Most liked posts in thread: Some MINI Models May Be on Chopping Block

I'm thinking they are scrapping the 56 and re-introducing the 53 due to all the numerous issues.... Talks are currently underway with the Brazilian "Penta" engine plant.....
They are done with this carbon issue and explodin timing tensioners and going back to simpler times of explodin belt tensioners.....

 

I would be reaching for my wallet...

 

Where do I sign!!!

 

Just don't touch my Roadster before I save enough money to buy one!

 

MINI has lost their way the same way BMW has. Jumbo MINI's are $elling. More electronic toys & nannies means more money too.

It's all about milking the cash cow. :yesnod: Enthusiast's be damned. :rolleyes5:

 

Oh and if you don't think the Coupe isn't MINI-like...

:biggrin5:

 

If there aren't any more then when my current Clubbie goes, then unfortunately so do I. Any other MINI is too small for my needs, and if I needed anything bigger - a la Countryman, Paceman - I'd be looking at another manufacturer. Maybe I could get the Roadster and have something bigger for everything else...but not likely. I doubt that owning more than one vehicle will ever meet needs, my Clubbie does it all - my tow hitch and roof rails/bars/box gives me options. And if I'm ever hauling more than I can fit, I can borrow a buddy's tanker or rent one.

So much for MINI being "not normal".

 

I hope they get ride of the BIG MINI's and just keep things mini.

Bigger is not always better. Clubbie gone, Paceman cya, and that big ugly surbarban looking 4x4 Monster Mini Countryman should be dropped or made into the new BMW X3.


Keep MINI mini!

 

Countryman outsold all other non-R56 models COMBINED in March (vert+Clubbie+Roadster+Coupe+Paceman)

MotoringFile » Archive » MINI US Sales Up 3.5% for March

I'm not saying it's pure to the historic MINI brand...
Just sayin.

 

I'm always interested in what you say, Dave.O. Thought you would want to know my wife's response to your monster allegation is that her CM is "pleasingly plump." My response is why care if it keeps Mini financially healthy so that the familiar Mini hardtop can be continued. One other requirement is customer appeal and I think as long as that exists Mini hardtop will exist. Hard to think the attraction will die off. Long live Mini! From a proud Roadster owner.

 

Like I said before, if I needed something bigger than my Clubbie, I wouldn't get a MINI. Case in point:

http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17590

 

Sigh. "The Market... how does it work?"
What is bought in sufficient quantity to be profitable... will be produced. What is not bought... will not be produced. At least not for long.



Look at the year-over-year trends on the YTD MINI numbers... allowing for oddities related to introduction schedules of Coupe and Roadster. Note what is growing, what is relatively stable, and what is declining.

 

I don't even think you can consider the roadster and coupe numbers, above... I'd need to see the 'average wait' time, but if you only made 600 cars in a year and you sold all of 'em with an average wait of 3 months for production, it could be an nice little niche car. A 'vert has always been a pretty specialty car... much like a 2 seater. Only offering the 2 seater 'vert might be a simplification, but maybe only with a switch to a new model type. Since they already have the tooling to do turn the hardtop to a 'vert for the R56, I'd at least expect to see that continue until the R56 would go away. Oh wait... that's just a year or so!

I'm so tall that going topless is a moot point for me... the top bar always blocks my field of view. Only the Ford Mustang drop top gives me any visibility at all and was a fun rental for a long weekend in Napa.

 

Not surprising. I always figured with the release and subsequent popularity of the Countryman that the Clubman's days were numbered. Fine with me. Makes my JCW Clubman that much rarer.

 

OK that just made my Clubman more valuable too. An I'm sorry that people think the large Countryman is a MINI.(small)

 

I always love it when M/A scoops MF. :devil:

 

The really interesting question to me is whether they keep the four seat cabrio when the R57 is at end of cycle... I bet not.
Already a very low volume car, further marginalized by the roadster.

 

I think it would be sad to see the Clubman go away. It's a great model. Plenty of cargo space inside and still maintains the majority of the really fun handling of the Hardtop.

 

By by AZTEK oops I mean Clubbie.