And yet you still bought a Mini even with cheap interior materials along with the rest of us,

You don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

 

And the Toyota FJ Cruiser doesn't count, it has 'two doors and two access doors' so it's easier to climb into....

 

JoanieB I didn't say the coupe was slow, I just think a little bit more power would be better. I know it's the same as it's hatch counterpart and there in lies the reason for my comment, I think a 2 seat low top sports car should be more than a tenth of a second quicker than it's 4 seat sibling. As for the CM I like it because sometimes life calls for more space than my R50 has and the CM is perfect for that. While the CM is big by Mini standards it has the Mini look and feel and I think it holds with the Mini way of thinking. I would rather be in it then one of its personality-less rivals. I also like the aggressive scowl ,especially with the JCW kit on, that the CM has and the option of awd.

 

Yes, but I have not been complaining about it. As you pointed out even a $50k car has a cheap feel with plastic. How about all the complainers go buy all the Goodwood MINI's you can, so then you have the best looking and feeling interiors of any MINI. Like my sig says, I am whiner not a complainer.

 

Ok here is my 2 cents worth.. Might not be worth that much either..
I fully understand why they needed to make various models as they needed to appeal to more buyers. Only so many people are/were going to buy the Cooper.. and even if you kept buying one every time you bought a new car that is only going to be once every 3-6 or more. They needed to sell more vehicles then that..
My only complaint is I wish they would have left the Cooper alone, as is and just tweak it from time to time like they did the original classic. To me that is what the classic is all about and what really make it "the classic" and they too made the countryman, pickup etc. back in the day but left the Cooper alone... Before long the MINI isn't going to be MINI at all..
They should have left the engine alone ( the original only had that couple of engines for years and years ) and maybe gave the new models different engines and the bigger ones need more power to help it compete in their segment of small SUV or whatever they fall into..
I agree that now that they have AWD in the line up they need to use it in the Cooper as well, can you imagine the GP or the Coupe with alittle more power and AWD!!!

In anything other then the Cooper, I could care less what they do with the speedo, switches etc. as to me it's not a MINI.
Might as make it however they think more people will buy it..

 

I can attest to the Evoque being absolutely gorgeous, but impossible to get a child seat (the carrier type) into the back seat with the two door. But my god is it an amazing thing to drive... Higher up, nice ride quality, but it reminds you it's a truck.

As for the Paceman, I can see the target audience, but I don't get why people want these things. There's a market out there, but...? Why? I'll never know.

 

Actually their size was typical for those years when manufactured, and the last few I added are typical for what we have now so I see no differences, ideology is the same.

When it comes to any industry today, it's a matter of keeping up so the "whole" may survive. In MINI's case, remembering their heritage and yet conforming to increasing buyer demands and buyer demographics will be a difficult line to walk but can be done with ingenuity and good perception. Just as this Paceman may seem impractical to you, your Countryman is BIG, has 4drs and is not in keeping with the MINI theme of "small".

I applaud MINI's ability to draw in the buyers they are. I see all kinds of cars being traded for this particular product line,. Most notable are Subaru Forresters, Outbacks, Jeeps, Scions XB's, VW Jetta wagons, Audi wagons and even a few Ford Excursions. I have also seen a barrage of Miata's and Chrysler Crossfires coming in for the Roadsters and Coupes.

MINI's ability to effectively draw business from those product lines is pure genius.

IMO, these Paceman are just too sexy...

 

I like it, but to each is own.

 

With the exception of the Evoque (and maybe the Opel; they're not in the US market anyway), all the pictured 2-doors were discontinued in the US market due to low sales way before their 4-door counterparts, some of which still live on (Explorer). The Vehicross completely bombed on its launch and never did well. The only exception is the FJ-Cruiser, which is technically a 4-door SUV and is still outsold by Toyota's other traditional SUVs (Highlander, Rav4, 4Runner, etc).

The problem with the Paceman is that it fills a niche that doesn't really need filling; it's the BMW X6 of the MINI lineup. It may be cool-looking (kinda), but it doesn't really address the wants and needs of current MINI owners or prospective buyers. A 5-door hatch or the Rocketman would address the requests for a bigger, non-SUV hatch while the Rocketman would work for those who want a car closer in size to the classic. The Paceman just follows a trend that doesn't make sense historically. I hope it sells well for the MINI brand, but I just don't see it.

 

All MINI's are a niche vehicle

 

But it fills a niche in a niche.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Paceman is cool and all, but I just don't think it makes sense, especially after hearing MINI canned the Rocketman project. I also haven't heard anyone say they wish the Countryman had only 2 doors, though I have heard people say they only got a Countryman because it had 4 doors.

 

It makes dollars and sense to MINI. Even if they only sell 20-30k of them, it makes sense to them or they would not attempt it. Now sales after they make it will be the deciding factor if they made the right decision.

 

Correct, has to be sales every year not just the first 2... The paceman will take sales away from some Coopers, some countrymans, and probably some clubmans. With the Clubman, Countryman, and now the Paceman, there is not enough difference between the 3 of them. Other then the Clubman doesn't have AWD...

 

And perhaps from the Impreza, Juke, Focus, and Mazda 3 market.

The paceman offers similar features, but in a sleeker two-door.

I would have liked to have seen the WRX in a two door, but everyone has told me I'm crazy.

I am getting used to the paceman. Especially in the Black and Red.

 

Here you go

http://motoring.ninemsn.com.au/cars/...subaru-sti-22b

 

That's awesome! And now they have the BRZ which looks like a Nissan, and it is a two door.

Maybe the Paceman will attract BRZ buyer, but I doubt it. It might attract Jeep Wrangler two-door types, like me. We tend to like iconic, quirky cars which have a history behind the brand.

 

Chilli check this out
http://www.worldcarfans.com/11107153...etely-separate

 

Oh. my! My heart just stopped. That will be amazing. Definitely a separate market from the Paceman, methinks.

 

Uh... buh.... I have a huge soft spot for Scoobies.

You guys mentioned Mini being a niche brand... I have to say it's a pretty large niche they fill. I see Minis EVERYWHERE around here. They are literally as common as a Cavalier. But apparently there is a niche for 2 door crossovers and SUVs. I've never understood them, but to each their own.

 

...Unless its the basis for a couple new concept, limited edition models like the Baachcomer or a stretched new generation Moke...

 

If they made a Moke on the Countryman platform... that WOULD be a joke!

 

They did a 4wd drive dual engine Moke. So anything is possible.
http://www.4wdonline.com/ClassicCars/Moke2.html

 

They went to all that trouble for offroad capability, but clearance never occurred to them? Like, something bigger than those wheels and tires? Something a little.... TALLER???

I rode in a Moke, right hand drive, and it was a thrilling ride... in a parking lot. You could almost reach out and trail your fingers along the ground. It couldn't have gone over a curb without damage, let alone a boulder. Where did Mini think that the military was going... Bonneville Salt Flats?

Love them anyway and would have one in a heartbeat... we might end up with one at some point... because they are so darned GOOFY and CUTE!

 

Mokes weren't made with the military in mind. They were made for use at resorts and tropical climes.

Dave

 

That's not what I have heard, from multiple sources, Dave... ??? The Moke owner told me the story, and Wikipedia has it too... others have mentioned the same thing... it was originally made for the British Army, and particularly made to stack on transport ships (the tires can rest on top of the fender of the car below) That is also why they have a gas tank that will accept the nozzle of a Jerry can. They guy whose Moke I rode in, is a British motorcycle enthusiast too... and his Moke is currently camo colored.

But the British Army was not interested, for obvious reasons... so it went on to be marketed and assembled in multiple countries. The body kits can still be purchased, though they are not made by Mini any more, obviously! The body panels are made of galvanized aluminum, and they looked to be riveted to a steel frame. The roll bars are pretty flimsy and inadequate, and his lacked seat belts when he bought it.

So what is the real story on the original intention of the Moke?