Some MINI's on the chopping block.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,242
Likes: 55
From: Wherever she takes me.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 6
From: Jack Coffee Hays County, Republic of Texas
If the Clubvan sells well, the Clubman might be saved (two models for the price of one), but I doubt it. Probably goodbye to both. Besides, I think the new Hardtop is going to be bigger than the current Clubman, so really... no more mini MINIs.
I have had 2 hardtops and I wanted something a little different. I was beginning to see so many hardtops and no enthusiasm from the owners. The extra room has been great too. I would hate to see the clubman go away but its market share has to be dropping with the countryman getting so popular.
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 810
Likes: 63
From: South Central Pennsylvania
I have loved my Clubman but took a Countryman for a spin when mine was in the shop and that was it. Went back two weeks latter and ordered a Countryman.
Trending Topics
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Maryland, USA
I really hope they keep the Clubman because there really isn't anything like it on the market. If only the Clubman had 2 club doors instead of 1...
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Denver, Colorado
There was also this from Motoring File. "In fact, our sources have confirmed over and over again that we’re going to see more MINI models in the future, not fewer."
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,242
Likes: 55
From: Wherever she takes me.
There is no way I would be buying a F56. It lost its character. It needed to meet new crash test laws so look how far out the front end is past the wheels.
5th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 43
From: Tampa Bay, FL
Like Bram said, the front end now extends so far past the front wheels. No more "wheels pushed to the corners". Unimpressed and unexcited.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Burb
This is why I am glad I got the Clubman this year. I'm really hoping that that THING has really heavy camo, but comparing with the 2door F56 test version, it looks like its going to be ugly.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 6
From: Jack Coffee Hays County, Republic of Texas
Alex Moulton has some forthright views to share on the BMW Mini: “It’s enormous. The (original) Mini was the best-packaged car of all time this is an example of how not to do it. The interior space is not much bigger than the old Mini, but it’s huge on the outside and weighs the same as the Austin Maxi! The crash protection has been taken too far. I mean, what do you want... an armoured car? Princess Diana was killed in a two-tonne Mercedes: you can have a fatal accident in anything if you drive fast enough."
"With the original Mini, we set out to prevent any accidents by having excellent handling, not by cushioning people from the consequences of their own folly The old Mini was the absolute apogee of this philosophy of built-in safety via the handling —people avoided accidents by driving around them. The suspension of the (BMW) Mini Cooper is set far too stiff, giving a most uncomfortable ride. To be honest, it’s an irrelevance in so far that it has no part in the Mini story."
"With the original Mini, we set out to prevent any accidents by having excellent handling, not by cushioning people from the consequences of their own folly The old Mini was the absolute apogee of this philosophy of built-in safety via the handling —people avoided accidents by driving around them. The suspension of the (BMW) Mini Cooper is set far too stiff, giving a most uncomfortable ride. To be honest, it’s an irrelevance in so far that it has no part in the Mini story."
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 6
From: Jack Coffee Hays County, Republic of Texas
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I don't get the point of the countryman, or making any of these cars bigger. What exactly is 'mini' about them? The styling that only works because the cars are small? The countryman looks like an R56 that was born in an area suffering from radiation poisoning.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Exit 9
Oh God! I meant one of FIAT's more tasteful offerings.....if Torino sends the 500XL to the US market it will take years to shake off the PR fallout.
My only response on the CM comment is the same as it was with the Clubman: disliked both cars until my family grew. Then it became a different criteria: not how big is it compared to a hardtop, but rather how can we have more flexibility for the family cargo needs yet still say in the MINI family vs the neutered driving experience of other cars.
So I don't hate in the clubman or the countryman any longer ( having moved from hardtop to clubman to countryman). That said, that's a functional metric. From an optimized MINI driving and aesthetic perspective, smaller is better. I prefer the R56 to anything else in the modern lineup. But to be fair, I vastly prefer my old R53 to the R56.
What irks me about the spy shots for the F56, assuming that's not all just fake paneling, is the growth of the car. It's fine to have larger MINIs or topless MINIs or 2-seater MINIs as long as there remains a small, 'real' MINI as a base choice. We seem to see them move farther and farther from that as all car companies do.
So I don't hate in the clubman or the countryman any longer ( having moved from hardtop to clubman to countryman). That said, that's a functional metric. From an optimized MINI driving and aesthetic perspective, smaller is better. I prefer the R56 to anything else in the modern lineup. But to be fair, I vastly prefer my old R53 to the R56.
What irks me about the spy shots for the F56, assuming that's not all just fake paneling, is the growth of the car. It's fine to have larger MINIs or topless MINIs or 2-seater MINIs as long as there remains a small, 'real' MINI as a base choice. We seem to see them move farther and farther from that as all car companies do.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Exit 9
This is why I've migrated from Volkswagens to MINIs. I had only owned VWs since 1986, being a fan of smaller cars. Unfortunately, VW has moved out of the small car market. Their smallest model now is way too big and dowdy for my tastes.
I've only had my 2013 MC for 3 weeks now and love how it handles, much more reminiscent of my MK1 Golf (aka Rabbit) than anything else out there...and I mean that in a good way.
I've only had my 2013 MC for 3 weeks now and love how it handles, much more reminiscent of my MK1 Golf (aka Rabbit) than anything else out there...and I mean that in a good way.
My only response on the CM comment is the same as it was with the Clubman: disliked both cars until my family grew. Then it became a different criteria: not how big is it compared to a hardtop, but rather how can we have more flexibility for the family cargo needs yet still say in the MINI family vs the neutered driving experience of other cars.
So I don't hate in the clubman or the countryman any longer ( having moved from hardtop to clubman to countryman). That said, that's a functional metric. From an optimized MINI driving and aesthetic perspective, smaller is better. I prefer the R56 to anything else in the modern lineup. But to be fair, I vastly prefer my old R53 to the R56.
What irks me about the spy shots for the F56, assuming that's not all just fake paneling, is the growth of the car. It's fine to have larger MINIs or topless MINIs or 2-seater MINIs as long as there remains a small, 'real' MINI as a base choice. We seem to see them move farther and farther from that as all car companies do.
So I don't hate in the clubman or the countryman any longer ( having moved from hardtop to clubman to countryman). That said, that's a functional metric. From an optimized MINI driving and aesthetic perspective, smaller is better. I prefer the R56 to anything else in the modern lineup. But to be fair, I vastly prefer my old R53 to the R56.
What irks me about the spy shots for the F56, assuming that's not all just fake paneling, is the growth of the car. It's fine to have larger MINIs or topless MINIs or 2-seater MINIs as long as there remains a small, 'real' MINI as a base choice. We seem to see them move farther and farther from that as all car companies do.