Looks like the F55/56 is catching on. First quarter UK sales were 15k, an all time record.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2015/04/...15/#more-40067

 

Where's the dude on here who always raves on about "poor F56 sales"? Quiet, he is.

 

He drove off into the sunset screaming hateful words toward F56 owners.

 

It's about time, because it baffled the mind how the F56 could not be game-changing for MINI.

Now, they need to get their Countryman F60 out ASAP. They're losing customers fast, until they do. [Doesn't affect me, of course.]

 

I hate these articles because they largely ditch perspective and focus instead on a misleadingly large % figure. There might be token mention that the previous year's sales were hampered by the new model rollout, but little more.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not "the dude on here who always raves on about poor F56 sales" … I just appreciate prefer proper context to data exaggerated by comparisons with outlier months.

Anyway, all that blab aside, here's worldwide MINI sales figures for the month of March with that better perspective.

March 2012 – 32,422
March 2013 – 31,763
March 2014 – 26,382
March 2015 – 36,635

So, while March 2015 was a 38.9% increase over March 2014, it was only a 15.3% increase over March 2013 (+7.4% yearly avg), and a 13.0% increase over March 2012 (+4.2% yearly avg).

Still decent numbers and in the right direction, just with a little less of the sensationalism.

 

^This^

It is a good result, but put in perspective, it's not the home run that it might at first glance seem. If MINI can sustain these results for four more quarters, than the nay-sayers will be silenced.

 

A 13‰ increase over the best of the prior 3 years is not considered a home run?

Tough crowd.

 

Do you realize you're contradicting yourself in the same sentence? MINI is doing well because of the F56/F55 but will be doomed if the new Countryman doesn't come out now. If anything, these two models will continue to pick up the slack while the R60 continue to decline (which isn't even certain to happen) until the F60 comes out in 2017.

 

+1. Double-digit growth for a niche brand is almost unheard of in the automobile industry...

 

I don't want to get into another argument about which car is better, but the 2nd gen loaner cars that I've had when mine was in for service REALLY make me appreciate the interior and engine of my F56.

I can definitely see the new Countryman bringing increased sales with it as well (assuming it will also benefit from the higher quality interior). The clubman.... not so sure. I'm worried that people might realize it's a wagon and not a hatchback! I mean I like wagons but the term "station wagon" is right up there with "minivan" for most people.

 

No argument here! IMO the 2nd gen vehicles have the lowest quality interior out of all 3 gens. I had an R53 that was solid and I currently have a R56 that creaks everywhere. Especially the door and handle area. Yeesh! Don't get me wrong, I love my R56 more than the R53 I had (ask me another day and that might be different ), but damn is it noisey. I've been in several different MINIs of the first 2 gens at MINI meets and drives and they all generally act as described here.

That said, I have yet to sit in a new F56, but from the photo's and everyone's accolades about the interior, I'm sure my assumption that the 3rd gen interior is better is safe.

 

Maybe I wrote it poorly, but my point is, the aged R60 will be a hard sell along side the F55/F56 until the F60 comes out.

 

39% sales growth over last year ...
double-digit sales growth over the best of the prior 3 years ...
4% sales growth per year over the last 3 years ...

All of those statements are true, they just have different levels of hype attached.

If there's a "home run" to be had in the numbers, it's not from massaging hype into the numbers, it's from MINI showing growth at all with the Countryman looking old next to the new F5x models and the Clubman not being available at all... both have been rather popular models in the past.

 

A 13% increase year-over-year would be a home run, niche market or no. Selling 4000 more cars than 4 years ago is not, I would imagine, what the suits in the Bavarian boardroom are looking for.