Did the fact that BMW owns the MINI marque have any influence on your decision to buy a MINI Cooper and if so, in what way?

Curious to know because the subject came up in an OT thread.

My answer is no. I didn't even know BMW owned MINI until I had already decided to buy and found out the MINI dealership was colocated at a BMW dealership.

 

Nope.

It was either a 25th anniversary Euro GTI or a MINI (w/o ever having driven one, based soley on style and design). I just wanted a smaller car, and these were the 2 I had narrowed it down to. VW ran out of the anniversary edition so I opted for the MCS. I'm soooooo glad VW sold out of what I wanted. I took that first test drive and haven't stopped smiling since. Well, except when I get a repair bill.

So, No. But it doesn't hurt that BMW backs it.

 

Well, only in that it almost made veto the notion since service for our BMWs had been an ongoing overall bad thing.

 

yes.....had the MINI been truely a new company I probably would have waited for them to prove themselves.....knowing that the car was designed and built by an established car maker with some prestige removed the reservations

 

brought a 2006 because from my research on the net, they proved to be very reliable. I finally had it narrowed to two cars the Civic Si and the Cooper, I ended up with the cooper because interior is much nicer plus I've own 3 hondas before. The fact that they are made by BMW is just an added bonus for me.
Lets all please have a brief moment of silence for the Honda I sold. She gave her life so I can drive a cooper. I hope she is in good hands now=)

 

yes. i am guilty. if i could have afforded the new 3 series coupe..sorry mini...it would have been it. but, i am thrilled with my mini..very fun.

maybe in a few years when i grow up I will get the bmw. until then, it's fun fun fun till daddy takes the mini away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

 

It didnt play a role in my decision at all. I bought my car because it is a MINI and the absolute opposite of what I was driving at the time (Honda Civic 4 dr).

 

Nope I buy a MINI because BMW owned them. When I found out I was glad to know that I had BMW's safety standard's behind me but it sucked to find out that I also got to pay the high BMW-like price for parts & labor on repairs

 

Not in the slightest. I was sold on the car BEFORE I knew that BMW made them. But when I found out, it gave me a bit more piece of mind knowing that BMW quality went into the car.

Now, The Italian Job on the other hand. And the person who owned a CR/B MC parked in a grocery store parking lot - first MINI I ever saw in person. THOSE were the deciding factors.

 

Yes and no. I didn't know BMW owned MINI when I first decided I wanted one. But, when I learned they did, I believe it was a factor in my ultimate decision to own one. On the other hand, I can't say I would not have bought one if BMW didn't own it.

 

Yes...when the new MINI came out and I found out that BMW was behind it that helped my decision.

 

I had a Classic...went off to college and sold it...swore I'd get another Mini when I was able to do so. Then Austin sold to Rover and Rover went belly up...my thoughts were verydark, as I really wanted a new Mini and had the money. When BMW came out with the "new" MINI, that sealed the deal for me. As was stated..."it doesn't hurt that BMW backs it". As you can see by my sig, I am completely sold on the MINI.

 

Not at all.

 

lets put it this way, i didnt buy the MINI because BMW owns it but if Ford or Chevey would have owned the MINI brand i would NOT have bought one.

 

it was a huge factor in why I bought mine. i had a 330i and though it was great. i know BMW makes cars for drivers so I figured the MINI was in that same mold.

 

good way to put it.

 

Nope not at all an influencing factor in the decision

 

Considering that I was all set and ready to purchase a 325xi when I stumbled across MINI in January '02, yes. As much as I was drawn to the car, the analytical side of me required a long 3 or 4 months of intense scrutiny - as exhaustive as I could be with the limited info back then - which culminated in a test drive on March 30 (first I could get to the dealer after it opened on March 22) that left me (as most of you) SOLD on the MINI! Now on MINI #2 and I've never looked back.

 

I tried to ignore it. Part of me wishes MINIs were still made by British Motor Cars, as my original Mini was, but then logic steps in and is glad it runs in the rain.

 

exactly

 

For everyone who agrees with this sentiment I'm just curious, would you not buy an Aston Martin when owned by Ford as well if it fit what you were looking for? Does the bias against parent company ownership based on other things trump any evaluation of a product at all even if it is a very good one?

 

No influence whatsoever. I've never given a whit about BMW's themselves. I wanted a Mini for their looks, their potential autocross performance, and their BRITISH heritage.

 

I knew from the begining that BMW owned MINI, had the guts to risk building a SMALLER car (instead of the steriod sydrome i.e. Honda Civic CVCC vs. Honda Ridgeline), did a good job of design, etc.

Now some Chinese company is resurecting MG. Not the same.

 

I have this gut feeling that the Chinese will sell the name. They don't stand much of a chance selling any outside of Asia. Without the British heritage and tradition behind the name, it's worthless.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

That is the heart of the question ...

Would you not buy a Lambo because VW owns it?

Would you not buy a Ferrari because FIAT owns it

What about a Jag because Ford currently owns it?

But MB owns Chrysler. MB has a good reputation ... so would that be a factor for buying a Chysler?