59 replies to this topic

[mini93]

and the fact that modern cars are vastly more efficient and reliable they wont need the same up keep that a 50 year old mini requires, modern shells dont require as much maintainence so there for, no not as many enthusiasts will buy them but more people will be able to own them still. But ur right, if you look at the cars on the road now there isnt that many cars from 20 years ago, be it mini or things like 205's...not to say there arent the odd ones of either tho.

[minibarnerz]

cars these days are designed to last 10 years. where as before they were more engineered! you find a ford Ka 2000 ish... dont think they gonna last ANOTHER 10 years!!

[mini93]

minis shouldnt really have lasted as long as they have though, its only due to upkeep in my oppinion...id bet you cant find a mk1 which is on the road and over its years hasnt had a hefty lump of work pumped into it, even within its 1st 20 years of life...its just the same as any 20 year old car though, all parts are given a life expectency. Up keep on modern cars might be more costly but remember its because it has so many smaller parts, the smaller parts to fit within a certain space with certain regulations.
Taking a mini back to shell, piece of pish. We stripped a new fiesta at work back to bare shell and including pulling seam sealer off it was over 2 weeks of solid work.
If you were buying a mini new, nower days would you be happy to think everythings been bashed to fit correctly, pannel gaps all over the shop, interior trim so basic a 10 year old could have designed it so no dash fit worrys to think of....if a mini had a dash like most the cars do these days it would fit horribly

why do i like minis so much seeing im bashing them haha

oh and KA's rust

Edited by mini93, 06 February 2011 - 01:13 PM.

[Timtom]

How many actually 50 year old minis are there though? Very very few! All the ones you see on here are barn finds which are very very rusty !

[TfcIan]

oh and KA's rust

Particularly around the petrol cap. We've had two both rust horribly around the petrol caps.

I can't think of any new car which is similar to a Mini, the only call I would make is the 500 because I think they are the only modern car to have a bit of character. Although as pointed out, the new 500 is the new 500. If only BMW had made the new mini more alike to the classic mini, the old and new 500's are very similar, a very good example of how to bring an old car into modern times. It's a shame my mom doesn't like them, best small car in production today in my opinion.

Edited by TfcIan, 06 February 2011 - 01:52 PM.

[scb]

I think you forget that seeing a 50year old mini on the road is also pretty rare! You only see so many minis as they were produced for so long. Most the minis you see are alot younger that 50years!

But a 15 year old mini looks like a 50 year old mini so for 35 years they built almost exactly the same car. There are difference but to the ordinary man, they probably could not tell you the difference between the original mini and the last one to roll off the line. Can you honestly see any currently mass manufactured car looking the same in 35 years time and people still driving what is mechanically still more or less a 50 yera old car?

There is no way that in 50 year times someone will be buying a Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra or VW Lupo that looks pretty much like the one that is being built today, IMO. Infact, I'd be amazed if they're doing it in 20-30 years time.

There are just no small cars (or larger cars) around that are owned by people with the same effection, cars these days are emotionless boring, generic cars that the average person struggles to work on.

[ministar]

I think you forget that seeing a 50year old mini on the road is also pretty rare! You only see so many minis as they were produced for so long. Most the minis you see are alot younger that 50years!

But a 15 year old mini looks like a 50 year old mini so for 35 years they built almost exactly the same car. There are difference but to the ordinary man, they probably could not tell you the difference between the original mini and the last one to roll off the line. Can you honestly see any currently mass manufactured car looking the same in 35 years time and people still driving what is mechanically still more or less a 50 yera old car?

There is no way that in 50 year times someone will be buying a Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra or VW Lupo that looks pretty much like the one that is being built today, IMO. Infact, I'd be amazed if they're doing it in 20-30 years time.

There are just no small cars (or larger cars) around that are owned by people with the same effection, cars these days are emotionless boring, generic cars that the average person struggles to work on.

Very well said. I agree 100%.

[mab01uk]

I can't think of any new car which is similar to a Mini, the only call I would make is the 500 because I think they are the only modern car to have a bit of character. Although as pointed out, the new 500 is the new 500. If only BMW had made the new mini more alike to the classic mini, the old and new 500's are very similar, a very good example of how to bring an old car into modern times. It's a shame my mom doesn't like them, best small car in production today in my opinion.

If the MINI had been a cheaper supermini like the 500 it could not have been built profitably at Oxford in the UK, the New MINI and the New Fiat 500 were however both designed by Frank Stephenson and increased in size by the same amount over the originals - see pic below! (The classic Mini was much bigger than the classic Fiat 500).

Drive both the New 500 and a New MINI and you will find the steering and handling of the MINI is way ahead of the Fiat.....which is more style over substance and is basically a Panda in a posh frock. This is to be expected really as the MINI has a far more sophisticated suspension and steering setup than the Fiat 500 because the priority when Rover designed it for BMW was always to make it the best handling and steering car in its class like the classic.

[dougie1142]

Probably get shot for it, but i honestly think the MINI is a good following from the old classic. I personally would and rather have the old one, but i can't see any of these other cars being a modern equivalent!

[charie t]

if we look at the VW lupo do you think its very similar to a mini?

The prices certainly match

[wolfie]

as stickers seem all the rage seems appropriate to have one on a lupo saying "more of a mini than a bini"

[onefastmoke]

hasn't anybody seen the new MG 3



I wonder what they are hinting at lol, just a shame that MG now has a chinese parent company

[JakeJakeJake]

I think you forget that seeing a 50year old mini on the road is also pretty rare! You only see so many minis as they were produced for so long. Most the minis you see are alot younger that 50years!

There is no way that in 50 year times someone will be buying a Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra or VW Lupo that looks pretty much like the one that is being built today, IMO. Infact, I'd be amazed if they're doing it in 20-30 years time.

Of course not, cars will fly or at least hover by then

[minikev84]

This one is funny make it a 2dr and bring it down in size lol.

[trafficface09]

Daihatsu Gino looks like a chavy badly drawn illustration of a mini with silly oversized wheels so I can deduce that the mini if made today would be horrible to look at and due to safety regulations would make it very bulky, thank you all for you comments it's nice to read a proper discussion about this