>>
>>>>And from what I hear, the 'S' in Cooper'S' stands for SpaB, being German. Pronounced schpawss. Translation would be 'fun'.
>>
>>I am suprised that a fellow mini-phile doesn't know that the original rally cars were Cooper S's It was supposed to stand for Sport or Super, but John Cooper and someone else (I think it was Sir Alec Issigonis, but I could be wrong) couldn't decide, so it just became "S"

I guess I didn't specify what I was stating there. BMW's version of the new (MINI) 'S' is *said* to have that ('fun') translation. Not the original classic rally style Cooper'S' models. I am aware of the history, thanx. It sounds like BMW wanted their own tastes and translations added to the car.
Cheers,

 

Definitely English. In various previous childhoods I've been intimate with a Morgan, Lotus Super 7, several Sunbeams (Tiger and Alpine), MGs, Triumphs, etc. My present intimacies with my MCS indicate that the dominant DNA came from England. German influences were only artificial insemination.

The good thing that the Germans did was to ordain that all Lucas Electricals were banned!

 

I am English so it's obvious what I think. I do think that Germans are fantastic engineers and I am glad BMW have made this great little car. I agree with what minidad said on the first page of this debate. I think the character of the original mini has been brought forward along with some added build quality. Overall, I couldn't care who made it and where it is built, as long as the end product is the same as it is now I would still have one. If there are any Germans reading this, you were unlucky in the world cup qualifiers when we stuffed you 5-1.

 

As British as the Royal Family. Very British on the outside...... with German blood on the inside!

 

I really think it's an English car. If I'm from Arizona but my parents are from New York, does that make me a New Yorker, no. This car still caries it's harritage with it. There is no way BMW would engineer a car that small on their own. BMW just has a great fanfair accross the world. They are known for their commitment to safety and the customer. It seems as if BMW is just the advertiser. They own it but it's still a Mini. Yes, it drives better than my 84' Mini, but I would expect that from any new car. The design is basically the same. The whole idea behind the Mini in the 50's was to push out the wheels to the corners and make it a reliable racing car, I think it still is. I live in Germany and perhaps I just don't want to think of the Mini as a deutch car because BMW, Merc, and others are just considerred...well...upitty. Just IMO.

Cheers

 

Gerglish.

 

I vote for English. Mini is a British car company owned by a German parent company. Jaguar is owned by Ford Motors, but no one considers a Jag "American". Same goes for Volvo (Ford), Aston Martin (Ford), Mazda (Ford), Saab (GM), Dodge (Daimler!)...

 

Gotta be German. Just look under the bonnett and read the little warnings and detail stickers. Its written in German and English. and who designed the New MINI? BMW German English name but German auto.

 

For the definitive German trait look at the cup-holders. They're obviously designed to discourage the motorist from drinking hot coffee behind the wheel. That's a very German fixation--mustn't spill hot coffee when one is wheeling a tank into the Alsace.

Seriously, the car feels very German. But I still like to emphasize its Englishness. I despair of the term BMW MINI because I feel like I'm climbing.

 

Before I bought my MCS I thought of the mini as german, BMW, get it...now I definitely think of it as english....the build quality is starting to remind me of the english jags of the 60's and 70's....lol!

 

In my opinion it is an English car because it was "born" in England of German parents hence making it English. I was born in America of Irish/Norwegian parents. I consider myself American. Does that make any sense? :smile:

 

Coincidently, I met a senior sales exec from BMW Canada this morning. I asked him - British or German?

With no hesitation he said "German".

He backed off a bit discussing the design of the car (generally British), but he was adamant that this was a German constructed vehicle (except for British labour), with Munich technology and absolute management.

Oh, BTW - he LOVES the car - especially the S!!

_________________
=R=
My Sharona (Arriving late Nov.): LY/B MCS, Stripes, Premium & Sport Packs, Sunroof & Leather. Cold Pack is included in Canada, eh?

Got ATTITUDE? Get http://ShitDisturber.com. THE email with Attitude!

 

The concept for the car is German,but the Germans didn't do any engineering work(at least in the beginning).The Germans use a American in Germany to design the interior and exterior.The British have to engineer most of the car,when the Germans drop the whole project in their laps.If anyone tells me that a bonnet release on the right hand side in a left hand drive car is the work of German engineering,I would tell them that their smoking too much dope.Neither Germans or British have a engine that will work in the car,so that job gets farmed out to more Americans(Chrysler)in Detroit.(BTW,the same people that designed the Mini engine,also worked on the Viper motor.Works for me).Since the engine can't be built cheaply in either the U.S.,U.K., or Germany,the engine get's built in Brazil.Everybody still with me.The Germans decides that the British are spending too much money,and too much time getting the car produced,that they take the project back.Car is delayed another year.By this time Rover is sold to Ford,so when it's time for production to start,part of the interior panels for the body work are being presses by Ford.Ford also supplies small parts(washer nozzles)to the project.Car finally reaches production.It's not German or English,it's a mess,or just a mutt.There were so many people involved with this car,it's surprising it turned out as well as it has.What do I think the car is,I couldn't tell you.

 

>>Before I bought my MCS I thought of the mini as german, BMW, get it...now I definitely think of it as english....the build quality is starting to remind me of the english jags of the 60's and 70's....lol!

OH NO! I hope not, I worked on those hogs. My MINI is far better put together.


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LTL YELO, 17'' x 8'' Alessios with Yokohamas --Wiiide!

 

Some of you may have seen this. This site has a link that details the development of the new MINI. It details Rover and BMW's involvement in the process.

http://austinrover.mg-rover.org/


*Check out the pic of the Rover concept MINI.

 

There are some great bits of info there! Thanks for the link.