drive on the wrong side of the street by moving the gas fill door to the wrong side of the MINI...:smile5:

 

I usually think of stance as extreme camber and stretched tires as well, but it is interesting what others consider stanced.

Now back to the original topic....why did MINI put the Cooper on the rack and stretch it an extra 8"

I mean, why is BMW killing the brand...

Or was it how to keep MINI relevant...

OK...I don't even remember what the original topic was any more

 

Sooooo.... Stanced or Broke?

 

Zillon. I agree (mostly) with the comments that you make about the sizing of the newer MINI's. It's not the size of the thing that bothers me so much as the styling. It is bulbous, and hideous (in the front especially). The front and rear look like some amateur has fitted a homemade body kit to it. The appeal of the Gen 1 MINI is probably because it looks as clean and simple as the classic Mini. Take a look at the new Golf. Front and rear are as clean and uncluttered as the MK 1 Golf.

Everyone makes their own choices when buying a car, based on their own requirements, budget, taste, etc. And that's great if people think that the newer MINI is for them. It is just not for me based on the above comments.

 

Lee - MINI is going to do what they think is best. Even if they are full of carp. ut:

Zillion - I agree the Cooper looks better than the S.

 

Bingo.

Let's take the GTI for example...

2004 specs:
68.3" wide
164.9" long
98.9" wheelbase
2934 lb crub weight

2015 specs:
70.8" wide
168" long
103.6" wheelbase
3086 lb crub weight

Very similar amount of growth over the last few generations. Also, I can't wait until Mendra sees this post...

 

All I can say is that I'm glad I have a R58.

 

That's just it. They left the cooper alone and came out with other models. Clubman, truck, etc. Us 1st Gen owners wish BMW had done the same thing. Each new Gen version has gotten away from what we liked about it. We don't care about the backseat, headroom, gadgets, etc...

 

Earlier it was all about how the MINI had to change and grow in length, etc. Now your saying it really hasn't changed, which is it........ I know to MINI USA I'm not very high on their priority list and they are selling more cars each year but that is easier to do now because they have more models, but who is to say had they left the Cooper somewhat alone and just added the creature comforts on the interior that they wouldn't have sold more anyway. We'll never know. I will say I would have already bought a new one had they done that but hey that's just 1 sell they missed out on..

 

This is what I keep thinking of as I read through some of the comments (little dated, but still funny)