there's proof that taste and demande are two different beasts!

Long Live Chocolat!

Matt

ps, hummers sell well too! both the ones from GM that are bad and the other ones that are good!

 

If you could care less, that means you DO care.

I think you meant to say you could NOT care less.

Pet peave.

 

CR and PW are my fav colors (I happen to own one of each).

Sardine Sandwiches? Man I love those!

Eggs with avocado? That is narrow!

 

 

EB rules you narrow minded Clubman fanatic...........

and sardines are best left in the can....

 

ITYM "peeve." HTH. HAND.

 

Yeah, I woke up at 1:45 this morning thinking about "peave" vs "peeve". I was too warm to get out of bed and come downstairs to fix it.

Appreciate you watching out for me though.

 

OK, now those are fighting words!

 

Oh, do think there is a risk...but maybe not for everyone. Why? Because the rhetoric of "the haters" (whoever that is) is frequently way too polarized to be credible, and even comes off as an intentional, childish barb. I can see not liking this or that specific feature, but to say one dislikes an entire MINI variant, inasmuch as it still is a MINI, is a bit extreme in my view. In the end, many of these little dialogues wind up with "hey, if you like it buy it, it's just not for me." That's actually a bit more accurate and fair. In any case, I think we give far to little credit to the MINI designers and spend too little effort trying to understand what they are trying to accomplish. I find more and more that this helps me appreciate some features that I might have otherwise dismissed. Some of these features, should they actually be erased, would yield lackluster results, I think, and the look in it's entirety would suffer.

It's true the internet is the realm of extremes and what I'm saying might seem rather silly to those who feel it's their duty to stir things up and bluntly state their raw reactions. But.....NAM is a MINI community and, regardless of what happens on other boards, I think we can and should at least attempt to be fair-minded towards other owners or potential owners.

I do understand simply not liking something. There are reasons I drive a Cooper and an R56 and I have long list of features I do not like (or are not a good fit for me) among the other MINI variants. But it is hard to honestly say that I do not like these variants because in the end they are all MINIs, and a "correct MINI" can be many things, each with it's benefits and weaknesses. It's just not a black and white matter.

In the end, this little diatribe isn't meant to sway anybody as I doubt I'm laying out an unassailable argument here, but I do think we should show some kindness to the poor little Clubman and give the new guy a chance. There's be a lot of very thrilled new owners on the way and I think it's just more fun to cheer them on than to sit in our corners and throw barbs.

 

^^^ so basically you are saying that if we don't like something or think it is ugly we should lie & say it is lovely & peachy all in the name of "community"

Sorry but I don't go along with that line of thinking & find it a bit narrow. If anybody & I mean anybody doesn't like something or anything about my R52 I want them to feel free to say it. I will disagree with you 100% but I would never insist that you be denied your opinion or the right to express it. We are individuals & I would hate for the NAM community to be filled with a bunch of little yes-robots

 

Of course not, that is silly. What I am saying is that it's more helpful to parse out one's ideas a bit and consider one's actual issues pro and con (and both are generally there) rather than just blurting our, "it's fugly." In this context (a actual MINI variant) that just isn't enough information, but only enough to discredit the poster or get a negative reaction.

 

I think the Clubman looks great, even better than the original!

 

^ Until you get more than 5 posts, your opinion only counts as half a vote.

 

In all honesty, I would agree with clubman s. Picnic blankets are for girls... and queers.... and guys that doesn't mind looking queer.

 

That's too much work for me. I just like to say what I think & cut up with people on NAM because for me this is a fun message board & I'm not trying to give a dissertation. Plus, I'm not really fluent in talking third person. What does it matter anyway, I'm just a lowly OT poster & what I say doesn't really matter that much anyway

 

They you have not seen TOP GEAR on BBC America. By far the best car show (if not show period) on cable.

 

Well then you haven't seen the real thing yet, and don't know just how good it is.

http://www.finalgear.com/shows/topgear/

 

In know...it will be for a lot of other folks, too. I just get tired of thoughtless comments getting thrown out and then five pages later everybody gets over it saying, "it's your money, get what you want but it's just not for me." Think of all the angst we'd save ourselves by being a tad bit more specific about our comments. That said...this is the internet, so I guess what happens happens.

Speaking of which...it'll be interesting to see how folks react to visibility issues around that middle pillar on the Clubman rear doors. I suspect some will find it a major peeve (like Mr. Clarkson) but then the same comments about impaired visibility were made towards the cabrio, too, and somehow folks found a way to work around that just fine.

 

The xB (old or new) is just f*&*in' ugly!

Honestly, the Clubman is more true to the original MINI spirit and is validated by the concept design and production of the Traveler. Now as for the SUV thing coming, I think MINI may be pushing things. But come on, from the front and side, the Clubman is pretty indistinguishable from the R56. And very far from the ugliest car on the road.

 

I don't think this has anything to do with keeping true to the original MINI.

Its just ugly vs not ugly.

First gen mini -> 2nd gen mini -> clubman

girl ->girl with snoutier nose ->girl with snoutier noise and longger bigger ***

Its little things that make things more or less attractive!

 

Haha. That is a hilarious analogy.

 

Hilarious...in a pathetic kinda way.

 

This guy had a new GT40 after that car his opinion means nothing

 

I have seen uglier cars on the road but still view a clubman as being unattractive particularly from straight on from the side. There is simply too much unadorned slab side look for my taste.

 

Thanks gokartride, I think you make a few great points.

almost 5 years ago, when I was shopping for my current car, I drove a MINI and fell in love; but, it was just too small to meet my needs. Now, with a car matching other MINIs to the B-Pillars, but adding 9.5 inches of needed (for me, anyway) space in the back, I can buy with confidence and enthusiasm.

So, as one of the "thrilled new owners" on NAM, I appreciate the pep talk. I wondered for a while if some people would initially write off this car as a joke, but, with so many positive reviews (up until Jeremy Clarkson's rant, of course) I had high hopes. Now, I'm not so sure. WaddaYa say, NAM? Can you make a little room in your world for the Clubman?