The Anti-MINIs

nervous Jan 16th, 2007 Link

[gasp!]

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TSizemore3 Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Ironically, only one of the “Anit-MINIs” are even currently sold in this country. I’ll stick with what I got!

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TSizemore3 Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Ironically, only one of the five “Anti-MINIs” are currently availible in the States. I’ll stick with what I got!

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Alex Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Dodge is the antithesis of the MINI brand. The Nitro and Caliber come to mind in particular. I quite like the Fit, however. Saw one at the local autoshow and was impressed with the interior space. If I wanted a reliable car on the cheap, I would definitely be looking at a Fit.

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Paul Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Slightly underpowered on the highway, the Ford Fiesta is actually a fun little car with real space for four adults and overnight bags. Perhaps unintentional, it even has a little exhaust note :)

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eto Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Hmm… the only two offered stateside are the Jazz/Fit and the Caliber. Of the five offered, the only one that comes close to being a true alternative to the MINI is the Ford Fiesta which is not offered in the US. It looks like a nice car, too.

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brad Jan 16th, 2007 Link

But for some people it’s all a bit too much — driving along dripping retro cool from every duct and dial just isn’t their idea of a motoring good time.

Yes, those people are what we refer to as “boring”.

And wouldn’t an “anti-MINI alternative” be a MINI? A “MINI alternative” would be one of the cars on the list. An anti-MINI alternative would be an alternative to a non-MINI car…i.e.: A MINI. Discuss.

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gmini Jan 16th, 2007 Link

brad. you are correct, sir.

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gmini Jan 16th, 2007 Link

an alternative to anti-minis, or an alternative as anti-minis?

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gmini Jan 16th, 2007 Link

and one more; isn’t an anti-mini a Hummer?

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J.Melrose Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Looks like a familiar page, Gabe! Glad it was worthy of passing along.

I hadn’t heard of any of these cars. As far as I’m concerned, the anti-Mini would be a Hummer (by the way, there’s an interesting book about the appeal of Minis and Hummers in America. It’s called “The Hummer and the Mini: Navigating the Contradictions of the New Trend Landscape (by Robyn Waters”. Interesting. Check it out here:

http://www.amazon.com/Hummer-Mini-Navigating-Contradictions-Landscape/dp/1591841364/sr=8-1/qid=1168960145/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7039339-5810314?ie=UTF8&s=books

Anyway, I consider my Honda Civic the anti-Mini, which is why I’m getting a Mini this time around!

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Eric Jan 16th, 2007 Link

I like how the last three cars in the article are actually ‘wagons. Guess they are getting ready to compare against the Clubman when it comes out. I can’t wait for my retro-cool Clubman comes out.

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dr Jan 16th, 2007 Link

If money was no issue my other car would be a hummer. My only issue is that they are too overpriced

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Chrissy Jan 16th, 2007 Link

This list is kinda…. random. I don’t recognize most of the cars because they are not sold in North America. I guess since this list is of “anti-MINIs”, that’s why I don’t like any of the cars on it! Also, that picture of the MINI with the red slash/circle through it kinda makes me feel uneasy. Since when is there too much “retro cool”? Neverrrrrr! ;)

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seb Jan 16th, 2007 Link

I have to admit … If I didn’t have the money, and I did not care about style, performance, individuality, resale value, handling, exclusivity, or motoring fun … I would buy one of those cars … if somebody had a gun to my head. Except the Dodge … I think I’d take a round before I’d buy the Dodge. :-))

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Mark H Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Oh dear what a list! I think I would rather take the bus (perhaps with the exception of the Fiesta).

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jason Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Funny article. To me, the wording was rather cheeky and fun.

Plus, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to drip cool, retro or otherwise.

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GZ Jan 16th, 2007 Link

GAK. Those all suck.

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Rawhyde Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Well said, GZ!

I wouldn’t swap my MINI for a dozen of those things.

Rawhyde

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fdavid Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Geez that’s really depresing! Never thought that my ride was equivalent to any of those things. Depressed here…Prozak anyone? ; )

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GadgetGav Jan 16th, 2007 Link

Being an ex-pat Brit, I recognise most of them. If I had to rank them, and couldn’t choose a MINI, I guess the Fiesta would be at the top of the list, probably followed by the Caliber. My Mum drives a Jazz, but that wouldn’t stop me putting it at third above the other two. I would probably rather walk than pay 12K for the Skoda (even though they’re now just VWs underneath and nowhere near as awful as they used to be)… And I’d rather crawl to where ever I had to go than pull up in the Citroen Berlingo..!

I didn’t buy my MINI as a fashion statement – retro cool or otherwise. I bought it because it was one of the few small fun cars that are even on sale over here. If the US could choose from all the ’supermini’ class rivals that the MINI has in the UK, it would be a much more interesting place to be a driver..!

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Mark H Jan 17th, 2007 Link

True alternatives to the Mini in the UK at least would be: 1. Renault Clio 182; 2. Seat Ibiza Cupra; 3. Honda Civic Type R; 4. Peugot 207 GTI (when it goes on sale); 5. Ford Focus RS; and 6. VW Golf GTI.

So I guess the article did get it right – Anti-Mini!

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eto Jan 17th, 2007 Link

I’ve thought further about this article, and what’s significant is not that the article is about either an alternative or the antithesis to a MINI. The significance is the article is not about what you can purchase instead of a Honda Civic, Mazda 3, VW Golf, Dodge Caliber, or any other small car on the market. Those cars can be summed up as simply “another small car.” The MINI is different. It opposes the trends in small cars by being presented as premium, high performance, customizable, and retro (even though I don’t consider it so). You are not going to be asked questions by strangers about your Chevy Aveo.

The combination of size, appearance, and performance makes the MINI stand out in a field of mundane small cars which are primarily designed to get you from place to place cheaply and efficiently. Whatever an individual’s opinion of a small car’s purpose is, the MINI when examined makes one re-examine that opinion. A test drive is required examination, of course. :D

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