here is a mazda that wants to make an entry into the minis market. this car is even smaller than the new mazda3. it even makes note of the successes of the mini. i heard that minis were supposed to sell 25k a year and ended up with 175k last year. who wouldnt want in on that market share.


mazda small concept

 

Discussion on this very subject over in O.T.:Autos

 

I don't know about all of you, but for me they are missing the point. I wasn't looking for a small car. I wanted a MINI because of the heritage, the mystique of the marque and above all - the driving. These wannabes have none of that.

 

I think it's fabulous that the MINI has helped bolster a market for small, fuel-efficient vehicles. If that means that "wannabes" pop up like mad then I say it's happy. I mean, we'll all still have MINIs but more people will be commuting practically.

 

There're many Japanese Econo box in the Asian market for a while now. Many of which never made it to this side of the Pacific, the land of SUV with the motto of "bigger is better." Although they've attempted previously, non succeeded. Now with the success of MINI and Beetle, other manufacturers surely want to have a piece of the MINI pie. :smile:

One thing to note is that most of them are 4-doors, i.e. Scion xA and Chevy Aveno, which make them somewhat more practical for daily purpose. Hence, they're not really direct competitions for MINI. One thing for sure is that none avail the "fun" factor of a MINI.

 

Looking at the big picture I think the comeback of small, sporty, fun and practical hot hatches has become a reality in the US and this is very positive. Small hatches for many years had a bad reputation in this country for being cheap, boring and ugly econoboxes...not anymore. MINI and VW with their Beetle/Golf have helped change that negative perception. I am glad to see that Mazda is offering yet another interesting entry in the "Micro" car market. At least I find this car to be more appealing that the ugly Scions from Toyota.

If more 5-door "Micro-hatches" start to creep up in the market place, MINI has no choice but to hurry up and introduce a "Countryman" or "Traveller" station wagon version of the current R50/R53 platform. I still contend MINI will be making a grave mistake by delaying the introduction of a 5 door MINI until the R56 platform is introduced in '07-'08, giving other competition a piece of the small 5 door wagon market away.


Is good to finally have a choice different from boring and mundane sedans, SUVs and Minivans.

 

>>here is a mazda that wants to make an entry into the minis market. this car is even smaller than the new mazda3. it even makes note of the successes of the mini. i heard that minis were supposed to sell 25k a year and ended up with 175k last year. who wouldnt want in on that market share.
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>>mazda small concept


I am not sure where are you getting your sales numbers from, but MINI did not sell more than 30K units during its first year in the US market. 175K units a year sold are Ford Focus/Honda Civic numbers. BMW is intentionally limiting imports of new MINis into the country to about 30K per year to keep residual values high and avoid flooding the market with MINIs, thus issuing resale value killers such as rebates and incentives.

Notice that after 22 months since MINI was introduced to the US market, the cars are:

1) Still selling briskly, waiting lists still in some parts of the country
2) Cars are still going out the door on full MSRP and in some instances with healthy mark-ups.


Chrysler and VW wish their "wannabes" ever enjoyed that kind of success. Both of these companies flooded the market with their PT Cruisers and Beetles that are now moving on base of incentives, rebates and special financial deals plus seriously eroded resale values.

 

>>Chrysler and VW wish their "wannabes" ever enjoyed that kind of success. Both of these companies flooded the market with their PT Cruisers and Beetles that are now moving on base of incentives, rebates and special financial deals plus seriously eroded resale values.

Ummm... yeah, except that the New Beetle has been on the market since late 1997, and was being sold either at full retail or with a "market adjustment" as late as summer of 2000. It wasn't until the 2001 model year that supply and demand first coincided.

After nearly seven years, when the MINI is in the sunset of its product cycle, when everyone who just had to have one has bought one, when many original owners have sold theirs, and when there's a decent glut of used MINIs on the market from three- and four-year lease returns, let's see how well new MINIs are selling and retaining their value. Then you'll have some basis for comparison.

 

Except the Beetle is a chick car...100%

 

>>I think it's fabulous that the MINI has helped bolster a market for small, fuel-efficient vehicles. If that means that "wannabes" pop up like mad then I say it's happy. I mean, we'll all still have MINIs but more people will be commuting practically. :smile:
IMHO....it would be terrific if all cars...were down-sized a bit... :smile:

Peace,
D

 

That car is hideous. It's a four-door and looks like it's geared toward the econo-borefest market.

 

How about this one from Suzuki...Concept S
Slightly scary from the side view...check out that interior!!
_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

>>I think it's fabulous that the MINI has helped bolster a market for small, fuel-efficient vehicles. If that means that "wannabes" pop up like mad then I say it's happy. I mean, we'll all still have MINIs but more people will be commuting practically. :smile:

Regards,
Red

 

>>I don't know about all of you, but for me they are missing the point. I wasn't looking for a small car. I wanted a MINI because of the heritage, the mystique of the marque and above all - the driving. These wannabes have none of that.

Me, three!!!! That's Why I own a MINI. Not for size at all. This little car has a heritage!

 

The popularity of very small cars in the US is still pretty scarce. In 2002 they sold more MINIs in Germany than in the US. Sadly, I think the land of the gas-guzzling, smog-spewing SUVs still has a long ways to go before it will become the land of the efficient but fun small cars.

 

This morning I saw a Toyota Yaris 3 door hatch being driven south bound on US1 near Ft Lauderdale, FL. The Yaris in hatchback form is not sold in the US or Canada. Tried to catch the license tag but couldn't. Probably is either a Mexican car or a Toyota "test" car.

Here in South Florida I see from time to time cars that are not sold here in the States. For instance near my house last Friday I saw an Audi A3 (The A3 is the 2 door hatchback version of the Audi A4 sedan) with Mexican plates that had been rear ended by another car. That must suck to get into an accident in a foreign country with your own car.

 

Minis were wannabees once...except they kicked a$$ on the race track and became an icon. Check out these cars

 

Minis were wannabees once...except they kicked a$$ on the race track and became legends. Check out these cars micro cars, take the tour, and check out the first Mini's competition...especially those Goggomibiles!!!

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

>>How about this one from Suzuki...Concept S
>>Slightly scary from the side view...check out that interior!!


It's not nearly as ugly as many other cars out there: Aztek, Hummer, Scion Xb, Cadillac Escalade or CTS, the list goes on... It would be a whole lot better looking if they just reduced or eliminated the ugly creases in the hood. It's got a nice profile. The Mazda wannabe looks like a Golf; at least the Suzuki's got some personality!

 

>>Minis were wannabees once...except they kicked a$$ on the race track and became legends. Check out these cars micro cars, take the tour, and check out the first Mini's competition...especially those Goggomibiles!!!
>>

Hey jds, I've seen that site before! Way cool stuff there. The first time I visited I was looking for an Isetta after having one described to me. Then I saw one in the flesh, as it were, at Brecht BMW/MINI in Escondido, CA.

 

>>How about this one from Suzuki...Concept S
>>Slightly scary from the side view...check out that interior!!
>>_________________
>>'03 IB/W Cooper

Suzuki has a reputation (at least with their bikes) for great engineering and terrible marketing and support. So, if Suzuki promotes this, it could be a real competitor for the MINI in performance and handling (if the all-wheel drive makes it to market). As for styling, I think the MINI wins hands-down, both in the interior and exterior.

The Mazda too, could compete with the MINI for performance and handling, especially if they'd lose the 4 cyl. and put a rotary up front.

With the MINI, I think its the heritage and styling that grab your interest, but its the "fun to drive" handling and performance that make you a fanatic. MINI has a head start on these wanabes, and it has heritage going for it, but it needs to continue to keep an edge in handling and performance to stay ahead.

 

How about the VW Lupo GTI, it's been around since before the new MINI was introduced.

 

There are similarities to the MINI in both the Suzuki and the Mazda, and consequently, they both look pretty cool from certain angle, though the MINI has the better overall look. The Suzuki will be the one to watch, w/ the possibility of some pretty serious performance. I'd have looked at either if I saw them in a world w/out the new MINI. Re: the micro-cars- I'd have a stable full of them just for the fun of it if I could afford to. Toy cars on steriods for sure. It almost seems like you'd need to make 'brummm-brummm' sounds while you were driving one of these cuties!

 

I like the Lupo...and I'd like it even more if it had a pretty low center of gravity. (...which it may have.) Warning to young MINI owners....I never realized how much my old Spitfire altered my perception and expectations of driving!!! MINIs are doing the same thing now. I shudder to think what would happen if MINIs went out of production some day. I sure hope some of these wannabees will step up to the plate!!! (...although for now its gonna be real tough to beat the MINI package and heritage.)

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

This courtesy of GoMINI mag....the Daihatsu Copen. It's just a 2 seater, sure, but does the styling seem familiar???? Check it out...

http://www.daihatsu.co.jp/showroom/l...open/index.htm

Be sure to scroll down for Copen galleries and movies.:smile: