To me, it simply means that both parties reached mutually satisfactory agreement without proceeding to a full trial or completing a full trial.

Every day, lawsuits are settled since it may be the right thing to do from a business or financial, but not a legal standpoint. Sometimes the projected cost of a likely legal victory can be too excessive to proceed.

The battle had already lasted 8 years prior to settlement. There's a time when it's no longer worthwhile to continue.

http://car-reviews.automobile.com/ne...e-lawsuit/179/

 

I agree with you completely here.

I believe that the time allocated, the expensive and potentially damaning process in and of itself, and the potentially mediocre settlement results that Suzuki achieved were less than ideal.

But that's easy for us to see in retrospect, and not as easy to see when the initial decision to file was made, or at the midpoint, when so much has been allocated to the cause, they probably just kept going.

After eight years though, it was probably the right thing to do to settle. Of course, at any point before then, that same decision could possibly have been made, saving everyone time and money.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...pagewanted=all

 

In any event, I don't buy cars based solely on other people's opinions. Although, it is helpful to have the opinions of other sources and people. But not so much that it changes your own perceptions and experiences to the extreme.

I've already driven at least 6 Mini Cooper S's, and a handful of other cars. That being said, I have decided to try the Mini. And if I hate it, I can modify it to liking, or sell it. But, if you never try something, you'll never know.

As it's been said, "Don't believe anything you read, and only half of what you see." heheh.

 

Fair enough since I don't know the details of the litigation, but most lawsuits are about money, not principle. As I recall Suzuki sued for money damages, so by that measure the case was a loss [despite what Suzuki principals said after the settlement. The Plaintiff did not win money nor a retraction. IMHO hard to call that vindication or a win.]

 

I had the same cold feet fears before taking the leap and ordering my MINI in June. I'd read the CR report and have always trusted them. I found NAM as a way of continuing my research, just as I'd found a VW forum back when I was researching the Passat I currently own. Here, as there, are a (relative to the overall owner population) small number of people who are passionate about their cars. People as a general rule will be far more vocal about the problems they have (with anything) than they will about great performance. The lovely people here reassured me and calmed my fears that there are far, far, far more MINI owners (esp. the R56) who are completely satisfied with their cars than the ones that have problems. Even the ones who do have problems are for the most part still madly in love with their cars.

I'd been enamoured of MINIs since they came out in 2002 and am thrilled about my decision, even though it's a good 3 weeks to a month before I can even get behind the wheel of mine. I've never felt this way about a car before. Ever. I was also considering a Prius, but ultimately feel like getting the MINI will be thousands of miles more fun. Every corner I take now, I think, "I can't wait to do this in my MINI!"

Life is too short to drive boring cars.