I wonder if MiniUSA has ever considered bringing an entry level decontented Mini to our market? Price it around $14,995. It would appeal to students and people who want basic transportation to and from work at a very affordable price. Similar to what the VW Beetle was years ago, no frills transportation.



Basically a Cooper without any of the following;

-PW
-PL
-PM
-ABS
-A/C
-Low pressure tire warning
-CD player
-run flat tires
-4 air bags instead of 6
-ASC
-Tilt wheel
-???

 

LOTS of students and young drivers abroad just get a MINI One. It's been assumed (...and they're probably right unfortunately) that U.S. drivers wouldn't be satisfied with less hp.

 

I get a sense that if fuel continues to be as high as it is, a LOT of low HP, smaller cars will start coming in. It used to bew that the biggest drawback for small car certification was the 5 MPH Bumper rule. The way MINI has solved that situation would lead one to believe small cars may be flocking here soon.

Of course, we will then have to contend (all over again) with Yugos, Fiats, etc.....

 

Beyond the horsepower question (you're right, but even then, MINI USA were caught off guard by higher-than-expected demand for Cooper S versus Cooper; too many people think even the Cooper is poky), the MINI is positioned in the US as an upscale/premium small car, not a Cavalier fighter. In this market the MINI story is not about volume or low-end appeal, it is about carving out a new premium niche, and the MINI One doesn't fit that strategy.

 

Believe it or not, bringing the MINI ONE to north america is a bad business idea and MINIUSA seems to agree.


The MINI ONE is a very dicontented "Cooper", it comes with a 90HP version of the standard 1.6L TRITEC engine (Which is rated at 115HP in the Cooper), doesn't even have a tach, offers no contrasting roof and the front grille is black with a chrome surround.

Is not a bad car, but in the USA market it makes little sense. The MINI ONE (Remember that there is a gas powered and Diesel model) is mainly sold in the European market (Mexico doesn't even get the ONE either) where gas is a lot more expensive and fewer people can't comfortably afford the more "luxurious" and "powerful" Cooper and MCS models. When you factor the cost of fuel in Europe (close to US$4.00 per gallon), taxation on engine displacement and cost of insurance, the Cooper and MCS would be out of reach for most people. So then a less powerful, more economical 90HP MINI with less standard features, less taxation and less insurance is a pretty sensible choice.

But here in America, the ONE would have been dead on the water since day one. Our gas is expensive, but not to the levels of the European Union, we don't get taxed on engine displacement, insurance costs are not extremely significant from model to model (In this area your credit report, area of residence and driving record affect more your premium rates than the car itself) and last but not least, Americans are infatuated with engine power and feature rich cars from the factory, so the MINI ONE would not make business sense as most people would be able to skip it and move over to the Cooper anyway.

Also, who in their right mind is going to pay $14K-$15K for a new car with only 90HP? I know I wouldn't. this is another area of total disadvantage. See, you can get a new Scion, Hyundai Elantra, Kias, Civics, Corollas, Focus, Neons, etc you name it for the same money and so much more standard power. Even the Suzuki Aerio has 140HP standard from the factory for under $15K.

So price to power ratio, make the gas powered MINI ONE a very bad idea for US consumers.

Imagine, if people complaint about the "lack of power" of the Cooper, imagine the comments about a 90HP engine powering a 2,500 pound car...

Like someone said, MINIUSA already has positioned the MINI as a premium small car, not a volume/price fighter in the likes of Scion, Hyundai or Kia.

 

In america we gennerly care more about our car than we do on our home.

 

The MINI ONE does have power windows and locks standard. You can't get a new MINI anywhere in the world with just crank windows. I wonder how many automakers still make cars without power windows...probably I can count them with the fingers on one hand.


The MINI ONE as sold in Europe, does not have A/C (In fact A/C is optional in all models in Europe), does not have a tachometer (You have an empty space in front of the steering wheel), cloth seats, WAVE cassette stereo (We Americans get the Boost CD stereo which is optional for the Euros), 2 front airbags (Side airbags are then again optional in all MINI models sold overseas).

We Americans get a very feature RICH MINI for about the same money Europeans get to pay for a bare bones MINI. We are very fortunate and sometimes we typically take for granted all that we have in this country.

In this country with a decent entry level $25K-$35K a year job you can buy a Cooper or MCS. In Europe you can't, so folks that can afford a MCS in Europe are typically well off financially to afford the taxes, fuel and insurance costs.

 

Sad but true. I am a car guy but have never lost focus by purchasing a car that is more expensive than the condo where I live. But I have heard stories of people that drive around in Mercedes Benz S class sedans but are homeless...they live inside the car

 

It seems like manufacturers who bring decontented cars to the US do so to sell them at a premium as lightweight "racing" alternatives to standard models (Porsche has done it with the 911, Mitsubishi with the Evo, BMW with the 2nd M3).

The Cooper at $17K is a good buy with its standard equipment. It has less power than a Focus or a Civic EX or Scion tC, but more style and better build quality, I think.

I wouldn't be surprised if adding a decontented version would actually increase costs. Right now, the power equipment goes into every Mini produced, so there have to be efficiencies there. If you start making some Coopers for the US with crank windows, etc. the complication probably offsets any gains from the simpler equipment.

 

Like I said, go to any new car showroom and see how many cars you can find with crank windows...not many or perhaps none at all.

The majority of American car buyers don't like crank windows or cars without power locks or keyless entry...we are too used to these gadgets!

People that dream of bre bones MINI Coopers, etc are either performance oriented folks or nostalgia folks both of which are an inmense minority for any automaker to cater to. A Mass produced vehicle without basic amenities will not sell in this country, period.

The Lotus Elise is a glaring example of a car focused on high performance, decreased weight and close to zero ameneties, no power nada.

yet the Elise will sell for well over $40K.

I suspect a MINI ONE is the lightest of all models but probably the difference is only a few pounds here and there. the MINI was built with high safety in mind so the car will be heavy to be acceptable to most consumers that fear moving onto a smaller vehicle citing safety/size concerns.

 

Honestly, I would like to see them bring in the Mini One-D. I would buy the diesel! It still handles the same... and face it, the Cooper is not really fast anyway... it is all about the curves!

 

I'll preface this by saying that this is the first new car I've bought, so maybe all cars have a lot more electronics than I'm aware of. I'm sure that's probably the case. Seems to me, though, that if I were truly looking for an economy car, I'd be mighty scared by the skittish electronics of the MINI (even a $14,995 MINI). As it is, I don't like the electronic throttle, and it seems like you can barely loosen a screw on these cars without getting the ECU all in a tizzy. The engine management software is moodier and kookier than George Steinbrenner. Why risk having to go to a BMW dealer for every single little problem, when you can buy a stripped Corolla or Sentra for less $ and have far lower maintenance costs? I'm assuming the situation is a bit different in Europe, where dealers and other service shops don't automatically gouge for working on a "foreign" car.

Talking out of my *** again,
Chris

 

I'm assuming the situation is a bit different in Europe, where dealers and other service shops don't automatically gouge for working on a "foreign" car.

Talking out of my *** again,
Chris[/QUOTE]
They do if you show up in a Chevy.......

 

Speltzer,
MINIUSA had considered it and decided to focus the limited numbers of MINI in the US at the high end of the market for the most profit and for the US public that shys away from less power and tends to go nuts for more power.

Lexus has the IS200 all over Europe and in the US we don't have it. Why not? Same reasons.

When I was in the UK last summer I saw many MINI ONEs on the road and in fact it is a very good seller with manual transmission while the MC sells with CVT alot. Fewer MCS are sold due to much higher insurance rates and high gas prices. Most of the roads are pretty narrow and tight so a little car with good mpg is best.

In the US the MC is quite a good option. If the price is too much then just wait and pick up a used one. Since sales are strong there should be some for sale at some point.

If you really want a basic commuter car that is decent then the Mazda 3, Ford Focus, Scion XA/XB, or other imports are worth a look.

I think the MC is a much better car and worth the sticker price.

 

I understand that BMW/MINI is a premium brand of cars, and I do not seeing them offering a $14,995 Mini "basic" in the future. I did not realize the European Mini is not even offered with roll up windows etc. I really feel this is where VW has blown it. They should have designed the New Beetle as a more compact and affordable entry level car, not the bloated and premium priced model they came out with. They have gotten away from their roots as an affordable "peoples car". And they wonder why the Phaeton model is not selling? Just think. Who would spend 70K on a VW when they could buy a 7 series BMW and not be in line behind a Jetta in the service department line? What is the most affordable car in their line-up? I think it would be the Jetta that retails for around 17K. And they wonder why sales are down. A $ 13,995 VW New Beetle. Now that's value for the dollar.

 

The interesting thing with Ones and Ds seems to be that "across the pond" they're tuned like mad....and have much more capacity for performance modding. The Cooper comes pretty well tuned as is.

Its similar to the situation we have with the MCS here. If you want to tune your MINI, you can do a lot more with an S than a Cooper. Not so much so with a JCW MCS, though.

Same thing with a One and a Cooper. Sure, we won't see Ones here, but imagine the fun!!!!!!!

 

VW Beetle's suck! VW blew it big time with this semi-iconic car. The classic Beetle used to be RWD Air-cooled engine, not like the FWD, water cooled engine copycat they have been selling since 1998 as the "Beetle". The current Beetle rides on the outdated Mark IV platform used in the Golf/Jetta with the aweful solid rear axle.

VW, apparently, has decided to left the Beetle to die in obsolence. The company recemtly announced that they have no plans to update or redesign the Beetle anytime soon. While the Mark V Golf makes it here, the Beetle will be the oldest, most outdated car in VW's line-up.

I sometimes wonder if VW's management is on crack or something! VW fails to realize that the New Beetle is the car that pulled them out of the brink of bankruptcy in the US and elsewhere.

 

In Europe VW does have an entry level car called the Polo. The last time I drove one it was something like the Brazillian built Fox.

If MINIs are not sold anywhere without power locks, why are there lock buttons on the door? You can't use them to unlock the door.

 

VW Europe have an even smaller entry car called the Lupo!



Now that's a small car!

 

Did we all miss something? Speltzer was not suggesting that BMW/USA supply the US market with the MINI One, just a MINI with fewer options. Frankly, I don't think those things Speltzer recommend cutting would go with the U.S. market.

If anything, manufacturers are now including more features as "standard."
Examples are 4-wheel disc brakes, DOHC, A/C, power windows and locks.

 

Mazda did this last year with the Miata. They offered a stripped down Miata for all of the Spec Miata wannabe racers who complained that there wasn't something offered like that. Well Mazda listens and puts out a run of 1500 cars with no radio, no ac...etc. They couldnt sell them all and a few are still floating around out there on dealer lots.

The majority of Americans want the power window/locks, CD player, and AC. Even cars like the Scion series offer a tremendous amount of creature comforts at a very low starting price.

I just don't see a stripped down Mini working in the US.

 

I agree, as regards VW's modern rendition of the classic Beetle. The 1st Beetles were a certainly very affordable, lovable, simple, basic design, with not bad room to boot (except for cargo). I'd always been interested in the old Beetle. Though I've never had one, I would melt inside everytime I saw an old one in good condition. There are still many out there, as they are so easy to maintain (relatively speaking). God, I saw a mint one the other day, in a sort of Pepper White type off white, and it was to die for! (Looked brand new! )

When I heard a new Beetle was coming out, I was pretty excited! (We are talking about a guy that seriously considered buying a NEW old Beetle from Mexico, where they were still made until recently). Other than an exterior design that obviously has roots in the old design, the new Beetle is a whole other animal. Sigh. Oh well, that's just the way things go.

I don't think a super base level MINI would do all that well in the USA. Even I, a guy that was so hot on the old Beetle, can't live w/o my power windows and door locks, now that I've had 'em in at least one car. But could some kind of purposely low end market built compact (or subcompact) do well here in the good ol' US of A? Sure it could, if it had all the right characteristics, such as: being built well, being easily maintainable by the owner, etc., etc. Will such a car appear anytime soon? No, absolutely not. The modern automotive manufacturing industry, as well as today's consumer, has changed too much.

But, in years to come, things will change again. As things always change in time. So, I'm not going to lose any sleep over this stuff. Instead, I lose sleep over more important things, like love lost, etc., etc. Sigh.

 

Not true! I had a 1994 Miata R-PKG for 7 years... it was fantastic! They were not just stripped though, they were lowered slightly, had a mild aero-kit, Bilstein shocks, no air and no PS.

 

As I remember, they have promotional period in around June last year(?)
99$ per month to least a basic mini. But only if you least two cars once a time to get that price.

 

MINI ONE Interior shots (Notice the funky upholstery and the absence of the steering wheel mounted tachometer):