My MINI Rant
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County, California
From Wikipedia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Moke):
The initial design was a prototype for a light military vehicle in the style of the American Jeep, but its small wheels and low ground clearance made it impractical as an off-road vehicle. It was subsequently offered in a civilian version as a low-cost, easily maintained utility vehicle. The Moke finally achieved success as a beach buggy—becoming a popular 'cult' vehicle in the Algarve, Seychelles, Australia, the United States and many tropical resorts in the Caribbean. The original Moke used identical engine, transmission and suspension parts to the basic Mini.[8]
It would make much more sense for it to have been designed as a resort vehicle, maybe the British Military story is an urban legend...?
The initial design was a prototype for a light military vehicle in the style of the American Jeep, but its small wheels and low ground clearance made it impractical as an off-road vehicle. It was subsequently offered in a civilian version as a low-cost, easily maintained utility vehicle. The Moke finally achieved success as a beach buggy—becoming a popular 'cult' vehicle in the Algarve, Seychelles, Australia, the United States and many tropical resorts in the Caribbean. The original Moke used identical engine, transmission and suspension parts to the basic Mini.[8]
It would make much more sense for it to have been designed as a resort vehicle, maybe the British Military story is an urban legend...?
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: San Diego
Joanie,
I'm telling you, the Paceman is the basis for the Beachcomber.
Just look at the concept car. It has the head lights of a CM, but only two (removable) doors.
Just sayin'...I think think the Beachcomber is just around the corner...
Concept Cars
I'm telling you, the Paceman is the basis for the Beachcomber.
Just look at the concept car. It has the head lights of a CM, but only two (removable) doors.
Just sayin'...I think think the Beachcomber is just around the corner...
Concept Cars
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County, California
Joanie,
I'm telling you, the Paceman is the basis for the Beachcomber.
Just look at the concept car. It has the head lights of a CM, but only two (removable) doors.
Just sayin'...I think think the Beachcomber is just around the corner...
Concept Cars
I'm telling you, the Paceman is the basis for the Beachcomber.
Just look at the concept car. It has the head lights of a CM, but only two (removable) doors.
Just sayin'...I think think the Beachcomber is just around the corner...
Concept Cars
And I would be glad to pay! 
They already said that the Rocketman won't be made. Darn it. Why do they tempt us so?
Thanks for the link, Tim! Hadn't seen the other concept cars....
But if they make the Beachcomber, that would be awesome...
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: San Diego
Yeah Joanie,
No one would probably care less about the Paceman (a few would though); the money would be in the Beachcomer. I could see a waiting list a mile long; especially in Hawaii, Australia/Nz and Indonesia.
Potentially a HUGE market there (a lot like the Coupe); not a rock crawler per se, but something fun to cruise down dirt roads and across beaches with the feeling of freedom that comes from having the doors off (since I know you have a Jeep in the family, I know you understand). Way too cool...
No one would probably care less about the Paceman (a few would though); the money would be in the Beachcomer. I could see a waiting list a mile long; especially in Hawaii, Australia/Nz and Indonesia.
Potentially a HUGE market there (a lot like the Coupe); not a rock crawler per se, but something fun to cruise down dirt roads and across beaches with the feeling of freedom that comes from having the doors off (since I know you have a Jeep in the family, I know you understand). Way too cool...
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County, California
Yeah Joanie,
No one would probably care less about the Paceman (a few would though); the money would be in the Beachcomer. I could see a waiting list a mile long; especially in Hawaii, Australia/Nz and Indonesia.
Potentially a HUGE market there (a lot like the Coupe); not a rock crawler per se, but something fun to cruise down dirt roads and across beaches with the feeling of freedom that comes from having the doors off (since I know you have a Jeep in the family, I know you understand). Way too cool...
No one would probably care less about the Paceman (a few would though); the money would be in the Beachcomer. I could see a waiting list a mile long; especially in Hawaii, Australia/Nz and Indonesia.
Potentially a HUGE market there (a lot like the Coupe); not a rock crawler per se, but something fun to cruise down dirt roads and across beaches with the feeling of freedom that comes from having the doors off (since I know you have a Jeep in the family, I know you understand). Way too cool...
If they make it, it would be amazing.... strap a cooler on the back, some 'boards on the top, and it's the best surfer car since the Woody!
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County, California
Wonder what the soft doors would look like? They would have to bridge a large gap...
While I am not a Countryman fan, I'd prefer to see those roaming about than some other ill-thought cute-ute. MINI had to go the expansion route to large vehicles, a la Porsche Cayenne/Panamera to increase volume and continue to offer the other niche vehicles we really like, suchs as JCW's, since those are the true low-volume sellers in the MINI line-up.
The scary part is that the expansion will likely kill off models that were really unique like the Clubman, as its rumored that MINI may have a 4 door hardtop available next time around.
The scary part is that the expansion will likely kill off models that were really unique like the Clubman, as its rumored that MINI may have a 4 door hardtop available next time around.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: RI
Your rant could have been written in 2007 and made sense. As the model life of the R50/53 was ending, MINI made a clear decision about the brand/model direction: larger, more mainstream cars. They would argue that it has been a successful one: look at the sales numbers. I would argue that any small, efficient car brand in the marketplace would increase sales, based upon the economy and fuel prices.
I'd have to argue just a little bit that the decision to enlarge the MINI hardtop wasn't entirely MINI/BMW's. At least part of that was driven by the European Transportation Department (or some such overly-influential bureaucracy) to make vehicle/pedestrian collisions more survivable. (Exactly why we want to propagate the species with people dumb enough to step into moving traffic, I do not know; but that's an argument for another day.) That required designers to build in more collapsible space between the front body work and the non-collapsing structural components of the car. Being as fashion-conscious as they are, they basically needed to re-shape the whole car so as not to have a cute little hatchback with a bulbous honker reminiscent of a rhinoceros. It is my understanding that this had more to do with the resizing of the hardtop than anyone's desire to make it more 'mainstream'. Although that obviously hasn't hurt sales any, either.
.Feds also forced MINI to stop using the economical "Rotational style TPMS" from 1st Gen and install those pesky little TPMS sensors in each wheel as well....+$400.00 for every set of wheels you own.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 309
Likes: 8
From: Richmond, BC
Not in Canada :P
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