87 replies to this topic

[l_jonez]

Every re make of an old classic ALWAYS fails.

the fiat 500 is pretty good tho

[taffy1967]

Every re make of an old classic ALWAYS fails.

the fiat 500 is pretty good tho

Apart from the fuel economy? (according to an owner who posted in the 'General Chat' section).

Edited by taffy1967, 03 April 2010 - 09:55 PM.

[mab01uk]

Every re make of an old classic ALWAYS fails.

On 3 April 2007, the one millionth MINI rolled out of the Oxford Plant after six years of production, just one month longer than it took the classic Mini to reach the same total in March 1965.

Just weeks after celebrating Mini’s 50th birthday, another milestone was reached on July 6th 2009 as the 1.5 millionth MINI rolled off Plant Oxford’s production line, since the launch of the new MINI in 2001.
Tne MINI is now sold in more than 80 countries, with its most recent launch in Brazil. MINI Plant Oxford currently builds the MINI, MINI Clubman and MINI Convertible. It also produces the sporty MINI John Cooper Works, MINI JCW Clubman and MINI JCW Convertible models. Of the 1.5 million MINI cars built in Oxford so far, the traditional two-door hatch version accounts for around 1.24 million. In addition to these, 179,000 MINI Convertibles have passed through the factory gates in Oxford, along with 79,000 examples of the MINI Clubman. In the years 1959 to 2000, UK production figures for the classic Mini came to more than 5.3 million. When combined with the figures for its successor, total global sales for the brand amount to 6.8 million cars.

1.5 Million MINI milestone:
http://theswitchback...-mini-milestone

MINI celebrates milestone barely two years after reaching 1 million
http://www.worldcarf...5-million-units
http://www.autonewsc...5-million-cars/

Edited by mab01uk, 04 April 2010 - 09:55 AM.

[richardsoniscool]

true but how many more people drive cars nowadays than they did 50 - 40- 30 years ago?

but it still stands that remakes are never going to be as good - even if they are.
I was sitting in traffic yesterday and i was thinking that actually the MINI is not that bad compared to the fiat 500 and new beetle - at least they put the MINI's engine in the right place

Edited by richardsoniscool, 04 April 2010 - 10:01 AM.

[mab01uk]

true but how many more people drive cars nowadays than they did 50 - 40- 30 years ago?

but it still stands that remakes are never going to be as good - even if they are.

I was sitting in traffic yesterday and i was thinking that actually the MINI is not that bad compared to the fiat 500 and new beetle - at least they put the MINI's engine in the right place

1. True, but how many more good small imported cars are now available in all world markets for people to choose from compared with back then?

2. True when replacing an icon like the classic Mini, but a replacement was long overdue, sales of the classic Mini were down to a few thousand a year (uneconomic & expensive low volume in world car sales terms) even with the later Japanese export market boost and BMW's 1997 MPI emissions, noise and safety upgrades to take it to the year 2000. The automatic gearbox option even had to be dropped towards the end, despite the Japanese demand for autos, as AP were unable to supply their transmission any longer in such small production numbers.

3. True, it is rarely pointed out but the MINI is much closer in basic layout and driving fun/handling/enjoyment to its predecessor than either of the originally rear engined new Fiat 500 (underneath really a Panda/Ka) or new Beetle (underneath really a Golf).

[Bean]

I saw one of these today ...

So at least one person's actually thought "Yeah, that's the one for me!!"

[wardyxxx]

There's one in poo brown on my street. Yuk.

[mab01uk]

There is quite a long waiting list at present.............

b3-bpoVrLP8

Mini has confirmed the John Cooper Works WRC will make its first appearance in the World Rally Championship on the Rally d'Italia in May.
http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/89684

[Juju]

There is quite a long waiting list at present.............

Surrey appears to be full of 'em.

[oli8925]

I've seen a few of these about.

To be fair to BMW at least it's not quite as ugly as the Nissan Duke, although equally as pointless.

[Juju]

To be fair to BMW at least it's not quite as ugly as the Nissan Duke, although equally as pointless.

Ooh, I prefer the Duke. I dunno why. Plobly because it looks like a micra on steroids.

[mini77]

What is it...the mini died in 2000 LOL

[robsrallymini]

It's great to see the mini rallying again....same it took the germans to make it happen!!!