RE: PH Blog: don't fancy yours much
Discussion
Riggers said:
More incisive handling, better turn-in, more stable, and a more secure (and larger) boot... HTH 
More stable?As in, 205-GTi-on-chinese-remoulds-lift-off-oversteer? In the wet, it's a proper handful.
I like the standard JCW. It's a cracking car. This offers less and I don't like the way it looks.
Paul is correct to assert that people will buy them. But popularity doesn't always denote quality - the Escort mk.IV was a strong seller.
Chris Harris said:
Riggers said:
More incisive handling, better turn-in, more stable, and a more secure (and larger) boot... HTH
More stable?As in, 205-GTi-on-chinese-remoulds-lift-off-oversteer? In the wet, it's a proper handful.
I like the standard JCW. It's a cracking car. This offers less and I don't like the way it looks.
Paul is correct to assert that people will buy them. But popularity doesn't always denote quality - the Escort mk.IV was a strong seller.
Stand by the other points, and the stability in the dry, though.
But I can't get on with the looks, either. And I prefer the standard JCW too.
On a slightly different note, this also feels like a properly cynical car - if they'd spent some proper development cash on a more bespoke (and prettier) coupe body, it might have sold a few more units, but then the profit margin would be slimmer. So we're left with a proper munter...
Chris Harris said:
Riggers said:
More incisive handling, better turn-in, more stable, and a more secure (and larger) boot... HTH
More stable?As in, 205-GTi-on-chinese-remoulds-lift-off-oversteer? In the wet, it's a proper handful.
I like the standard JCW. It's a cracking car. This offers less and I don't like the way it looks.
Paul is correct to assert that people will buy them. But popularity doesn't always denote quality - the Escort mk.IV was a strong seller.
The regular Cooper S is a terrific little (ish) car.
Quick, planted, fun. Easy to own. A positive thing. I still miss mine - it was one of the best cars I have ever had.
I am not a fan of this strange coupe thing - it looks odd to me - but Im sure it drives well.
For all of their quirky styling and marmite appeal - there is definitely substance in engineering as well.
Quick, planted, fun. Easy to own. A positive thing. I still miss mine - it was one of the best cars I have ever had.
I am not a fan of this strange coupe thing - it looks odd to me - but Im sure it drives well.
For all of their quirky styling and marmite appeal - there is definitely substance in engineering as well.
I worked for a BMW/MINI Dealer & had a 320d as a Demo for 6 months until I stepped in to the Cooper S (in standard form). I love a good drivers car, & the MINI has it in droves so I switched to the Cooper S, then to Cooper S JCW........then to Z4 M Coupe (couldn't resist).
I think it is a great looking car, though not to everyone's taste. I feel were it in a different skin, it would create a lot more respect. Remember, it was originally (correct me if I'm wrong) going to be called BMWGB, not MINI. Would you have preferred it then?
I remember when the Porsche Boxter came out. I hated it. I was one of those that called it a fake Porsche. In 2001 I drove one. In 2002 I bought one....!
Same with MINI. It's no good looking at it! Get in it! Drive it! Take it around as many round abouts as you can find! Chuck it in to all those tight corners you were afraid to before!
As the MINI marketing team say..... LET'S GO MINI!!!
I think it is a great looking car, though not to everyone's taste. I feel were it in a different skin, it would create a lot more respect. Remember, it was originally (correct me if I'm wrong) going to be called BMWGB, not MINI. Would you have preferred it then?
I remember when the Porsche Boxter came out. I hated it. I was one of those that called it a fake Porsche. In 2001 I drove one. In 2002 I bought one....!
Same with MINI. It's no good looking at it! Get in it! Drive it! Take it around as many round abouts as you can find! Chuck it in to all those tight corners you were afraid to before!
As the MINI marketing team say..... LET'S GO MINI!!!
Riggers said:
On a slightly different note, this also feels like a properly cynical car - if they'd spent some proper development cash on a more bespoke (and prettier) coupe body, it might have sold a few more units, but then the profit margin would be slimmer. So we're left with a proper munter...
Probably a big factor - one also wonders whether they were consciously trying to avoid being too visually similar to the 1-er coupe as well?I don't think people give the MINI enough of a chance, I suppose it's a bit MX-5-ey where everyone's like 'Oooh it's a hairdressers car..' (or Foxtons/Haart employee for the MINI), but now every PH-based 'What Car?!' thread starts with those three characters. 'M', 'X' and '5' as they're now, in most forms, available inside a very modest budget and people can now fully appreciate the driving pleasure, (or the 'Jinba Ittai') engineered within for less than a bag of sand.
Give the MINI a couple more years for its values to drop to a similar level and I think they'll become more copular in the MX-5 sense,mas people take a punt and realise what a truly brilliant little thing it is.
I've not driven any of the hotter models, just a speaking new 61-plate OneD, an early Cooper Clubman and both R50 and R56 Cooper Hatches. All of which have impressed, even the 30mi old 90bhp diesel on 15" Pepperpot wheels, smooth, aesthetically pleasing, surprisingly quick, planted, nice gearshift, show it tight city streets, a flowing B-road or an open A-road and it'll bring a smile to your face. One downside to the quick steering rack on the Cooper (probably the same across all, but I've not noticed) is that on 17" wheels, it tramlines like an absolute bugger, the wheel just feels so busy, now sometimes that's great, but when you just want to sit back and get home it can be a little tiring.
Take my 09 Peugeot 207, it's called a 'Sport' so it looks okay, it's got some nice, fat bolstered sports seats, metal bits he and there and perforated leather in places and uses the same 'Prince' family 95bhp petrol motor as the 1.4 versions of the MINI One. The 207 isn't a bad drive, but a boggo One wipes the floor with it in every aspect of ownership bar initial buying cost. £35 RFL plays £130, it's fater, it's lighter, it's more economical (I see 46+ avg) thanks to a slicker 6-speed box and Stop/Start, the steering isn't as dead as a Dodo and will make the car change direction when wiggling it around centre, rather than just make the car wobble on its springs. A basic One would make a far superiors companion on a fun road than my Peugeot, which near the edge, makes me a little nervous, blindly guessing the lock required for a bend rather than just knowing in the MINI.
My mate as an R56 Cooper. It's quite shouty in dark blue with a white roof, white John Cooper signed bonnet stripes, big white wheels, Union Jack covered mirrors and shiny spot lamps, these might suggest a sporting drive and it always seems to draw positive attention, which is good, but in reality it's a bit of a shame that most just see it as a 'sweet ride' and won't realise what a thoroughly sorted piece of equipment it is,
Give the MINI a couple more years for its values to drop to a similar level and I think they'll become more copular in the MX-5 sense,mas people take a punt and realise what a truly brilliant little thing it is.
I've not driven any of the hotter models, just a speaking new 61-plate OneD, an early Cooper Clubman and both R50 and R56 Cooper Hatches. All of which have impressed, even the 30mi old 90bhp diesel on 15" Pepperpot wheels, smooth, aesthetically pleasing, surprisingly quick, planted, nice gearshift, show it tight city streets, a flowing B-road or an open A-road and it'll bring a smile to your face. One downside to the quick steering rack on the Cooper (probably the same across all, but I've not noticed) is that on 17" wheels, it tramlines like an absolute bugger, the wheel just feels so busy, now sometimes that's great, but when you just want to sit back and get home it can be a little tiring.
Take my 09 Peugeot 207, it's called a 'Sport' so it looks okay, it's got some nice, fat bolstered sports seats, metal bits he and there and perforated leather in places and uses the same 'Prince' family 95bhp petrol motor as the 1.4 versions of the MINI One. The 207 isn't a bad drive, but a boggo One wipes the floor with it in every aspect of ownership bar initial buying cost. £35 RFL plays £130, it's fater, it's lighter, it's more economical (I see 46+ avg) thanks to a slicker 6-speed box and Stop/Start, the steering isn't as dead as a Dodo and will make the car change direction when wiggling it around centre, rather than just make the car wobble on its springs. A basic One would make a far superiors companion on a fun road than my Peugeot, which near the edge, makes me a little nervous, blindly guessing the lock required for a bend rather than just knowing in the MINI.
My mate as an R56 Cooper. It's quite shouty in dark blue with a white roof, white John Cooper signed bonnet stripes, big white wheels, Union Jack covered mirrors and shiny spot lamps, these might suggest a sporting drive and it always seems to draw positive attention, which is good, but in reality it's a bit of a shame that most just see it as a 'sweet ride' and won't realise what a thoroughly sorted piece of equipment it is,
Surely the ONLY question with this is "Is it better to drive than the hatch?" becuase if it isn't then what's the point? Even if you don't think it's ugly (which it is) unless you're actually clinically insane you can't possibly think it's better looking than something like a Peugeot RCZ for the same money with EXACTLY THE SAME ENGINE... the only reason for buying one of these is that you didn't look at anything else.
once said:
And if they do decide to call it the Zargon, I'll only charge a 1% commission on each one sold.
You are aware, aren't you, that BMW may see this, think "what a great idea but sod paying him/her (sorry 
) commission, we'll call it a Zergon/Zargan etc" I drive a Cooper S a few years ago and I have to admit, I didn't want to like it, being a big fan of the original "proper" mini. I did though. It drove really nicely, handled better than many other cars I've driven and was just tremendous fun!
Like most though, I won't even be looking at the coupe version. I love coupe's - I've owned one for the last 5 years, my second coupe ever being a convert from hatchbacks andplan on keeping it for many years to come. To the extent I'm seriously considering buying another to keep the mileage down on both. And have a whole car of spares in case something breaks!! Thats the logic I'm using to persuade the missus to not veto my plans
Its working so far
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?
They both look 'better', or at least, very good.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?
The MINI coupe does not. It actually looks worse than the standard MINI, much.
IMO you can't go wrong with a used hatch jcw version
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3767038.htm
A brilliant brilliant car often not liked because of BMW
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3767038.htm
A brilliant brilliant car often not liked because of BMW
Chris Harris said:
But popularity doesn't always denote quality - the Escort mk.IV was a strong seller.
Different era though. Cortinas sold in their millions and were mediocrity personified.Arguably the same applies to the 3 series in times past and possibly present - lots of very avearge lower spec models shoring up the rarer and better sorted models higher in the range.
These days there does tend to be ahigher expectation and overall knowledge and of course a "bad car" now is still a "good car by 90's standards" so people don't lose half as much by making poor decisions for the type of driving they do.
I mean look at demand for Figaros.
veevee said:
They both look 'better', or at least, very good.
The MINI coupe does not. It actually looks worse than the standard MINI, much.
that's surely just a matter of opinion? I'd say the (old) 6 series and passat cc actually look worse than the 5 and regular passat. I guess people who prefer the way the mini looks will buy the mini. People who don't, and don't need 4 seats will buy the coupe. vive la différence The MINI coupe does not. It actually looks worse than the standard MINI, much.
Riggers said:
Ah... I'd forgotten about the wet-weather handling. I must admit that I did almost remodel some Austrian slip-road Armco when I drove it...
Stand by the other points, and the stability in the dry, though.
But I can't get on with the looks, either. And I prefer the standard JCW too.
On a slightly different note, this also feels like a properly cynical car - if they'd spent some proper development cash on a more bespoke (and prettier) coupe body, it might have sold a few more units, but then the profit margin would be slimmer. So we're left with a proper munter...
Willing to bet that if they'd designed it properly, they'd sell so many it would make the slightly smaller profit margin completely insignificant.Stand by the other points, and the stability in the dry, though.
But I can't get on with the looks, either. And I prefer the standard JCW too.
On a slightly different note, this also feels like a properly cynical car - if they'd spent some proper development cash on a more bespoke (and prettier) coupe body, it might have sold a few more units, but then the profit margin would be slimmer. So we're left with a proper munter...
veevee said:
Willing to bet that if they'd designed it properly, they'd sell so many it would make the slightly smaller profit margin completely insignificant.
Isn't this a case of safety regulations screwing up design again though? gone are the liberties in stylig allowed by something like the CRX and Scirocco Mk II - any MINI Coupe was going to look like some form of blob due to the high bonnet/side impact/crash regs which only a bigger floorpan can remedy.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff