Am an avid reader of all things automotive since, I decided to get an MCS. I was in the market yesterday and came across the January '03 issue of Road and Track magazine - with it's "Most Fun Under $25,000" cover story.
The authors spent time talking about the "guadiness" of the MINI interior, while making excuses for the poorly used interior space of the VW, and lauding the utility of the PT Cruiser. They completely missed the point of the title of the article - fun. They seem to not be able to drive the MINI - they couldn't manage better than 7.4 second run to 60 MPH and only mention the MINI's handling prowess before jumping on to bleat about the day-to-day errand managability of the PT (where the hell is the "fun" in errrands?).
I found the most annoying part of the article to be the one sentence that they devote to the MINI being the new R&T slalom champion - beating out the previous champ, the Porsche 911 GT2 ($25,000 Mini beats >$200K Porsche...stock run-flats beat expensive purpose built rubber on the Porsche...69.5 MPH vs. 68.7...that's a headline and a whole damn article in itself).
I had hoped that professionals that are paid to write objectively could have seen the difference between fun/spirited driving, hualing 5 to get ice cream, and which car had the stylish knubby rubber dash....how dissapointing.
Had I been an editor, I would have followed up the slalom results with a second run of the MINI with rubber that matched the GT2's ability, just to see how much the numbers would have changed.
I hate being such a vocal advocate of the MINI, but as an enthusist, I insist that they give the MINI its proper respect...or I just may have to get :evil:

 

HERE, HERE

 

The MINI is fun, but is not all things to all people. I agree with your complaints, but I do think the article was written objectively. I think the article spent about half it's text on the MINI, much of which were good comments. Pretty nice since the article was about 3 cars. Objectively they should have used only 1/3 of the text on the MINI.

 

There were a lot of things in that article that "rubbed" me the wrong way, along with the accompanying article from the "designers". These "designers" may be making money in their own right, but that doesn't mean that the "majority" even likes their work.
I feel that the magazine tends to equalize things as much as possible so that Chrysler, Volkswagen, and MINI continue to invite them to their functions... :smile:

 

I'm not concerned with the amount of space that they devoted to the MINI, but rather am concerned with how they digressed from the point of the article - fun driving.
The VW is a fun driver, I tested it before settling on the Mini; it only lost to the MINI because I felt more cramped in the VW. The PT cruiser, on the other hand, does not belong in a fun driving article. Having driven the turbo PT, I was totally unimpressed with its wallowing feel and it's instability during spirited cornering. Yes, the turbo does give the Cruiser much more ompff, but it still suffers from that American metal problem - inability to do more than travel fast in a straight line; without serious suspension mods, it will remain a "souped" Neon - with a too-high center of gravity.
The article lost its "fun" focus at the point where utility and errrand-driving stole the spot-light. Had they wished to talk about the each car's relative suitability for daily living, they could have titled the article, "Three Retro choices for under $25K"...then, I would have known not to have wasted my time buying the Mag - I'd have just read it in the isle .

 

I more than meets my everyday errand running. It won't meet the exceptional 1-2 times a year that I might haul bigger things, but then again most cars won't. That's why you always keep a friend that has a pick-up

 

....having not read the article in a month or so...seem to recall they couldn't even get the Mini vs MINI capitalization correct. Why is that so freaking difficult???

R

 

>>....having not read the article in a month or so...seem to recall they couldn't even get the Mini vs MINI capitalization correct. Why is that so freaking difficult???
>>
>>R


It's been a while since I read it as well, but I think that they acknowledged the difference and actually chose not to bother using the appropriate capitalization.

 

I have a theory... fawning over and appreciation of products (cars) is in direct proportion to the amount of advertising dollars spent.

Just my theory.

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<IMG SRC="http://udel.edu/~mm/anime/speed/pict....jpg">

 

>>I have a theory... fawning over and appreciation of products (cars) is in direct proportion to the amount of advertising dollars spent.

I think you've just hit on the mission statement of High Rev Tuners.

R

 

Could not test the theory because I do not normally read R&T; so, I only had the one mag. Checking through it, I found 1 large 2-page Chrysler Add (for the new Pacifica) and no VW, Audi, BMW, or MINI ads.

 

It's fuuny, but they mention that they did not like the design of the inside of the dorr, saying the large silver oval was over the top. Just last week I was showing the car to a friend, and he said that the detail in teh car was great. He expecially like the inside door design, saying that it was to bad the the American car companys didn't have cool designs on their cars!
Different strokes for different folks I guess!

 

I hope I never see a MINI on High Rev Tuners :evil: Customizing your car because you think it's cool or functional is great; customizing to impress others, not-cool-at-all.

Anyway, I read the R&T article too. I think they did a mixed-bag job reviewing all of the cars, in typical R&T fashion, they forgot the point of just about anything

The PT is for the baby-boomers (old or new) that need practicality and only a light dash of retro-based aesthetic enthusiasm.

The Beetle is for hippies and yuppie-chicks that are either still at woodstock, or wished they were.

The MINI is all about fun, a bit of social rebellion, and lots of racing heritage.

That's my take on the three. Who cares how the PT and Beetle handle, that is not the point of those cars. Yes, they have a turbo, yippie, they can keep up with the Escalades and Navigators.

The MINI is in a different headspace than the other two; I don't fault R&T, they usually just don't any better.

 

Correction:
>>The MINI is in a different headspace than the other two; I don't fault R&T, they usually just don't [know] any better [or the butt-kiss money was swaying elsewhere].

 

If anyone wants to read about the pure "FUN" of driving, I suggest picking up a copy of evo magazine. they are out of the UK and have some of the greatest automotive articles anywhere, as well as terrific photography. They are all about the driving or evoness as they call it. Its a bit more expensive then the american magtrash(C&D R&T MT) 7.99 to 3.99(i think) But well worth it--Its the only one I read anymore. Funny thing is, I dont even care that I wont ever drive the majority of the cars they write about :smile:.


Daniel

 

"I feel that the magazine tends to equalize things as much as possible so that Chrysler, Volkswagen, and MINI continue to invite them to their functions... "
ding ding ding ding

 

>>Could not test the theory because I do not normally read R&T; so, I only had the one mag. Checking through it, I found 1 large 2-page Chrysler Add (for the new Pacifica) and no VW, Audi, BMW, or MINI ads.

My theory is based on over 25 years of avid car mag reading...ifyou want relatively unbiased reviews (relatively...not completely) read the British magazines. (In actuality the Italian car mags are the best...they'll rip everything)

-crashgearbox

 

Any PT Cruiser (although I prefer PT Loser) that tried to take the hwy on and off ramps at the same speed I do in my MCS would roll the PT Loser in a heart beat. That doesn't sound like fun to me

Also, negative press (even if we KNOW they are wrong) may mean less MINI's purchased by the masses......and I sort of like that.

 

I love the MINI interior, but I had to laugh when the article called the inner door panels reminiscent of a "Panasonic Boombox"!

 

I see what you're saying now and agree that the article misses the point. A neon disguised as a mini-van does not really relay "fun" to me, even if some people think it looks cool. Just because the PT Loser is fun (funny?) to look and quick 0-60 does not mean it is an overal fun driving experience. Same goes for the Beetle. I drove the VW and I'm sure it handles better than the Loser, but it's giant dash and body roll while cornering make it seem mini-vanish.

 

It´s funny how car magazines insist on classifying cars and comparing them, even if they are not similar. Just because the design of the three cars is an evolution from an old time icon (beetle and mini) doesn´t mean the cars are comparable.

I love the beetle when it came out, but now it´s starting to look weird, like a Pacer. The turbo is a blast to drive, I have driven it several times ( from a friend) and it is so much fun.

The PT has a great design, it is NOT a fun to drive (also driven it). For me the PT is built to be modified, either make it more retro or more modern, but the way it come straight out of the factory doesn´t make it cool enough.

Now the Mini... If I was concerned about the space I would have never gotten it, it is very small and it honestly fits two comfortably. Not meant to be a people hauler, if it was built to carry six people it would be a Camry. The design is exquisite and the quality is superb, much better than beetle and PT.

To me the true competition of the Mini would be a roadster, like the Miata. Built for the looks and for the pleasure of driving. who cares if Aunt Mabel doesn´t fit in the back seat?

 

>>It more than meets my everyday errand running. It won't meet the exceptional 1-2 times a year that I might haul bigger things, but then again most cars won't. That's why you always keep a friend that has a pick-up

Exactly why I sold the one I had!!!

 

There you go!!! It's a sports car, built for driving performance. I chafe at the "retro" label, and frankly, nostalgia had nothing to do with my wanting this car. I also see the cooper more akin to the Miata than a PT Cruiser (uggh).

I won't go so far as to say that I don't like the New Beetles, cause I do. They're cool, and I wouldn't mind owning a convertible, but the two certainly aren't the same kind of car... not even close.