RE: PH Blog: don't fancy yours much

[Garlick]

Johnboy Mac said:

Possibly the worst blog you've ever done Galick. Not in a million years would I let this 'coupe' cast a shadow on my garage door. It's just marketing crap. And before you ask, no I've not driven one and have no intentions either as whatever dignity I have I'd like to keep.

And thanks for clarifying the point of it exactly, much obliged to you.

It's a good car that we won't drive....for all the reasons you (and I) state. They have made a great drivers car that drivers won't give a second thought to over a GT86 or similar.

I am agreeing with your sentiment, but I would drive a hatch...not a coupe.

[sjg]

I don't get it, but then I don't get conventional coupes and saloons either. Why would you want a less useful car than a hatch or estate for no extra road footprint or difference to how it drives? Is there a big market for prospective MINI owners who are thinking "well, the hatch is nice, but it would be so much better with a sloping roofline and no back seats"?

[Riggers]

Johnboy Mac said:

Possibly the worst blog you've ever done Galick.

By which I assume you mean the one with an opinion you agree with least? Sorry but I've got to give a to that...

[5lab]

scholesy said:

HAHA good april fools joke Garlick, you can't defend the purposeless monstrosity that is the Mini Coupe! Tell me what it does better than the MINI Cooper S (apart from being ugly and less practical) and I will happily concede.

what does a 6 series do better than a 5?

what does a passat cc do better than a passat?

etc etc etc. coupes don't have an actual purpose. They sell to people who like the sporting image and 'difference' from the regular car. That's just fine. Mini isn't the first and won't be the last to test this out.

They missed a trick by not calling it the Marcos, but other than that I have no problem with it. If you don't use the back seats in a mini, why not get one of these?

[LuS1fer]

I like the original MINI - it was a great re-interpretation of a classic design. the restyle wasn't so good but acceptable.

It then went all wrong with the Countryman and this Crappe - it seesm to me like the Emperor's New Clothes - people think they should like them because they see MINI as trendy - when they should be saying "That looks rank".

It's a bit like the "Porsche Design" pen i won from Autocar once - all style, no real substance and certainly not as good as a nice BIC.

[Johnboy Mac]

Riggers said:

Johnboy Mac said:

Possibly the worst blog you've ever done Galick.

By which I assume you mean the one with an opinion you agree with least? Sorry but I've got to give a to that...

Yes, it's just my opinion - nothing wrong with that. And my comment was directed clearly at Garlick. What are you, the PH heavy?

[Garlick]

Johnboy Mac said:

Yes, it's just my opinion - nothing wrong with that. And my comment was directed clearly at Garlick. What are you, the PH heavy?

I've replied too, we agree.

[Cotty]

Alfa numeric said:

It's purely the looks. It may be a great drive (my hatch is and it's only a Cooper) but that "styled" roof just kills it stone dead for me.

Yep I can't see why anyone would choose the coupe over a normal MINI apart from its looks. and as said in the blog there are much prettier cars around for the money.

[scholesy]

5lab said:

what does a 6 series do better than a 5?

what does a passat cc do better than a passat?

etc etc etc. coupes don't have an actual purpose. They sell to people who like the sporting image and 'difference' from the regular car. That's just fine. Mini isn't the first and won't be the last to test this out.

They missed a trick by not calling it the Marcos, but other than that I have no problem with it. If you don't use the back seats in a mini, why not get one of these?

Seems you totally missed the mark, as the mini coupe is not the equivalent of the cars you have noted by a long shot, it only has two seats, where the other cars have 4-5 seats. I love coupes and always buy them over the saloon if the option is there, but this coupe only has two seats, that is why you should not get one, BMW have taken a good practical car, removed all practicality and sold it as a coupe.

[once]

I actually thought it was a good article. Underneath all the image and style stuff, I can well imagine that the mini coupe is quite a good car. Garlick isn't saying that we should all rush out and buy one - just that it is underrated and better to drive than you'd think.

Which is probably fair enough.

And who am I to argue with him? I haven't driven one and he has.

[once]

scholesy said:

Seems you totally missed the mark, as the mini coupe is not the equivalent of the cars you have noted by a long shot, it only has two seats, where the other cars have 4-5 seats. I love coupes and always buy them over the saloon if the option is there, but this coupe only has two seats, that is why you should not get one, BMW have taken a good practical car, removed all practicality and sold it as a coupe.

MX-5, Boxster, MR2, S2000, SLK, most Ferraris ...

Nothing wrong with only having two seats if you don't need or want any more.

[5lab]

scholesy said:

5lab said:

what does a 6 series do better than a 5?

what does a passat cc do better than a passat?

etc etc etc. coupes don't have an actual purpose. They sell to people who like the sporting image and 'difference' from the regular car. That's just fine. Mini isn't the first and won't be the last to test this out.

They missed a trick by not calling it the Marcos, but other than that I have no problem with it. If you don't use the back seats in a mini, why not get one of these?

Seems you totally missed the mark, as the mini coupe is not the equivalent of the cars you have noted by a long shot, it only has two seats, where the other cars have 4-5 seats. I love coupes and always buy them over the saloon if the option is there, but this coupe only has two seats, that is why you should not get one, BMW have taken a good practical car, removed all practicality and sold it as a coupe.

I would argue the other cars take a good 5 seater and reduce it to a 2+2. The mini is already a 2+2, and is reduced to a 2 seater. Yeah, its rubbish if you need 4 seats, but then don't buy it. When was the last time you saw someone in the back of a mini anyway?

if you want to use that example, what about the figaro vs the micra? the former lost its rear seats, but a '89 figaro will sell for £5k where a similar vintage micra will struggle to reach 10% of that. a similar argument can be suggested for the audi tt and the a3

[Garlick]

once said:

I actually thought it was a good article. Underneath all the image and style stuff, I can well imagine that the mini coupe is quite a good car. Garlick isn't saying that we should all rush out and buy one - just that it is underrated and better to drive than you'd think.

Which is probably fair enough.

And who am I to argue with him? I haven't driven one and he has.

I am saying that, I also wouldn't buy one for looks.

BUT, they do make a good chassis, then hide it from people like us underneath a fancy frock. Just imagine if it had the looks to go with the drive.

[Sivraj]

I am a fan and love my hatch but specifically regarding the coupe the question would be 'could I live with two seats'?
It has nothing to do with style as I bought mine based on the seat of the pants experience.
My girlfriend bought a tigra and hates not having rear seats.
I'm not too bothered about how it looks and agree with Janosh "Owned from new by someone who has bought it for the image but not driven it hard, leaving behind a desirable driver’s car that hasn't been ragged to death...?"
These should make a great second hand buy!..

[Chrisw666]

Garlick said:

I am saying that, I also wouldn't buy one for looks.

BUT, they do make a good chassis, then hide it from people like us underneath a fancy frock. Just imagine if it had the looks to go with the drive.

I walked away from a Puma that was too new to be rusty years ago, based entirely on the way it looks. I was an idiot because I'd probably have kept it for years.

The mini hatch certainly fits into a similar box for many image concious men who won't buy something because it is too girly. The deal break for me with the new mini has always been the price tag, even on used ones.

[once]

Garlick said:

I am saying that, I also wouldn't buy one for looks.

BUT, they do make a good chassis, then hide it from people like us underneath a fancy frock. Just imagine if it had the looks to go with the drive.

Agreed.

I still think it would look a lot better if they dropped all the pretend mini stuff. Take the running gear and ask some Italian styling house to work their magic on it. Mini grubby bits and pininfarina looks. That would be more like it.

And if they do decide to call it the Zargon, I'll only charge a 1% commission on each one sold.

[KaraK]

As a driver's car I'm a big fan of the BMW MINI - I've driven my friend's 2003 Cooper a fair bit and its a great little go kart that is only hampered IMO by god-awful run-flats. Personally I think the Coupe is insanely ugly but I'm sure there will be people who think it's pretty enough to buy. Hell - enough people bought Alfa 145s didn't they?

[Angry Paul]

This is probably the reason most car lovers don't like Mini;

'Mock the brand all you want, but Mini seems to be making cars that appeal to a certain demographic and they are buying them in their droves'

We want to buy good cars, not brands...

[Chrisw666]

Angry Paul said:

We want to buy good cars, not brands...

But they are good cars! Refusing to buy good cars because they are also bought by people who like brands is a bit daft.

[Riggers]

Johnboy Mac said:

Riggers said:

Johnboy Mac said:

Possibly the worst blog you've ever done Galick.

By which I assume you mean the one with an opinion you agree with least? Sorry but I've got to give a to that...

Yes, it's just my opinion - nothing wrong with that. And my comment was directed clearly at Garlick. What are you, the PH heavy?

Easy, tiger. I realise that, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. 'Tis what makes PH interesting. My point was that it's also Garlick's opinion; to call it the 'worst blog' seemed harsh, is all...