would you flash YOUR LIGHTS at a bmw mini?!

[RedUn]

Glad to see somebody agrees, I've waved on numerous accounts and only got two waves back and one set of Vee's(which was quite funny)

[Richard Crofts]

As a Classic Mini fan and driver I wave to all classic drivers (not all wave back but a large amount do) I wave to most MINI drivers also but recieve nothing as a general reply...although some do look admiringly at my classics.

As a MINI Cooper driver I wave to all Minis and MINIs, However I get maybe 1 classic driver even acknowledge me out of every 10-15 cars. The same is true of the MINI drivers as as a rule they do seem less 'into' the whole thing.

Now I hear this same thread reversed time and time again on MINI sites and the result is the same. Some drivers of MINI dont flash Minis because they think we dont like MINI (not true in my view, I like MINI its BMW who I dislike) and believe that all classic drivers hold anonosity towards new MINIs. I hear this same thing here on this thread, classic driver who don't wave at MINIs because they think MINI drivers hate classics!...get a grip people on both sides please!

Heres the real truth. MINI drivers don't hate classics and classics don't hate MINI (if either do you are sad!)...there has been bred by a small number of pathetic malcontents a misunderstanding between MINI and Mini drivers!..wave and flash at all Mini and MINI drivers...you wont get responses everytime but you will get some, and trust me those few are worth it

Please classics, love MINI for what it provides to modern society...a car of similar intent and cult status s the original. Please MINIs, love the classic for without it your loverly new MINI would not have been concieved!

PS. S drivers dont hate classics, some give that snooty look to anybody who isn't in a new S...I get it in my tricked up MINI cooper!...not from all S's mind just from more S's than other MINI drivers.

[NicDale]

Hiya all,

Read often, but never post.

I currently drive a MINI Cooper S which has been fettled by Hartge and is running a nice healthy 210bhp however all this fuss about BMW MINI not being a proper MINI or a proper Mini but a wannabe small BMW is absolute rubbish.

For some of us, like myself, we don't really care about the heritage of a certain car, nor are we religiously brand loyal, we do however appriciate well built, fantastic handling cars.

My choices when buying a new car were either an R32, CTR, Focus RS or Leon Cupra R, out of these i tried to order an R32 without much sucess (at the NEC - VW couldnt have cared less!) and left my details with BMW for the Cooper S, BMW contacted me, arranged a test drive and i loved it, hence i bought one and then had it modded by Hartge.

Since buying the car i have got more into the 'community' such as using MINI2.com and have enjoyed that side to owning the car, however to level blame about waving/flashing at all new MINI owners simply because some of us didn't buy into that is a tad unfair, now however i will and do wave at anyone who does and am also a little involved in arranging small meets with other new MINI owners in South Wales, something i've enjoyed a lot

So to those who chose to tar all new MINI owners with the same brush, stop and think, not everyone bought this car for the same reasons so next time a new MINI owner drives past and 'ignores' you, take a deep breath and drive on by happy in the knowledge that they've done you no harm.

Thanks for reading, and comments invited.

Nic

[Soggy]

Hi all

I have a MINI Cooper, my second just delivered. I learnt to drive in a Mini that was owned by my Mum at the time. I flash and wave to all MINIs and Minis and the response varies enormously. What I would say though is that very few Minis flash at me first, though quite a few flash back.

I'd love to see the MINI and Mini community come together more. The new MINI is generating a club of enthusiasts in the same way as the old Mini. We recently had a run around the Cotswolds for a day and had over 100 cars, but not one in a Classic. How about we all get together for one of these in the future, not a show, but a fun run of old and new

Looking forward to some positive feedback

Soggy

[Tony*T3]

It's a funny old world we live in. Wouldn't it be better to flash a MINI driver and hope to get a flash back, than to ignore them and label them all as BMW driving morons? As a MINI driver myself, I try to flash any other MINI drivers I see. When I first got my MINI, I flashed every Mini driver I saw. I stopped doing so after getting various hand jestures that weren't overly friendly. So, perhaps before any of you classic Mini drivers get on your soap boxes about snooty BMW MINI drivers who are rude and ignorant, perhaps a long look in the mirror of honesty~? My wife even had her MINI vandalised on the first day of ownership. Who do you really think was the likely culprit? How would you feel if you came back to find your new car (any car, not just a Mini/MINI) vandalised? But more than willing to forgive the person who did it. There are more important things in this world after all (although I think my wife would still cut there balls off though!)

Personally, as I have previously owned 4 Mini's myself, I do get just a little upset, especially when some snotty kid who has just learn't to drive has a go at New MINI drivers as not understanding the heritage - get a life, I loved my Mini before he could wipe his own nose properly...

I Love MINI's. I Love Mini's. I use my indictor. I agree that most BMW drivers are to55ers... and I agree that BMW treated the Mini and its heritage with disrespect. But I love my MINI Cooper S, and still will years from now. I don't need more friends, but would love to make new ones anyway.

p.s. Hi Nic, Hi Soggy

[Mr John]

The only thing I would flash is my backside !

[mycpr2002]

It's a pity Mr John didn't take time to read and understand some of the posts from MINI owners.
I drive a MINI Cooper and I wave/flash at MINIs and at Minis. Where I live Minis went out of production in 1978, I still own 2 1978 Minis by the way as well as a 2002 MINI. The vast majority of Mini drivers wave back and finally MINI drivers are starting to get the idea. I am not a BMW driver so please don't class me as one.

[Mr John]

[quote=Tony*T3]I Love MINI's. I Love Mini's. I agree that most BMW drivers are to55ers... and I agree that BMW treated the Mini and its heritage with disrespect.

Here, Here, the new BMW mini is not a proper mini.
Never has been.
Never will be.

BMW raped Rover for two things, the above mentioned and the Land/Range Rover expertise for it's X5.

The sad thing is we let them get away with it and still buy there products !

[plotloss]

The thing to remember about MINI is that its a vanity release to appease the British public and get a foot hold in the supermini market worldwide. What could be easier than selling a small car on the back of the love of the greatest car of the century?

MINI MkII will bear little if any resemblance to Mini or MKI MINI.

I am leaning towards a Cooper S because its got massive tuneability, I wont hate it as that would be silly but it is in NO way ever going to be a replacement for my Mini.

[NicDale]

Mr John said:

Here, Here, the new BMW mini is not a proper mini. Never has been. Never will be. BMW raped Rover for two things, the above mentioned and the Land/Range Rover expertise for it's X5. The sad thing is we let them get away with it and still buy there products !

Grow up. Raped? Hope it never happens to anyone you know, it's only a tin box at the end of the day.

[RedUn]

Mr John said:

Here, Here, the new BMW mini is not a proper mini. Never has been. Never will be.

Did anybody say it is or is trying to be???
I didn't buy my MINI becuase I thought it was a Mini with electric windows!!
It's quite obvious when you look at the two cars side by side that the MINI is not the same car as the Mini.
The MINI is a modern day equivilent of the Mini, it's got the great handling, quick steering, fun factor and the joys of owning a Mini/MINI.
If you were to put it straight there is no contest between the Mini and MINI, but people love their cars for different reasons.

Mr John said:

BMW raped Rover for two things, the above mentioned and the Land/Range Rover expertise for it's X5.

That may be true but the X5 hasn't managed to beat the Range Rover yet!!!!!

Oh and don't forget the 75 that BM put together for you, without that Rover would most likely be knackered by now!!!

[wixer]

RedUn said:

Mr John said: Here, Here, the new BMW mini is not a proper mini. Never has been. Never will be. Did anybody say it is or is trying to be??? I didn't buy my MINI becuase I thought it was a Mini with electric windows!! It's quite obvious when you look at the two cars side by side that the MINI is not the same car as the Mini. The MINI is a modern day equivilent of the Mini, it's got the great handling, quick steering, fun factor and the joys of owning a Mini/MINI. If you were to put it straight there is no contest between the Mini and MINI, but people love their cars for different reasons. Mr John said: BMW raped Rover for two things, the above mentioned and the Land/Range Rover expertise for it's X5. That may be true but the X5 hasn't managed to beat the Range Rover yet!!!!! Oh and don't forget the 75 that BM put together for you, without that Rover would most likely be knackered by now!!!

BM may have owned the company while the new Range Rover and the Rover 75 were designed but both of these cars were designed and engineered by the same British engineers who designed and engineered the MINI. BMW's attempt at a front wheel drive car was pants.

[RedUn]

wixer said:

BMW's attempt at a front wheel drive car was pants.

By that you mean the MINI???

whats pants about it???

the fact it can handle 220bhp???

the fact it can pull more lateral ge-force than a 911???

etc.... if thats pants whats good?????

[mr john]

said:

Did anybody say it is or is trying to be??? I didn't buy my MINI becuase I thought it was a Mini with electric windows!! It's quite obvious when you look at the two cars side by side that the MINI is not the same car as the Mini. equivilent

BMW did !
It's more of a Midi anyway.


>> Edited by mr john on Monday 8th September 06:36

>> Edited by mr john on Monday 8th September 06:37

[mr john]

NicDale said:

Grow up. Raped? Hope it never happens to anyone you know, it's only a tin box at the end of the day.

???

What the are you on about ?

[Mr2Mike]

RedUn said:

It's quite obvious when you look at the two cars side by side that the MINI is not the same car as the Mini. The MINI is a modern day equivilent of the Mini, it's got the great handling, quick steering, fun factor and the joys of owning a Mini/MINI

Also less rear leg room and barely any more boot space despite being a considerably larger car! The MINI is a fantastic handling car that looks great (IMO), but BMW certainly don't have the packaging ingenuity that Issigonis had. For practicaly virtualy everything in it's class beats it, but for pure fun none can touch it.

[mycpr2002]

wixer said:

BM may have owned the company while the new Range Rover and the Rover 75 were designed but both of these cars were designed and engineered by the same British engineers who designed and engineered the MINI. BMW's attempt at a front wheel drive car was pants.

Sorry but the MINI was a German design the British design team came up with something that was more in the Issigonis style as far as practicality but which looked terrible and would never have sold to either Mini or MINI buyers. Get a copy of "New MINI" by Graham Robson and turn to page 41 for pictures of Rover designed Spiritual and Spiritual Too.

[plotloss]

MINI was based on a British design that helped the Chief Designer Frank Stephenson sure up his idea of what a new Mini should look like.

In light of this its probably an Anglo/American design more than anything else.

[Buffalo]

RedUn said:

wixer said: BMW's attempt at a front wheel drive car was pants. By that you mean the MINI??? whats pants about it??? the fact it can handle 220bhp??? the fact it can pull more lateral ge-force than a 911??? etc.... if thats pants whats good?????

I don't think you read his post right there mate!

He said the RR, 75 AND the MINI were all designed by british engineers working under the guise of Rover.... They were. He was NOT (as far as i can see) slating the MINI. BMW took the MINI design when it sold the company, it also took info that it gained through ownership of LR away to produce the X5.

I know a lot of people that are annoyed with BMW for this. A lot of other people tell them to grow up, but if you think about it, Rover was the last vestoon of british car industry we had - now we don't have any of it in the mainstream. Sometimes i can understand their feeling.

Contary to popular belief BMW didn't design any of three of the best cars to enter the market in the last few years, i.e. R75, RR and MINI. Sure they had input but the designs were in existence before they were on the scene.

But anyway, enjoy your cars. My mother has a MINI cooper and loves it. Provided it holds together it looks to be a good car.

Edited to add: If its any consolation to you MINI drivers, drivers of new MGs have the same problem with a lot of drivers of old MGs and IMO it is quite unjustified.

>> Edited by Buffalo on Tuesday 9th September 17:22

[wixer]

Buffalo said:

RedUn said: wixer said: BMW's attempt at a front wheel drive car was pants. By that you mean the MINI??? whats pants about it??? the fact it can handle 220bhp??? the fact it can pull more lateral ge-force than a 911??? etc.... if thats pants whats good????? I don't think you read his post right there mate! He said the RR, 75 AND the MINI were all designed by british engineers working under the guise of Rover.... They were. He was NOT (as far as i can see) slating the MINI. BMW took the MINI design when it sold the company, it also took info that it gained through ownership of LR away to produce the X5. I know a lot of people that are annoyed with BMW for this. A lot of other people tell them to grow up, but if you think about it, Rover was the last vestoon of british car industry we had - now we don't have any of it in the mainstream. Sometimes i can understand their feeling. Contary to popular belief BMW didn't design any of three of the best cars to enter the market in the last few years, i.e. R75, RR and MINI. Sure they had input but the designs were in existence before they were on the scene. But anyway, enjoy your cars. My mother has a MINI cooper and loves it. Provided it holds together it looks to be a good car. Edited to add: If its any consolation to you MINI drivers, drivers of new MGs have the same problem with a lot of drivers of old MGs and IMO it is quite unjustified. >> Edited by Buffalo on Tuesday 9th September 17:22

Yes you're correct he didn't read my post the way I intended. You are right. The 3 cars in queston were all basically designed at what was the Rover/ LandRover design and engineering site at Gaydon, by British engineers. There obviously was some German influence. What I meant was, that BMW gave Rover a front wheel drive platform they were working on before they bought Rover and that it was "pants". They also attempted to design the MINI in Munich but the project returned to Gaydon to be totally redesigned by the same engineers that developed the new RR and the new R75.