Let me start off by giving you a big "Thank You", seriously, everything from your rant might has well been straight out of my mouth. The fact of the matter is that I'm so happy with my car everytime I drive I'm paranoid about it possibly being the last time I'll be able to drive it and I'd have to pick a new one .

--snip--
I completely relate to everything you've said here. So, what we're asking for is more options.

I've gotten a R55, R58 and R59 from the dealer as a loaner. These models were not for me, and I have no problem with MINI diluting the brand by designing them... as long as they continue making the Coop.

The 2012 R55 felt like a big black hurse with everything blacked out. The black plastic gives it a cheaper, less solid feeling. This one even had the MINI You package and it just felt and looked cheap. This is not indicitive of the Mini You package, as I've seen one that looked beautiful. The one I was loaned just had terrible contrast between black interior, blueish/white mini you leather dash.

The 2012 R58/R59 have an extremely limited rear view, which I really enjoy in my car. But again, with the black plasticky interior. So bad. Even the blacked out interiors of the headlights are very hokey looking, in my opinion.

I don't have a problem with them making larger cars, but I DO wish they would focus on going smaller with the cars known for being smaller. There's plenty of space in my MC I wish I didn't have.

+1

If it were actually ever offered, I would hate having to own a second car

I do too, but I understand there are those who love them so I keep my mouth shut about this.

The only thing that you didn't cover that I'd rant about is about the interior. I wish they'd move to a different softer material, rather than the hard plastics. Maybe same material and a thin layer of soft rubber over it. Or maybe something different altogether, something that doesn't creak and break so easily.

In my dreams, the tach and speedo would have an actual glass lens in the front as well. I mean, this car cost is a premium, would be nice to use some premium materials on the interior. At this point, I'm glad that MINI exists though. Couldn't imagine driving anything else.

 

I am 100% with you on this. Let's not forget that this is a BMW after all you'd think they could use the same materials that they use in their cars. Especially since, lets face it, MINIs are ~$28k cars. Sure the base hatches start at $21, but all the other cars in the line up use that same interior and start at a much higher price, a price at which you'd expect better materials. And that's just assuming you don't get a single option on it, which no one really does, so even after buying your base hatch your still looking at around $25k.

The fit and finish of the center console could be a little better as well and I completely agree with you on the gauges. I just wish that for a car of that cost whose parent makes the Ultimate Driving Machines, they would have used better materials and fitted them better.

With that said the MINI does have a good amount of soft touch materials on top of the dash and on the doors (however the area around the back seats is all plastic) and, at least on my MINI, they do a good job at not being worn out. In all I love the interior style and everything at least works, but i just wish the quality could have been bumped up to match the price of these things

 

^^^^^ Exactamundo

 

What he said!

 

I've been thinking of this ever since I heard the countyman was going to have the window controls on the door. I think MINI are losing some of the personality by doing this. Their new ads say "Not Normal" but normal cars have all the same button layouts and MINI seem to be going this way. I love the CM and I hope to get one someday. I think it does fit the MINI brand because all the cars it competes against are bigger so its MINI by those standards. I can understand it's existence because as as families grow so does the need for a bit more space. The Paceman and the coupe are (in my opinion) out of place. The PM is a waste I think, with the same space as a CM but with less access to it. The coupe would be alright if it had more power, but the most powerful versions of it will rival a new Corvette on price after adding options and way above the cars they want to compete against. If they want to expand I would like to see a MINI pickup. I think one of the changes that will be made sometime will be to put LEDs or halo rings in the headlights like the current trend. I love my R50 and plan to keep it till the wheels fall off then put them back on and go again. Its the perfect car for city driving and sporty blast on the weekends.

To add a thing that has been bothering me recently is MINI pulling out of WRC. The car they had built can rival anything in the WRC but with no factory team they will not get a good driver to put it at the top. Now with VW coming in I think they will totally overshadow all the effort that MINI put in and failed to follow up on. I just really hate the thought of losing to VW.

 

When I decided on the Coupe, I first decided I wanted another MINI; my first was an '03 MCS. Then I decided the two-seather fit my needs (kids are out of the house). And then I test drove the Coupe, the S Coupe, and the JCW. I decided the S had ample power. I never considered Corvettes, Mazdas, Audis, or other models.

Corvettes never entered the equation.

 

I agree with everything you said here except for the stuff about the Coupe. Many people in the past bought MINIs for the driving experience and even used them as weekend only cars, but had no need for the rear seats or cargo space. The Coupe and Roadster are a better fit for those types of drivers and does full a previously vacant niche.

I strongly share your opinion on the Paceman though. It's a step backwards from both the Hatch and the Countryman by combining the least convenient properties of both. The Rocketman and the rumored 5-door hatch based on the F56 would be much better additions to the line up since they would add some useful variety to a unique brand instead of following a current trend.

 

Hmmm, don't understand your logic here. You like the bigger, slower CM, because it goes up against even bigger SUVs, but you don't like the Coupe because it is slow? Have you driven one? Because it's exactly the same as the equivalent Hardtop, if anything it's a bit faster especially in corners (being stiffer) and it's a heck of a lot faster than the CM. You can dislike it for the styling, maybe, but not for being slow, since it is just as fast as anything MINI makes and just as fun to drive.

As I said before, to my mind the Coupe is at least an extension of the small/nimble/quirky factor. It has essentially the same MINI factors that the HTs and cabrios do. Same big speedo, same window controls in the center, etc. However, the CM tends to be more like every other car out there, losing that quick and quirky factor. (and everything said here about the Coupe also applies to the Roadster, which is a logical extension)

The Paceman, on the other hand, is just

 

Thumbs up JoanieB!

 

Time for a "Paceman Haters" thread

 

To chime in, I do understand the 'hate' towards the countryman/paceman. And yes they are bigger, however, I still think they are fundamentally mini. Being a 1stgen S' as my first mini, I still kick myself every single day for selling her. My heart has been pining since 2010. If I had my way and was rich as hell I would have one of everything. I'd still have my R53 and my new R60 and a roadster and a convertible, but that's just because I love love love everything mini. I think they each have their place, I wouldn't be able to fit my dogs and my hubs in a roadster but would have plenty of room in the countryman and yet still have the fun and experience of a mini. So, someday, when I don't have an 80 pound dog and don't have to lug kids or husband, maybe ill be able to have my own mini fleet in the garage.

 

It evolution. We went from this

From this


To this


To this


So as you see companies are out to make money, so they build other models or change existing models to appeal to a larger audience. Whether EVERYONE likes what they build is subject to your own tastes. This is just my 2 cents.

 

Not hatin' on it, Avuton, just not understanding the reasoning behind it. A two door the size of a four door? With room in the back to take people, or carry kids, but less amenable access to those back seats? I don't see what niche it fills. All of the others make sense, but this one remains a mystery for now.

On the other hand, the new ClubVan is an interesting development, and might just catch on with small delivery businesses. It fills a specific niche. A two seat delivery van, with barn doors, and MINI agility and handling.

The Paceman is a two door, four seat, raked roof Countryman... does someone have insight into what they are targeting?

 

hmmm

 

Yep, just like that!

So, for anyone considering a Paceman, what would your internal deliberation be, between it and the CM? Not having to polish that second set of door handles? You only have short friends for the back seats? Curious minds want to know....!

 

Maybe they just have big dogs....like me!!!! Still not sure about the paceman tho.

 

Seriously? Have you been in a Nissan Versa/Cube or A Toyota Yaris? Kia Rio? Go spend some time in those and feel the materials, then complain to me about a MINI.

 

JESUS Yes!!!!! I have been driving a cube in between my R53 mini and my new All4. Do you have any idea what HELL I have been in?? PURE HELL. I CALL IT THE PIECE OF SH*t TOASTER OVEN.

 

This is why manufacturers extend their line up.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2013/01/...ry/#more-27717

 

I'm still getting used to the paceman. I also swore I'd never buy a four door wrangler (but we did). I love my Countryman. I bought it out of sheer practicality. I wanted something fun, but I still needed four doors. And it was so fun to drive. It felt like I didn't have to grow up quite yet and settle for a regular old car. If I wasn't so practical I would have gone for a two door in a heartbeat.

It's my first foray into the mini world and I love it probably because I have no previous mini experience to compare it to. I have driven Nissans, Mazdas, Windstars, Subarus WRX and Outback, Dodge Durango, and Jeeps.

My favorite for fun? My 2 door Wrangler and the Countryman. I would buy either of those again in a heartbeat. The AWD is awesome because we move every couple of years and from Alaska to the East Coast it can come in handy.

 

Concur with rant,

Unfortunetely the Germans have always been about efficiency and substance over style.

Cheap interior materials is wide spread across most makers and platforms.

When I bought my new 50k Challenger I was amazed how cheap and plasticky most of the interior was except for the seat.

I'm sure there's some bean counter telling someone that's the way it has to be or we won't be able to sell it at a price point we can make $.

If Mini goes to far astray from their legacy and heritage models they'll come out with a "retro" model, this convention works, (aka: Voltswagon Bug, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Chev Camero, etc,).

They've all done it, what's old becomes new again at some point.

 

And yet you still bought it.

 

Yeah, a rather atrractive two door version of the Countryman with sleaker roof lines and boot and less of a hint of being a "family truckster" makes absolutely no sense...






























Someone hasn't been paying attention.....

 

Hmmmm point taken, Grey Raven, but aren't all of those bigger cars, consequently easier to climb into through that front door? If you NEED four seats, wouldn't you just buy the four door model?

And thanks for those photos... there sure are some ugly fuggly cars in the world, aren't there?

 

From an AutoWeek review of the Evoque Coupe (the three door as opposed to the five door model):
If you're in the market for a coupe, you probably don't need the rear seats often, so I won't harp about the contortionist exercises needed to get my kids' car seats (not to mention the kids themselves) into the rear seats; to Land Rover's credit, there's actually quite a bit of room back there. It's just difficult to access -- no surprise there.