Does the world need yet another MINI?| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

integraguy Dork
12/20/10 3:44 p.m.

I read in an online article (posted by another mag that has my e-mail) that BMW-MINI are getting ready to debut a new model at the L.A. auto show....the Paceman. It will be a sort of sportier Countryman, in that it takes the same basic shell, makes the 2 front doors over a foot longer, then does away with the rear 2 doors, and lowers the roofline from front to back like that new Range Rover, the...? (sorry, I forget the name at the moment). While I like the idea of yet another 2 door ANYTHING, aren't there already more models of the MINI either in "stores" or "in the pipeline" than the world REALLY needs?

Hey, BMW, instead of yet another tiny overpriced(?) car, how about bringing to the U.S. the MINI with diesel the rest of the world gets?

1988RedT2 HalfDork
12/20/10 4:06 p.m.

Hey, if they think they can sell it, more power to 'em.

wearymicrobe Reader
12/20/10 4:17 p.m.

integraguy wrote: Hey, BMW, instead of yet another tiny overpriced(?) car, how about bringing to the U.S. the MINI with diesel the rest of the world gets?

As a new owner they are so not overpriced for what you get. Plus there are swarms of them out here due to the easy parking, good gas mileage, and low insurance.

Thats on top of the stuff GRM people like.

integraguy Dork
12/20/10 4:25 p.m.

wearymicrobe, I'm not trying to "bash" BMW-MINI, so much as I think they are milking the cow past what is prudent. That, and the original Mini was a fairly simple car. What's happening is, in my mind, what would be the equivalent of "resurrecting" the 2002 and then producing a whole model range from what was just a sedan....admittedly a legendary sedan.

1988RedT2 HalfDork
12/20/10 4:30 p.m.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

Agreed. I would hardly call the MINI overpriced.

mndsm Dork
12/20/10 4:36 p.m.

I don't think mine was overpriced either.... we paid 20k for a low mile (under 20kmi) Cooper S 4 years ago, and it's been a decent car, and is still worth like 15k.

wearymicrobe Reader
12/20/10 5:31 p.m.

integraguy wrote: wearymicrobe, I'm not trying to "bash" BMW-MINI, so much as I think they are milking the cow past what is prudent. That, and the original Mini was a fairly simple car. What's happening is, in my mind, what would be the equivalent of "resurrecting" the 2002 and then producing a whole model range from what was just a sedan....admittedly a legendary sedan.

The original mini did this as well, there were wagons, verts, mokes, all sorts of stuff.

Personally its a company that makes high spec small cars. something few others do in the states. So that covers a multitude of their sins in my book including making slightly bigger versions.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid Reader
12/20/10 7:58 p.m.

This is going to be 2 door Countryman by the pics I've seen.

All my complaint is (with the Countryman), is that they need to make the base engine have more horsepower, 121 hp isn't enough for a vehicle that large. 150-160 hp would be sufficient enough for a base naturally aspirated engine. They really need to pump up the power across the range too, you can get a 200 hp Turbo 4 in the VW Tiguan (which Mini considers a direct competitor), but you can only get a 181 hp Turbo 4 in the Countryman. They are comparatively priced as well.

nutherjrfan HalfDork
12/21/10 12:26 a.m.

well if it works for Porsche!

friedgreencorrado SuperDork
12/21/10 12:42 a.m.

integraguy wrote: wearymicrobe, I'm not trying to "bash" BMW-MINI, so much as I think they are milking the cow past what is prudent. That, and the original Mini was a fairly simple car. What's happening is, in my mind, what would be the equivalent of "resurrecting" the 2002 and then producing a whole model range from what was just a sedan....admittedly a legendary sedan.

integraguy, I'm not trying to flame your comment about what BMW's doing with the MINI..but as an old 2002 fan (I wish I'd been smart enough to hang on to one of the three or four I'd owned), I gotta say that using the 2002 as an example might not be the best expression of what you're (IMO, correctly) trying to say.

In the case of the 2002, the 2-door evolved from the 4-door cars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_New_Class