I said:

Its easy to see why its sells well and appeals to wide demographics ... young, old, rich, poor, green, yellow and purple, male, female, whatever.

I agree with the demographics. Your taking one sentence out of my explanation of why I think MINI marketing does so well out of context. I do believe that part of the reason is Gen X or Gen Y people are seeing for the first time (or maybe not) some terms or phrases they may never heard before (or maybe not). They are MINI marketing terms and I think they hit it right on. Repackage old phrases and sell them using modern terms to younger people. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that but the concept of "motoring fast on winding roads" is a very old concept ... just new terms.

Think the roundy round boys of NASCAR vice SCCA racing in or Grand Prix in the 1960s. Many American loved NASCAR or dragstrips or Indy. But the sports car people more into SCCA and Grand Prix. Its the old anybody can drive in circles or straight lines versus racing on twisty roads as in real life

You mean the put a smile on your face thing?

That is all a personal thing to individuals. If you don't think Mazda 3 speed owners have their own forums, enthusiasts and clubs, I bet you can find some very quickly online. I would also imagine they love and pamper their cars, just as much.

Just because one person can't imagine looking at car X as much a car Y means very little.

I am sure there are PT Cruiser owners out there who would never look at a MINI just as lovingly. Fill in the blank. I bet there might even be Pontiac Aztec owner (maybe one) doing the same thing! Just one example, I don't like the look of the large wing on the STIs. IMO, not so hot. Yet I bet there is a huge following of Subie owners who look adoringly at their wings!

There is, of course, a huge bias here rightfully so, but I would not think there are also large fan bases for other cars and people are just as enthusiastic.

 

yes, that is marketing. They do a great job. They followup, ask you how your doing, send you a welcome gift. Hmm, I wonder why? Maybe to get you to buy another one.

Welcome to the excellent MINI marketing. They are, IMO, one of the best in the business.

 

+1

 

When I buy new dish washing machine I read consumer reports.

When I buy new car I read car periodical.

In my home country, Mazda cars are cheap and are seen much in townships. Mini cars not so much so.

 

I do think it's a cult car. Of course It depends on what you consider to be a cult. On NAM and MINI2 (and other forums and blogs) I think there are certain cult characteristics you can see in the MINI community. An "us vs. them" mentality. How much people identify with MINI ownership as being part of their identity. The notion that just by owning a MINI you have something special in common with other MINI owners and you wave at each other. I could go on. Sounds like a cult to me.

 

Tomorrow is test drive day. I'll be driving the MCS, the MS3, the Miata, the Volvo C30, and the Subaru Impreza WRX hatch.

The Miata isn't really in the running since right now I need something a bit more practical but I haven't had a chance to drive the new model.

Hoping the MCS will live up to it's billing.

 

I'm a member of a couple of MZ3 forums --- I joined and tried to generate personal enthusiasm for the car. It worked for a couple of months.
But I also had an R53 at the same time.
My wife would drive the Mini for 3 weeks then I'd get it for one.
Which became 2 weeks for 2 weeks.
Which became 1 week for 2 weeks.
Which became 1 week for 3 weeks.
Then she didn't see the R53 for a while... ...that's when she woke up one Saturday and said, "what color do you want the new Mini to be?"

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Mazda. It was peppy, pretty good on gas, roomy, stylish, (yawn; excuse me...) --- I just never could feel it, you know? And I just hated the driver's seat.

So I got a really good trade....

 

I'm betting that the situation Arnbut describes happens more often than not. Chow4us is correct in describing it as "a personal thing" and that there are forums, enthusiasts and clubs for similar class vehicles whose owners love and pamper their cars just as much...

...but I'm convinced there IS an intangible difference with the MINI.

It always appears to be just a bit harder to generate the swell of enthusiasm evident in MINI owners and in NAM within these other venues based on first-hand reports in this and other forums (even accounting for some assumed biases). I suspect it is a complicated combination of many factors:

- The unique, pleasing, and relatively consistent architectural design features of the MINI
- The Mini racing heritage, for the segment of owners aware of it
- Inertia carrying over since BMW reintroduced the MINI
- The greater availability of aftermarket mod options
- Effective corporate marketing
- The nondescript style of most other cars in its class
- etc.

There's something just a bit special about the MINI fraternity. I can't put my finger on it; I'm just glad to be along for the ride. Thus, CR and C&D can say what they will, but I'll just shrug and be happy where I am (as I'm sure all of the other self-secure car enthusiasts do).

 

All that, mineartg; plus people kept saying, "hey, is that a Matrix?" :impatient
I couldn't handle that.

 

Yes, and it's a lot cheaper than actually addressing owner's problems in a reasonable manner.

 

What's funny (to the outside world anyway) is that there are equally hardcore fans, complete with websites, for Neons (non-SRT4!) and PT Cruisers and other such cars that are defined as "uncool." So, is the MINI anything particularly special? Probably not, but to hardcore fans such as the posters of this site, it is the most awesome thing in the world. Next to chips and queso.

 

Chows, you often make some very good points. Many I even agree with. But, I think you like being a contrarian. I wonder if there's a place that sells just English muffin tops.

 

Agreed. A Mini is a one of the cheaper alternative to a mid life crisis (i.e. divorce, etc.).

 

MINI = niche market with a robust culture all its own. If you like it, you probably love it--as I do.

side note: Black Butte Porter>RR>PBR>OM

 

Max kudos to jane for obviously reading thru the entire thread!