306 replies to this topic

[clovus]

Spot reading a few of the replies on this thread has been an interesting and informative read. Kinda reminds me of when I first owned a mini years ago and the round nose guys used to bag the Clubby owners and vice versa.

I like the BINI, almost bought a 2009 JCW Copper S until my little black beauty unexpectedly arrived, but they all seem to lack the cheeky 'personality' of the classic. Would I go to a car show to look at classic mini's, YES. Would I go to look at a BINI, nup, sorry.

EDIT: Black Beauty? Who am I kidding! It's noisy, not running at the moment, rusty, terrible seats, needs painting, unreliable, but I still love it

Edited by clovus, 09 September 2010 - 10:29 AM.

[lrostoke]

To me a car is a car a either like it or I don't, what the company politics were or who builds / owns doesn't worry me.

Bini .. nice enough car, but I don't want one and don't really catch my eye to say ooohhh look at that one.

mini .. had 3, but I'm aware of there faults but live with it. but even with a mini I can go a show and think yeah thats nice but so what I just like mine for driving and working on. It's more a hobby.

[mab01uk]

For those who are really interested in the background to the many and complex reasons for Rovers failure, this book is an interesting read:
End of the Road: The Real Story of the Downfall of Rover
http://www.amazon.co...YTKAN6MZ3SFHEZ0

Quote:
"BMW promised a bright new future for Rover. In turn, Rover was to keep BMW as the independent car dynasty it wanted to remain. But it all went wrong. Badly wrong. From a battle of executive egos, to union in-fighting and boardroom bloodshed. The clash of cultures, disastrous decisions and ultimately European Union meddling that led to the sale of Rover and end of an era for industrial Britain. Then along came the white knights - the Phoenix consortium, comprising four car industry veterans, who promised a bright future for MG Rover. They beat off the other contender for ownership, Alchemy's Jon Moulton, who wanted to considerably strip down the company and run a much more focused sports car manufacturer as a way forward. But five years later, when the white knights declared the black day had arrived and MG Rover was finished, the crowns of the saviours looked incerasingly tarnished, as they stood accused of betraying the trust placed in them, and walking away rich men as the Rover workforce streamed off to the benefit office. This is the full story, with unparalleled access to all the key players. It reveals where the errors were made, who is to blame, and along the way tells one hell of a rivetting story of the events that will go down in history as the end of Great British car manufacturing."

Edited by mab01uk, 09 September 2010 - 12:00 PM.

[Redbaron6969uk]

For those who are really interested in the background to the many and complex reasons for Rovers failure, this book is an interesting read:
End of the Road: The Real Story of the Downfall of Rover
http://www.amazon.co...YTKAN6MZ3SFHEZ0

Quote:
"BMW promised a bright new future for Rover. In turn, Rover was to keep BMW as the independent car dynasty it wanted to remain. But it all went wrong. Badly wrong. From a battle of executive egos, to union in-fighting and boardroom bloodshed. The clash of cultures, disastrous decisions and ultimately European Union meddling that led to the sale of Rover and end of an era for industrial Britain. Then along came the white knights - the Phoenix consortium, comprising four car industry veterans, who promised a bright future for MG Rover. They beat off the other contender for ownership, Alchemy's Jon Moulton, who wanted to considerably strip down the company and run a much more focused sports car manufacturer as a way forward. But five years later, when the white knights declared the black day had arrived and MG Rover was finished, the crowns of the saviours looked incerasingly tarnished, as they stood accused of betraying the trust placed in them, and walking away rich men as the Rover workforce streamed off to the benefit office. This is the full story, with unparalleled access to all the key players. It reveals where the errors were made, who is to blame, and along the way tells one hell of a rivetting story of the events that will go down in history as the end of Great British car manufacturing."

Like I said " believe the propaganda if you wish " People from Birmingham who worked there and saw the demise know the truth and where it all went wrong. The easy answer for me is to have shows which include all British Leyland cars to the point when BMW took over. There were some ugly cars made over the years but I LOVE to see them I LOVED Rover. All the models produced over the years bring back nostalgia for me. No place for Bini's at a Rover show.

[miniman44]

There's a particular form of folk dance called a circle dance,this is in danger of becoming a circle subject.Now I'm sure most of us who have an opinion on this subject have,by now,made it known,so can we call this the last post,while were all still friends.

[bobs]

What did Issigonis replacement the 9X share?

Quite alot, one (of the three?) was dontated to the Atwell Wilson Car Museum in Calne, wilts (from Gaydon I think) Pop by and go see it, also it's a great day out if you like classic cars/bikes/lorries of all breeds... small, but cheap and sweet, worth a look.

Different engine (over head cam I think) and auto gearbox, slightly wider, sortofa clubman front end, and coilover shocks! petrol tank in the boot floor. IIRC...

Basically looks like a mini clubman tho, very interesting to see it in the flesh.

[cagy]

So we say that the BINI which is a BMW made mini should be allowed to CLASSIC mini shows no problem, the BINI which can in theory already go to modern and BMW shows, if we apply this theory to the mini therefore every MPI mini made under the BMW rule over rover should also be accepted at every BMW show no problem, will this ever be the case????

[dave585]

So we say that the BINI which is a BMW made mini should be allowed to CLASSIC mini shows no problem, the BINI which can in theory already go to modern and BMW shows, if we apply this theory to the mini therefore every MPI mini made under the BMW rule over rover should also be accepted at every BMW show no problem, will this ever be the case????

Not a problem as my mates 1999 mini as been to many with us.

[dave585]

Every one seems to have answer to every thing. Tell me and be sensible about it, If you were if charge of Rover in 1994 after buying it how would you have done things ie the mini,200 etc. Add in the factors as well sales falling, european rules etc.
Be good to hear your ideas.

[skaterava]

Well i wouldn't sell ourselves to BMW in the first place, for a start.

Edited by skaterava, 09 September 2010 - 02:28 PM.

[dave585]

Well i wouldn't sell ourselves to BMW in the first place, for a start.

Thats not what i ment. You have brought rover from bae, BMW dont even come in to it.

[minimoz]

Well i wouldn't sell ourselves to BMW in the first place, for a start.

Thats not what i ment. You have brought rover from bae, BMW dont even come in to it.

I would of built them a lot better,with a better metal like moderm cars to prevent rust!!!

I own a year 2000 cooper,and god its built badly!!!! BMW should of built the MPI!!

[Scallywag630]

I think the main reason for separation is that the Bini is NOT a classic car and will not be for years to come. Forget the silly coments about being nearly 10 years old, the mini is 51 years old and that is what makes it a classic. Would anyone say the 2000 Ford Fiesta was a classic??? I think not, but the mini changed very little in shape from '59 to 2000. Its the shape that makes it a classic.

Just think what might have been if BMW had not been involved. Honda might even had put the V-tec engine in as a standard mdel!!! If the few that are defending BMW think it was a culture clash, then I would have thought the same would allpy to Honda...it didn't.

The Bini is a good car...three members of my family have them, but they are NOT a classic car or even a Mini except by a paid for name.

[Nelson92]

I'd have done a mini using either the same shell OR the same engine to keep fans happy.
As the engine was starting to get a bit old and outdated (understatement) i'd have chucked in a toyota yaris 1.0vvti at that time.
still revs nicely and power would be reasonable. probably would have got a deal on them from the japs.
keep all the mpi's safety gear to keep the EU boys happy, maybe added some better bracing up front for head ons.
As with the comments about golfs, vw fans don't mind the golf because it slowly got fat.
body wise i think the BMW mini started too big as i said previously in this thread.
I'd like to see them do a smaller one to fill the gap. And stick something small and revvy up front. <1l.
Then do a 1275cc hotter version of the engine with no supercharger and stick a hot cam in it.
price it fairly low to compete with renaultsport twingos and so on.

Edited by Nelson92, 09 September 2010 - 05:24 PM.

[mab01uk]

I'd have done a mini using either the same shell OR the same engine to keep fans happy.

Like the Minki 1 & II development of a new Mini concept under Rover and later BMW?
Link:
http://www.austinmem...e46/page46.html