Back to the original topic.... Let's say they do move to the "3 Pillars", would still feel like to many models Hatchback - Justa, S, and JCW hardtop - Justa, S, and JCW vert - Assuming Justa, S, and JCW 4 door Justa, S, and JCW CM Justa, S, and JCW Clubman The 4 door hatch and new Clubby feel to similar in target market.
I was just thinking similarly . . . With the short life the roadster would have been they'll become quickly a rare item and kinda precious :cornet: On the other hand we struggled for 3 years to settle on the roadster as nothing was very exciting to us in the car market. That's when we made the hard decision to get a convertible. This was the best decision we made but there isn't a tone of options out there. We looked at MINI on and off (mostly because of concerns of reliability). My car is due for replacement in a few years. I'm not looking forward to be out of exciting options again I love my other car and would have even consider keeping it for hauling things around and get a second roadster but this has me hold my breath! Without any hard plans stated from BMW MINI I wonder how long we have for the roadster to continue to be manufactured??? I can't help but want to stay positive and hope that in a few years market conditions may have changed that they'll be interested in a roadster again... I understand the need for practical cars that house big loads but me and my wife have no interest in large vehicle and I wish marketers were not influencing people so much that practicality is a must over joy. The R59 is really not that extravagante that it should be selling more if only people were brainwashed the other way around
sadly for you and others I don't think the Coupe/Roadster are going to become collector items any time soon even if they stop making them. Down side to a car they only made a few years will be getting the parts that only it had. ( I'm not sure what all that is or isn't ) Had the car proved to be "special" over a Hardtop I think you may of had better luck with it being worth more in a few years.. It's actually heavier then the hardtop and I as others were very surprised with when it first came out. We all assumed/hoped it would be a few hundred pounds lighter, then maybe it would have better handling then the hardtop which would be it's "nitch"... I have been hoping that my color of Hot Orange that was only made 2 years will be appealing to someone if and or when the day comes I decide to sell it. not that it is really going to be worth any more money though.. If I was trading for a new MINI now it would be a Just-a Coupe which is why I was hoping it would carry over one more Gen model....
I see each generation as a progression from what came before. Evolution of a brand is inevitable. Sure some cars had better this or that, but unless we own an auto company we can't really dictate what comes out next. I had an opportunity to check out the F56 at the auto show recently and I like most of what I have seen. I am currently driving a R55 and I really like it. I don't for a moment feel it is not a MINI and certainly as those in my club can tell you, it keeps up nicely with the "track prepared" R53s. After all it's the nut behind the wheel that's most important. (let's not argue wether it is better or not - it suits me and that is what is important) That being said I am unhappy about the possibility of no Paceman and the 4 door clubby. Just a little more room is handy for us 6'4" types, but a losing the sportiness of the MINI is not what I want. But I won't know for sure how I feel until it is time to upgrade my car and I test drive. Perhaps at that time I will soften to the newer design. Maybe I'll decide a MINI is no longer for me. It's what makes being a car nut fun.
Not sure I get your point here . . . Collector item is rarely something that happens while the car is sold on dealer's lots anyway. No one is going to get anymore money for something that is comparable to a car that was even recently sold. Often you can actually get it for less as they are trying to make room for newer models. Furthermore I don't see why you keep comparing it to a hard top and hand pick a few performance things as if that's all that matters to an interested buyer. The roadster is hardly in the same purchase mind set to the hardtop even in a collectors mind. Admittedly, the coupe probably a little closer. Better is just a matter of perspective when you compare the two (roadster vs. hardtop). In 5 years from now it probably won't be all that much more desired than the last production year. But once a few years has past after that and a good percentage of those cars have disappeared in the oblivion of car dumps than I would think a well maintained more rare MINI roadster could fetch good money. With the hardtop in comparison you will still have a plethora of them available even in 15 years from now with a lot more choice in yrs and trim levels. What will decide its fate as a collectable I think has more to do with what BMW MINI will do next as far as roadster like cars are concerned. If they come up with something else to fill the hole than it's likely that it will take a lot of time to become that "special" car. If they don't do that it could be a lot sooner I think. Look at it this way, if the life of MINI roadster is limited to let say 5 production yrs and BMW MINI abandon making any thing like it, these 5 yrs will be the only roadsters MINI ever made. I think that would be worth something to some people. Either way It's just a point of view that only time will tell of that I am certain, and I don't care about that all that much anyway right now. It's way too premature and i just enjoy ours so much to think of letting it go
I've owned both generations of MINIs, and a classic way back in the day. Never owned one of them for mpg, hated some of the techie stuff of my 03, who the hell really needs power windows in such a small car??? Cars change, get over it. Now my favorite donut has no hole in it... Mark
Mark/lotsie, love ya man but you know that Dave.O never gets over anything. Just hang a 'like' on him, partially agree enough to let him off of the hook and he'll calm down and be friends again and forgive us for being happy R56 owners.:lol::lol::lol: Jason
We are all just a big dysfunction family. It's all FUN as long as you know I am always right. Or at least let me think I am. :devil::lol:
Slowly but surely I'm getting them to realize that winning the fight with Dave.O is easy by following these simple rules. What some don't understand is that if one is in trouble and Dave.O is anywhere near, he'll be the first to jump in and help. The Bull in the China Shop does have redeeming characteristics or he's a real character.:lol::lol::lol: Jason
yeah but if they ever meet you then they will understand, a little. Or maybe while at Fontana they will just drive and yell at him for GP (general purpose) like I do.....
The MINI brand is trying to sell a product just like any other business, trying to reach the masses and put the green in their pockets. I am not a huge fan of some of the changes they have come up with, especially because HPR is still lacking. The F56 does IMO look like a carp, I want to draw fins on it every time I see a picture of one, but obviously it is the next step for the MINI brand. Remember the Mustang II? That took a lot of guts to call that thing a Mustang, it has come around though and they even make versions of them now that have some HPR! The original Mini went through changes, not all very esthetically pleasing but I would jump at the chance (after winning the lottery) to own any of them, they are just cool little cars. Really if you look at it BMW has followed some of the original’s trends, history repeating itself? I am still waiting for an updated Moke to hit the streets! Thinking any of them are going to be collector items is, IMO wishful thinking. Nothing is worth anything unless someone wants to pay for it. If only a select few are willing to pay the price for it new now, what makes anyone think the masses will grow to pay list or more for it with 2k on the speedo 10 years from now? I don’t see them becoming vintage tin, not in my life time anyway. IMO a MINI is about seat time. I did not buy mine with the intent of saving gas, as an investment or because it was a bargain. Let’s be honest there are quite a few cars out there that are cheaper, better on gas and with more horsepower than what we purchased off the showroom floor. I am at the age where I wanted something fun, something I could just drive, something I would enjoy getting in to everyday. Not everyone has one. I get a few people every week asking me how the MINI drives and I can honestly say it is the most fun car I have owned.:cornut:
A number of months ago I read where MINI might get rid of the coupe/roadster for a closer to real sports car. That would be nice. I think they should have a convertible hard top to replace the coupe/roadster. One car for both markets. Mazda did it with the Miata with out it being too heavy.
I like my Coupe because it is different. I drive this one way less than my previous two hardtops because my job has changed from driving everyday to flying everyday. While I still enjoy the two seater, I'm not sure I would still like it if I were driving it 50,000 miles per year like I used to compared to the 10,000 per year I drive now.
I always felt MINI missed the boat by not making the coupes roof removable, be it folding or simply unbolting. BMW/MINI are following the trends of the original Mini. The Pacman & Countryguy are the equivalent of the Landcrab from the olden days.