Jalopnik: Has MINI Lost It's Way?
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 515
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From: Mid Atlantic
I don't understand these comments (those made below the article on Jalopnik) any more than those made when Porsche introduced the 911, 914, 924, 928, 944, Cayenne etc etc etc.
Car companies are in business to make cars and money. They can't do that by making the same one model for ever.
Those who get upset or "irked" because MINI made a *gasp* bigger version of itself are not owners, and even if they are - why does it upset them? How are they harmed by it?
Everyone has preferences, and they're free to exercise them by buying what appeals to them, but to castigate a company for expanding it's portfolio in order to continue to stay in business is just silly.
The fact that the Countryman has been so successful tells me they were right to build it, and the fact that it's bigger than any other MINI is what made it successful. You can argue about the looks or the quirky ergonomics, but you can't argue with the sales success. People need 4 doors to haul a family, 4 doors means a bigger physical body. So what? It's not like they built an Escalade!
As to the Rocketman, while there may be a case for an even smaller MINI especially in some countrys, I really doubt it would be much more than niche sales here, much like the Smart car is. On top of that, it truly is ugly, IMHO, with a face like something from "Finding Nemo", and those silly vestigal fins on the back? Please.......
In summation, MINI has not killed it's brand, just expanded it and I say more power to them cause it will insure that the models WE like will continue to be built too.
Car companies are in business to make cars and money. They can't do that by making the same one model for ever.
Those who get upset or "irked" because MINI made a *gasp* bigger version of itself are not owners, and even if they are - why does it upset them? How are they harmed by it?
Everyone has preferences, and they're free to exercise them by buying what appeals to them, but to castigate a company for expanding it's portfolio in order to continue to stay in business is just silly.
The fact that the Countryman has been so successful tells me they were right to build it, and the fact that it's bigger than any other MINI is what made it successful. You can argue about the looks or the quirky ergonomics, but you can't argue with the sales success. People need 4 doors to haul a family, 4 doors means a bigger physical body. So what? It's not like they built an Escalade!
As to the Rocketman, while there may be a case for an even smaller MINI especially in some countrys, I really doubt it would be much more than niche sales here, much like the Smart car is. On top of that, it truly is ugly, IMHO, with a face like something from "Finding Nemo", and those silly vestigal fins on the back? Please.......
In summation, MINI has not killed it's brand, just expanded it and I say more power to them cause it will insure that the models WE like will continue to be built too.
For us - although we've always loved MINI - it was just too small for us - we needed more room hence when the countryman came on the market it was the perfect solution. From what we could tell - over many trips to our dealership the countryman are selling like hotcakes. We went a number of times and every time we went the countryman we test drove the week before was never there - neither were it's surrounding countryman.
We've had ours 4 months and I can't tell you the number of people that have stopped me to ask about it saying the same thing basically - the traditional MINI is too small for their needs but they really like the 4 door version and are now considering one. Before people hated the countyman these same people detested the clubman - whatever. MINI is laughing all the way to the bank and there are a ton of new MINI owners that are thrilled with their cars that would have spent our hard earned dollars on VW's or BMW's or other brands.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 2
The Countryman is to the hatchback what the hatchback was to the classic MINI. If MINI has lost it's way then is started at the early turn of the century, not with the Countryman.
I own one of each. Some could say the original is unpractical. My wife loves her CM and I love my 3rd MCS. Did Ford lose its way when they expanded from the Model T to the Model A? How about when the first truck was introduced? Have you seen the original Mini Countryman? Mini has not lost its way; it's just trying to gain traction in an ever changing market where the consumer dictates the product future.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
MINI hasn't killed the brand yet, but I see dark clouds on the horizon. Eliminating some of the quirky design aspects in favor of conceding to mainstream demands (example: location of window switches) and others, could very well be the final nails in the coffin.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 15
From: Silly-con Valley
Amen! One of the reasons that I got the MINI is because of the headroom. I'm only 6'1", but I evidently have a very long torso. I have trouble fitting in a great many cars, because my head hits the roof. Over the years, I had gotten used to slouching a little bit. (And I couldn't slouch far enough to fit in a Miata, even trying hard!)
In the MINI, I can sit upright as far as I am able, and I still have a couple of inches of headroom. I can slide the seat back far enough that I can hardly reach the pedals if I really want to. And even my fat 250-lb *** fits in the seat just fine.
The Clubbie and CM are not meant to fit oversized Americans, the Hardtop does that just fine. They're made for people who want to bring more than one other adult along with them on a regular basis. I've had four people in Fenimore, but not for long, and two of the people were on the smaller side.
In the MINI, I can sit upright as far as I am able, and I still have a couple of inches of headroom. I can slide the seat back far enough that I can hardly reach the pedals if I really want to. And even my fat 250-lb *** fits in the seat just fine.
The Clubbie and CM are not meant to fit oversized Americans, the Hardtop does that just fine. They're made for people who want to bring more than one other adult along with them on a regular basis. I've had four people in Fenimore, but not for long, and two of the people were on the smaller side.
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 723
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
The Countryman's seats are about the same size as the hardtop's seats. Just FYI.
I agree with most of the article. Not only is the CM homely (in my view), the one I drove (a loaner) was the least entertaining, least fun car I have driven in 20 years. It was slow, noisy, didn't handle well, and had lousy sun visors. and that's just what comes to mind quickly. Anybody with car interest that drove that car would have to wonder what all the Mini excitement was all about; none in that car. Even my GMC Denali is more fun.
And the roof on the coupe is a bad joke.
Other then the above, I don't have much of an opinion the article.
And the roof on the coupe is a bad joke.
Other then the above, I don't have much of an opinion the article.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 2
I agree with most of the article. Not only is the CM homely (in my view), the one I drove (a loaner) was the least entertaining, least fun car I have driven in 20 years. It was slow, noisy, didn't handle well, and had lousy sun visors. and that's just what comes to mind quickly. Anybody with car interest that drove that car would have to wonder what all the Mini excitement was all about; none in that car. Even my GMC Denali is more fun.
And the roof on the coupe is a bad joke.
Other then the above, I don't have much of an opinion the article.
And the roof on the coupe is a bad joke.
Other then the above, I don't have much of an opinion the article.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/...r-apeal/3.html
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
I understand the complaints against the Countryman -- even though I don't agree with them -- but to toss the Coupe and Roadster in as further evidence of MINI losing its identity seems patently absurd to me.
Then again, I'm saving for a roadster right now, so I'm probably biased.
Then again, I'm saving for a roadster right now, so I'm probably biased.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Palm Harbor, FL
I understand the complaints against the Countryman -- even though I don't agree with them -- but to toss the Coupe and Roadster in as further evidence of MINI losing its identity seems patently absurd to me.
Then again, I'm saving for a roadster right now, so I'm probably biased.
Then again, I'm saving for a roadster right now, so I'm probably biased.
I've always liked the MINI, but not enough to buy one -- not until they came out with the roaster. I'm keeping my Fiat 500 Sport, because (I know, blasphemy on a MINI board) it gives you more bang for the back than a Justa.
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