I haven't been a MINI owner for very long, so maybe I'm still an outsider and that makes it easy for me to side with Porsche on this one. Porsche has nothing to gain from accepting this challenge.

 

Yeah, they have a lot to gain. MORE PUBLICITY!!!

 

as an owner of both i think on the right course it could be a tough match. Porsche's need a bit of space to unleash their power. A course with lots of tight turns would be much better for a MINI, only because they are zippier and don't need much space to see their power potential..if there are long straight areas or wide turns the Porsche will win (in my opinion), however lots of tight corners would be a closer match. Minis handle really nice, yet Porsche's have a lower center of gravity and really do handle much better. (this is assuming both vehicles are stock of course). In any case, this would be a fun race to watch.

 

And Mazda has been around for how many years longer than MINI? MINI, the brand has been around for what, 9 years? MINI is still in it's playful stage right now. That's like saying why isn't Scion doing serious racing? BMW the parent company isn't going to want MINI drinking it's Kool Aid. BMW is the serious racing company, not MINI.....yet. This was a playful way for MINI to advertise PERIOD! I really believe MINI knew Porsche's answer from the get go, but decided to go along with this anyway. We must accept the fact that MINI is a fun to drive, premium sub compact and this is what MINI is about. This is BMW being able to have fun without downgrading it's own brand.

 

the way porsche responded/refused the challenge reminds me of the super-serious kid in school who always took everything super-seriously and never did anything for fun and always dissected your joke and not get it. the top button of his shirt is always buttoned, and he acted like he was curing cancer even when on the playground. after reading that response and watching that video, i don't think i'll ever want a porsche. so there, jim mcdowell, your mind-f***ing worked

 

I'm a fairly new owner as well, but I do think Porsche could have gained some "we can actually get off our high horse and play a little" by doing this. We all know that they're a racing giant, but the snob in their response just reaffirms that they're... snobs. They could have easily made a blanket statement opposing any head-to-head race with any other car company and not made it so personal to MINI. Yes, I know, MINI started it, but there was nothing mean spirited about MINI's challenge.

 

Well, the new video is out. MINI challenged Porsche again. Aboslutely hilarious!!!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhYmv...eature=channel

Here's the video... God thats funny!!

 

Now that's the MINI way! Salami of the month club? AWESOME!! If you're Porsche, you have to wonder when this whole "MINI" thing will go away. Maybe it won't!

 

Knockwurst or Bratwurst of the month Club and you might get a positive reponse! I'm laughing so hard, I'm dripping tears on my keyboard. Loosen up Porsche, what's the worst MINI could ask you to do?

 

The man is out of his mind. But what the hell, Chevy and their touting better fuel mileage in their SUV's over MINI are probably drove him to it. Oh wait, I'm sorry ... that's 'Cheverolet' (read all about the bow-tie turning snobby here) and their insipid mileage claims did it. And those clowns at Subaru.

But I think I gotta side with Porche on this one ... they have absolutely nothing to gain from it and everything to lose. No matter how much they try to make it out to be all in fun, they've got a world-class sports car reputation at stake. That's not to say I wouldn't love to see it, but I just don't think it's gonna happen.

Can't wait to see the next invite, though.

 

LMFAO

 

Reputations aside they should race because it would be a good time.

 

Albie, I'm 100% with you. This is the MINI that I know and love. I was commenting on this at mf.com and I said the same thing. I'm tired of the stylized MINI advertisements that depict all of that urban cool that is so very foreign to me. That isn't and can't be MINI. MINI is a sport tourer and needs to be marketed that way. The MINI I know is tearing up the rural twisties and the like. This new marketing campaign is in your face MINI the way I like it! Go get'em Jim!

 

Maybe the fact that Mazda has been pounding them this year they don't care to add Mini to the list.

 

Maybe if Porsche isn't too tired from the 24 hours of Le Mans, they'll decide to show!!

 

this is so freakin' awesome! i love jim mcdowell. i love mini!

 

I'm a former MINI owner (R53) and a current Porsche owner (996). I absolutely loved my MINI and am currently contemplating the purchase of another one. With that said, I'm with Porsche on this one. There is absolutely nothing positive that they can get out of a challenge like this, but there is a lot of negative.

If Jim wants to take on a big boy so bad, why doesn't he stroll across the hall and challenge BMW to put an M3 in a similar race? Any bets as to the response he'd get from his parent company?

 

Pink slip... LOL

 

For all of those "Porsche Fans" who say they have nothing to gain I beg to differ. They could win 2 Justin Beiber tickets and backstage passes. What 12 year old doesn't love this up and coming star. OR they could win a home gym!! Come on!!

 

what porsche has to gain is to not come off looking like the stuffed up stuck up humorless stiff that they prefer to be. one can be gracious winners as well as gracious losers. it's all in good fun, and everyone has a good time in the end. what's not good fun is walking away with your nose high saying you're too good for it all. that's just bad form

and who at porsche wouldn't want justin bieber tickets

 

Stuck up snobs. That's what I found when I owned a Porsche, and attended a Porsche club meeting. Porsche's response doesn't surprise me. Cars made by snobs for snobs, most of which don't know how to turn a wrench, but have a closet full of pastel sweaters. Now that's what I call fun. Not.

 

Dude, why would MINI challenge their parent company in the first place? Even though they differientiate themselves from MINI, I'd bet they still had some say in allowing MINI to challenge in the first place. The whole reasoning behind this is to show the world what one of the best handling cars on the road can do to the so called king of best handling cars. Simply put, it's a challenge and Porsche does not have to accept it, but by not accepting it they are showing the world that the typical stereotypes of Porsche ring true, whether they are or not. I would honestly say that 90% of all the people who are hoping for this want it to be done purely out of fun. What I do want to know is how this is being discussed on Porsche forums.

 

I actually never thought about hearing the other end of the story! I might have to look into it.

 

I looked. The only thing sort of off topic was the proper pastel sweaters to wear as a perfect match with your particular Porsche's paint scheme...