Have you seen Chevy's new "mini car". It's called the Aveo. Size wise its similar to the MINI though just a bit larger but its miles away from the MINI in most other respects. I compared the hatchback aveo to the regular MC.

The Aveo weighs 88 lbs. less. Has a 1.6l engine with 103hp/107ftlbs. Gets 27/35 mpg compared to the MINI 28/37. It's also got a .5" longer wheelbase, 10" longer overall, 3" taller and about an inch narrower.

This is a good example of what makes the MINI so special. The MINI Cooper has style, personality and is an absolute blast to drive with it's go kart handling. The Aveo is another poor but typical attempt at a very small commuter type car that is labeled fun to drive but is anything but! Only MINI has been able to cram so much fun into such a package and still make it a thoroughly capable daily driver. Don't ever take your MINIs for granted! They are a unique and special automobile!

 

i think chevy is riding the wave of the successful mini. 10" longer than a mini is a tippical compact car. a miata is about 10" longer than a mini and so is a ford focus 2-door hatch and maybe even the new mazda3...

 

The Chevy site's Build Your Own shows it's MSRP for the top of the line model $12,585.00

to me this looks nothing like a MINI.

 

I agree. It looks nothing like a MINI. It has no style, no personality. That's just my point. Most other manufacturer's small cars are just little boxes. They label them "fun to drive" because they're small but they have no real performance characteristics that make them fun to drive or fun to own.

 

Actually, to me, it looks very close to this:

 

...its miles away from the MINI in most other respects.

I agree, I wind up in rentals pretty often and prefer smaller cars, so that's what I gravitate towards. I get a kick out of the agent who says, "this is a fun little car!" about an Aerio or something. They have no idea. The more we see these other cars come and go, the more I appreciate the tight little package MINIs offer, which is quite a statement to make in a time when most cars are more about hype than substance. I might one day give the Smart 4-door a look, but I'd be shocked if it was as well-packaged as a MINI. (...besides, I don't really need 4 doors anymore! ) Maybe a Miata...but I do still have to shlep stuff around now and again.

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

Just watched an auto show on ESPN and Mazda is building a
copycat of the Mini to be released in 2005.

 

You know, you could say the same thing about the Renault Clio, seen here http://www.renault.com/gb/produits/clio.htm BUT,
Chevy could get smart (are you listening Bob Lutz?), and turn it into this.....just like Renault did

http://www.supercarsite.net/03_clio_sport_v6.htm

MINI Owners would not be so smug then

Charlie

 

>>You know, you could say the same thing about the Renault Clio, seen here http://www.renault.com/gb/produits/clio.htm BUT,
>>Chevy could get smart (are you listening Bob Lutz?), and turn it into this.....just like Renault did
>>
>>http://www.supercarsite.net/03_clio_sport_v6.htm
>>
>>MINI Owners would not be so smug then
>>
>>Charlie

Can you say fugly???

 

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"...................I don't know that I'd go so far as to say "fugly" however...........................

 

I wouldn't say the Clio is "fugly" but it is similar to the Aveo. It looks like every other compact on the road. The sport v6 looks a bit more interesting, a lot like the new Mazda 3, but it's a bit rice for my taste.