The market (and government) dictate car designs. I am in a very small minority when it comes to the things I want from my different vehicles, which is why all modern cars do not appeal to me on at least some levels. Most do not appeal to me on any level. Such is life when you don't want to drive cars designed for the everyman. (The irony of that statement given I own a classic Mini is ripe.)


Want to watch some real butt hurt? Ask Cam-Am riders about trying to get waves from real motorcyclists.

 

My wife and I went nuts and purchased two 2016 Minis back in June. We were originally looking to replace her 11 year old SUV with a convertible. Our kids are older and drive, so the need for a large car was a no longer an issue. I fell in love with the 6 speed Justa F57 she decided to buy. The dynamics and personality of the car were infectious enough where i started thinking that I may want a Mini. I always knew about Mini and toyed with the idea of buying one, but the horror stories kept me away. While I enjoy fun cars, reliability is important to me. When my wife really wanted one I started doing research. When I found out that third gens had apparently purged all the gremlins associated with Peugeot engines and Rover trannies and appeared better built, I felt better about taking the plunge. So I ended up buying a fully loaded off-lease 2016 clubman S with 12K miles. The clubman allowed us to feel like we had a relatively practical car to count on. In fact soon after buying it I took my son and 3 of his close friends to New Hanpshire. The clubman did a great job swallowing my 6 foot, two-inch frame, 4 teenage boys and their stuff. We were all comfortable even in 2 hours of bumper to bumper traffic.
I really love the feel and design of this little car. IMO the clutch and notchy, but precise meaty feel of the 6 speed is wonderful. And the european "built from a piece of granite" feel of the structure is fantastic. It feels like a well built product.
And yes compared to everything else on the road these cars are small. I think people forget that safety regulations drive size and weight. Consumers (yes us) are pushing manufacturers to build huge cars, so we are part of problem. I believe if BMW had a choice they would build smaller cars.
Anyway, currently a very happy mini owner. Of course we will see how reliability is over time. And by reliability I dont mean expecting a machine to work reliably without respecting service intervals. I'm OCD when it comes to service and made sure my wife was aware that these cars would cost more to maintain. I expect to perform most if not all of minor services on my own. Its only if the cars start developing issues that strand us or cause mistrust in their engineering that will drive me to regret our decision.

You want to drive a car with no committment to service or proper upkeep then buy a corolla or camry until they start spewing blue smoke. IMO off soap box. 😁

 

There is Gen 1. Then there is Gen 2. And then that's it. They quit making the car.

 

Gen 3 got them all beat.

 

Very ugly small station wagon.

 

Actually that is exactly what an original (pre BMW) Mini owner is saying about about your car.

 

I have a sports car with a hood scoop plus mine is faster because it is red.
They are making them look like light bulbs now. Heavier, larger, uglier each year.

 

Who's ride you callin' ugly????

 

 

I'm pretty sure new MINIs are faster and stronger than the older generations. I think they may be lighter too (websites seem to conflict here). But HP and 0-60s all favor (comparable) G3 MINIs. They are slightly larger though (like we're talking something like 6" on a car...).

 

Seems like a MINI enthusiasts forum should be free from internal criticizing of the look of various models. maon and groan about an ugly Honda to get your aggression out, leave MINI owners alone. If you don't like it shut tfu.

 

Hmmmmm - I wonder if the Corvette community is having the same discussion over the new C8...

 

As I age, I try to remember that wise admonition that says, "The good old days probably weren't all that good."

I totally sympathize with early MINI adopters, and those who admired the original cars even before BMW got into the mix.

I still own a 1960's era British Seagull 2 cycle outboard from my youth that requires a 10:1 fuel to oil mix in the gas tank; it puts out a smoke screen when it's running properly. Seagull's motto was "The best outboard motor for the world." I thought they lived up to that motto back in the day -- I feel mine still does, over half a century later. But the newest outboards are nothing short of amazing machines.

Loving my old childhood outboard, and cherishing all the memories of the many adventures I had with it, does not diminish my appreciation for the new technology and design of today's outboard engines.

So I give the First Gen MINI lovers their due. I hope, despite their preferences, they'll let us 3rd Gen late adopters love our MINI's too. If you old school motorers don't want anything to do with the new stuff, then love your cars and keep them running. My Seagull is still a first-pull starter.

 

And this 1984 beast, full of Lucas' finest smoking electrical parts and powered by an engine design that, at it's core, dates back to pre-WWII, is still my wife's daily driver!!

 

No, definitely not. The new Corvette is the coolest car on the market today. I looked at one before I bought my mini. However, at 65K, and the hope to win a drawing at that price, it would be just a "hanger queen" that comes out for sunny weekends.

 

My point exactly - there are going to be those who will say cool or not, it is not a Corvette. They will say that the Vette needs to be front engine and big displacement. The proportion of the C8 are wrong; it needs the long front that it always has had, like the C1, C2, etc. They will say those are the things that make a Corvette a Corvette and that the new one is a want-to-be whatever. Not unlike this MINI discussion.

MINIs have evolved in looks, quality and refinement. Some of what MINI is today has been driven by regulations (crash worthiness and whatnot), which MINI has no control over. IMO MINI has done well to preserve its heritage and its fun to drive factor through its Generations, whereas others (VW) have failed. As was said, love your Gen I or Gen II and there are others of us who will love the Gen III. Each has their own unique character which makes them all very special cars.

 

The new Corvette is pretty good looking. Can't say I'm a huge fan of the departure from FR, but its still got a big V8 (6.2L) and it will most likely be a monster in the bang-for-buck category. I'm sure it's going to split the community in the same way MINIs design changes have...but it is inevitable that things change and evolve. I see Harley guys get pissy over some oil-cooler equipped and water jacketed Harleys. Whatever, just don't buy it if you don't like it. Same thing with the Corvette and MINIs.


However. No manual transmission in the C8? Yeah, that's an absolute deal breaker in my book and a poor decision by GM although I understand why they did it.

 

It doesn't even come in manual transmission. What kind of sports car is it?

Same with the new Supra: just a BMW in hiding...

 

Supra?

https://www.facebook.com/ecstuning/videos/vb.74728438691/386157262064844/?type=2&theater

 

No manual for the GP 3 either. Ugh...
But that is the way of the world. DCT and autos are faster.
Corvettes, MINIs, Supras all passing some of us by. It is time for the youngsters to take over. Just watch the IMSA races to see and hear how quickly this is happening. I’ll continue to have my fun for a long time rowing through the gears in my S and JCW.

I wonder if they are working on a JCW version of the MINI SE...

 

I have owned three gen 2 MINIs and was sure that my 2013 was going to be my last. I thought I had no interest in the gen 3 until I drove a 2017 JCW.

 

In a few years we will be hanging out at the donut shop bragging about how many amps our cars are pulling.

 

 

sacrilegious.
No coal cars for me thank you very much. If I'm burning long-chain linked hydrogenated CO2, it needs to be the juice form rather than the solid form.

 

That is not really what the OP was talking about. Successive generations of any car should 'better' than predecessors due to improved technology. The issue is one of marketing approach. That 6" difference (8" if you compare 1st to 3rd gens) is on car called MINI... What if the 4th gen is another 6" and again with the 5th? At some point a MINI badge would just seem sarcastic. To some people in this thread it is arguably already there.

Prior to my R53 I had an E30 3-series BMW. Compared to current models, the E30 is relatively tiny but I do not decry those changes because (1) the BMW brand has nothing to do with being 'small' and (2) they did introduce 1- and 2-series models to fill in the 'gap.'

Is perfectly understandable that many people will prefer the newer models.