180 replies to this topic

[Lukie-J]

We all know that Rover had the original plans for what we now call the BINI!
But what if?...
Would it have saved Rover's bacon?
Would it have been unreliable like most of the later Rovers?
Would they have found 32 places to stick Rover badges like all the others!?
Maybe then, is it better that BMW did it?
Would Rover have ben able to make it what BMW has made it or would it have been rubbish?
Did BMW save the mini?

Just something i was thinking about today as i was stuffing my coco pops!

[no insults]


(has this been done before?)

[Mini_Magic]

Would it have saved Rover's bacon? No.

Would it have been unreliable like most of the later Rovers? Almost certinaly, it definatly would have used the K series engine.

Would they have found 32 places to stick Rover badges like all the others!? I think even Rover would have had the common sence to keep the Mini name.

Maybe then, is it better that BMW did it? Considering Rovers future at the time, yes.

Would Rover have ben able to make it what BMW has made it or would it have been rubbish? It probably wouldn't have been as good, it definatly wouldn't have been as good looking or as popular.

Did BMW save the mini? Yes.

Edited by Mini_Magic, 16 December 2008 - 12:42 AM.

[Dan6061]

BMW haven't saved it, they've ruined it! A cheap, small family, british car is now a big, expensive family car, which is also a 'hot hatch' and soon-to-be SUV?
Plus they're made by a german company, and have ruined anyones chances of making Mini products - clothes, bags, PILLOWS, etc.

[Mini_Magic]

Sales of Minis were in decline in the 90s, BMWs cash injection saved the brand.

[roofless]

dont forget, if rover had somehow kept the brand, it would be chinese now.

[buddylove]

I don't understand whats so important about saving the brand... there are plenty of classic cars that are no longer in production that are still sought after, albeit a small community.

[roofless]

some people just cant get over it.

the brand lives, Its UK built and its a success - isnt that a good thing?

[Lukie-J]

BMW haven't saved it, they've ruined it! A cheap, small family, british car is now a big, expensive family car, which is also a 'hot hatch' and soon-to-be SUV?
Plus they're made by a german company, and have ruined anyones chances of making Mini products - clothes, bags, PILLOWS, etc.

If Rover made the new Mini they surely you'd still have to ask permission to make mini products?

It was (i think im right in saying) originally designed by a british company (Rover) and is built in britain
(although, i myself dont see the point in the estate or the crossover)

IF Rover had built it and it was rubbish then surely that would have been worse?

The designs by Rover were very similar to what BMW have made it, in that it was a lot bigger!
Any new mini, no matter who it was designed by would have had to be bigger because of the crash safety regulations.

Am I arguing against my own point here? I don't know, thats why i asked for your opinions!
I think I'm confusing myself!

[mrslaphead]

At what point did BMW buy Rover ?
And at what point was the first images of the new mini released?
I dont know either of these answers , Im just wondering whether Rover (as we like to remember it) designed the new Mini
or was it Rover(owned by BMW and possibly therefore designed by BMW) who designed the new MINI.
Not that it makes much difference, the mini that we all love would have had to be retired at some point anyway due to
failing to meet crash/drive bynoise/emissions standards regardless of whether or not Rover could have survived.
IMO its not that BMW made the car which I object to, its the way they have protected their Trademarks and distanced themselves from the
classic mini that I have issues with.

In answer to the question, it would not have been anywhere near as succesful as it has become due to Rovers perceived image
against the Brand loyalty that a lot of BMW drivers have.

[buddylove]

the BMW mini scene isn't even that big, I looked at one of their forums for a few months before I found this one. They had a small classic forum. Most weren't even all that much into modifications, some were and did a good job, but it was not the norm. Just a lot of pictures of stock Bini's with add on dealership parts... And, then others just slapped on tint and wheels and called it a day. Very uninspiring. This was US forum, so I don't know how it is over in the UK.

[998dave]

I believe BMW were starting on the mini brand in the early 90's, and spent cash to maintain the brand until the end of the decade. When they'd planned on bringing out the new mini.

If they hadn't it'd have died earlier, and the brand may now belong to the Chinese.

Think Chinese small cars, cheap - good, small - good, build quality - okay, character - no.

We'd have ended up with something like a Kia Perodua (not Chinese I know), so it could have been worse.

[mab01uk]

Video of the New MINI Preview Launch by Rover at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997



New MINI was designed by Rover engineers with BMW money, even todays MINI uses the R50 project number series (R=Rover). BMW insisted at an early stage that the K Series engine had too many warranty issues (with head gasket failures) to be used.........as Ford later found out when they bought the K Series engined Land Rover Freelander!

Rover could not have afforded to design the New MINI without BMW's cash investment or sold it in the volumes required to be economic, without access to the worldwide BMW Dealer Network, especially in the USA where Rover had had no Sales or Dealer Network for many years.

Edited by mab01uk, 14 September 2011 - 10:09 PM.

[Elisha-The-Cooper]

BMW haven't saved it, they've ruined it! A cheap, small family, british car is now a big, expensive family car, which is also a 'hot hatch' and soon-to-be SUV?
Plus they're made by a german company, and have ruined anyones chances of making Mini products - clothes, bags, PILLOWS, etc.

the latest old style minis were in excess of 12-13 grand with a full spec it says in my catalogue
i think the MINIs are reasonably priced,

x

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

of course BMw saved the mini, Get over the fact its bigger than the original, it was an updated it needed if it was to stay in production anyway.
Look at the roads now, theres thausands of MINI's, just like the original, surely making it a success?