London Motor Show starts this week, 7/20. Could be the first official look at the '07:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature...ini/index.html

 

regards,
Red


Fixing the bugs on my early 03 MCS one day at a time....

 

thanks-- nice to see somebody on to this!! now that we are all seeing the flood of new small car models that undeniably ape the MINI shape/configuration, some of which are even smaller than the MINI-- BMW's decision to grow the car seems even more foolish...

 

I agree with comments regarding the upsize of the '07 Mini. It's too bad that great cars always have to become "better," which always ends up larger. I know, 2" isn't much.

I've watched some of my favorite cars become so physically (and financially) bloated that I don't waste my time reading about them any more.

Let's hope that in the future MINI will expand their offerings (such as the traveler) rather than upsize each gen. of our current machines.

 

Except the new car will weigh significantly less, at least from what Motoringfile has hinted at which has perked my interest.

 

Just got my September issue of Road and Track. It has the first completely undisguised photo of an 07 Cooper.

Looks great to me, I'd go with the 07 for sure!

 

However, i like the fact that the car is no "lightweight," it is good on the highway, doesn't get blown around a lot. Everytime I take out my second car, (a Sentra), I am amazed at how awful it drives, in even the slightest wind. I don't consider a weight reduction a good thing.

It seems only a slight exaggeration to observe that, in just a few years, BMW seems to have made more changes to the MINI than almost its entire life beforehand. Not a good sign, for those like me, that wanted it because it was d-i-f-f-e-r-e-n-t than everything else. Frustrating that BMW does not hear us...

 

180 lbs less according to the latest info from Motoringfile.

A significant weight reduction for sure.

 

I have no idea, what they could possibly have done, to realize that much weight reduction, considering the engine is "bigger." I see comments that suggest a change to an aluminum block is the main reason. I don't even want to speculate, but this is a negative for me, to be sure...

 

Hi, I will go with 2007. Everthing is better and I know there will be bugs. Thats what warranty is for!! Especially they one have 2 models now. Good luck

 

I think yours will be a minority opinion on this. One of the biggest "mods" on the current "S" is trying to figure out how to make it lighter.

 

First run cars are notorious for minor problems while the manufacturers switch over parts bins. Buy an 06' or wait for 08. Let someone else work out the bugs.
The 06' is solid and many improvements were made over its production cycle.

 

At this point, go for the 07

Why? Lighter, more HP and as soon as the new ones hit the street ... maybe March, April 07, 06 values will drop like a rock.

 

Or the early ones will soar in value if they get the new one wrong.

regards,
Red

 

I don't think the values will drop like a rock... They will prob go down a bit, but not that drastic!

 

i suspect you may be right on that one! just a rebel i guess, with a tendency to drift into lecture mode!

 

http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/25-07-06_9

It is said to be 10-15cm longer than the current 3.6m car

That means the new car is 4 - 6" longer than the current car?

On a 143" car, thats makes it much bigger and the reason many buy the car is NOT performance but size.

 

Well, it's not lighter....10 Kg heavier, in fact...

 

Absolutely. The current version is too large as it is. The orginal design team fought very hard to keep the car as short as it is. And as I've kept harping, the decisons regarding this second generation (its too early for that, anyway), don't have as much to do with new regs as they do with BMW's desire to cut costs. I see much of its original, core audience drifting away, in favor of a broader, less discerning buyer. I see no reason that sales increases would follow though...

 

Wait, absolutely wait. The new car is going to blow doors off the old one. The aluminum block is a major plus so is the extra HP and more reliable power at lower and mid RPMs. Twin Scroll turbo charger is going to kick ***. The added leg room, improved quality trim and extra available options make it a easy decision. Why be the 500,000th person to spec your very own Old MINI when you can be one of the first to build your new one.

I heard the new 6sp transmission is not fairing well in reviews that sucks. BMW may have choosen to save some money there.

Id get an 07 as long as there is going to be a Black one.

 

2.6" longer but shorter than the current car. BTW that length isn't much more than plastic and air to comply with Euro predestrian safety regs.

hmmm, I wouldn't be so quick with that...

Anyway the answer is yes, you should wait if you're interested in performance.

 

So the plot thickens on the weight front, heh.

I guess we'll know what it weighs when the finished car is shown off in Paris (right?).

 

We should have official numbers sooner. Keep in mind there was nothing "official" said on the weight front at the recent MINI press event. They conspicuously left that out of the specifications in the press release.

 

Yes, so a turbo has more, cheaper theoretical "tune-ability" than a supercharger. But.. The current supercharger gets into the deep 200hps fairly quickly. And with twincharged cars out there making 3, 4, 500hp... Is this even an issue for most people? Me-thinks not.

The '07 will be slightly heavier, or slightly lighter. A few HP/tq more, a few inches bulkier. It's not a huge change. The decision between '06 and '07 really comes down to three things: fuel economy, looks, and having "the newest thing on the block." It will get better gas mileage, it's a redesign, and it's new. But from a performance standpoint? It's not going to be a huge step forward, or back (for example, check the MINI2 test drives).

.
I bet the new powerplant will be cool as heck, but I'm content with the current one.

 

i did not buy either of my 2 mini's with performance as the overriding goal. i just feel this new version is a terrible step backward-- the current s performs well enough, and no performance boost can change that for me...