Classics dwarfed by moderns
Discussion
72twink said:
The Clubman is no longer a bluff fronted Mini, the Countryman no longer an estate version so why should any modern Mini be small 
Thank God Issigonis never saw his concept diluted into a marketing tool!
It's a real shame isn't it. Thank God Issigonis never saw his concept diluted into a marketing tool!They have removed everything that was clever about it.
mike9009 said:
MINI is now a brand not a descriptor of the product. This happened about 15 years ago, in case you missed it.... 
nope didn't miss it at all, BMW took the MINI from helping Rover and the idea of boutique selling and styling (as did FIAT for the modern 500) from smart (small 's')even the smart has got bigger from original
RichB - I think of them as MINI MAXIs although I suspect the Maxi would be smaller than some of the range
nta16 said:
RichB - I think of them as MINI MAXIs although I suspect the Maxi would be smaller than some of the range
Definitely are (except the wheelbase and therefore probably interior space). Taken from Wikipedia:Austin Maxi:
Wheelbase 104.75 in (2,661 mm)[1]
Length 159 in (4,039 mm))
Width 64 in (1,626 mm)
Height 54.5 in (1,384 mm)
Kerb weight 2,156 lb (978 kg)
MINI Countryman
Wheelbase 2,595 mm (102.2 in)
Length 4,097 mm (161.3 in)
Cooper S: 4,110 mm (161.8 in)
Width 1,789 mm (70.4 in) (excluding mirrors)
Height 1,561 mm (61.5 in)
Kerb weight 1,265 kg (2,789 lb) (DIN), 1,340 kg (2,950 lb) (EU)
nta16 said:
mike9009 said:
MINI is now a brand not a descriptor of the product. This happened about 15 years ago, in case you missed it....
nope didn't miss it at all, BMW took the MINI from helping Rover and the idea of boutique selling and styling (as did FIAT for the modern 500) from smart (small 's')even the smart has got bigger from original
RichB - I think of them as MINI MAXIs although I suspect the Maxi would be smaller than some of the range
I don't quite understand the pent up rage about the MINI. What about the Fiat 500 - it no longer has a 500cc engine? 'How dare they call it 500', I can hear everyone crying.....The MINI is a British success story (conceived by Rover, built and designed in the UK (with the exception of the countryman)). They are also great fun to drive. I think the greek Sir Alex would be proud.
Sorry - way off topic....
Mike
nta16 said:
nope didn't miss it at all, BMW took the MINI from helping Rover and the idea of boutique selling and styling (as did FIAT for the modern 500) from smart (small 's')
even the smart has got bigger from original
RichB - I think of them as MINI MAXIs although I suspect the Maxi would be smaller than some of the range
I think of it as a reinvented Morris Minor disguised as a reinvented Mini. Not a criticism by the way.even the smart has got bigger from original
RichB - I think of them as MINI MAXIs although I suspect the Maxi would be smaller than some of the range
dbdb said:
Wow, it's good to see a Wizzkid on the thread. They're lovely cars, but so rare now. They were always tiny though!
I loved the 2 I had, and always got a raised eyebrow from passers by when all 6ft4 of me unfolded from the drivers seat
Rear suspension arm rot killed them - still waiting on the phonecall from Suzuki for the back ordered ones to arrive, 23 years later..
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