I was thinking yesterday about how popular these early models might be, or the '05 model might be in 15 years or so. My 1990 civic hatchback is an amazing auto-x car due to its suspension geometry, and cheap to boot. So it got me thinking...How long will BMW continue the Mini line? How long until they have to start offering incentives to get them off a lot etc, etc.

Edit: Or how long until they aren't as sporty? The 6th gen Honda hatchbacks were a huge dissapointment when they were released, and didn't even come in an Si model for all those years.

 

Buy it. Drive it. Enjoy it.

Who knows if the sun will rise tomorrow.

Don't forget to spend your children's inheritance before they squander it away

 

What's happening to the sun? What did you hear? OMG!!! Better go clean my headlights!

 

Wow, you have too much time to think about meaningless stuff - get out and drive more!

 

They kill the car next year.


Say bye bye to the Mk. I's

But you know what they will say 20 years from now?

I like the Mk. I's better.

 

It's a valid question to consider, especially considering the number of decades that the Mini has been around. Keep in mind, of course, that there are plenty of people (myself included) who think that the last real Mini rolled off the assembly line in October of 2000.

As far as the current iteration goes, if you look at BMW's recent history (the last 20 years, anyway), the indications are not good. I hate to say it, but I'd guess that within 15 years, the MINI bloats up in size and becomes more bland in character to the point where it's just another Golf, 1-series, what have you, and it eventually gets phased out, with BMW cluelessly declaring that "the market has moved on" and taking no responsiblity for the death of the brand. (I do acknowledge that they've arguably saved the brand for the time being.)

What I'd love to see 10-15 years out (note: I don't think this is likely ) is a healthy, vibrant MINI brand that has (a) stayed true to the spirit of compact, spirited, economical motoring, and (b) incorporated alternate fuel technologies, which (face it) are the only way for the industry to survive. Hybrid at the very least, but hopefully fuel cells, hydrogen, etc.

 

Ditto, Chris! This is what I'd love to see, as well. I am in total agreement about the need for alternate fuel technologies. Let's hope for the best!


Clover

 

I totally agree with you -- MINI would be an ideal brand and platform for alternative powerplants! But I look at the '07 MINI and I'm not terribly optimistic that BMW will maintain the values that drew we first-generation buyers to the car. In the automotive business the goal is always to increase year-over-year sales, and at some point (I think this is already happening) BMW is going to decide the MINI is too quirky, too niche-y, and needs to appeal to more people. Hence the longer, bigger, meaner look of the MkII cars.

This is of course can't-see-the-forest-for-the-trees brand management -- look how Mercedes-Benz has sunk itself by going downmarket, upping production volume, and sacrificing quality in an effort to "appeal to more people" and make the brand more "accessible". But I think it's inevitable at BMW, which is no longer a niche automaker, and I suspect our MkI MINIs will in ten years be viewed as perfect, highly valuable little aberrations.

 

With gas prices getting the way they are. Maybe within 10 years the MINI will run on recycled SUV's.

 

"Recycled SUVs!" Very funny, SB!


Clover

 

HAHAHHAHA. That will make a CLASSIC Bumper sticker for the MINI.

"Runs on recycled SUV's."

 

I don't believe in Hybrid technology. I see it as a stop gap until a better solution comes along, but based on reports I have read, Hybrid cars are more complex and the fuel mileage stats are dissapointing. It is a car marketed and sold to the "Hollier than thou" crowd. I am not convinced this is the ultimate solution.

However, I believe Diesel is a much better long term solution and applaud BMW's stance on not persuing the Hybrid bandwagon. BMW is more interested in Diesel technologies that have proven fuel economy and emissions benefits and also has expressed interest in hydrogen cell research. I believe there is a hydrogen cell prototype MINI shown a few years back.

Sorry, you can have your overpriced, underperforming, overly complicated and seemingly dangerous hybrids. I much rather have a refined diesel vehicle.

 

The original Mini was built from 1959 to 2000. The car saw very few or any changes during its 41 year production run.

Times have changed and in today's "cut throat" automotive industry a production cycle of 4-5 years is an eternity, leat alone 4 decades!

I think BMW knows what they are doing with the MINI and so far they have been extremely successful in bringing back this iconic automobile, but in order to ensure its long term survival, the MINI will have to experience changes and transitions that may or not be of our total liking.

I am eager for MINI to release the Clubman station wagon in a couple of years. I can't wait to hear the whines and protests of the MINI "purists" when the first ever 5 door MINI is sold to the public.

 

I agree completely; that's why I tossed it out as a "bare minimum" hope. At best, a hybrid Cooper would probably get 50-55 mpg, and cost $3k more. I have yet to see a hybrid that is actually cost-effective once you do the math. The ones being sold right now are going to people who are willing to (and can afford to) purchase with their conscience, and the general American market couldn't possibly be any farther from that state of mind.

Fuel cells, hydrogen, and other non-fossil fuel technologies are ultimately the only way to go.

I didn't mean to derail the whole discussion of the MINI's longevity with this fuel sidebar.

Look at the Z3, for example. BMW made it for a couple of years, then killed it off and brought out the larger, uglier Z4. Unfortunately, this is where I see MINI realistically heading. It's one thing to have clubman wagons and other variants, but it's another to fatten up the whole line, which BMW seems completely incapable of restraining themselves from (like just about every other carmaker).

 

I think this is exactly right and is what I was trying to say a few posts ago, but you said it better.

Disagree on hybrid tech not costing out, though. When gas hits $5 a gallon, it'll start to look like a buy.

 

Better yet, for all those people out there who look down there noses at minis and claim to be able to fit one in the back of their ________. We'd be able to say "Yeah, well your _______'s parents are in my tank so " er something to that effect

 

I still don't see hybrid cars for the masses anytime in the near future. Even if gas hits $5 a gallon.

Look at the Honday Insight. It starts at $19,300 and the site says it gets 61mpg in the city. Then look at the MC. It starts at $17,500 and MINIUSA says 28mpg city. I'm going on what the sites list, not real life mpg.

You purchase either one of these cars and do 15000 miles of city driving. Over a 5 year period you will have spent $6,147.50 in gas. The MC, $13392.75. That seems like a lot. Now if you include the price of the car with gas paid over 5 years, the MC costs $5445.25 more. That equates to $1089.05 a year more to drive a MC over a Honda Insight.

For $90.75 a month, wouldn't you rather drive a MC instead of an Insight?

I would. Even if I had to drop cable since there is not much on tv anyway.

 

A used 2000 insight goes for about 8K at the moment though



I dont know how many VW guys, and Honda guys talk about the simplicity and great design of the early generation cars. At the very least I see the current generation as the desired car in 15-20. The reason I see the MC/MCS lasting that long is the investment BMW has put into the plant in the UK, and the dealerships across the world. I'd imagine the investment in the plant alone should take about 15+ years to break even on.