AND U KNOW WHAT?I PAID 30000 EUROS FOR A MINI COOPER R56. WHY SHOULD A FIAT PUNTO 15000 SHOULD BE BASED IN MY CAR? ITS A SHAME. BTW FIATS CARS SUCK AND CAUSE PROBLEMS.ONLY STYLE.ITALIANS SELL STYLE BUT….HMMMMMMM…. MINI IS MORE STYLISH THAN ANY FIAT

Wayne Cherry, now that’s who I worship….

Seriously though, this is a MINI board, and I think the majority of us respect what Stephenson has done. Read the history of the MINI, you’ll get a better idea of his place in the MINI’s development–its significant, and IMHO giving the guy some credit also is like giving the entire MINI development team credit–it just happens Stephenson is the face of the direction the MINI ended up going in, and rightfully so.

Gabe and DB are free to tell me to butt out at any point.

Not necessary Nathanial. You’re doing a fine job.

Meanwhile, let us try to get back on track.

Ha ha! Motoringfile is, at least most of the time, one of the few places online where open conversation and discussion happens in the absence of these kinds of uselessly negative and attacking remarks. The way I look at it, the only way it stays that way is if the rest of us don’t put up with it. I’ve got zero issue with people having opinions, or even opinions about opinions. If halogenrepublic doesn’t get why people like Frank Stephenson’s designs, then that’s fine. I’ve got no problem with that. What I’ve got a problem with is people who hide behind the veil of online anonymity and that becomes their excuse for all manor of arse-holery. It’s made NAM not worth reading anymore, three of the four major scooter boards are that way, and have you read any YouTube comments lately? I don’t like it, so I speak up.

Then again, I’m not the moderator. Motoringfile matters to me, as does this community, so I have no problem speaking up or speaking out. This particular thing touched a nerve, so there you go. Gabe and DB are free to tell me to butt out at any point.

And jumping all over somebody that crits worshiping him, well, we won’t poke the bear will we.

These “Frank Stephenson” worshippers are such losers.

Mustn’t…poke…bear…ah screw it.

Seriously? This is your comment? Did you get tired of leaving asinine remarks on YouTube and decide to wonder over? How about this – can anybody name five automotive designers working today off the top of their head? Name three? Sans Google, I can’t. There are about 40 people in the world responsible for designing everything we see on the road today. That Frank has gotten to redesign two iconic classics in ten years is a pretty remarkable achievement. That’s not worship, but simply respect. Got any Ferraris to your credit? I love my R53 and my hat is off to Frank for a great job. No small task to redesign one of the world’s most iconic cars. Sorry if we’ve heard of him, but he did design our car, after all. I don’t think anybody’s got a Frank shrine in their garage or anything. Recognizing his connection to both Fiat and MINI doesn’t make everybody here a fanboy.

[/poking the bear]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/mini-dealers-to-sell-alfa-romeos-in-the-u-s/

Frank is a very talented man, and the two Minis in my garage are only there because he did a stellar job of retaining the character of the Mini. Lets see, the new Mini, the Fiat 500, and the Ferrari 430. Think a great many automotive designers can only dream of having a iota of the success he has had.

Fiat’s turnaround from the brink of bankruptcy has been simply an incredible story.

Further, if Frank Stephenson had stayed in the Fiat group he would have been, in theory, back working for his former employer, MINI.

Frank, if you are out there, please let us know where you end up next. ;)