snowcrash

is that a good idea or a baaaaddd idea

mark d

As an owner of a new Prodrive STi I would be one of the first to say that when it comes to looks the Mini is much cooler than the Scoob - I've always thought the Scoob a bit of a minger .

When I was looking at cars I test drove a whole bunch including the STi, Mini Cooper, TT, 330Ci etc. Out of these the best to drive (by miles) was the Scoob, followed by the Mini, then the 330 Ci (the TT was cr*p). The Mini takes a bit of time to get the speed up but once it does it feels as though you can chuck it into any corner. The Mini Cooper S will be awesome, but has a 12 month wait.

Reidy

Scoobynutta

Up to you but the fact that you would buy an elise over a Caterham to "stable" alongside your P1 says it all for me.

We obviously have had driving experiences - thats all.

I personally think that a subaru lacks style and class. Yes it is a first class machine (a real go-er) and is a proven performance, hi-tech, rally winner, however, it will never have the class of an Aston Martin, Jag, a Lotus or for me a MINI in whatever form.

The mini is such a fresh shape and style and as others have said will hold its value well.

I own an impreza - but I'm not blind to its naffness and will not kid myself. The interior is secondary also to me but I stand by my point that the MINI is classier, inside and in my opinion outside as well.

I found the Elise unpredictable when I drove one (as I did consider one a few years ago) and a little short on the wheelbase for a track car. I bought a westfield instead.

Reidy

The mini is definitely designed for girls though. That I have little doubt about - runflat tyres!!!!!! Whats all that about?

Style often triumphs over practicality with it inside as well.

A hairdressers car it may well prove to be. But the MX5 and the MINI are bloody good handling cars. Those hairdressers can pick them.

Isn't the Z3 also a hairdresser car?

scoobynutta555

The Elise will be primerily for road use, maybe the odd track day. A kit car like one you have suggested holds no interest for me. I fail to see how you can put a mini in the same league class wise as Aston Martin, Jag and Lotus.

I await with interest to receive some sort of explanation for the new minis oozing of history that you feel.

Re: naffness and your other derogatory remarks against imprezas. If they are that bad why do you drive one?
Also what Impreza do you have that seems to furnish your generalisations about the large impreza range? I doubt youll find many P1 sti or 22b owners on here that will share your views that the car they love driving is naff. Certainly i have had not had anyone come up to me and say they think my car is naff!

Sadly I will have to live with people pointing and staring, gaping mouths and people stopping me and enthusing over the car. Unless i trade it in for a mini, id never have to pay for a hair cut again.

Reidy

If you read my post again it answers your question on why I drive an Impreza - I shall retype it for you:

"Yes it is a first class machine (a real go-er) and is a proven performance, hi-tech, rally winner"

There is nothing out there for £20k that gives me more performance with the space.

On the class issue. For me the mini is a classic. It is something you think about when you think of the 60's and 70's, remember fondly in the Italian Job. I can remember it being rallied in the UK with real flair in the last 20 years or so, remember the Monte Carlo triumphs and overall would consider it a great british export, an innovative design and something Britain has been proud of! It has proved popular, robust and profitable and it really carved the way for small cars.

If class is not the right word for this then sorry! But when I think of these things I think it was and still is a class act.

The new one has good lines, handling, value for money, a good interior and features, a clever marketing plan and reliability.

For these reasons compared to some of the crap on the market - yes it is a class act.

On slagging scoobies off! I love mine. I really do - its my second and I might buy another in a few years to replace this one. But I am not afraid to admit that it has flaws. I happen to believe these are not enough to make me not want one - but the interior is truly awful for example and if I spend £30k on a car I want to feel it has at least some interior charm - yes it all works but it is a little embarassing compared to even a Volkswagen.

I could not spend £30k on a car with a naff interior. Not doing 15,000 miles a year.

scoobynutta555

I shall ask you again. What history oozes out of a new shape mini? It shares absolutly NOTHING with the old shape save the name. The old mini quite rightly had/has a strong following among enthusiasts for a number of reasons. It managed to keep hold of this following over a great many years despite undergoing hardly any change during its life cycle.

What I cannot see is the new shape following in such footsteps. In my opinion its only a marketing ploy that bmw have used the mini name, as the mini "ethos" and "spirit" has not been carried over and it is totally a different car. Even if it manages to feature in a mediocre British picture, will this seriously grant it automatically as "classy with a history"?

I will state again that even though the interior of the impreza isnt draped in a few cows its serves its needs in being a pratical "in cabin" environment. When driving my impreza, especially at speed, the last thing i want to do is enthuse over the quality of plastic and how chrome looks good around a clock. Im more interested in looking out of the windscreen where i am going.

If there ever was a conflict with funds in the R&D of the car by Subaru im sure that that they were deciding how to make the car faster/handle better rather than frivilous matters like deciding to put a light around the interior vanity mirror. Or indeed design door handles that wouldnt snap delicate female fingernails.

scoobynutta555

You also forgot to mention what impreza you have

Reidy

Of course there is no history in the new shape yet, thats not what I meant.

I don't happen to share your opinions in that the new shape has raped the old one leaving nothing of what was previously there.

I happen to think that as you spend time in the new car that it starts to feel a bit like the old one did - except much improved.

Look, I speak from experience here, I owned an old shape mini and now a new one. I also own a subaru. I am therefore qualified to speak on this and after all it is my opinion.


Oddly I think we agree on the interior of the subaru. Its not great, it works but the driving thrill is more important.

mark d

And that budget emphasis is what makes the Scooby such a great car. I can just see the meetings deciding how to spend the money:

"Just spend it on engine, suspension, handling etc. - I don't care if it looks cheap and is badly put together inside"

And they certainly acheived their goals - it always take a couple of attempts to close a boot on an STi.

Scot123

You have a vanity mirror in yours?

A hairdresser-in-lurking if I've ever seen one

Rgds

Scot

Reidy

A Subaru Impreza.

Relevance?

mark d

Not a hairdresser in training, just somebody who thinks it's what's inside that counts - not looks.

Also I live with my girlfriend so having a car that impresses the ladies is no longer a priority.

monsta

Just so you know, the runflat tyres are used for two reasons. One, the car doesn't have room for a spare and two, it is a nod at the classic Mini 1275 GT which, when launched in the 70's came with Denovo run flat tyres and was in fact one of the first cars to do so.

Reidy

Thanks monsta - I knew about the space issue but not the Denovo tyres. I thought they were to prevent ladies from having to get out the jack as well?

I have a feeling they will be expensive to replace when the time comes.

robman

The Mini is stylish and has class? Bwaaaah hah hah hah hah.

Funniest thing I have heard in yonks.

Great car to drive maybe, cute perhaps, desirable to many, undoubtable, but classy? You've got to be taking the pi55 surely.

David1965

The copper's' is even better. Why do you need a spare? A run flat should get you out of trouble.

The Mini is great, long live the Mini, Long live BMW.


They keep me in work..

scoobynutta555

Reidy, for the third time, what Impreza do you drive? Im swinging towards a green 5 door with a dog grill in the back.

And: "I don't happen to share your opinions in that the new shape has raped the old one leaving nothing of what was previously there"

So what have bmw moved to the new mini that was on the old mini? The exhaust that needed replacing after going over a speed hump, the massive steering wheel or maybe the seats that would be more befitting in a tonka toy? And if you are not talking about material things, just about ride and handling etc etc, then again what experiences are the same? I should have thought that Fords Ka is more akin to the old mini than the new one.

God forbid they would rape the old dashboard from the old Mini. If anyone hasnt seen the interior of an old mini i suggest you have a look. The sense of history and class oozes out of it. In my opinion, its the worst post war dash assembly i have ever seen. The cooper i was in even had the misfortune of a wood effect dash, factory fitted, and i use that term loosely. The only thing it lacked was an ejector seat when you couldnt take the shame/punishment anymore.

If you can sense the old Minis "history" simply by driving about in an Uber-machine built by BMW, then i wouldnt be surprised if you were related to mystic meg.

flat4

LOL this is great reading, keep 'em coming

the front of the mini is fine, the rear however complete mess, the lights are too small!

flat4

also, (you've got me started now ) how can you call it a mini when it's the same size as a golf! surely it should be called a midi or something

scoobynutta555

<<<<<<tumbleweed

Reidy

scoobynutta

For the second time - the impreza I drive has absolutely no relevance to this debate so drop it. I can sense the type of bloke you are from continuing to ask this and won't get into this debate with you!

The Ford Ka being more like the old mini than the new mini is is a fresh idea. Arn't you being totally ridiculous now.

monsta

The Ford Ka is in no way like the new or old Mini. In terms of handling, the minis win everytime...

http://www.mini2.com/forum

MattOz

Anybody comapring a new MINI to a Golf is clearly a muppet!

The new MINI is the same length as a Ford Ka! I know, I've parkerd mine next to a Ka. The packaging of the MINI is superb. The build quality is great, and yes, it's a hoot to drive. Anyone dissing the MINI clearly has blinkers on, and has not driven one properly for any length of time. They're Great!

Matt

scoobynutta555

Monsta

When I say the old mini is more like the ka than the new mini, I wasn’t talking in terms of absolute specifics such as handling etc, and I’m not starting a debate about which is the better. The old mini was introduced as a basic car and had a cheekiness and was a nippy little runabout that didn't cost the earth. The new mini has a host of extras and driving aids that, to me, is not what the old mini was about and to my knowledge costs £10,000+.

The ka on the other hand is a basic model that its main selling point is its economy to purchase, minute running costs and ease of urban driving/parking etc. Ring any bells? sounds like the old mini to me. All for £5500+.

I’m simply saying that in spirit the ka is closer to the old mini than the new one is. Anyone who continues not understand this and thinks I’m saying the Ka is a better car is in dreamland.


Reidy

The impreza you apparently drive has a lot of relevance if you are going to bang on about naffness and poor build quality. For example, if you have a car in poor repair that could be a reason for your comments. Especially when you have a pop at P1s as well saying that they weren’t worth the money, well I’m afraid its all relative, I’m quite happy paying what I did on my P1.

I look forward to seeing you at a local meet, that’s if you go to them. Meeting with other scoobynetters may seem a pointless and naff way to spend a day to you.

BTW. Explain what this means for those who only speak English “The Ford Ka being more like the old mini than the new mini is is a fresh idea.”

Reidy

Scoobynutta

I don't envisage me spending time with you at a meet some weekend but you never know your luck.

Never been to one - not my cup of tea, but I've met some good people at track days etc in the past.

I drive a brand new Impreza with only 6000 miles on it so there goes your other gripe on my interior comments.

In response to...BTW. Explain what this means for those who only speak English “The Ford Ka being more like the old mini than the new mini is is a fresh idea.”

A fresh idea is a new idea. Please point out to me the word in this sentence that is not English will you. In fact don't bother - I'm really bored of this absolutely meaningless debate now.

See ya.

scoobynutta555

Don't worry, i wouldn't be spending any time with you at any meet. As i have said many times before, im not impressed in the slightest with the new shape and will never buy one. And your responses in this thread back up what i think of new shape owners in general.

And the BTW comment was more to do with a lack of comma between is is. In any case its true what i said about the ka and the mini, "fresh idea" or not.


And no you won't be seeing me, even though I have the misfortune of working in Herts.

Reidy

You forgot your handbag.

ILoveDriven

the new mini might look 'fresh' now, but in 2 years time when the roads are flooded with them and the look has gone stale they will look very very very dated and corny. I would put the mini and the PT Cruiser into the same bucket when it comes to so called style/image.....yuk.....

scoobynutta555

I'm really bored of this absolutely meaningless debate now.

See ya.

seems like you are

If i did have a handbag i'd be driving a mini, a new one of course. One coudln't drive anything naff you know.