First Mini owners... now Bimmer owners

[moorlockx]

Found this letter in the new issue of "Roundel" magazine (BMW club). It's bad enough there are some classic owners peeved at our choice of cars, now it looks like there's some folks with BMW's that aren't happy either:

MINIs Besmirch our ads"

Perusing the December "Roundel"classifieds I found several Mini Coopers Listed on pages 114 and 115. What's up with that? I never saw any Rover's for sale when BMW owned Rover. Is it because a few select BMW franchises sell the Mini? BMW doesn't even mention the Mini in their sales literaturerequest card.And the Mini doesn't have the BMW roundel. It's not a BMW!
Rich Mammano

Roundels response follows:

No- but it contributes nicely to the corporate profits, and BMW CCA members seem to like the little rat, so we try to maintain an inclusive attitude. There were never any Rovers advertised for sale because nobody would buy them.

------------------------------ Don't know which is worse, the letter or the answer!

[dietcokeplease]

Looks like MINI is the b-astard child. Snubbed by both classic Mini's and BMW's. Worried? Forget it! I can bet that we have ten times more fun than either of these groups. I find it entertaining that classics have such a chip. And it proves the height of snobbery of Rich Mammano.

[poki]

I actually like having a car that has a little controversy about it. It is just another facet of the cars personality.

No one does this much fist waving and moaning over Toyota Corollas.

[HObzy]

They are just jealous because we can fit in the parking spaces that we cant. And cos we have got the only good looking BMW.

[ClashCityRocker]

Thing is - if I wanted a "classic" mini or a BMW then I'd buy one. I don't so I haven't. Why do these people get so irate??? I'm happy for them that they are content with their choice of car, why do they feel the need to concern themselves with other peoples cars?

[ErikR]

Quote: Originally Posted by ClashCityRocker

Thing is - if I wanted a "classic" mini or a BMW then I'd buy one. I don't so I haven't. Why do these people get so irate??? I'm happy for them that they are content with their choice of car, why do they feel the need to concern themselves with other peoples cars?

I think the more passion people have about their cars the more they tend to dislike other cars. Just look at some of the posts on this site, you will constantly see people degrading Toyota's, Honda's and the new Beetle! It is just like the way some of the classic Mini owners feel about the MINI. I wouldn't take it as an insult just an indication of how much that person loves their car.

Erik

[ScoobyDoo]

Personally, I think if they've got nothing better to do than actually take the time to write a letter like that in the first place - then they can't be on the road enjoying their own car, can they????

[ABG]

Just my opinion but this looks like more of US issue than a UK one - in the US (as I understand it) a lot of buyer buy BMWs for their status above all else. That's a much lower priority in the UK where the 3 series is a very common car.

BTW there are also a fair few MINI owners who have BMWs - myself included

[ScoobyDoo]

My Mom has just traded in her MINI Cooper for a 320i - So no MINI predjudice there!

[SoggyCornFlakes]

I love my BRIC (BMW Rover Inspired Cooper)

[csmith319]

BMW owners should be happy - BMW brought the MINI in to able to sell in this car segment, which they have done brilliantly. And because they've used a different badge they haven't degraded their brand like Merc did with the A Class. (It helps that the MINI is such a great car too)

[theminiv]

I tried selling my mini and going to a 3 series, but due to the potential 'kick in' from some of my mini owning friends, i decided not to.

And, to be honest. I AM SO GLAD THAT I KEPT WITH MINI.

I dont wanna jump 20 years in my life by owning one of them!!!!

[Aqualung]

And what are they going to do when the BMW 1 owners wanna join in?

[stryder]

Quote: Originally Posted by Aqualung

And what are they going to do when the BMW 1 owners wanna join in?

That's probably why they made the big deal about the roundel. So they'll be annoyed, but they'll have to shut up.

I think the response was quite appropos. Especially since there's BMW printed all over a MINI if you know where to look, and I got a free subscription to BMW magazine (or whatever its called) with my car - which barely had any MINI news - it kept trying to subtly sell me a 7 series and a watch that cost more then my MINI.

[Rick Anderson]

Well, I am a former BMW owner, a present classic Mini owner, and a very soon-to-be MINI Cooper owner. All I can say is that I love them all, except maybe the BMW which was an absolute hunk of crap. I believe that too many people confuse their identities with the type of car they drive, especially here in California. I have been a car nut for my entire life and I can honestly say that the new MINI is the coolest car ever.