New MINI Options Coming Soon?

Gabe Bridger Jan 29th, 2003 Link

Thanks go to Eric at MINI2 for the info

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dc Oct 26th, 2003 Link

… continued

Also, I hope MINI can keep the same great body style for many years, and remain competitive by improving drivetrain, suspension, and overall performance, and other features.

What I want now — a sport pack with:

• A Quaife LSD,

• slightly wider (not taller) wheels,

• an option to deliver with summer performance tires (not run-flats), and

• camber/caster adjustments.

What I fear I'll get:

• chrome and sporty stripes

• then a bodykit

I want to chase Integra Type-Rs on the track, not pose with the Max Power set.

What I want for 2005:

A revy non stumbling engine as good as a 1994 Honda Acura Integra.

What I fear for 2006:

A bigger softer MINI, more room and more comfort, but less edge, and no point.

BMW needs an answer to the $30,000 and under sport car market, something this side of an ///M3.

As a novel car, MINI is selling well for now, but after saturating the market segments looking for

• 'new', and
• 'cute', and
• those who fondly remember the original Mini

the MINI will need to compete on its own performance merits.

Slower 0-60mph than an SUV, less traction than a roadster, and half the mpg of today's Prius is now way to enter 2005.

Footnote: sub – $25000 with LSD today (2003): Miata MX-5 sport, Toyota Mr2, Subaru WRX.

At arond the $30,000 mark, compare today a Cooper S Works to a Subarau WRX STi/spec-C and find one point other than cuteness in the MINI's favour.

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dc Oct 26th, 2003 Link

As a mac user, you might remember the pre os x days, where mr pepsi and mr diesel would revise the OS, Sys 7.0, 7.1 and add features like user settings to change the colour of the scroll bars. [And loading more inits, using more of finite memory, and all but requiring the use of a 3rd party debugging tool, Casady & Greene RIP]

But for ten years, actual usable Apple multitasking was always just around the corner, always 'coming soon'. Taligent Pink, Coupland vapourware. Linux and NT grew, and Apple became irrelevant.

Hearing about upcoming chrome options for the MINI, I could begin to feel similar destiny for the MINI.

A good car in 2001, but could be great with some tweaks.

continued …

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