Spoolin' said:Really is there a car out there that will turn heads more than a MINI, other than an original Mini?
It think it depends on the area, although Vipers and prowlers are very eye-catching, I think the MINI will grab more attention, where I live. In Europe I would Imagine that a viper draws a crowd but around here it's just another mid-life crisis land-yacht. I think that if a new cooper was parked next to a (dare I say it) Ferrari 308, the MINI would get the nod. I live in prime Lawyer Doctor country, however. "Exotic" cars, for the most part, are not all that rare.S2000&CooperS said:My S2000 attracts quite a lot of attention. I belong to the S2KCA and we've had accidents (other drivers) at some of our drives from people staring at the cars and not paying attention to the road in front of themI have a feeling the MINI will attract just as much attention!
Certainly Ferraris, the Lambo Diablo, Vipers, Prowlers are all big-time attention getters.
Only 'cos no-one believed Alfa could "design" such a plug ugly mongrel-looking car.smartbomb said:we had an SZ, which was amazing ! Turned more heads than any car I have seen !
The interest is bound to wane a bit. But the appeal of the MINI is more than skin deep.Spoolin' said:I wonder if this will be a flash in the pan, y'know, like the New Beetle, TT, PT Cruiser. It just might. The MINI is entering the market at a very "gimicky" time. All the manufacturers are doing "retro
I agree Ricardo, I'd also like to add the Saab 9-3 to that list. In the states, the New Beetle took off. VW could not make enough of them. Now they have stagnated. New colors and trim levels have come out in a gimmicky way to keep people interested. I'd hate to see this happen to MINI. VW is planning a convertible which can be viewed on this link.http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=4550&n=158,178&sid=178ricardo said:
The interest is bound to wane a bit. But the appeal of the MINI is more than skin deep.
The Beetle is just a retro body on a Golf - MINI is on a unique purpose design floorpan not shared elsewhere.
Audi TT (nice car though it is) also shares floorpan and running gear with other more mundane VAG machines.
PT Cruiser - as smartbomb says, I don't think it attracted much favourable attention in the UK.
MINIs retro styling succeeds where few others have by looking ultra modern but capturing the essence of the classic MINI shape. Other retro-look vehicles haven't achieved this (e.g. Rover 75, Jag S Type). Furthermore, the MINI shape is iconic in a way that few others are. Of cars built in past 30 years only the Mini, Beetle, Porsche 911 and 2CV stick in my mind as being in the same instantly recognisable category.
I live within yards of a new Beetle and a PT cruiser (which always reminds me of a hearse, but not as cheerful). The MINI has been given far more attention than the others up to now.smartbomb said:I don't recall the new beetle ever receiving much attention here, likewise the PT cruiser. I beleive that the MINI has caused suck a wave of interest is down to the controversy factor as well as it's appearance.
True, a lot of maunfacturers are looking to the past. This can be said of the MINI, but it has been underpinned my a superb chassis and BMW have every intention broadening the range. I wonder where VW will go next with the new beetle.
I think it's more attractive than a GT2 Porsche, although the Porsche is very striking. It, for the most part, looks like another 911. Mind you, I'm not arguing which is a better car, I'm talking pure aesthetics here. Head-turning capability.minicoopersgirl said:Living in South Florida, exotic cars are seen on a daily basis (i.e. Ferrari, Lambo) so they are nothing new to me. But I have to say that I would turn my head if I saw a Lotus Elise or a Porshe GT2!
The MINI will get more looks than ANY other car out there - well for a year or so anyway.