Quote: Originally Posted by Paul (original)
MINI is seen as a "British" brand and company, so close to "heart" and home, good for public reaction and outcry. Also, it's owned by a German company, so good for stoking the old feelings there, plus people are still bitter and unhappy with the way the whole BMW?/Rover thing panned out, so historical annoyance there.....
stoking the old feelings.........WWII was a very grim time indeed but how a generation who had nothing to with it can hold a grudge is perplexing to say the least - especially considering we're supposed to be "evolving" .
Then again we still get so much brilliant comedy both English and German based on that period of history so I guess you can't have one without the other..
BMW/Rover - BMW had a pretty close call with that sinking ship, it's fortunate the MINI was such a success or they would still be licking their wounds.
Rover was destined for the scrap-heap - you only have to get in one of the late models to see that - it's similar in many ways to the problems the US car manufacturers are facing IMO.
For years they've made sub-standard pieces of junk - BMW, MB, VW etc have grown and been a global success, so prices of what were "exclusive" premium cars have gotten to the point where most can afford the marque - the MB 190E was a good example of this........and you still see plenty of great ones around....I had one, 12 years old, was like an almost new car and built like a tank..
When I was a teen in the late 80's if your dad drove one of the above brands you were "rich" now you just like "quality".
It's a shame that the likes of Rover, GM, Ford etc can't really seem to step up to the plate and compete anymore - that's business however, and if people wanted to buy their products they wouldn't be in the trouble they're in......
