>Again don't take it personal

Ah yes, the "let me rip on your new car for a slew of posts and then when I finally **** you off, I'll pretend to be the mellow one" approach. Gotcha. Nice try, ace. You're the one with the burr under the saddle anytime somebody dares sell his Mini; look at all your posts on this thread.

The guy loved his Mini, it obviously hurt him to part with it, maybe you should take all your data and negative impressions of his new ride and *gasp* just be quiet about it and be happy for him instead of trying to tear it down.

 

To bad about your MINI

 

At the end of the day I just want to know....

Is that Asbury Park?


I think I know that place, I think we used to go there for Summer Rec back in '86. Their "Fun House" sucked, but they had great bumper cars!

 

>>>Again don't take it personal

 

What, did you folk have a tough long weekend down there.


one car is sporty and one car is square ,easy like cake

 

>>Great choice Mac. When the XB first came out I thought it was one of the goofiest things on the road along with the aztec and the element. It has grown on me lately to the point I suggested to my wife that I should get her one. She's not there yet. I think it has a certain "character" about it.
>>

What I founds refreshing about the xB styling was that it is 'cleanly boxy'. Crisp lines, none of that mishmash of body materials and colors like the Element. Nissan has a Japanese-market equivalent called the Cube:



If the xB is a hit here in the states, don't be surprised to see this one as competition. I even like the asymmetric styling.

 

gonna miss you cheese! you have fun with that xb and we all expect you to pop in from time to time. At least play with us in OT!

 

>>>>Great choice Mac. When the XB first came out I thought it was one of the goofiest things on the road along with the aztec and the element. It has grown on me lately to the point I suggested to my wife that I should get her one. She's not there yet. I think it has a certain "character" about it.
>>>>
>>
>>What I founds refreshing about the xB styling was that it is 'cleanly boxy'. Crisp lines, none of that mishmash of body materials and colors like the Element. Nissan has a Japanese-market equivalent called the Cube:
>>

 

>>At the end of the day I just want to know....
>>
>>Is that Asbury Park?
>>I think I know that place, I think we used to go there for Summer Rec back in '86. Their "Fun House" sucked, but they had great bumper cars!
>>

Yep :smile: Im going to post a few new pics in offtopic right now. Go check it out ::(

LINK TO THREAD

 

Well, I'm with ya Mac in terms of quality issues with the MINI.

I've decided to sell my 03 MCS as well, and will replace it with......

an 05 MCS.

Yep, I haven't given up on MINI yet. My 03 has such a huge number of problems, I can't deal with it any longer, but I can't apply the lemon law. Instead, I'm still battling to have the problems fixed (new ones keep cropping up continuously), and will sell it. I will get the 05 MCS with an LSD, wohooo. I'm hoping that a lot of the problems will have been sorted out, and that my next MCS will not be a TGIF car.

Another point Mac: hang around, and tell us more about the Scion. You don't have to leave NAM just because you have a different car, it would still be cool to have you around...

M.

 

>>>>Like the MINI, the xB makes me smile when I look at it and when I drive it!
>>>>
>>If the Scion is the best thing since sliced bread, why not just get rid of your "inferior" MINI?
>>


Cooper4us - - -
You must have misread my post! At no time have I ever said that the MINI is an inferior product. I enjoy my MINI as much as my Z3 (which is to say that I really enjoy it a lot!)! Nor did I say that the xB is the best thing since sliced bread.

Both my ‘02 BMW Z3 Roadster and my ‘04 JCW MCS are toys - - never driven on wet roads - - never parked in congested parking areas - - always covered with flannel bedsheets when garaged - - usually driven in the twisties or on club caravans - - and they both put a big smile on my face when I look at them or drive them.

The xB is a different animal - - it is a utility vehicle - a “magic box” that transports me, my stuff, etc. from here to there - and it also put a smile on my face.

More observations about the xB - - -

Pros:

Cons:

 

>>gonna miss you cheese! you have fun with that xb and we all expect you to pop in from time to time. At least play with us in OT! <<

Hear, hear! Good luck with the new ride. When I came very very close to selling my MINI a few months back, the xB was at the top of my list as a replacement. I did find the dash to be sort of silly and overstyled (then again, I think the same thing about my MINI's door panels), and like you say, the engine's a bit noisy and the suspension obviously doesn't compare... But all of that aside, it's a great little car, and the quality of the interior materials definitely seemed superior to the MINI.

I'm undecided as to what to do when I reach the end of the warranty on my MINI. but the xB is certainly in the back of my mind for the day when I need to make that decision (as are the Matrix and the upcoming Smart car).

I'm curious which (if any) of the Scion dealer add-ons you went with.

I don't care for the Cube, either. The rear lights are very El Camino.
_________________
"In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane." -Oscar Wilde

 

>>I'm curious which (if any) of the Scion dealer add-ons you went with.
>>

No add-ons for me. They're mostly geared towards 16 year old girls (lighted cupholders and other junk). I added some aftermarket springs and some wheels and I'll maybe add a new stereo but thats about it. Its a fun car, just in a different way.

I think i'll be hanging out here for a bit longer, I prefer the mini community to the Scion community (nothing against them) :smile:

--
Cheese

 

>>
>>I don't care for the Cube, either. The rear lights are very El Camino.
>>_________________


LOL, you got that right Chris! The Cube looks like it was designed in the early 1990's with Nissan's 1980's parts bin...not very creative IMO.

 

Mac,
Good luck to you! I feel your pain as my mini stalled again this morning.
Not willing to bail yet but it is ticking me off.

 

Hey, Cheese!!! Hubby and I spent a few days with 2minis and his wife, 3minis, in Albuquerque last weekend and had the pleasure of being driven around town in his xB. I like it a lot...think it would be a good sibling for Wanda, actually. I hope you'll still hang out with us in Off Topic.....we MUST celebrate Cheesemas! Tee hee!


Clo/Wanda

_________________


Questions or Comments? PM me

 

>>I'm curious which (if any) of the Scion dealer add-ons you went with.
>>

The only dealer add-on that I went with was the floor mat set. Most of the other available add-ons are things like the lighted cup holders and various decals.

The dealer that I bought from did have an xB with over $40,000 of upgrades and mods: doors off and glass out repaint in school bus yellow, black and yellow leather seats, small video screen in front and a large one in the back, fancy wheels and tires, suspension and brake upgrades, and other stuff that I can't remember right now.

 

Sorry to see you go, but good luck with the new car. My sister and her husband just purchased an xB about a month ago and they love it.

 

I am suprised at the number of people who looked at the Scion when purchasing their Mini and the number of people who have a Mini and a Scion.

Talk about two different cars. This proves my point on the fallacy of marketing from some of these manufacturers. We always here how certain cars are marketed in their marketing group, but almost no one I know purchases cars that often considered in the same category. I rarely if any ever hear someone going to consider a VW Beetle along with a Mini, but here we see so many people interested or have purchased a Scion, which I am sure is not even on the radar screen for BMW as competition for the Mini. I am more and more under the impression that current car buyers are not locking themselves into groups as defined by the manufacturers. Heck, a lot of people here have considered or have purchased Boxster in conjunction or over the Mini. Again, this is most likely another car not on BMW's radar screen as competition for the Mini. I am in a marketing group that reviews cars for manufacturers, same type of review that Mini had done as reported on Motoringfile.com. No consumer that I have interacted with ever groups their considerations for their new car purchases in the same categories as the car manufacturers do.

Very interesting cheese. You are a whole segment that BMW hasn't figured out. Sold their BMW to purchase a technologically and luxury level inferior car that is about half the price, has more cargo room, and makes better gas mileage. Nothing against your choice, I have made the same types in the past, just very interesting.

 

>>I am suprised at the number of people who looked at the Scion when purchasing their Mini and the number of people who have a Mini and a Scion.
>>
>>Talk about two different cars. This proves my point on the fallacy of marketing from some of these manufacturers. We always here how certain cars are marketed in their marketing group, but almost no one I know purchases cars that often considered in the same category. I rarely if any ever hear someone going to consider a VW Beetle along with a Mini, but here we see so many people interested or have purchased a Scion, which I am sure is not even on the radar screen for BMW as competition for the Mini. I am more and more under the impression that current car buyers are not locking themselves into groups as defined by the manufacturers. Heck, a lot of people here have considered or have purchased Boxster in conjunction or over the Mini. Again, this is most likely another car not on BMW's radar screen as competition for the Mini. I am in a marketing group that reviews cars for manufacturers, same type of review that Mini had done as reported on Motoringfile.com. No consumer that I have interacted with ever groups their considerations for their new car purchases in the same categories as the car manufacturers do.
>>
>>Very interesting cheese. You are a whole segment that BMW hasn't figured out. Sold their BMW to purchase a technologically and luxury level inferior car that is about half the price, has more cargo room, and makes better gas mileage. Nothing against your choice, I have made the same types in the past, just very interesting.


Yes, they do look a little weird together

 

I think I have some insight on the MINI/Scion link, seeing as I've considered switching to the Scion. For me, my priorities are (in this order):

1. Great fuel economy
2. Hatchback
2. Not painfully boring/ugly styling
3. Under $20k

Honestly, the incredible handling and history of the MINI is just icing on the cake for me. For some people (Cooper S people, generally), the MINI is a sporty, cheaper alternative to the Z3 or Boxster or TT. For others, (Cooper people, generally), it's a sporty, more expensive alternative to other small, practical cars like the xB, Matrix, Golf, Focus, etc.

I'm tired of hearing the supposed truism that Americans don't like small, economical hatchbacks, and I'm hoping that the popularity of the Scions will help dispel that persistent myth and get more of such cars into the US market. It continues to amaze me that Honda no longer sells the base version of their 2DR Civic hatchback here.

Cheese, I was asking about options because your car looked lowered. Hope you're enjoying the springs! I agree that most of the dealer options are tacky.

_________________
"In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane." -Oscar Wilde

 

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.... bummer, Cheese!

I hope you enjoy your Scion, though.

 

Cheese,

Sorry to hear about your MINI and I hope you do very well with your xB.
Drop us a line from time to time and thanks much for your contributions
and comments (both postitive and otherwise) on NAM.

I'm not partial to the styling of the Scion but from the inside I'm sure it is roomy and functional/comfortable. At least it isn't boring like a camry or accord.

 

>>I am suprised at the number of people who looked at the Scion when purchasing their Mini and the number of people who have a Mini and a Scion.
>>
>>Talk about two different cars.
>>

I’m not surprised at all - - IMO the MINI and the xB have some very similar traits.

 

>>Very interesting cheese. You are a whole segment that BMW hasn't figured out. Sold their BMW to purchase a technologically and luxury level inferior car that is about half the price, has more cargo room, and makes better gas mileage. Nothing against your choice, I have made the same types in the past, just very interesting.

Well thats not really how it went down. After being stuck between a rock and hard place with the MINI, I was in a situation where I had to get myself into a new car while avoiding any out of pocket expenses. How the numbers worked out meant a sub 15k car. This is the best sub 15k car available, its in no way a MINI comparison/substitute except in that I needed a car which was not my MINI.

Granted this car isn't as luxurious as the mini. It doesnt have supple leather seats (but they're 10x more comfortable and the material is actually wear resistant). It doesnt have a panaromic sunroof (but it doesnt rattle and wasnt replaced twice either). It doesnt have automatic AC/Climate Control (but i touch the ***** and buttons 80% less than I did in the MINI and the fan makes 40% of the noise). It doesnt have traction control (oh wait, it does!). On paper, the MINI was definately better but in my instance, most of that luxury was either worthless or a hassle.

This was never meant to be a MINI vx xB thread. I loved my MINI and i hated to see it go. I really really hated it. Driving to pickup my plates at the dealership, i felt my heart sink like I ran into an exgirlfriend after seeing it parked out front with some silly phrase on its windshield. Im definately not an untapped market, unless disgruntled owners are a target market. I only wish that BMW/MINI was concentrating on making the car better at the same price instead of making it a cheaper car at a cheaper price.