>>well i would really be smiling if i was driving a spa yellow pearl nsx or a sl55 amg

Back on topic....I get that a few times, 'is that a poorman's BMW?'
I reply "uh, no, it's a MINI that outhandles any BMW!"

 

Anyone who bought the Mini was more for performance and style than prestige. Yet a comment like that should not lead to us throwing bad comments at BMW. They are still quite nice cars.

You will always get others taking opposing views, if everone liked the same car, then whats the point of making different makes and models?

 

>>I've been insulted ALOT recently by a person on another board that says they drive an NSX and thinks he's real cool because of it. I've found that people either really really like our cars or REALLY dislike them. And that's fine. MINIs aren't for everyone. Thank goodness. And besides....I would be willing to put money on the fact that the guy who said that to you drove some boring piece of crap.
>>
>>I don't let other people bother me. If they want to be hateful, that's their problem.
>>
LMini, which board is this? I would say this guy or gal is more the exception than the rule in the NSX community. Apparently this person hasn't read the Exotic Owner's Code of Conduct posted on the main NSX site. May want to bring it to that person's attention.

 

I'm done dealing with him....we have both been REALLY mean to each other. Something tells me he is lying anyway...he brags also that he has a 911 and that his car payment for the NSX is 1500/mo. Smells like bs to me.

 

Am new to the MINI as well as to this forum.

FWIW, I do not think of the MINI as a BMW (in the same vein as the Miata not being a Ford car; am sure other ex-Miata drivers would agree with me on this!). Nothing disparaging about BMW: I in fact would love the chance to take a Z8 out on an AutoX course (or, for that matter, a Dodge Viper, a Mustang Bullit, a Lotus Super 7, etc.) But, after all things considered, especially the fun/convenience/efficiency/safety-to-cost ratio, the MINI is my ticket. (Did I say it's fun to drive?)

As to the offensive remarks you receive, well, folks are certainly entitled to their opinion, even those so careless as to let it reflect their small-mindedness.

HmL
----------------------------------------
'03 Chili Red, powered by Heineken

 

Isn't Corona the poor man's Negro Modelo?

 

Just a moment for thought,,, I am currently living in Sicily (US military) and every farmer "Giussepi" owns a BMW. BMW is the most popular for upkeep, less break down time than Fiat and other euro cars, but all the locals love the looks, styling, and handling of the MINI. Can't wait to get my MCS and show them a MINI with handling and "HP" For the Japanese import market over here, the only ones that I see are the Americans that have brought their "ricers" over with them, apparently Europeans do not find these cars appealing

 

Mini/MINIs have always had TONS more sass than their price would indicate. Ain't it awesome!!!

 

Wow in response to the original thread, complex complex complex or what it amazes me how people that dont have anything can judge people that do!! "Poor man's" bmw, well maybe so but there are not to many bmws i would own, not saying there are not any, but only a few! its a matter of preference, not downing bmw!

 

When I took my MINI in a couple of weeks ago (nothing wrong with it, just getting some detailing), the dealership gave me a BMW to drive for the day. And all I could think was,
"I can't wait to get my MINI back." Beamer's might be more "exclusive", but I found it
horribly over-equipped and felt like I was driving a boat. I like driving a "tight" car.
Don't be upset by people like Corona-boy. Pity them.

 

but I found it
>>horribly over-equipped

i highly disagree with this
if you think bmws are over equipped you should drive a sl55 benz

lastly i think technology gives us all these little tools, and i disagree on calling them "over equipped"

 

No offense Red...it was a beautiful car. It was just a personal preference thing.
Sorry if my comment upset you!

 

BTW: it's BIMMER not BEAMER.

 

>>>>He was holding a big bottle of Corona, so I didn't even worry about what he was saying
>>
>>I woulda asked why he was drinking a poor mans beer! :smile:

 

Here's a different perspective ... why be offended by a comment?

Being offended means you think there's some truth in the comment that you’re upset about. Anyone who thinks "poor man's bimmer" is a laughable description of a Mini wouldn’t be bothered by a moron who uses that expression. There’s a guy I work with who calls my car a “gumdrop” – I don’t care because he drives a minivan and clearly has no idea what he is talking about – I‘ll just let him continue to sound like an idiot.

So … if you take offense at a comment, ask yourself what you are trying to hide that the comment exposed.

 

Okay, I have to reply.

Once upon a time there was a small car that was marketed in america. It was expensive for a small car, but not that expensive in relationship to other cars of the time. Those in the know just laughed as they passed all of the big american rides and had great handling. They did weird things like autox and went to track days. They were looked down upon by the much more serious mercedes owners. These were the BMW owners, before BMW's became bloated and expensive.

I like some of the BMW's but BMW has all of the autorags and hense much of the population brainwashed. I have driven a new 3 series, a used M car and a used 7 series. Frankly I wasn't that impressed. I was prepared to be amazed, and I wasn't. The cars were nice, but not any nicer that alot of what is out there. The Chrysler 300m is as nice of a car as the 7 series. The Nissan maxima was every bit as nice as the 3 series, and the VW Passat was a bit nicer.

Do the research into what it costs to repair the BMW's and what peoples experiences are with them. I can tell you that it isn't great. Not any better than other cars, and for the most part much worse.

When we went to look at the used 7 series the first thing that happened was that the drivers seat wouldn't work. The sales guy was very flustered. It fit me ok so we took it out for a drive. Nice, but not that great. As I recall the radio didn't work correctly either. The salesman kept trying to focus on how we would "look" in the car, how we would make other people envious, how it was a statement of our success. That's when I got the a-ha moment. BMW is mostly about image. Modern design has pretty much leveled the playing field for the car manufacturers, There are some mild differences (see Bob Lutz's lame brained comments about Chevy owners being willing to pay for better parts) but for the most part the car manufacturers are all the same. The difference comes between models. The MINI is in a great spot because it is pretty visionary, an undiluted model as of yet. There are several others that I can think of that have been down the same road. The Datsun 240Z, The VW Rabbit GTI, RX3, Original M car, original Mustang. All of these cars started out as pretty great cars that were slowly diluted by the bean counters. This will probably happen to the MINI (Although I can hardly see how it could be heavier without addition of pure lead).

This is how it happens. Dealers order cars that are optioned to the hilt. In a car like the MINI there is just much more proffit margin in a fully optioned car. The factory sees that orders are mostly for optioned cars and are forced to add luxury by the bean counters. The car gets bigger, heavier, more optioned, and finally it is just a shaddow of it's former self. Kindof like a BMW.

So be happy that you have taken the road less traveled, take comments such as "a poor mans BMW" for the compliment that it is. Say yes, it is a poor man's BMW, except we get to have all of the fun,

 

>>>>IT IS NOT THE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET, ITS THE SMILE ON YOUR FACE THAT MATTERS IN THIS LIFE.
>>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>well i would really be smiling if i was driving a spa yellow pearl nsx or a sl55 amg :smile:




Stirring the sauce !

 

I seem to go out of my way to find passionate groups of people.... As a long time Macintosh computer user I find it remarkable that I have found a car and a group of owners that exude as much passion for their car as those of us that love our Macs :smile:

It's the same story in every genre..."mine is better than yours"... these people have no true understanding, that it's about the "user experience". Until they've tried it they will never know. You have no need to justify it to anyone but yourself.

In the end it doesn't matter...you have the Mini and love it. Period :smile:

 

Mini is on it own class. He just jealous that you got one.

Who care what does other say about the Mini is "Poor Man BMW". So the people who drive Ford is the "Poor Man Lincoln".

 

I personally own a 2003 BMW M3 Convertible, and a 2003 Mini Cooper S. and let me tell you guys the Mini is just as much fun to drive as my M3. I love My Mini!!!

 

>>This is how it happens. Dealers order cars that are optioned to the hilt. In a car like the MINI there is just much more proffit margin in a fully optioned car. The factory sees that orders are mostly for optioned cars and are forced to add luxury by the bean counters. The car gets bigger, heavier, more optioned, and finally it is just a shaddow of it's former self. Kindof like a BMW.

I'm sorry to say this but this is already happening! At least here in So Cal that is. When I first went MINI shopping last year almost every MINI I saw at the dealers had lots of options. I wanted a MCS but every MCS I saw had all 3 packages and upgraded wheels and what not. This plus the huge markup made the MINIs way past the MSRP. I wanted a MINI that had no options or as little options as possible and that was very hard to find.

 

I had the same problem. I was looking for a stripped down MINI, but the closest I could get was leather only. I wanted stripped except for s-lites. I got stripped plus leather. well, close.

 

Same here lestor. The only option I have is leather, I wish I didn't have the leather. You have to clean it all the time and the leather in my MINI is getting worn pretty fast. The only option I wanted actually was cruise control but unfortunatly mine didnt come with it. Why build a MINI with leather but no cruise control? And why isn't cruise control standard but power windows and CD player are?

 

>>Do the research into what it costs to repair the BMW's and what peoples experiences are with them. I can tell you that it isn't great. Not any better than other cars, and for the most part much worse.
>>
Wow - excellent post. And yeah, you're right here... dear GOD is it expensive, and especially with some of the older, 1980s models, they're in the shop all the time. One of my sorority sisters has an '87 325e and that baby is always got something wrong with it. She's convinced it's the age of the car (I'm convinced it's because she drives it like a NEW 325), but I keep reminding her that my Bronco II was an '88 and had a fraction of the issues that her car did. My car was in the shop probably 2 times in a year an a half. Her car's been in the shop for months at a time. Thank God her husband works for a dealership.

>>how it was a statement of our success. That's when I got the a-ha moment. BMW is mostly about image.
>>
Yeah, I agree again - it began as a great, highly tuned car and has turned into a great, highly tuned car that a lot of people buy soley to impress other people who don't care. Me, if someone gave me a Bimmer, I'd drive it because I know what they're capable of, and I like the styling of SOME of them (not the sedans... but then again, I'm morally opposed to sedans of ANY KIND). But I'd also drive a T'bird in a heartbeat too... heck, I'd take the T'bird *over* a Bimmer, because *that* car is unique, fun, and an eye-turner. Hm... sounds familiar. I don't want to impress other folks... I want to impress myself.

_________________
--
"You mean, why don't I take dead animals, cook them until they become carcinogenic, then eat them instead of something nutritious? Is that your question?"
--Dogbert

 

I had a clueless woman at the dealership (I was getting an oil change) ask me if I feel "vulernable" on the freeway in such a small, light car. I told her the MINI is loaded with safety features (6 airbags etc.)and is substantially heavier than the Honda civic and several other small cars. I am sure I didn't change her opinion, but who cares. I love my MINI. She can drive her stuffy BMW and I will drive my fun-loving happy MINI!