Mini production

unkel

Initially BMW planned to sell 100000 a year. This is now increasing to 250000 a year. This is almost as much as the highest number of old minis produced in any one year. Remarkable success story

BBC Article

bazz26

Good marketing from BMW. But a cd player is still on the options list. :mad:

mike65

Saw a "classic" Mini Clubman in Carrick-on-Suir last week with two window stickers proclaiming

100% Mini 0% BMW

I must check to see if there's much warfare between classic and Beemer
owners...

Mike.

Eoin

I had a mini, and know a couple of mini drivers (the car, not the actress ) and they don't see the BMW mini as an updated mini, just a BMW hatchback. One of the cool things about the original mini was that you got a pretty bare shell which was affordable to customise - it was as cheap or as expensive as you wanted it to be. The BMW mini is just another hot hatch (albeit, a very nice looking one) that is not cheap, even for the base model.

I think the new mini, like the new Beatle, have left out a lot of what made the original ones such classics

OfflerCrocGod

Who buys these **** cars

unkel

Thought provoking points lads

mike65 wrote:

I must check to see if there's much warfare between classic and Beemer owners...

I'd be very interested in that too, Mike

My opinion on the new mini in a few remarks:

-not a competitor to the old mini

-does not represent anything what the old mini stood for imo

-very expensive

-even more expensive if you consider the option list and the eagerness with which prospective buyers start ticking them

-great car with super handling and performance esp in Cooper S. Every single review I've read comes to same conclusion

-incredible marketing success for BMW reviving the mini as opposed to total marketing flop reviving the beatle for VAG

-total cash cow for BMW. More than 1 in 6 cars BMW sells are minis now. The margin on the mini must be huge

-I haven't driven it. Would like to drive Cooper S

-I love the classic mini

AMurphy

quiet a lot of them about here, Coopers also. even though they are larger, they are closer in form to the original than the VW. I think they look better overall than the VW and it's nice to know I can get my rather tall frame into one comfortably and leave room for a legged person in the rear seat.
I'd consider one for the daily commute. (used)

bazz26

"Mini Cooper" and "large" in the same sentence, no way!

They must sell a LWB version in the US as I drove a friend's Cooper once and even though it was great to drive and enjoyed every moment of it, plenty of room in the front but the seats in the back were a joke, a toddler would have trouble getting in and out of them. As for the boot, you couldn't fit a set of golf clubs in there (if I had a set of golf clubs).

But then again these cars are not designed to be practicle are they? They are meant to be fun, if you want practicality best go buy a hatchback or saloon.

Very expensive to buy in Ireland even the base model. Would suit me as a weekend car though :cool: but couldn't justify it.

unkel

That's it. You'd struggle to find a new mini with people on the back seat or a set of golf clubs in the back

Not what it is bought for

mike65

Indeed, that's what a Seven Series is for. Eh?

Mike.

Seth Brundle

unkel wrote:

That's it. You'd struggle to find a new mini with people on the back seat or a set of golf clubs in the back

Not what it is bought for

Apparently the rear Z suspension setup which provides better handling steals from the bootspace.