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i actually found the article on the internet i was talking about so to save my time here is the link...www.minicooperforums.com/2007-mini-cooper.asp
just click the links above to go to the next section
looks like they at least enlarged the cupholders. but the nav still has the crappy lights only fuel gauge, and replacing the head unit will really suck now with the remote display in the speedo. really kinda looks like somebody at bmw got carried away with "form over function" this time around. i really want to like it, but i just don't.
__________________ 06 MCS JCW PH/PH premium, sport, webspokes, black leather, anthracite dash and headliner, 20% tint, k&n filter, euro parcel shelf, s2k antenna, rear fog brake mod, mcaw, jcw sills, glovebox tidy, jcw shift and brake knobs and boots. H sport sway bar and alta 3% crank pulley on the way...
That's one hideous looking center console and ugly shifter. The door panels might be ok but the dash makes the ugly duckling look downright pretty. Too bad because the exterior was starting to grow on me and I think the new engine will be fantastic.
__________________ RIP (Horace): 2010 MCCSa HzB/B; His (Capt. Jack Aubrey): 2011 MCSa SO/B; Hers (on order) 2012 MCCSa BRG2/B
I think that you are missing the point. Yes, the cup holders suck, but that is because this is a car that is built by the Germans! This is not a mistake! When motoring on the autobahn one does not drink the super size coke or the venti coffee from starsucks. My mom has a 2002 540i and the cup holders are worse than the ones on the mini, but this car can and is expected to drive 160 Mph on a regular basis in Germany. Want better cup holders, trade in your car for a seat @ the local google-plex and see fast and the furious!
__________________ Disclaimer: No claim is made that the quality of the MINI-related advice offered by Yucca Patrol
is greater than the quality of MINI-related advice offered by other NAM members.
Funny how this has all come up again after so many other threads have been posted here (and elsewhere) in the past based on the same leaked pics from early 2005 . The other pictures posted above are of mules with their dashes mostly covered. Of course you can read all there is to know about the R56 at MotoringFile.
All that said there will be parts of the new interior that will blow away most people. Then for others there will be some portions (notably the center stack) that may be initially dissapointing. But in the end I'm willing to bet that most people will learn to like the changes and will welcome the improved quality.
I don't believe anything I see of the interior shots. Maybe it'll look like that, maybe not. If it does, they've actually succeeded in making it uglier.
As far as the exterior goes, what bothers me most about what I see in these photos is that they are clearly cramming all the volume they can into this car's dimensions, and I can already see the next generation... 8 inches longer, 3 inches wider, 1.5 inches taller, and on and on until the MINI is essentially indistinguishable from the Golf or the 1-series any other hatchback in the American market.
I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't have faith in BMW's ability to stick to the winning formula here. They'll yield to all the people who want more power, more storage space, more cargo volume, more blah blah blah, but they want a trendy MINI. More pointless excess.
__________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." - Tom Waits
I'll actually disagree with your second point...I love my car but I wouldn't mind if it was GTi-sized. I like to cram my friends into my car a lot for trips to the beach, theme parks, etc...so a little growth is a good thing imo.
...as long as it doesnt effect the way the car drives.
__________________ Kyle 2009 Black Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport 6MT
I'll actually disagree with your second point...I love my car but I wouldn't mind if it was GTi-sized. I like to cram my friends into my car a lot for trips to the beach, theme parks, etc...so a little growth is a good thing imo.
...as long as it doesnt effect the way the car drives.
But it will, so buy a GTI, or buy a Traveler, or whatever.
I know this is a hollow or even comical point to try to make to classic Mini enthusiasts, but the size of the current car is part of its definition to me, and if it grows to compete with other mid-size hatchbacks, my interest disappears. It's a MINI.
__________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." - Tom Waits
But it will, so buy a GTI, or buy a Traveler, or whatever.
I know this is a hollow or even comical point to try to make to classic Mini enthusiasts, but the size of the current car is part of its definition to me, and if it grows to compete with other mid-size hatchbacks, my interest disappears. It's a MINI.
Ha,Ha...That's exactly what I was just thinking. I am a classic Mini owner and have been since before the new MINI was even mentioned. However, I love the new MINI for what it is and hope to get one some day when the pocketbook allows.
That being said, We're talking about such small amounts here and there on the overall size of the '07 that it's funny to me. Everyone saying that it is no longer "mini" and that it now looks like any other car out there cracks me up. Now you understand what classic owners are talking about when they complain about the "huge" new MINI. It's really not, but compared to what we're used to, it is. Now, new MINI owners are echoing the statements of the classic guys that previously were "fightin' words".
I do think the '07 feels more "substantial" size-wise looking at the spy pics, but I don't think most will ever notice it (except us obsessive miniacs) when driving down the road. MINI is not going to allow the spoprtyness of this car to suffer from an extra inch here or there.
Back on topic to this thread, I don't think we can take too much from these shots of the interior. Like Gabe said, these pics have been around for a long time. We are just revisiting them. Commenting on these is like commenting on exterior shots from when the first spy pics came out. Nobody seemed to like the exterior when the first spy shots surfaced. Now, more and more are starting to feel the love.
Anyway, this is more typing than I've done in the last 6 months combined, so I'm done. This is just my sleep deprived opinion!
That being said, We're talking about such small amounts here and there on the overall size of the '07 that it's funny to me. Everyone saying that it is no longer "mini" and that it now looks like any other car out there cracks me up.
Just to be clear, I'm not talking about the '07 - I'm talking about the next generation. I know it sounds silly to speculate already, but something about the look of the '07 makes it clear to me that the next generation will be even bigger.
__________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." - Tom Waits
I don't think it is so bad.... at least it does not have tthe "Bangle-Butt"
__________________ my grandson Cian, the Mini and me
Mini was sold to a good home in CA. I now have a 2001 M roadster silver/black .... DDM intk, M7 TB, M7 DFIC 2, RMW head/shrick , WMS pm runners/intk mfld/cmber plates, CMP custom header/ Milltek, PSS9s, BBS/T1R, AP bbk, Alta SS, plo coil/ngy, M7 str/ustr/CC , F/R sway bar, Aero Kit, op/bst gauges, JCW 380s, Quaiffe/ Clutchmaster/FW, RMW custom tune 231.7 whp, F&R sway bars and more
Chrisneal, Ok, I got ya. Yeah, there's definately a trend toward bigger each generation. Look at the Toyota Tacoma. Long time Toyota fans are complaining about how big this once compact pickup has become. I don't think that MINI will mess up a good thing though, but who knows? There's a new spy shot a www.motoringfile.com that looks pretty good, but it's also just a rear shot.
Those protruding air vents look they were copied from a '63 Plymouth. I'm sure it will grow. New designs usually look odd until we see them several times.
RIP (Horace): 2010 MCCSa HzB/B; His (Capt. Jack Aubrey): 2011 MCSa SO/B; Hers (on order) 2012 MCCSa BRG2/B
This is just my sleep deprived opinion!
my grandson Cian, the Mini and me
