Hey,
I know this is a stupid question, but I have to ask anyways. It may have been asked before, but why is the hood pop on the passenger side of the MINI? I always just say, "well, it's a forgien car, so they had to move everything that is on the passenger side to the driver side, and, well, I guess they just forgot". I know thats wrong, but it's a good story anyways. But why is it on the passengers side?

 

It is British. And the original mini had the hood release in a similar location.

 

because the mini is supposed to be a right hand drive car!

 

... it's all in the name of Safety ... they don't want you near it when you are flailing around trying to stay on the road at Deal's Gap - if you bump into it, the hood could fly open ...

 

>>It is British. And the original mini had the hood release in a similar location.

??what?? ... all of mine had the release in the middle of the grill ...

 

>>??what?? ... all of mine had the release in the middle of the grill ...

If I understand what you are saying, I am talking about the release on the inside of the car, not the one on the outside when you actually open the hood.

 

yes, all the Classics (untill the late '80's or there abouts ...) didn't have an interior release - the main and safety catches were both on the outside ...

 

>>yes, all the Classics (untill the late '80's or there abouts ...) didn't have an interior release - the main and safety catches were both on the outside ...
>>

Wow, thanks for sharing, that's a good one to know.

 

It is simply not worth them moving it - not like you have to open the bonnet every day!
If they didn't move the steering wheel they would have trouble selling the car here but the bonnet release is not a big deal - is it?

 

>>It is simply not worth them moving it - not like you have to open the bonnet every day!
>>If they didn't move the steering wheel they would have trouble selling the car here but the bonnet release is not a big deal - is it?
>>

They would have sold NO right-side drive cars in the U.S. (and most of the ROW). Moving the hood release to the left side would have been no problem. They left it on the right for one reason: to be cute. It is just one more bit of cuteness on a very cute car.

 

To be honest, it bugs me that they didn't move it for the US. Character isn't everything.

 

I think it is cool, I always point it out to my friends.

 

Just saves on production costs, the MINI is set up to be easily switched from LHD to RHD. Hence the symmetry in the cockpit. Get over it, I don't mind it being over there, you have to get out to open the bonnet (not hood! Here's how it works... bonnet=hood, hood=roof, boot=trunk) anyways, if you're that lazy, you need the exercise, heehee.

 

You can find things like this in just about every car that was built or designed in a place that is right hand drive.

Geo Tracker/Suzuki sidekicks have the release in the glove box on the right hand side.

Many honda's have the OBDII access port on the right hand side instead of some where in the driver side foot well.

Same can be said of some mitsibushis and Nissans.

 

They put it on the right so your passenger can say,
"hey, what's this" and pull it at 95 mph.

 

>>>>yes, all the Classics (untill the late '80's or there abouts ...) didn't have an interior release - the main and safety catches were both on the outside ...
>>>>
>>
>>Wow, thanks for sharing, that's a good one to know.
>>

They used to also have these *****-on-sticks kind of things on the doors. You'd turn these things in a circular motion and the windows would go down!!! Can you believe it??

 

>>They would have sold NO right-side drive cars in the U.S. (and most of the ROW).

True, but I've often thought it would be interesting to have a RHD MINI here in the states.

 

Our office MG has a bifold bonnet that hinges in the middle and has a pair of latches on either side ....... must be a classic.

>>yes, all the Classics (untill the late '80's or there abouts ...) didn't have an interior release - the main and safety catches were both on the outside ...
>>

 

>>
>>They used to also have these *****-on-sticks kind of things on the doors. You'd turn these things in a circular motion and the windows would go down!!! Can you believe it??

... can you say "sliding windows" ... ? ..

 

It's the same reason why the petrol fill is on the left.It was just cheaper to leave it there than move it to the right for LHD cars.I'm surprised the wipers don't sweep the opposite way.I guess that's considered a biggie just like the steering wheel.