White Roof Radio #214
Not so much with the MINIs tonight. Well, at little with the MINIs, but mostly about how MINI will be affected by SMART coming to the US. Personally, I’m not terribly interested in them, unless I can get the crazy looking one over on WRR.
The video was already posted on MF. Click here if you missed it. It was part of a huge video Friday that you can revist here. And you must check out the Tata Nano from India. Only $2500 and we think it would self-destruct on impact.
AMVIV update…rooms are going fast. In fact, Tower Rooms are all booked, only Garden Room remain. Get yours while the getting is good! Also, just confirmed Robert in Toronto will be joining us this year at AMVIV! Someone will have to run him up to the snow to keep him from getting too home sick.
Woofcast 214: [audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://www.whiteroofradio.com/podcasts/woof214.mp3]
So much talk about the SMART car…has this become SMARTcar Radio? Thanks once again for the podcast pimping of SCTRCST (scootercast). By the way I think they used India Vespa 10 inch tires on the new Tata Nano.
I concur with Gabe, I think that both the VW GTI and Mazda 3 and 3 speed are solid direct completion for Mini and in some aspects better. Believe Mini is still king of the hill but resting on laurels will see the brand quickly loosing it standing. Lucky for the Mini brand has a lot dedicated, enthusiastic, and talented people working for them.
MINI is in a more uncomfortable position now, just because there is so much more market competition out there. In contrast, 6 years ago the MINI was basically a ground braking car/concept. At least in North America, nothing came close to it. Fast forward to 2008… Some market offerings are matching and even besting the MINI
I think Smarts are nothing more than glorified golf carts marketed towards city dwellers and hipsters. I have seen them in Europe (and some around the neck of my woods) and they do attract attention but these cars simply aren’t tuned or made to deliver performance or a barely entertaining driving experience. They are basically city cars made for transportation and parking in densely populated urban centers.
From what I have read in the internet, Smarts have spotty quality records and dubious reliability.
These things ain’t MINIs. They are not even in the same market.
I think you miss the point about TATA nano, it is meant to replace little scooters families use as their primary mode of transportation. It is meant as cheap transportation for families in city. Not everyone can afford to get a car like the Mini in a 3rd world country. Also TATA will probably be buying Jaguar and Land Rover.