[~Marcus~]

Are sales really struggling? MINI was the 10th best seller for the March plate change & the 5th best selling supermini:

March 2008

1 - 21,850 -Focus
2 - 20,384 -Fiesta
3 - 19,099 -Corsa
4 - 17,725 -Astra
5 - 12,142 -207
6 - 11,509 -Golf
7 - 10,317 - 3 Series
8 - 9,245 - Civic
9- 9,118 - Clio
10 - 8,858 - MINI

I am definitely seeing lots of Clubmans out and about - certainly already more popular around London than the bona fide flop cars you never see (e.g. Vauxhall Signum, Seat Toledo, 4-door Focus)

Can I add to the list - a nice chunky Recaro seat option (not the thin JCW ones which are a bit too extreme)

[KPKalle]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

Having owned mine nearly 2 months, ive come up with one!

Ditch the Stop/Start System! Far less hassle that way

I understand stop/start is going to keep our road tax down so I'm all for keeping it

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by ~Marcus~ (original)

1 - 21,850 -Focus
2 - 20,384 -Fiesta
3 - 19,099 -Corsa
4 - 17,725 -Astra
5 - 12,142 -207
6 - 11,509 -Golf
7 - 10,317 - 3 Series
8 - 9,245 - Civic
9- 9,118 - Clio
10 - 8,858 - MINI

Interesting, I haven't seen a "Top Ten" list in ages. It's interesting that the Mondeo or Vectra are nowhere to be seen and that the 3 Series really is as common as Top Gear having been trying to tell us it is Also interesting to see 7 are superminis, 2 are small family hatches and 1 is a small saloon car. Have mid size and large car sales dried up overnight? I'd be interested to see the top 20....

It would be nice to see the MINI back in the top 3 or 4 as it was in the early / mid 70's

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

It would be nice to see the MINI back in the top 3 or 4 as it was in the early / mid 70's

Maybe if BMW made a MINI that was genuinelly "mini", was cheap to buy and insure, and frugal to run (like a Toyota Aygo, for example), then maybe......

But so long as the MINI is aimed at the upper end of the small car market, I don't really see it!

So hitting the Top 10 is really a very impressive achievement (but surely no excuse to delay the cabrio until this time next year

Ian

[Lawrothegreat]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalboyne (original)

Sounds more like a fault than a feature!

Ian

It's not a fault, or a feature. It just doesn't update as many times per second as the digital speedometer did in the 1st gen car. I've now put 70,000 miles across two MINIs and find the digital readout much easier to read (quick glance down, no change in direction of head) than the main central speedometer which I find takes a good second to focus on and look back at the road.

[~Marcus~]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

Interesting, I haven't seen a "Top Ten" list in ages. It's interesting that the Mondeo or Vectra are nowhere to be seen and that the 3 Series really is as common as Top Gear having been trying to tell us it is Also interesting to see 7 are superminis, 2 are small family hatches and 1 is a small saloon car. Have mid size and large car sales dried up overnight? I'd be interested to see the top 20....

It would be nice to see the MINI back in the top 3 or 4 as it was in the early / mid 70's

Admittedly this is March which is skewed towards cars more popular with private motorists due to plate change but non premium family car sales are on their way down, although it's worth their while now, in a few years time it might not even been worth Ford doing a Mondeo or GM a Vectra just for Europe, which is why they are moving to global platforms (The US Fusion has a different platfom to the Mondeo, but they'll be aligned in next generation)

And yes the 3-series is common as muck! No wonder BMW is so profitable...how the brand has kept its cachet is amazing.

[eddie 44]

think the r56 is a step up inside and out over the last model.. would like the mood lighting to be linked with the speedo and dash lights.. found my self having to look at heater controls when i first got it.... but now i would,nt have them any other way...

[Green Meanie]

I do like my R56. The sheer cosiness of the car when its dark out is so NICE! The comfort lighting glowing from the airbag signs, doors and door openers is cool as is the orange speedo lighting. If only they had kept the other headlights!

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by VincentVega (original)

If BMW livened up the colours a bit

On a Factory tour last week we heard there are 3 new colours which will soon be replacing 3 existing ones. I think Mellow Yellow is going to be replaced by a brighter yellow but not sure what the 2 others were...............perhaps someone else from MINI2 on the tour listened more carefully and can tell us?

[kathyp]

im considering getting a new mcs, but judging by all the whingeing on this thread - is it really still worth paying the thick end of £20k if owners are so unhappy with them??!!

seriously getting me thinking now, wish id never read this thread in a way! ugh!

[minicabrio]

Kathy, always remember that people only ever complain in life, they never openly praise

For every complaint there will more than likely be hundreds of happy owners - Plant Oxford builds up to 700 cars per day, and there's only 171 posts in this thread

[dalboyne]

Agree completely, MiniCabrio

Despite the niggles, I am so totally happy with my MCC that the only car that could tempt me away is the R57 model - and only if it really is better than what I drive now!

Ian

[kathyp]

yea thats very true about people being quicker to complain than praise..and i guess there are valid constructive criticisms also, no car is perfect.

well, i have a test drive in a week or so and will see where i go from there - see if i can be tempted to stump up the extra few grand premium for one of these over the usual suspect rivals in this sector!

[BrianDromey]

Quote: Originally Posted by kathyp (original)

well, i have a test drive in a week or so and will see where i go from there - see if i can be tempted to stump up the extra few grand premium for one of these over the usual suspect rivals in this sector!

I think you'll be impressed with the test-drive, the MINI is a great drive. It feels a lot more solid and over-engineered than anything else in the class.

Brian.

[minicabrio]

You'll regret it forever if you don't

I defected back in November for a very nicely specc'd Merc CLK, end of April, I picked up my new MINI

They're infectious things

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by kathyp (original)

well, i have a test drive in a week or so and will see where i go from there - see if i can be tempted to stump up the extra few grand premium for one of these over the usual suspect rivals in this sector!

Go for it! You know you are worth it......and you get to be part of this marvellous MINI community - what value can you put on that?

And one short test-drive was all it took - I was hooked!

Ian

[spf]

I have the facelift 04 model and can only go on the looks of the R56 as I have not test drove one yet. I am due to replace my car next year but am not looking forward to it at the moment. Initial first impressions of the R56 have stayed with me in that:

- the ride height is too high so car looks perched
- it looks too rounded and chunky particularly bumper, the side indicators and the back light chrome surrounds.
- I would like a bright colour to choose from - a soft lime green would be perfect
- the basic alloy wheel choices need improving
- I would like the chrono pack as I want my speedo in front of me (although if brought back it should be less plasticky and toy looking)
- MINI T mentioned the power steering is a bit light and scare if you hit a hole. This sounds like my old Saxo which frightened the life out of me on ice. If this is the case this would be another reason I would hold back on purchasing a new one.
- I particularly like the chrome bumper strips on the facelift 04 so would prefer a return of those.

Obviously these are personal choices but I am keeping my fingers crossed or I could be holding on to my car longer than planned!

[Paul c]

Well, in reply to that
-Lower it
-fit the aero kit
-might be some new colours out soon???
-there are always works wheels or aftermarket
-isnt the speedo big enough!!!
-opt for the sport button
- ?

MINI's are about being individual after all

Im luvin mine to bits.......................

[baskers]

Paul C - it seems as though you have to spend a lot on the new MINI to make it look the nuts.

I personally like the R56 - much, much better looking than a lot of other stuff on the road. However, I still think that for a toy car, the R53 is simply untouchable...

When I had an R56 for a week, it was a lazier (dare I say it... less engaging) drive than my R53, with a vaguer clutch, gear box and sense of acceleration (power delivery was a little boring!)... BUT, big BUT... it was a simply superb car.

It handles fantastically, takes any road surface in its stride, and is very good on fuel.

[kathyp]

the metal grinding noise when engine is cold from starting that seems to crop up in discussions on boards on here - is it a deal breaker? isolated cases? anything to worry about? i dont want a rough sounding engine every time i start the bloody car really


ps sorry if im dragging this off-topic