I think part of the problem is the car itself. When I bought my car in 05 I had no idea what the car was about. After I drove it I was hooked. It handled like a go cart. Even now I really enjoy driving it on back roads or the freeway it's just fun. The new Minis seem to me to be more of a family car. They might still handle well but they don't look like it to me. I think they are to appeal to a larger group of people. I would bet that they are sealing more 4 doors. I think most of the new owners are not interested in forms like this.
Sheesh...all I did was to offer my usual sarcastic suggestion to interest more people...I'll be damned if I ever suggest again.............well, until the next time.
One of the reasons we have only a few old guys hanging on here is the fact the new F56 MINI owners were told their cars were not real MINI's so many times they left. I'm guilty of doing that too. On other forums they seem to be quite active. As time has past I have gotten used to them. No they are not my cup of tea, but live & let live. I believe that ship has sailed & they won't be coming back.
I'm 77.5, and lame. All my driving life, I used a stick shift, until my clutch pedal leg gave out. I own 3 MINIs...an '03 R50 cvt and two '06 R53s with automatics. My very first Mini [when I was 18 years old] was a 1959 Morris Mini Minor 850 with a 4 speed. Getting rid of the Morris about killed me, but, back then, replacement parts were hard to come by, and I was getting ready for college. So I sold it...bought a VW and then had seller's remorse a week later, so I went back to the dealer to "reclaim" my Mini, but, ALAS, it was GONE! So, after I retired I've ended up with 3 MINIs from 2003 until now, and I plan to keep them and drive them until they [or I] fall apart. I have NO use for a 4-door car of ANY make, and much less enthusiasm for any car with a cushier ride...just gimmie my MINIs.
Hey old guy keep on truckin as they say. At a youthful 72 I only have one MINI in my garage. I've been told by she who must be obeyed that we will always have that MINI. As most of you know I've jumped ship & now drive a nice jaunty GTI. Smooth, comfortable & pretty quick. I'll be keeping my Fahrvergnügen ride for a long time. Took it out Wednesday to help my buddy Bill work on Eric's Riverrun. Did just over 300 miles & it didn't kill me. Sometimes smooth & comfortable is better.
I think you miss understand me. I do not have a problem with the newer Mini's or the people that buy them. It's that they don't seem to be all that interested in things like this site. I remember when every Mini that drove by would wave at you. How on one does. By the way I'm 80 (old school) n
I don't misunderstand you. I made a grave mistake in selling my Classic back in the day and regretted it until after I retired. That's when I bought into the "new" Gen 1 MINIs and have never looked back. Aging has taken its toll on me, but I am completely comfy with the ways my Minis ride. However, it IS a shame that today's new owners are more interested in family cars and seem to care less in Minis like those models I have [Gen 1] and will have til the day I [or they] die. BTW, I wave at every MINI I see when I'm out and about...like every day.
It's weird, when I'm driving My MINI I hardly see any other MINIs, but when I'm in my pick-up I see dozens of MINIs.
I agree with you that when driving my MINI it’s a very rare instance to see another but when in another vehicle I’ll see some.
I remember being at a dealer with the Helmet. Not to sale the Helmet looking for a car for one of the kids. The salesman was looking at it and telling me what a cool car it was. Then he said, “if they would make that a 4 door they would sale a lot of them” I said then it would not be the same. He agreed. Some people don’t get it.
Last Friday my sweetie & I were sitting at a traffic light in Skooby when a new green F56 MCS drove by. The guy was waving like crazy. Some folks do get it me thinks....