63 replies to this topic

[less is more]

Hi, I like both and own both classic and new, I think what most people are forgetting is that cars evolve and the original mini did very well to stay with the classic shape for 41 years not many brands can claim that, infact I can only think of the original beetle, that stayed unchanged for so long.
Take the Fiesta for example does it still look like the original, or indeed the Golf, don't get me wrong I would rather have mark one versions of any car made, because thats how they were originally designed, it is only the safety gods and marketing that keep changing the designs not the original designers, but newer cars do make it safer for us, I know which of my two minis I would rather have a crash in at say 50 mph
The new MINI (BINI) is still a fun car to drive, handles like a dream, and is instantly recognized as a mini worldwide even if you did take all the badges of it, not many cars are so individual.
Do you think the classic mini would still be made today? even if the powers that be put to one side crash testing, emissions etc, I don't think so, I think it would have died a slow death, and that would have been dreadful better to go out in style and grace, there's only so many limited editions you can do, at least the new mini has kept the mini name alive and with it more interest in the scene new and old, don't forget many of the people I know either own a classic mini and BINI or have owned a classic before
Do I hate BMW? no (well only there prices) they make a damn good car although a little pricey, most car companies are taken over by the larger ones just take Jaguar and Rolls Royce

[mini_mad69]

Found the picture!

by the way the zip was on the MINI when purchased and there is a big ghost of it underneath so were leaving it on.

I do truely belive BMW tried to make them look similar, large round headlamps, the sidelights are seperate and look like the classic's indicators, wipers on the scuttle, similar shape handles. I love it!

Edited by mini_mad69, 17 March 2009 - 02:27 AM.

[Juju]

Oh god, this forum is filled with BMW brainwashed morons.

Beam me up Scotty!

You make me very sad at times, Taffy. I'm going to report you (again).

This thread is about who owns classics & BINIs. To try & bring it back on topic, I own a classic, but I would like a BINI too.

There is a JCW owner who parks near Matilda at work. She is blonde, and she loves Matilda. I drool over her car too, and I love the sound it makes as she drives off. I think we should swap for a week & see what happens.

[Juju]

At a dealership a few miles from me . But 23 grand!!!

[Jammy]

Most recent OT posts removed, warnings sent.

[Ethel]

IMHO it's fine for people to share their experiences of owning both cars, but you can't suggest it's a natural successor to the classic and not accept an alternative argument being made. I can also understand some opposition to Binis appearing at what were previously classic Mini events but abuse is just prejudice and uncalled for. It could be the occupants of the Bini are as much fans of the classic just like anyone else who turns up in any car other than a real Mini.

It's a similar issue - Mini owners might get unnecessarily protective over the "purity" of the classic Mini scene. BMW are hopefully beginning to find more tolerance for others assosciated with the brand they inherited.

Very likely, the Mini was living on borrowed time as a mainstream production car for western markets, but it had already become much more than a single company brand. BMW using the MINI brand is fine as long as it isn't to the detriment of the myriad small businesses that were already contributing to the Mini phenomenon. We can only speculate about what may have happened if the Mini had migrated to China, with its developing home market and urban population, along with the rest of MG Rover.

I've also got every confidence the classic will outlive the current incarnation of BINI too. No design can stay in production for more than a dozen or so years, not because of advancing technology or tougher regulations but because of intellectual property rights and marketing pressures. Creating a new icon is nigh on impossible.

[neilmorgan]

Just think how much simpler it would have been if it had been called the MIDI rather than MINI. There would certainly be far less MIDI haters than MINI haters eve though it would be exactly the same car. What's in a name?

My wife has a MIDI and I think it's great. I used to drive a mini van owned by a mate and thought was great too. There is no comparison between the two though. They are totally different cars, especially when you see a Mini and a MIDI together.

[OJM]

Yawn

[taffy1967]

Just as well Issigonis got cremated then?

[Shep76S]

We've got both. A Mini Cabrio and a MINI Cooper S. The S replaced a MINI Cooper. After 20 odd years driving real Minis you realise that they rust and fall apart no matter what you do to them. So, the Mini is for sunny fun days and the S for everyday, every weather.
Would you really have road salt in the winter all over your Mini if you didn't have to?
We also have a couple of other cars, but we mainly try to buy British produced cars to support British manufacturing.

Oh and I would never take a MINI to a Mini event such as the L2B.
But we did take a classic to the BMW Mini 50 event at Silverstone and I have to say, it was the best show of the year even if real Minis were in the minority.

[mini_mad69]

We've got both. A Mini Cabrio and a MINI Cooper S. The S replaced a MINI Cooper. After 20 odd years driving real Minis you realise that they rust and fall apart no matter what you do to them. So, the Mini is for sunny fun days and the S for everyday, every weather.
Would you really have road salt in the winter all over your Mini if you didn't have to?
We also have a couple of other cars, but we mainly try to buy British produced cars to support British manufacturing.

Oh and I would never take a MINI to a Mini event such as the L2B.
But we did take a classic to the BMW Mini 50 event at Silverstone and I have to say, it was the best show of the year even if real Minis were in the minority.

I love my car, I realy do love it.

ALthough recently I've had nothing but problems, and the bodywork is going too pot.


So when the stanford hall show came along me and my father hopped into my mother's Bini. I have too say, we arrived, not tired, relaxed and comfortable, we didn't have too keep a constant eye on coolant temp, oil preasure, etc.

We averaged 38 MPG and sat in the outside lane overtaking.


I do prefer my car, it's just more fun, but every now and again, I do wish it was a little more refined.


Saying that, my car is faster (top speed and acceleration), more fun, handles better, and you get more attention.

[taffy1967]

We've got both. A Mini Cabrio and a MINI Cooper S. The S replaced a MINI Cooper. After 20 odd years driving real Minis you realise that they rust and fall apart no matter what you do to them. So, the Mini is for sunny fun days and the S for everyday, every weather.
Would you really have road salt in the winter all over your Mini if you didn't have to?
We also have a couple of other cars, but we mainly try to buy British produced cars to support British manufacturing.

Oh and I would never take a MINI to a Mini event such as the L2B.
But we did take a classic to the BMW Mini 50 event at Silverstone and I have to say, it was the best show of the year even if real Minis were in the minority.

Well of course since most real Mini owners had enough sense to stay away.

Still after almost 16 years of ownership and over 99,600 miles, my 1990 Mini Cooper still drives like new and is great fun to drive too.

It's not the ideal family car now there's 5 of us, but then a BINI wouldn't be any better. A damned site worst in fact, plus I'd be very miserable if I didn't have the real thing to enjoy on the twisty mountain roads here in Taffyland.

[taffy1967]

We've got both. A Mini Cabrio and a MINI Cooper S. The S replaced a MINI Cooper. After 20 odd years driving real Minis you realise that they rust and fall apart no matter what you do to them. So, the Mini is for sunny fun days and the S for everyday, every weather.
Would you really have road salt in the winter all over your Mini if you didn't have to?
We also have a couple of other cars, but we mainly try to buy British produced cars to support British manufacturing.

Oh and I would never take a MINI to a Mini event such as the L2B.
But we did take a classic to the BMW Mini 50 event at Silverstone and I have to say, it was the best show of the year even if real Minis were in the minority.

I love my car, I realy do love it.

ALthough recently I've had nothing but problems, and the bodywork is going too pot.


So when the stanford hall show came along me and my father hopped into my mother's Bini. I have too say, we arrived, not tired, relaxed and comfortable, we didn't have too keep a constant eye on coolant temp, oil preasure, etc.

We averaged 38 MPG and sat in the outside lane overtaking.


I do prefer my car, it's just more fun, but every now and again, I do wish it was a little more refined.


Saying that, my car is faster (top speed and acceleration), more fun, handles better, and you get more attention.

Yes we were tempted to go in the family MPV, just like we did in 2007. But it's just not the same without taking our faithful Mini, so we went for picnic instead and saved our pennies for Castle Combe.

As for reliability and comfort, well my misses and our 2 kids (plus one on the way at the time) took our Mini on last years London To Brighton Mini Run and it didn't miss a beat all weekend.

If I behave myself I can usually get close on 50mpg too.

Edited by taffy1967, 15 September 2009 - 10:37 PM.

[modified90]

i dont actually own both but own 2 classic minis

driven the bmw mini at work(car sales) and both liked and hated it

i like the fact of how quick they are and easy to drive but dislike how close the pillair is to my head as its at a massivly sloping angle(and im tall) i also dont like the switches on the dash for the windows

the classic mini i like pretty much all round theres not much i dislike about them

if i could own both i would, but to have a MINT top spec model of 1 i would choose the classic mini over the BMW

hopefully this post isnt classed as spam !

[miniboo]

OT posts removed and quotes removed.