Will the New MINI go the Way of the New Beetle?

3923 Views 61 Replies 28 Participants Last post by AidenL, May 14, 2004

AidenL

Discussion Starter · Feb 2, 2002

Is anyone concerned that the MINI may go the way of the Beetle when the rush has died down to be the first one on the block to acquire one? Sure, the MINI is in a different league dynamically compared to the Beetle, but is the MINI being bought as a terndy accessory by many just now, only to be discarded, (as appears to have happened the Beetle), when the next trendy car comes along?

What effect will this have on depreciation and trade in values in the future?

Anyone got a crystal ball handy?

In case anyone thinks Im being negative, I have a MINI One on a weekend test drive from my local dealer at the moment, and Im incredibly impressed by it. Wanted a Cooper, but only a One demo available, but if the One is anything to go by, the Cooper must be fantastic!! Has anyone else noticed its much bumpier in the back seat than the front? - must be the proximity to the wheel !!

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R1

· #2 · Feb 2, 2002

AidenL said:
Is anyone concerned that the MINI may go the way of the Beetle when the rush has died down to be the first one on the block to acquire one?

No! and don't care!

Basil

· #3 · Feb 2, 2002

Re: Re: Will the New MINI go the Way of the New Beetle?

R1 said:
No! and don't care!

I'll second that.

Stare at the beetle, and yes it has admirable design qualities.

Stare at the MINI and you just want to make love to it......well you know what I mean....LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!!!.

No comparison....none at all.

Geez, i'm so confused.....

Ps. Glad your still on the straight and narrow R1.

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JonBlakeburn

· #4 · Feb 2, 2002

As far as I'm concerned, the MINI has gone the same as the Beetle. I've loved the New Beetle since it came out, and always said it would be that that I bought, until I saw the MINI.

Just because I have a MINI doesn't mean I don't admire the New Beetle any more - They're two great cars.

Dave Wright

· #5 · Feb 2, 2002

That the Mini may go the way of the Beetle is of course a possibility. I don't mind if it looses its trendyness, but depreciation does of course concern me.

The Mini does have some advantages over the Beetle - it is (even) better looking, much more fun to drive and has no in-house competition (i.e. the Golf).

CAR magazine said

New Mini is set, primarily, to be a fashion statement - this season's newest, latest automotive accessory. Those buyers will load it up with the massive options lists and pay handsomely to do so. But spare the toys, choose a reasonable colour and don't upgrade the tyres to something too sticky, and the uberMini can still cut it as a driving machine. Like the original, it looks like nothing else and handles like nothing else. The King is dead, long live the King.

Ady

· #6 · Feb 2, 2002

Will the New MINI go the same way as the new Beetle?, who Cares, i am and never will be fasionable, those people who buy the MINI because its the newest trendy thing to drive don't deserve it anyway. baaa! baaa! to all those sheep. i am buying mine for the driving experience not to be trendy, and i shall hopefully keep it forever, although a decent heater won't go amiss as i am used to a classic mini in winter.
Ady (R50)
ps and i drive the classic for the driving experience too

R1

· #7 · Feb 2, 2002

Red & White Cooper 2 said:
But spare the toys, choose a reasonable colour and don't upgrade the tyres to something too sticky, and the uberMini can still cut it as a driving machine.

Positive quote but, never buy a car to please it's future owners! Please yourself first.

Mickey Gem

· #8 · Feb 2, 2002

The Beetle has it's followers and those who saw it as a "fashion accessory". I'm sure MINI does too.

I'd go along with RI, buy a car because you want it, whatever your personal reasons.

Kinster

· #9 · Feb 2, 2002

R50 said:
Will the New MINI go the same way as the new Beetle?, who Cares, i am and never will be fasionable, those people who buy the MINI because its the newest trendy thing to drive don't deserve it anyway. baaa! baaa! to all those sheep. i am buying mine for the driving experience not to be trendy, and i shall hopefully keep it forever, although a decent heater won't go amiss as i am used to a classic mini in winter.
Ady (R50)
ps and i drive the classic for the driving experience too

What colour are you getting? Well it doesn't really matter if you just want it for the driving experience!

Whoever wants to buy a MINI great, let them buy one!

smiffy

· #10 · Feb 2, 2002

Well I'd be happy to see some more rich daddy's girls driving the MINI like they do with the Beetle

baldie

· #11 · Feb 2, 2002

The new Beetle was never highly regarded by the motoring press. Along the lines of 'its just a Golf with curvy bits'.

I always saw it as a styling and marketing exercise.

What Car gives the different models between 1/5 and 3/5 quote "A so-so rather than captivating driving experience. Engines and chassis merely average. Practicality has suffered for style. Running costs quite high."

MINI One and Cooper both get 4/5.

I dont think it will become as stale as the New Beetle has.

Dave

An_S_4_Mutley

· #12 · Feb 2, 2002

Originally Posted by Basil
Stare at the MINI and you just want to make love to it......well you know what I mean....LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!!!.

Hmm, best get the burn cream out Basil, after all, you know what these MINIs are like with grass burning, never mind if you go and start to hump it!

Andy

TimR

· #13 · Feb 2, 2002

I've driven both the Cooper and the new beetle, and have a few thoughts if nobody minds.
-The Cooper is better quality interior
-The Cooper has WAY less body roll in the corners
-The Cooper is actually pracitcal for everyday living, as it can carry cargo if needed.

The beetle is small inside, has very little cargo space, and not much room for personalization, unless you consider the vase on the dash as "personalized" by the flower choice.

I admit that I could be biased, but having driven both old and new version of each car, the MINI is more true to the thought of the original, whereas the new beetle was only designed to be a cute new version.

BTW, the CVT still makes for a blast to drive!!

swerks

· #14 · Feb 2, 2002

At least here in the states, the first owners (for the most part) are going to be the people that just have to be the first on their block to own one and will buy it because it is trendy. This was the same fate for the New Beetle when it was first sold here.

I think the main difference though is that the Mini has a big performance edge and club racing history that the New Beetle never had particularly with the Cooper S model. Once the smoke clears and the "posers" are weeded out of the Mini owners, there will be a nice close knit group of performance heads that will carry Mini along further than the New Beetle.

It will basically be two different types of customers that buy these cars in the end.

I would disagree though that the New Beetle doesn't have the aftermarket support... there are tons of things you can do to a New Beetle (at least here in the U.S.).

-jamie

MINIAC

· #15 · Feb 2, 2002

swerks said:
At least here in the states, the first owners (for the most part) are going to be the people that just have to be the first on their block to own one and will buy it because it is trendy.

I think you'd be surprised at the number of enthusiasts who are in the front of waiting lists. A lot of us have been waiting for the MINI to come back to the US, since getting a sneak peak of the prototype at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1997. Some of us found out the dealers to be offered franchises before the official announcement and have been on waiting lists since before June 15, 2001. I think a lot of "trendy" people are going to find out that they are "a little late for the dance". Sure there will be those who can get a MINI by paying big bucks to a dealer selling cars over MSRP.

Basil

· #16 · Feb 2, 2002

TimR said:
I've driven both the Cooper and the new beetle, and have a few thoughts if nobody minds.
-The Cooper is better quality interior
-The Cooper has WAY less body roll in the corners
-The Cooper is actually pracitcal for everyday living, as it can carry cargo if needed.

The beetle is small inside, has very little cargo space, and not much room for personalization, unless you consider the vase on the dash as "personalized" by the flower choice.

I admit that I could be biased, but having driven both old and new version of each car, the MINI is more true to the thought of the original, whereas the new beetle was only designed to be a cute new version.

BTW, the CVT still makes for a blast to drive!!

Two things. You have to give VW credit for building it. But it certainly has not been overly sucessful sales wise in oz which whatever you think about it, is a shame.

Secondly, it does have one endearing feature. You don't need to take a table with with when you go on a picnic. You can set everything out qute nicely on top of the dashboard !.

PS. VW have a problem with the interior trim peeling off the doors etc. Maybe an oz thing, but it looks like peeling skin even on cars a few months old.

pob

· #17 · Feb 2, 2002

I'm buying my MINI for ME (contrary to what the gf thinks!). The new Beetle was always a fashion accessory rather than a serious car, so I don't compare the two.

AidenL

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 3, 2002

Anyway, after my slightly negative heading to this thread, I must redeem myself.......after clocking up over 250 miles on my demo MINI One this weekend, Id have to say Im totally taken with it, and I dont know how Im gonna leave it back to the dealership tomorrow....

Any concerns I had about depreciation (and that was basically my concern, not trendiness stigma, though my wife loves the trendiness factor!) have been totally surpassed by the sheer fun, sportiness and charm that the MINI has....its a whole new ballgame for fun cars as far as I am concerned and Ive gotta have one.....

I love it , my wife loves it, and as my brother said to me earlier today, its the kind of car you could see yourself keeping forever, it wont date, its unlikely to be remodelled, and its based on one of the most timeless, elegant, functional designs ever for a car.

Time to pick the specification, I think !!

Tom D

· #19 · Feb 3, 2002 (Edited)

Thanks for your last post Aiden. Those of us who have yet to even see a MINI, let alone drive one, are encouraged by your observations. I owned a 1275 Clubman in Germany in the 70's and am looking forward to my new MINI, even if it has a few faults. Heaven knows, the originals weren't even close to perfect!

Tom

AidenL

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 3, 2002

Tom,

Talking about the original Mini, one of the most fun days driving I had was when my brother was having his Saab 9000 serviced, and this very, shall we say, quaint dealership in the sticks, gave him an old rusty red Mini, with a blowing exhaust as a courtesy car !! He fobbed it off on me, and took my car away for the day himself, due to the fact that I worked for him, and had a company car. My girlfriend at the time, now wife was very unimpressed when I called to collect her that Friday night ! (The MINI we are buying now is for her.)

The fun part was that it could be driven foot to the floor, with the exhaust blaring, foot to the floor, with the typical go kart like responses that made the Mini such fun, and which I now feel are present, but amplified in the new MINI! It is such fun !!

By the way, my wife and her Mum felt like supermodels yesterday while out shopping in the MINI - never had so many people stare at them before !! Almost caused a rear end shunt too !!

Ive always driven sport cars, had a Mark II Golf GTi, Audi A4, BMW 325i, but dynamically, the MINI is in a different league, totally sporty if thats what you want.

I love it, and as my wife said, its so cute, you just want to give it a hug.

I think, when you finally drive it, you will feel the same, as most people in MINI2 appear to. We are all enthusiasts, thats why we are here, and thats why we love great cars.

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