Ok, everyone cringe with me now...
My mom called yesterday to let me know she saw a report on the news from a local auto show. The reporter walked over to the MINI Cooper and said (*everyone take a deep breath now*) "and here we have the WANNA-BE WV BUG, the MINI Cooper."

 

Like my wife says:

"The MINI is the VW Beetle done right".

I rest my case.

 

I don't wanna be in a bug.. as a matter of fact, some of the most shocked and wanting stares come from people in new bugs...

that why only idiots should watch local news... it's pure dreck..

Rocketboy_X

 

The New Beetles suck!!! That's the lamest crap I ever heard. That's almost worse than that Judge taking "One Nation Under God" out of the pledge. These kind of people are the reason we should bring hangings back.

 

a

 

dudes, i'm a big VW fan, (i'm selling my golf for a MINI and my other car is a 99 Passat V6, which is awesome by the way), but when I see the MINI in the same category as the bug and PT Cruiser it just pisses me off. the new bug is a horrible car, and the PT Cruiser is a dodge neon with a different body and NO *****!!! The MINI has more charm, power, and performance in it's little booty then both those cars combined. RARRRR!!!

 

Of all the recently introduced retro/trendy vehicles under $20K, the MINI is the only one that faithfully sticks to its predecesor's roots...FWD, excellent interior packaging and space efficiency, superb handling, small exterior size, classic styling clues. The main problem the MINI has had to face in North America is the lack of history the car has in this part of the world. The original Mini was imported for a brief run during the 1960's where as the original Beetle was sold until the late 1970's, thus making it more popular.

The VW Beetle on the other hand, is nothing more than a Golf/Jetta with a Beetle shaped body. The current Beetle/Jetta/Golf IV platform is a bit bigger than the MINI but it is pedestrian in the handling dynamics dept right next to the MINI, right out of the box. The IV platform features a solid rear axle and soft suspension tuning and this is one reason why so many VW owners need to turn to aftermarket support to improve the handling chracteristics of these cars.

VW has made many mistakes with the Beetle....high production numbers, flooded market, eroded exclusivity, reluctancy to make timely powertrain and suspension improvements over the years (The Turbo S model is a late response IMO) and delaying the Cabriolet model for more than 5 years (MINI is set to bring a convertible to market in about a year or so).

The Beetle saved VW's sorry *** in this country. Remember that by 1997 VW was at the very brink of bankruptcy and the Beetle (Concept I) turned things 360 degrees around for them.

The New Beetle (Aside from looking like a clown car) does not follow the formula of the original car...RWD, Air Cooled flat piston engine, low bargain basement introductory price. Some old hardcore VW Beetle lovers have made attempts to import new "Classic" Beetles from Mexico and Brazil where they are still being produced, with no success. By the way, a new 'classic' Beetle in Mexico costs around USD $7,000. The new one costs twice that amount.

The Beetle IV platform is due to be phased out in 2004 by the Beetle V platform. Until then we shall see how the new car will measure up against the MINI. The Turbo S is a great improvement in terms of power and straight line acceleration but the Beetle still falls short in many, many areas of performance and design where the MINI clearly beats it hands down.


Daimler-Chrysler made the same VW Beetle mistakes with the PT Cruiser. The PT Cruiser is a very good quality car, but aside from its exterior and interior appareance, the car is a Dodge Neon at heart..FWD, small and underpowered 4 cyl engine. For 2003, DCX has introduced the PT Cruiser Turbo to address the performance deficiences that have plagued this vehicle since introduction time. A successful PT Cruiser would have offered a choice of V6 or V8 engines and RWD to better emulate its American Hotrod origins.

The PT Cruiser's designer, Brian Nesbitt (Very young guy, I think he is 30 years old), now works for the Chevrolet Motor Division at General Motors. Watch some of his design influences in upcoming GM Chevy cars.


In conclusion, the MINI is the real thing, the Beetle and PT Cruiser while nice cars are just badly executed imitators.

 

>>Ok, everyone cringe with me now...
>>My mom called yesterday to let me know she saw a report on the news from a local auto show. The reporter walked over to the MINI Cooper and said (*everyone take a deep breath now*) "and here we have the WANNA-BE WV BUG, the MINI Cooper."


***Sometimes I wonder if some folks are naturally stupid or if they train and study for years to be stupid


_________________
....that car is a bad ***** --
Shut your mouth!
I'm talkin bout MINI!
We can dig it!!!

 

>>***Sometimes I wonder if some folks are naturally stupid or if they train and study for years to be stupid


I fear I'm usually to brutally honest for my own good... I think over 80% of the US public are a bunch of mindless cattle who can't think for themselves. So I would go for your "naturally stupid" statement... very much agree.

My favorite is when you show someone a FACT which is a thing that can be backed up by logical and truthful evidence, and the person is still so brainwashed with stupidity they don't believe it.

 

*cringe cringe cringe cringe cringe*

Wanna be VW Bug my A$$.

What Rocketboy X said was totally true and I see it almost every day because I see 500 VW Beetles per day....the drivers of which salivate over my Mini.....

I liked the original Bug...my friend drives one and I almost had one as my first car....but I can't stand the new ones....the dash is almost as wide as my dining room table and I can't say I ever liked the body style.
I cannot stand it either when people put my Mini in the same class as the Beetle or PT Cruiser....

I don't even need to ask whether or not I am a snob...I know I am!

Cheers!
L.Mini

 

re: "I cringe whenever people ask if my MINI is a VW Beetle."

KPiglet,

All you have to do is say, "Look inside. Do you see any plastic bud vase?"

The MINI sells itself without gimicks IMHO.

 

>>***Sometimes I wonder if some folks are naturally stupid or if they train and study for years to be stupid

This reporter clown has his/her doctorate in stupid, probably mastered in idiocy.

I can't believe people! Some one said this very thing to me just the other day. They hadn't heard of the MINI and as I was showing them the brochure they said,"Oh it's like a bug." Long story short, they got a little education from me, and a steak for their black eye.

_________________
Winnie Cooper, silk green, black top, premium and sports package.
Can't wait to meet her this December!

 

I bet he has a master in bating.

 

The Beetle has a dashboard which is about a mile deep. The first time I sat in a New Beetle, I felt like I was driving the car from the rear seats. It is funny how VW brags about the "Abundant" front headroom but makes no mention whatsoever about the torture chamber the rear seats actually are. The MINI feels more spacious inside in despite of the Beetle being bigger. After the Golf/Jetta were redesigned in 1999 I simply fail to understood the continued existance of the Beetle. I much prefer the Golf over the Beetle for looks, space and sheer utility.

Having said this, most of us despise the Beetle but let's face it...this car opened up the doors to a new class of inexpensive, well built, retro themed vehicles. Also thanks to the Beetle, VW has had the most successful 5 years in sales history.

But VW also failed at making the Beetle the leader of the "Premium Small Car" segment. MINI is the current leader in this new category.

Beetle sales have been sagging in the past couple of years and VW has been forced to offer special lease/financing incentives to keep them rolling out.

I think the upcoming introduction of the VW Beetle Cabriolet is a positive thing for the lineup but it came 5 years too late.

Until VW doesn't make the Beetle a RWD, rear engine car with a capable chassis, the MINI will only continue to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Being a news reporter doesn't take a lot of grey matter. My apologies to Nancy(and yes I am still gloating) on the Gulf Coast if you are reading this......


Size matters!!!
_________________
MiniMe

 

:smile:

Oh I do have to mention...
The mini is mine!!!! the beetle my husband's!

 

i thought of a great marketing slogan for MINI:

Just big enough to squash the Bug!

(Get it? :smile: If VW wants to go retro and make some serious dough, why not bring back the Karmann Ghia? I can imagine some great modern designs for it. I heard they were bringing back the VW Bus. That will be interesting.

 

>>Ok, everyone cringe with me now...
>>My mom called yesterday to let me know she saw a report on the news from a local auto show. The reporter walked over to the MINI Cooper and said (*everyone take a deep breath now*) "and here we have the WANNA-BE WV BUG, the MINI Cooper."

ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I was the proud owner of a 1973 VW SuperBeetle Convertible. I LOVED that car & from car MaGs was looking forward to the new super
duper V6 (only convertible) they were supposed to come out with. Didn't matter.
The new bug came out & I was SORELY dissappointed!!!!!!! I preferred to keep the one I had, though maintenance on an older car like that is not an easy task for everybody. I heard about the MINI coming out, saw it & was totally FREAKED inside & out!!!!! Bought one, SCREW the bug. They, IMO didn't meet the expectations
that I had for it. While I have never had anyone (as of yet) call my MINI a bug, I have on the other hand continuously had it called a PT MINI Cruiser.?????????????
BTW.....not to dog someone who maybe has a PT Cruiser. I have since day one never liked them & can't figure out what causes people to think that is who makes them.????

 

>>i thought of a great marketing slogan for MINI:
>>
>>Just big enough to squash the Bug!
>>
>>(Get it? :smile: If VW wants to go retro and make some serious dough, why not bring back the Karmann Ghia? I can imagine some great modern designs for it. I heard they were bringing back the VW Bus. That will be interesting.
>>


CHEERS!!!!!!!!

 

the mini was launched by Morris in August 1959, the last mini was rolled off the production line in 2000. Less than 20K in production the first year. The Mini Cooper was launched Sept 20, 1961. [john morris mark 1]

the mini has had a very strong run and following for a good reason, it's been such a good car and only getting better with each successive model.

one of the best memory envoking vehicles ever!

 

CMINIGO....

They brought back the bus and I have seen the pictures.....

In my opinion two words will sum that up.... "NOT CUTE".

It is another case of what was VW thinking....

Cheers!
L.Mini

 

> Also thanks to the Beetle, VW has had the most successful 5 years in sales history.

I thought the A4 was supposedly what saved VW/Audi from going under. Maybe both?

And while we're totally off-topic, how about that new "Microbus"? Defying all odds, it's actually UGLIER than the EuroVan. Would it have been too much to at least give it the round headlights? Who would seriously buy this thing?