[dukesantos]

In the April issue of ROUNDEL (the U.S. BMW club magazine), Bob Roemer in his Heard on the Strasse column wrote,

"Oui, oui, MINI

Does BMW's relationship with Peugeot and Citroen extend beyond developing and building small engines? Insiders say that PSA could provide the platform for the next MINI....Borrowing a chassis would be a tremendous savings in development costs and help insure the next-generation MINI generates the returns for which the company is famous."

Roemer also called the MINI "possibly the best enthusiast's car for the money ever built" but said it is also possibly the least profitable car for the company in recent history.

I really hope this insider talk is wrong, but I fear it may be true as I expect BMW to support the coming 1 Series small BMW at the expense of the next generation MINI.

[Paul]

Things I take note of in that little snippet...

"Insiders say that PSA could"

Are:
"Insiders" usually (but not always) means "nobody in particular, maybe nobody at all"

"Could" means "in case 'insiders' isn't vague enough, we'll just make sure we cover our behinds by saying COULD".

[cooper4us]

In other words....unsubstiantiated Rumors and Innuendos....

[gscooter49]

Would a white flag in the glove box be a standard item?

[MrDurst]

If that happened does that mean they'd have French gearboxes aswell? New gearbox every 15,000 miles, ooooohhh no!

[bigbaddaboom]

Funny, but the gearbox on my Saxo VTS has done 51000 miles, no sign of it giving up yet...

[chughes163]

French optional extra's for the Mini Cooper:

Garlic sented air conditioning
Electric aerial with detachable white flag
Stripey black and white roof
Beret decal for roof
Leather interior (made from french, not english cattle)
Frogs legs holder
Snail warmer
Baguette chopper
Air suspension

[laurent]

"Garlic sented air conditioning"

This is already done, just see your A/C : build by VALEO - a FRENCH company

[KenL]

FAO Paul Mullet.

Paul,

How do you feel of people posting derogatory remarks which display at best a lack of respect for particular countries.

Personally I don't like it and suggest that it has no place on a web site about cars.

Regards,
KenL

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL
FAO Paul Mullet.

Paul,

How do you feel of people posting derogatory remarks which display at best a lack of respect for particular countries.

Personally I don't like it and suggest that it has no place on a web site about cars.

Regards,
KenL

I'm not happy about it really, but I think it was intended as "a joke".

The Brits and Americans probably get it just as much as anyone else.

I've already made comments on this in off topic when the anti-french stuff seemed to reach it's climax.

[stevieb]

I don't think the Peugot engines are going to be any better than the Chrysler, not that I'm a fan of the american marquee either. First of all, who would service a Peugot engine in North America? Nobody sells them here--and where do you get parts? I've never heard that Peugot was known for its reliability any more than Chrysler was, or that they built more powerful engines, or any other claim to superiority. If BMW is looking to SAVE MONEY by using Peugot engines, that can't be a good sign.

[bigbaddaboom]

Quote:

Originally posted by CurtP
KenL -- you have to realize the anti-French setiment because of the actions of their government during the war.

That may be the case in the US but over here (in England) there has always been some kind of anti-French sentiment amongst certain types of people. Kind of like the way a fair few Scots go on about the English. Its all pretty silly and bares no relevance in current culture, but unfortunately most of these type of people seem to continue to resist using their OWN experiences with another group of people to govern their perception of them. There is an idiot who works in my office who, when asked why he would not buy a French car, replies:

"Because its French, I don't do French!"

He'll still drink champagne when its offered though!

[Silvercooper]

What I always liked about this forum is that everybody was always so respectful. We are a big family since we all share the same passion regardless of origins, right?

I sincerely hope these comments were jokes or I will be deeply disappointed.

My 2 cents!

From a Canadian FROG!!!

[Bonjour]

Brits have a history of beef with the French. There's the small case of The Hundred Years War (which deceptively went on for over 200 years), and the 2 nations have been at each other on and off since way before the US came into being.

[ScooterMan]

Look under the parcel shelf in the rear of the car and see where it is made. France, you say?

What are the countries various parts come from?

[MarkL]

One of the major components, the gearbox (at least in the One & Cooper), is derived from a Peugeot/Citroen design.

[cooper4us]

The key lockset and windshield Wipers, for example, are manufactured by Valeo of France. The CVT transmission is made by ZF in Belgium. The engine (TRITEC) is manufactured in Brazil. The seats are made by an American company, Johnson Controls. The sunroof is made by Webasto of Germany. The DME engine management computer is made by Siemens of Germany. Some suspension bits are made by Delphi. And the list goes on and on. The MINI is a very diverse and international car in terms of parts suppliers. Most any car, no matter where assembled, is much the same way. Welcome to the age of globalization.