Most liked posts in thread: MINI (BMW) Sold out!

No, I consider 2006 the end of the beginning. 2006 was the last year the community was what it initially was.

Even the base models are essentially unmodifiable. Funny, Subie and Toyota built the FRS/BRZ SPECIFICALLY to be modified. MINI touts a billion different combinations of modifications so that you can PERSONALIZE the MINI; i.e. they are promoting doing what you want to the car, like we all did with the first one. With the R53, you could do that yourself, which was a great part of it's appeal. With the R56/F56, MINI does it for you, they've made it virtually impossible to do it yourself.

Nanny free "to a point" is not what many of us want.

More importantly, the initial R53 didn't come with a million different combinations, there were only a few, surprisingly few--we took that upon ourselves, with roof graphics, different stripes, air intakes, motor mods, etc. Some of us actually remember when "JCW" was aftermarket, before BMW bought it, remember those days?

BMW caught the wave, saw what modders were doing to the interior/exterior, both cosmetic and performance, and only then came up with the roof graphics, interior changes, mirror caps, funky stripes, etc. So BMW has jumped on the individual modification wave that sprung from the R53 initially, but has taken it away from the individual and made it corporate, as an option. That's ok, but in the process they made the car VERY difficult to mod aftermarket, which is where this all was born, and that's not ok. Toyota and Subaru got it right, BMW is a cash grab at this point.

These are just a few reasons why many of us are disillusioned with the course BMW has charted with the MINI. I understand the mass appeal, I get why BMW did what they did, I understand why someone would want to buy a MINI now, even an F56. If you want to complain about us complaining, fair enough, but what I don't get is how many people don't see where we are coming from.

 

Weight. BMW forgot how to make light cars. The M1 was damned good, I'll grant that, but BMW went from lightweight great handling cars to high HP heavy cars, with all the nannies to keep the average Joe from killing himself. Just like everyone else. Even Lotus is heading in that direction, if they survive.

I miss the "Piss and Vinegar" R53, and earlier BMW's. "Piss and Vinegar" has been replaced by "Refined". They could do both, if they really wanted. Stripped down doesn't make money--it's the options that they get their profit margin on--but a limited number of "drivers cars" really isn't a bad idea.

 

With the first iteration, that's exactly what they did. Now, with each successive generation, they're going less retro and more modern, they're losing more and more of the initial enthusiasts, and they're catering to refinement/luxury more than economy/performance. The diversity of the inital buying crowd is being exchanged for mainstream. They are in the process of going from Neopolitan to Vanilla.

Like I said, I wouldn't buy an R56 or F56. They've lost a ton of the initial fanatics who came from all walks of life, and turned it into a car for the upper middle class. When you look at the heritage of the original mini, it's sad.

 

I agree Mark, but unfortunately the good ship R53 has sailed never to come back to home port. Us R53 owners had better take car of our cars. There are going to be no more of them, mores the pity. :frown2:

 

Correct ^^^ It's not personal, it's about the new UGLY car.

 

The new use of Motor On now makes my license plate holder "Let's Motor!" Even more funny

 

Sort of back on topic. Heck that's a first for me. :crazy:

The way I see it are most folks who bought into the Gen 1 MINI are enthusiasts. Many who bought Gen 2 MINIs & it's variants are too, but the number was less than before. We will have F56 enthusiasts but I don't think they will reach the number we've seen previously. BMW/MINI is becoming a J.A.C. to many buyers. JAC = Just a car. :frown2:

I'll welcome any F56 enthusiast & I'll even put up with the J.A.C. owners. Especially if they buy the donuts. :wink:

 

So, if we disagree with you we're not allowed to express our opinion, we should just "motor on"?

Did I get that right?

Because I don't agree with you.

I'm older than most members on this board, so you would think I'd be the one most resistant to change, but I find change invigorating, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Do I need all of it or buy all of it? No....

But I can't complain about the tech or the development of the car. I don't think I'm going to like the way the F56 looks - I'm waiting till I see it in person - but the functionality of the R53 -R56 dash and interior - while interesting and different - is not well thought out and difficult to use. It needed changing.

I'll be excited to see how the car runs with the new 3 and 2 liter 4 cylinder engines and lighter weight tho.

I think this argument is a lot like those complaining about how the F1 cars look - they look that way to comply with the rules. Same with our new cars - Euro pedestrian rules are at the root of the long toucan noses on new cars - not Banglesque designers. ( I agree that if the public doesn't get it - the designer did not get his point made correctly) Same with the interior, the majority of new MINI buyers did not like the ergonomics of the old cars - hence the changes. First and foremost MINI is in business to sell cars, so their new products need to appeal to more than a small core group. It's difficult pleasing everyone, that's for sure.....

So you motor on in your R-53 and be happy.

I'll do the same, there's plenty of road out there for all of us.

But this continued bitching by R53 owners about how MINI screwed up the new car is just tiresome......

 

MCS02 I agree 100%. AMEN

It's about the car company (BMW) effing up the MINI brand not the people that own them.

The R53 will live forever like the true Mini classic.

 

Leasing also allows people to drive cars via a 2 year rental that are way above what they can actually afford.

 

I don't listen to WRR because I feel they are shills to the company. Same reason I don't read MF. They have both motored on as far as I'm concerned.

 

Please stop posting ugly F'n56 pictures. Hurts my eyes..... :eek6:

 

I've been saying this for years now that the "Cooper" should have been left alone. If they wanted to make the Clubman, Countyman, Pacemen, Coupe, etc so be it but leave the "Cooper" alone. There is a reason the classic is a classic. It is pretty much left alone over a long period of time. Sure they made a Countryman, a Truck, etc along the way, and I don't see anything wrong with that. All to get more sales... but now the new Cooper is almost as big as the 1st Clubman!!!! As a few more Gens come out down the road they may just have to take the MINI off the name plate!!!!
As has been mentioned above BMW/MINI are missing the bout on having a "tuner" car. It's what most other manufactures have had or are getting into. Civic, Fit, Focus, Fiesta, BRZ, STi, S2000, etc etc...

 

completely agree, and I have been saying the same thing. Now, I DON't agree with those that say anything other than an MCS is NOT a Mini. That's just being close-minded. Mini coming out with their own quirky take on a small SUV(Countryman), or a small station-wagon(Clubman), is in no way selling out.

It's trying to pull more people into the Mini family and expand the brand-that's just good business. Anyone who says that the Countryman or Clubman are not instantly recognizable as a Mini is just looking to argue for argument's sake.

NOW....when you start taking the Mini inspiration out of the design, whether it's the MCS or the newer model additions, THAT is selling out, in my opinion.

Making the tach a half-moon afterthought on the speedo that now sits front and center(no serious driver's car has the speedo front and center), eliminating the center conical vents in favor of BMW-inspired square shapes, moving the window switches off the center toggle switch pods, changing the design of the auto climate control so that it no longer resembles the Mini logo....

These are the problems I have with Mini, and if they continue, will seriously dilute the brand.

 

^^^^^ Thank God some else understands.

 

Great discussion. In my experience, I don't agree with the above. Driving is probably the one thing in my life where passion overrides and trumps my needs or being reasonable :biggrin5:

My first car was a 944, 1982, first year of their introduction....definitely was not a reasonable car by any means, but my gosh what a driving experience. Such a fantastic, naturally netural handling car that for years Car and Driver performed all of their tires tests on 944's.

I look at Mini(at least in their current state) the same way. There is no other marque like it, anywhere, at any price. Absolutely nothing reasonable about them, not the entry price, the MPG, and certainly not the maintenance. In fact, from virtually any aspect of practicality or economics, purchasing a new Mini is insane.

But driving a Mini puts a smile on my face and just puts me in a mood to drive it, hard, for a great distance, just like that 944 did.

A few weeks ago, I took the CMJCW in for service and got a loaner, an MCS 6 speed. instead of going home, I drove it out of town and into the country, through an entire tank of gas, and had a ball-popping and gurgling all the way home....love these cars.....