Discussion
I am currently working for my degree in Technology and Management and my final year project involves the design of a new 'Mini' concept car. I have an Austin Mini and think the new BMW Mini is only so in name. I am trying to produce a design that retains the characteristics of the classic such as ease of personalisation, economy, fun factor, simplicity etc.
What do you think were the good and bad features of the classic Mini? what do you think of current small cars? Any reply would be very helpful
What do you think were the good and bad features of the classic Mini? what do you think of current small cars? Any reply would be very helpful
The wheel-in-each-corner handling. My first (road) car was a Mini 850 - weedy engine but great handling meant that I could have fun on the road without getting out of shape.
They were mechanically simple too, so armed with a Haynes manual you could do just about any repairs (except wheel bearings because you needed a £20 tool that only dealers sold).
Fun to drive, cheap to own - if I was 17 again that's what I'd be after.
They were mechanically simple too, so armed with a Haynes manual you could do just about any repairs (except wheel bearings because you needed a £20 tool that only dealers sold).
Fun to drive, cheap to own - if I was 17 again that's what I'd be after.
I drove a Mini Cooper as my only car for eighteen months or so when I first started work. A great car. It had something in its character that whatever speed you were doing it wanted to go faster.
I've driven the BMW MINI (and have my name down for a Cooper S when they come out) and think that it has the same driving characteristics as the 'proper' Mini. I don't think you could design a more Mini MINI other than having a little less retro styling.
I've driven the BMW MINI (and have my name down for a Cooper S when they come out) and think that it has the same driving characteristics as the 'proper' Mini. I don't think you could design a more Mini MINI other than having a little less retro styling.
Drove a Mini 1000 for a couple of years. Endorse all the comments about wheel at each corner handling etc. You could have loads of fun without going fast enough to come seriously unstuck (unless you were Marc Bolan) Seat of the pants (lierally) driving experience, felt more in touch mechanically with the car than any other FWD I've ever driven.
Dead simple to fix. No unnecessary frills or gubbins
Problems they had were:
- the external seams trapped water and rusted rapidly.
- ditto rear sub-frames, water pools in them and rusts them away
- ditto bottoms of the doors, drain holes blocked easily I think
- ignition system positioned on front (wet) side of engine and prone to the weather
- boot useless in shape and size
- much of interior trim made of cardboard
I also seem to recall some horror stories about inadequate catches on the front seats which let go in accidents and people ending up with a lap full of A-series after a heavy frontal but as a fun little driving machine it was the dog's dangly bits.
Steve
Dead simple to fix. No unnecessary frills or gubbins
Problems they had were:
- the external seams trapped water and rusted rapidly.
- ditto rear sub-frames, water pools in them and rusts them away
- ditto bottoms of the doors, drain holes blocked easily I think
- ignition system positioned on front (wet) side of engine and prone to the weather
- boot useless in shape and size
- much of interior trim made of cardboard
I also seem to recall some horror stories about inadequate catches on the front seats which let go in accidents and people ending up with a lap full of A-series after a heavy frontal but as a fun little driving machine it was the dog's dangly bits.
Steve
I think that the reason most mini enthusiasts don’t like about the BMW mini is the mini has been that body since 1959, ok some small changes like the external hinges and sliding windows on the early ones but its always been that car. For it to be a proper mini it really needs to use the old shape.
minijohn,
I think small cars should be compulsory in cities and forbidden on country roads and on the motorways (OK that's impossible to apply, but that's my dream); from my experience they're way too much dangerous there.
I also think the new mini is ridiculously BIG for it was intended to be a small car which it is definitely not. Actually it's almost as big as a new golf!
I think small cars should be compulsory in cities and forbidden on country roads and on the motorways (OK that's impossible to apply, but that's my dream); from my experience they're way too much dangerous there.
I also think the new mini is ridiculously BIG for it was intended to be a small car which it is definitely not. Actually it's almost as big as a new golf!
minijohn - are you asking me what I didn't like about my Mini 850?
Not a lot really, for the age I was (17 - 19) and the student grant I had to live on it was perfect as a first car. Taught me lots about maintenance, and forced me to learn to weld (the floorpan). Was perfect for getting around Birmingham where I was at Poly, could get 3 mates in at a pinch and would nip inside almost anything on the roudabouts.
I once even took myself, two 6ft friends, our mountain bikes and luggage from Solihull to my parents in N. Yorks in it - took us hours but it made it, the poor car refused to go above 56mph even down hill, I don't think 3 mountain bikes on the roof and back heped the aerodynamics much though.
Not a lot really, for the age I was (17 - 19) and the student grant I had to live on it was perfect as a first car. Taught me lots about maintenance, and forced me to learn to weld (the floorpan). Was perfect for getting around Birmingham where I was at Poly, could get 3 mates in at a pinch and would nip inside almost anything on the roudabouts.
I once even took myself, two 6ft friends, our mountain bikes and luggage from Solihull to my parents in N. Yorks in it - took us hours but it made it, the poor car refused to go above 56mph even down hill, I don't think 3 mountain bikes on the roof and back heped the aerodynamics much though.
Agree, New Mini is no mini car!
Now you've gat the Daewoo Matiz (but I wouldn't call this a car, would you?) the Toyota Yaris is also a mini car... but all this is dull dull dull
Now at least the mini is not dull but it ain't small. Soooo, if you ask to name a me small and fun car it's easy, the answer is in the signature below
Now you've gat the Daewoo Matiz (but I wouldn't call this a car, would you?) the Toyota Yaris is also a mini car... but all this is dull dull dull
Now at least the mini is not dull but it ain't small. Soooo, if you ask to name a me small and fun car it's easy, the answer is in the signature below
Oh memoirs of mini's 
I had one as my first car I bought a 1971 850 when I was 16 from my own worked for money and loved it to bits even though I couldn't yet drive. Once 17 I took every excuse possible to get out in it with anyone next to me and failed my test twice being told "your driving like someone that has done for years, your too fast and have bad habits" (no change there then). Anyway the funniest "night out" was me as the "driver" L plates etc tatty mini and the experienced driver being a mate who'd passed about a week earlier (that was legal at the time) Anyway off we went for a night clubbing, we pulled offered "lifts home" etc and off we went. That journey home still scares when I think of the offences commited but to summerise:
Driver was sober atleast, experience passenger was pissed and in the back actually shagging while on the move (he's 6'4" by the way), I was on a motorway in the Fog with the 50mph advisory signs on doing 70 with the L plates on and possible the biggest offence was the minger I'd been lumbered with in the passenger seat. Oh what it was to be young, dangerous and irresponsible.
Another bit that I was proud of, was the fact that the Doris in the back getting a portion actually went on to become a middle famous page 3 bird, quality to say "my mate Mark shagged her in the back of my mini while I was driving" Always brings back a smile that and the fact that he's now pushing 20 stone (must have been lighter at the time) and 6'4" and I'm 6'2" and 18 stone (now that is fat bloater !!! probably nearer 13 at the time) add to that a massive pair of tits and an ugly mate and it brings back quite an image.
>> Edited by mel on Tuesday 12th February 17:21
I had one as my first car I bought a 1971 850 when I was 16 from my own worked for money and loved it to bits even though I couldn't yet drive. Once 17 I took every excuse possible to get out in it with anyone next to me and failed my test twice being told "your driving like someone that has done for years, your too fast and have bad habits" (no change there then). Anyway the funniest "night out" was me as the "driver" L plates etc tatty mini and the experienced driver being a mate who'd passed about a week earlier (that was legal at the time) Anyway off we went for a night clubbing, we pulled offered "lifts home" etc and off we went. That journey home still scares when I think of the offences commited but to summerise:
Driver was sober atleast, experience passenger was pissed and in the back actually shagging while on the move (he's 6'4" by the way), I was on a motorway in the Fog with the 50mph advisory signs on doing 70 with the L plates on and possible the biggest offence was the minger I'd been lumbered with in the passenger seat. Oh what it was to be young, dangerous and irresponsible.
Another bit that I was proud of, was the fact that the Doris in the back getting a portion actually went on to become a middle famous page 3 bird, quality to say "my mate Mark shagged her in the back of my mini while I was driving" Always brings back a smile that and the fact that he's now pushing 20 stone (must have been lighter at the time) and 6'4" and I'm 6'2" and 18 stone (now that is fat bloater !!! probably nearer 13 at the time) add to that a massive pair of tits and an ugly mate and it brings back quite an image.
>> Edited by mel on Tuesday 12th February 17:21
quote:
minijohn,
I think small cars should be compulsory in cities and forbidden on country roads and on the motorways (OK that's impossible to apply, but that's my dream); from my experience they're way too much dangerous there.
I think the small car can only be dangerous if driven that way, my cooper will out handle most cars on a twisty lane and its not slow. Why would you want to ban small cars? Ok old bloke in a metro is a bit annoying but he’d just get a Volvo if you ban the small cars.
I had a Talbot Samba. Took much stick from the guys at work when I got it. Took them to the canteen for lunch and span the wheels through the parking lot, etc. etc. They never pulled my leg again.
It's only 1000cc but it's also got mountain bike tyres
I had bad shaking at motorway speeds due to badly balanced wheels, swapping wheels around helped. I asked a friend to watch the wheels to see if he could tell which one was wobbling; when we stopped he asked if I knew how fast I was going. I didn't, the Speedo never worked - I was doing 93mph ! The funny thing was I had been going faster when not in convoy.
I've got fond memories of that car
>> Edited by Nacnud on Thursday 14th February 08:56
It's only 1000cc but it's also got mountain bike tyres
I had bad shaking at motorway speeds due to badly balanced wheels, swapping wheels around helped. I asked a friend to watch the wheels to see if he could tell which one was wobbling; when we stopped he asked if I knew how fast I was going. I didn't, the Speedo never worked - I was doing 93mph ! The funny thing was I had been going faster when not in convoy.
I've got fond memories of that car
>> Edited by Nacnud on Thursday 14th February 08:56
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