Welcome!!
Yup...
Rather than grow organicly at a reasonable rate, BMW choose to super size MINI (in more ways than one)....
With growth, came changes...rather than a niche brand, BMW wanted MINI to be more of a "full line" car brand....and many "unique" mini items and even the attitude has been "watered down" to make it more mainstream....
I know what the op is saying...
And me, I could not drive a 10 year old car forever, especially once MINI stopped stocking basic parts for them....need a rear brake caliper, that will be 3-4 day's (my local MINI folks, Greasysgarage had one)?! Sure these cars are getting older, not stocking basic service level parts on cars folks still drive begins to reduce these cars usefulness and make them "hobby cars" or 3rd cars, rather than primary cars....
The newer cars....might be better in every way, but still inferior in so many ways, as they are so "mainstream" and then add BMW/MINI's seeming contempt for older owners.....10 years of issues for a searairbad recall? Nearly as long for PS pump warrenty?! Try to get a steering wheel u-joint? It's like mini says, how dare you own a car older than 5 years old....buy a new one, or better yet lease one, get a warrenty....
I don't think parts will ever be a problem to get with MINIs. I have a '98 Volvo for which I can get any parts I want in a day or less, MINI is certainly more of an enthusiasts car than Volvo.
I know that revenue must be generated on any site, in order for it to stay afloat, but man is it extremely annoying when you try to go into a thread to help and its nothing but ads.
As far as the changes in the MINI brand, vision and loyalty, it definitely has taken its toll on the sales staff.
Out of the 4 sales advisors we had, we only have one left. The other three, all insanely good sales advisors, have moved onto other brands and/or completely different careers. They all knew the cars in/out and actually enjoyed the connection to the owners. Now it's different. The new guys are okay, but they could just as easily be selling vacuum cleaners.
Now as far as me, I'm not sure what the future holds. I've thought about opening my own shop but that's a scary thought. I know I can do it - I've a customer first mentality and I'm an honest technician, but with a family to think of, its something I would really have to think through.
Sorry about the late response, my phone has been acting up on me. I'll post pics of my Honda project and other hobbies.
