"Contrary to popular belief, you can still get a brand-new A1 GTI in America. It's just called a Cooper S."

Jay Lamm wrote an interesting sideline to the VW GTI feature. The one point I would disagree with is:"There's also no denying that the Mini's affected, faux-form-follows-function interior is already hopelessly dated." Every person who asks me about my car goes *wow* when they see the interior.

When new, I test drove one of the first GTIs. I was driving a Civic CVCC, and was impressed.

 

moral to this story????

 

The moral is: the MINI's interior is so different from the cookie-cutter-sporty-sedans out there that it has become a love-it or hate-it feature. While most new cars are nice, it is that niceness that keeps them attractive, but not too attractive--that way they don't accidently turn prospective buyers away because they don't get the styling theme of the interior (this also works for the exterior--look around). VW, Honda and Toyota--in fact, the list continues; go ahead, add your own marques here--are all vying for the same target market's dollars and they are all afraid to make a change which might give a negative visual cue. They are content with being cookie-cutter and competing in some other manner: cash back, service, options packages, name recognition.

I like my MINI because it is original. I don't like everything about my MINI, but at least it's original.

dan

 

Denial aint just a river in Egypt. While they nailed the exterior, the interior of the first-gen new Mini is an over-wrought joke.

 

Wow, just curious what bothers you about the interior so much?

I don't particularly like the door interior looks, the next gen's look at lot nicer to me...and without the chrome line interior option I think the interior is too much "plastic" for me...but all cars are like that now. Besides those minor items I really like the interior!

 

I have my quibbles with the current interior, namely the use or over use of hard, scratch prone plastic surfaces in high wear areas like the boot, rear side quarter panels and the backs of both front seats. Visually, it is a very nice interior otherwise and it doesn't look dated, unlike the dashboards of your garden variety Asian cars...

 

While I have grown to like my MINI interior, expecially with a few changes, it is definatly not nice/ergonomic as my Acura's interior was. Everything in the Acura was in a perfect position and had a perfect feel.

 

I've had probably 50 to 100 comments on the interior (and exterior) and all I've heard is WOW! Verrry nice. Not a negative comment in the crowd. I think it's fantastic because it is different. And sharp looking - especially with the chrome lined instruments. It's a reminder of the old classic styles yet new... I'll probably never buy a different car. 25+ years of driving and I'm thrilled with this little MINI. The most fun I've ever had driving and admiring a car.

 

And that "perfection" of the Acura can make you very sleepy at the wheel......YAWN!

Been there done that. After owning 6 Accords, 1 Integra and 1 2.5TL sedan (1997), I completely gave up on Honda's sterile non-risky styling.

 

This has been a great discussion. I had a feeling that quote of Lamm's would get some people's ire.
IMHO: The mainstream manufacturers can't risk being too different. When some try, for some reason it turns out ugly. Just like architects, good designers are a gift from God.
A beef I have is my gunboat feet have marred the plastic door pocket. But it could get painted (and messed up again).

 

I really like the dash (although I will side with golfersmurf and say I could do without the design of the door interior). It's a really interesting design. There is nothing worse than getting in a cool-looking car and feeling disappointed by an interior that was clearly an afterthought aesthetically. The Corvette is a great example. I think MINI really upped the ante in this regard (among others); compare the interior of the old Camry to the new Camry, for instance. I don't know enough to say that the Cooper is the reason why the new Camry is so space-y inside, but regardless, haven't we suffered through enough boring design in the 80's and 90's? Could you call those interiors "timeless?" I think an interior's being distinctive and of visual interest is far more important than supposed "timelessness" considering it's the part of the car you spend the most time looking at and directly interacting with.

Is the interior novel? Yes. Dated? No.

 

Well, golfersmurf... golfersmurf?! Jesus, I almost engaged in a conversation with someone who calls themselves golfersmurf. Whoa, that was close.

 

I find my Mini interior to be far more interesting than my M3 interior. Though I Like the color of my M3 interior much better, the features on the Mini are better!

 

Well if the shoe fits...

 

I am bored tonight so Smurf please do not engage in conversation with XAlfa they are just sitting at home counting the hours till Alfa Romeo brings another pretty car to the states that the owners will have to push around because they are not put together correctly.

WOW I can be mean when I am bored, but I do like smurfs they are blue and cool.

 

That was very mean. I am crushed. I will meet you half way on smurfs; they are indeed blue. Alfas, on the other hand, are red.

 

XAlfa: thanks for posting the link, I haven't seen that yet. Very sweet! But no interior shots, hmm.....

 

I love the Mini interior. I will agree that the plastic is cheap quality, especially in the rear of the car, but the design is great. When I first got my car & my one buddy was looking at it the first thing he said was "what's up with that speedometer in the center of the dash? That's stupid!" I explained that it was a retro nod to the original Mini and that there is also a digital speedo in the bottom the tach, but he was still like "OK. but it's stupid". Got to love friends who tell it like it is. Anyway I like the big speedometer & I think it's cool. All the other car interiors, whether they are Japanese, American or European all look the same to me. Seems to be a real lack of creativity or desire to do anything bold or different anymore. The only interior I like more than the Mini is the Lotus Elise with all that exposed aluminium.

 

At 48 years old I have owned many cars. The Mini has the best interior of any I have owned. Very few concept cars get to keep the interior they are presented with, the mini is the exception. Everybody who has looked inside was wowed by the interior. That said, everybody has an opinion!

 

Im pretty sure everybody here has the love it opinion of the interior rather then the hate it

 

Aesthetically speaking, the R53 interior is a heck of a lot better than the R56 playskool design!

 

The MINI interior design is great....second only to the Audi TT, IMO. I would like it more if it had more "real" metal.... like the TT has real aluminum. But otherwise, it's a great design that goes with the rest of the car, and will never be any more "dated" than the car itself.

 

Alfa is making some great looking cars, too bad they won't be for sale over here. Funny thing though, the back of that one looks like an Opel GT

 

i know i will get flamed for this, but what the hell.

i test drove a new GTI before i bought my mini. 30 minutes before. the gti was a nice car. very flashy, but it honestly felt like a mini van to me. turbo was nice but all turbo cars are over 3k.

the interior on a VW is hands down WAY better than a mini. we are all biased on here because we love our cars but fit and finish from the factory the vw is one of the top 3 imported cars in the usa. sit in one for more than an hour and you will understand what i mean.

my mini interior started rattling at 2k miles and just gets worse now at 12k miles. it is something you just accept as the chassis is stiff as a board. i know this because i teeter-totter and lift the rear wheel when i go up curbs and the like.

if i had to chose and interior i would pick a vw over mini anyday. quality of the experience and driving pleasure, the mini wins hands down. it is just so fun, plus it isnt cookie cutter in the least. My gf just bought a new 06 5cyl jetta and the interior is top notch, quiet, and very roomy/plush. the car is boring as hell do drive though, and the steering is sluggish and there is no feedback, but it damn well cruises the freeway with absolutely no discomfort to the occupants.

road trip: we take the v-dub
carving and track: we prefer the mini

 

oh yeah, an anotation. if anyone has a chance to sit in the interior of a 350z do so. that is an interior that got it right. overall layout is excellent, and the materials are amazing. micro-weave door panel covers, micro weave headliner, rubberized plastic. top notch, all business.