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Two weeks ago we asked for your thoughts on the MINI Coupé. While reaction to the roofline of the car was mixed, 71% of you expressed some hope that MINI would bring the car to market (which we’ve since confirmed they are). Now we turn our attention to the MINI Speedster and what could be the most lopsided poll we’ve ever had here at MF.
[poll id=”6″]
<p>Something strange happened … I thought, and thought … and clicked “yes”!</p>
<p>This just seems to “work” better than the Coupe does. My main complaint with the Coupe is the roof design and the rear hatch design, and this car fixes them… plus the top goes down. I’d really like to see it in street clothes with a normal exterior/interior and I also want to see the specs (especially weight), but this looks promising.</p>
<p>Yes. of course.
Though best utilized in the pulsing gleams of Menton, – these will sell like bottled teen spirit. Even here, in WI.</p>
<p>the more i look at the coupester the more the rear trunk lid bugs me. i don’t like the way the beltline kicks up at the end. the speedster doesn’t have this issue because the beltline is pulled in closer to the middle of the car.</p>
<p>i’m interested to see how color affects the view of the car. i think the speedster is easier to enjoy because it has a much more neutral color scheme.</p>
<p>Love It. Love It. Love It. I have been an Audi TT Roadster fan since the first drawings were released. The Mini Roadster reminds me of the TT, only better. I can’t wait to get one. My only concern is the cost. I am afraid it will be north of $40,000 which brings it into competition with some other terrific cars.</p>
<p>I agree with Fillip, the Speedster version looks far better than the coupe. Frankly I think it would look hot in a Black with red interior, or Dark Silver with a red.</p>
<p>Although I like the concept, I wish they would do something with the rearend design. Way too busy for me, especially with the JCW bumper. Looks like a MR2. VW smooth approach is more appealing to me. But, that’s my opinion. Will I rush out to get one? No, I like the utility of my R53. It will definitely be bought by those who don’t care.</p>
<p>The big question, can you fit a set of golf clubs in it?</p>
<p>They are both so similar to existing models. The only major difference is the slope of the windshield.</p>
<p>Not worth their time and efforts to produce, unless there’s a flux capacitor or some other specialness under the hood</p>
<p>I need to see it in person to form a final opinion, but so far I love it. It’s all MINI, with bumped up aggressive characteristics. Instant classic.</p>
<p>While mini is popular and selling well, it’s just smart to offer more choices to the customers. In that vein, it makes more sense IMO to offer this as a choice than it does to offer a crossover. The mini crossover is an oxymoron by definition. While I’m more likely to be a clubman owner than a speedster owner, I would love to see speedsters on the road and maybe drive one someday.</p>
<p>It would also make a really cool james bond car!</p>
<p>It’s a decent design. I wish that you guys would have less polarizing answers, while I do like it, I don’t like it to the extreme of the two poll choices. You need three more answers:</p>
<p>Yeah I like it, but probably won’t buy it.</p>
<p>I don’t care one way or the other.</p>
<p>Not for me, but not ghastly.</p>
<p>But really, we need to see weight and price to really get the context. If it’s $20k, it’s a great car. If it’s $35k, it’s an also ran with all the other options that are out there.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>I even voted yes despite the small fact I would rather give up a the manual transmission and one of my legs than the roof of a car lol.</p>
<p>Great design although the strut bar behind the front seats should help some of the flexing of the body although I think it looks alarming similar to my GP’s luggage bar placement rather than a rear strut which normally gets mounted behind the rear seats.</p>
<p>I have no use/interest for 2 seaters, but I much rather see MINI spending time and money developing this type of vehicle than the idiotic SUV that has nothing to do with MINI and the core values of the brand itself.</p>
<p>Liked it and would buy but if the Liberace interior was the only choice I’d pass. Got to agree with Matt, I think 3 choices would be a better idea but then I like eggs… ;-)</p>
<p>But Ian you already have a 1 seater.</p>
<p>Ian is now an Audi man! If anything, I would think he would be a fantastic market study subject for MINI as to how to lose a loyal customer in no time..</p>
<p>I found the concept drawing showing the Coupe and Speedster interesting in that the drawing (towards the end of all the pictures) shows the Coupe with side windows, inserted between the B pillar and the rear window…almost makes the greenhouse look similar to a MGB’s or older M-B SL 3 pane convertible top.</p>
<p>And speaking of tops….I really like the look of the Speedster’s convertible top….looks very similar in design to a Boxster….looks very German to my eyes.</p>
<p>Give me the Coupe!</p>
<p>…nice,very nice. I hope we don’t have to wait,”forever”,to buy one.</p>
<p>will replace the 08 conv. hope it comes in white silver.</p>
<p>If I wanted the look of the MINI Speedster, I’d just go out and find a used Geo Metro Convertible and jam a 2.0l turbo from a Chevy Cobalt SS and tune up the suspention………When it comes time for me to get my MINI it will be the Cooper Convertible, 4 seats</p>
<p>The Speedster would have been the perfect replacement for my 2-seater Honda Delsol, and if it had been available when bought my Clubman, I might have gone for it. Typically I don’t think canvas tops are a good idea for most urban cities due to vandalism, etc. The double sunroof and the more comfortable, upright seating position is what really sold me on the Clubman. And even though it’s 4-inches shorter than my Delsol, it has so much more usable interior space.</p>
<p>Not a hater but don’t like the view from the rear. My next MINI will probably be a Classic Mini for the track.</p>
<p>I love the look of this but a recent story in AUTOCAR claimed the following, which if true, will make it look like a normal cabrio with a bootlid!!??</p>
<p>“Both cars’ steeply sloping windscreens are unlikely to make the production versions due to the large costs involved. However, the Coupe and Roadster production models should be very similar to their concepts.” AUTOCAR</p>
<p>It’s certainly a unique vehicle which should have modern yet timeless appeal. Agree with the comments about the vehicle’s rear end. If interested I would buy the Speedster over the Coupe variant.</p>
<p>As my friends have said: if you’re buying a sports car, it (a) has to be a convertible and (b) has to have only two seats. One then went on to buy the Mazda MX5 Roadster Coupe. Personally because I need a larger vehicle I wouldn’t be in the market to buy the Speedster, but if I was I would seriously consider it as long as it matches warranty & is in a realistic price bracket.</p>
<p>OK seriously i love both the speedster and the coupe but I want to see pictures of the BOOT! how hard is it to pop the boot and take a picture so I can get an idea of what it looks like? seriously its bugging me. I want to see how both of the boots, for the speedster and coupe, open up how much space there is, how it connects to the cabin, everything! But alas there is only one picture which doesn’t show much of anything. can anyone help me out with this?</p>
<p>I like it, but I don’t love it. I know it is a concept, but it seems a bit cobbled together. Not a fan of the aero kit application here. Too busy for my taste. I would like to see a Cooper S front end (I prefer that grill), no side skirts, and a completely reworked rear. In this application, I think it is time to depart from the expected rear lights and go for something different, but derivative. But…if I could just see a version without the aero kit application, and with the Cooper S grill, I think I would be happier. Anybody good with PhotoShop?</p>
<p>I totally don’t get this car. The R57 I can understand. Not sure why removing the rear seats and raking the windshield back is worthy of a whole new car, or my $35k. I would rather put that toward used Boxster S or Elise. RWD FTW!!</p>
<p>A solid Yes vote and if the price is right I think both will do well all over the world. Apparently they’re ‘S’ only so the price would be…Oh well, good luck MINI.</p>
<p>As an ex-Z3 owner, I love it! My only concern was the same issue they had with the Z, the rear bulkhead behind the seats prevented the legroom my 6-3″ frame needed. Learn from the SLK, give it enough legroom!!!</p>
<p>Well, to be honest, I’m also with Hoover, I’m not a huge fan of the JCW body kit either. A unique Speedster/Coupe body kit would be better, I think.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I totally don’t get this car. The R57 I can understand. Not sure why removing the rear seats and raking the windshield back is worthy of a whole new car, or my $35k. I would rather put that toward used Boxster S or Elise. RWD FTW!!</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Where did the 35k I’ve seen in these comments come from BTW? It’s certainly not what our sources our saying and what we’ve said.</p>
<p>I like both cars for different reasons. The rag top looks much better than the current offering. I’ve removed the rear seats in my R53 so they are obviously not a selling point to me. My fear is that BMW will make them so costly that only the purist will purchase them. That would truly be a shame.</p>
<p>I find the Speedster concept much more attractive than the Coupe. But ask me if if I’d buy one – I’d have to say No Way. I also have a hard time understanding why they’d want to have to convertibles in the line, especially considering how similar they are.</p>
<p>Be careful on the pricing. Too many affordable roadsters on the market that i would look at first. Roadsters should be rear drive in my eyes so that puts the MINI on the bottom of an admittedly short list. Yes, I am still a MINI fan.</p>
<p>We are at the point where a 2 seater would be great. If I could choose between the speedster, the coupe, or a MINI hatch for the same price I would choose the speedster because I think it looks great. If MINI can meet that price, and they actually produce this car, it will most likely be our third MINI. If they try to price it more than that, well the MX5 is a very nice car also.</p>
<p>so if it isn’t $35K, likely it will start at $30K give or take. Still mighty expensive. The roadster is going to be facing some serious competition out there….</p>
<p>I want convex fairings up to the back of the roll bars.</p>
p><b>@Gabe</b On the $35k, I just took a guess on the price of a well-equipped Roadster with JCW power-brakes-suspension. The equivalent R56 is pushing $38-39k, so $35 seemed reasonable ballpark guess. No?</p>
<p>IMO $35k is a totally reasonable guess. From my experience buying MINIs all you have to do is sneeze while checking option boxes and it’ll cost $35k. I just wish there was a Fisher-Price dashboard delete option. The first gen was the shizzle. Therinafter, teh shizzle went to shite. I think I’ll keep my Boxster S.</p>
<blockquote>The first gen was the shizzle. Therinafter, teh shizzle went to shite.</blockquote>
<p>Word.</p>
<blockquote>I think I’ll keep my Boxster S.</blockquote>
<p>Good call.</p>