One of the surprises to come out of Detroit was how many journalists loved the idea of the Beachcomber. The reaction to the concept was overwhelmingly positive to the point that we wonder if MINI is actually considering building the car. Since it’s not prohibitively expensive to reengineer the R60 crossover into something like the Beachcomber, MINI could get away with a relatively low volume to get back their initial investment. So the potential is there. But would you, as the MINI enthusiast, ever considering buying one? Let’s hear it below:
[poll id=”12″]
<p>Considering what this will probably cost, it is just way too impractical for me. The only value of this to me is in getting a better idea of what the R60 crossover will look like. In order to pass side impact protection, MINI is going to have to put something resembling doors on the vehicle.</p>
<p>I had to vote no, I live in Michigan, so the Beachcomber wouldn’t be practical. Now if I lived in Hawaii, I’d buy one. I’ll be more interested in the Crossover when it comes out.</p>
<p>While I appreciate what they have come up with a this concept (other than the SUV undertones) this is not the car for me. I lean towards track fun and guessing this would be less than fun between awd (not to mention the increase in weight, and the larger, taller, and heavier base vehicle.</p>
<p>Guess I have to ask is if Mini has seen a lot of owners putting on 4 doors and awd drive in the aftermarket? Meanwhile world-wide think how much money is spent yearly by people improving their current cars. I think I would understand which one has the potential better market. With four seats still would bet that most small families will end up with a traditional SUV, not to mention the bigger and heavier is safer theory is still in place.</p>
<p>If I wanted true fun down this path I would buy a Moke, not this cross dressed SUV.</p>
<p>I voted “no” but I hail from the upper Midwestern tundra…its just not very practical around here for the size of the investment required. If I had $$ for a strictly fair weather vehicle, it would be the Speedster hands down.</p>
<p>I voted no:
Too big.
Wrong ‘face’.
Rail system – huh?</p>
<p>Putting some rectangles on the door sills and losing the doors does not make it a Moke.</p>
<p>Being small for a 4WD does not make it a MINI.</p>
<p>I’m not interested in the Beachcomber at all. What I want from a MINI is available in the current Hardtop – a small agile car that seats four, gets great gas mileage, and is deceptively quick. :)</p>
<p>I liked jeeps as a kid. And with this open cab style I would trade my Clubman and Explorer in for this… But I want an alternative to the rag top and doors. Like a hard plastic or carbon fiber… Only because I don’t want to come out to my car one day and see the soft material cut up and a CD or Change tray or something small of value stolen… We all know it happens….</p>
<p>I think people are a little too stuck on what MINI has been in the past. People talk about styling and this has all of the MINI traits that have evolved into what I see right in front of me on the showroom floor. People talk about SUV’s and MINI is really breaking the mold somewhat by saying “What if you had a utility vehicle that didn’t handle like your typical Utility vehicle, got amazing fuel economy unlike most Utility vehicles, gives you a bit of soft off road capability (combing the beaches of Cali or the Hamptons in NY), and made most everyone on the road say “what kind of car is that?” or “Who makes that?” This is it. I think something like this could really set MINI apart if they were able to get this right. Now I think people really have to experience the R60 Countryman first to really be able to properly comment on this concept. In my honest opinion MINI has a winner that actually most likely wouldn’t cost them a lot of money to actually build based upon the fact that it is based upon another vehicle that we will actually be seeing within the next year. Keep up the innovation MINI as it will keep things fresh and keep people wondering “Well what else can they do?”</p>
<p>Put it this way, if we had these in August during “Cash 4 Clunkers” with as many Jeep branded vehicles we took in especially Wranglers. This would have sold out completely. It would have been a no brainer.</p>
<p>I voted No (this was the first poll in a long time that was worded in a way that gave me a definitive choice).</p>
<p>I live in Colorado, SUV territory, but wouldn’t even consider one of these. But I might be persuaded otherwise. Seeing it in person would help. So would reading some editorial content.</p>
<p>MF is at the show, but where’s the in-depth editorial opinion on the BeachComber? This will draw flames, but I’ve been getting the sense that due to access MF and WRR is granted with MINI, the staff has grown pretty careful (and generous), constraining an open discussion about the cars. Diplomacy (read too much access) and journalism don’t make for a good mix.</p>
<p>ITWRKS- The poll was on the BeachComber, not the Countryman. I can understand a market for the Countryman but can’t see enough of a market for the BeachComber – just too impractical. I can see people being drawn to a BeachComber on display but doubt too many people would pony up 30K or so for one.</p>
<p>I am personally stoked about the upcoming changes to the MCS engine and can’t wait for Gabe to spill some more information. And MINI, hurry up and bring the Coupe to market with the improved MCS engine.</p>
<p>My Mini is a great road car and that’s what MIni’s heritage is. If I want to comb the beaches, I’ll buy a jeep and remove the doors.</p>
<p>Matthew- I think that your comment is a bit off base as the show has just concluded and there is a mountain of stuff to go through and not to mention the fact there is a long drive involved.</p>
<p>Give it a day or so and I am sure you will see what you want. MF is not in bed with MINI, opinions are permitted and you will get them. Some people make it seem like these things write themselves- MF/BF take pride in being accurate and well written, if you want drivel you can find that elsewhere. Has anyone else written a piece yet? Nope you get regurgitated press releases. Gabe broke the news about the motors; wrote up a great piece (takes time) and then MINI releases it so everyone else regurgitates it, could he have done an opinion on the Concept instead- sure but he felt that the engine upgrades were more important…</p>
<p>That is my take and may not be that of the MF staff.</p>
<p>Raised in 4×4 country I too see the buggy as more smoke than heat. As for the Detroit news so far, it’s headed, in the technical aspect, in the right direction and very exciting. I have full confidence that ‘details to follow’ will occur in due course.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>This will draw flames, but I’ve been getting the sense that due to access MF and WRR is granted with MINI, the staff has grown pretty careful (and generous), constraining an open discussion about the cars. Diplomacy (read too much access) and journalism don’t make for a good mix.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I’ll be writing my usual analysis on the Beachcomber next week. there’s just too much to get done and I don’t want to rush it. We’ve had this kind of access with MINI for 6-7 years. We’ve never shied away from giving our opinions on models. We will continue not to. Take a look in the archives… I think we’ll see we don’t pull punches if we believe in something. See BimmerFile today for instance.</p>
<p>Matthew/Gabe – One thing to remember, while everyone wants to hit the homerun on the first swing, it rarely happens. All designers want praise for their products, but it is the reasonable criticism in the end that helps improve the products. Keep up the good work.</p>
<p>This thing is really ugly. I guess Hildebrand wants to turn MINI into the German version of Soviet era Ladas.</p>
<p>The rail is the answer for a question… that no one is asking… While there is a bit of merit for the idea, the price paid in terms of actual sacraficed utility for a bunch of maybes is questionable in my mind.</p>
<p>Some modularity in the center console in the front seats is probably a better idea, and bench seating for three in the back (for the crossover, for the beachcomber, it doesn’t really matter).</p>
<p>I’d never buy this, not because there isn’t some value in the design, but because I’m at the wrong time in my life for this. I’ve already got four people in my family, and this would offer no extension in utility for me over the clubman. The wife is one of 6 kids in her family, and sometimes we do need the three row seating that our 2001 MDX offers. It doesn’t get driven much. The R60/Beachcomber wouldn’t fill that need.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>I marked it as a No since I do not care for those types of vehicles. But if I was in the market for a Jeep I would consider it as a neat alternative if I did not need as much clearance.</p>
<p>I’ll start using GaryD instead of Gary to avoid confusion with the other Gary on here.</p>
<p>As to the Beachcomber, I voted no. It’s too small (to me) for an SUV style vehicle. It’s too big (and high) to retain (I believe) what makes a MINI fun to drive… I don’t care how good the engineers are, raise the center of gravity and it won’t handle the same. And guessing at the cost would put it out of my range.</p>
<p>While the design is interesting, in general, it just isn’t something I’d go for given all the limitaions I feel it has.</p>
<p>Then again, the poll here is currently 50% voting NO, yet according to the posting, the journalists like it. So, if MINI is trying to attract new markets, it very well may succeed with in the BeachCombers niche.</p>
<p>Forgot to put in my last post…</p>
<p>I’m in the midwest (Chicago area) so better than half the year, leaving the doors off isn’t an option either.</p>
<p>MF and BF are anything but tools for either company. I have often heard dissenting views from everybody that works to bring both sites to us. As a case and point even Gabe has said more than once that he wishes Mini would have not gone down the SUV path.</p>
<p>I actively browse both sites often for the well written and insightful stories that both are well known for.</p>
<p>Decent idea, but a little constructive criticism, MINI should look to the Jeep forums before they go into production with this. The beauty of driving a soft-top Jeep is that the doors drop right onto two hinge-pins, then close like normal. Easy-peasy, good idea. Now, read up on how much of a pain in the butt it is snapping on that soft-top and get some pointers on what to avoid! Hinges-good. Snaps-bad!!!</p>
<p>rhawth99- My only reason for referencing the Countryman is the fact that the two vehicles are related so much that Motoring in the production Countryman will change peoples opinion of how the Beachcomber might be like. If you listen to the interviews and read all of the info they prettry much inform everyone that the Beachcomber is an almost production ready Countryman modified to become the concept that it is. That is all. The question for this post is “Would You Buy a Beachcomber?” I only make references for why I would buy one and why I think other people would consider it after experiencing the vehicle that it was based upon. Thank you.</p>
<p>I’d be afraid that someone would steal all my stuff while I was parked. And the cool no-door-look wouldn’t make it past the side impact testing. Concept yes, production no.</p>
<p>I would buy a Beachcomber ( with seating for 5)probably before I would buy a Countryman. The ability to go topless and doorless is a hell of a lot more fun than driving around all closed-up! As an automotive enthusiast who loves small cars and open top vehicles (primarily SUVs) this would be a real nice package.</p>
<p>I had to vote no because I’d never get a vehicle like this. Now a larger four door hatch, more car like – YES, somthing in the C class that could replace a Mazda 3 then you have my attention.</p>
<p>…if money were not an object(and that will be soon)…</p>
<p>…you bet I would buy one!. It’s unique to the point that people will look,point,smile,and laugh at it…</p>
<p>…and GOD knows,we could ALL use a good laugh these days…</p>
<p>I’m a maybe because this is the vehicle I would buy if I lived in an area where I might consider getting a Jeep Wrangler, like Hawaii. The Beachcomber looks like a lot more fun.</p>
<p>The actual question for me would be, “Would I buy another MINI?” As cost and value goes, MINI is getting to the point where the cost/value ratio is getting less and less. There are other cars out with greater value (performance, handling, fun, etc.) vs. cost than the MINI. When a nicely equipped Cooper S runs into the territory of a BMW 1 series, I would consider the BMW over the MINI.</p>
<p>I think the question may be poorly worded. I think there may be a market for the Beachcomber, but if I were in the market for such a car I would likely just get another Jeep (old,and used). This would be a nich car in a very crowded market.</p>
<p>Not me, but I’ve got family that lives near the beach who would most definitely consider it alongside the Jeep Wrangler they’re already considering for open-air summer fun.</p>
<p>Now, for me, how about a pickup truck variant? Eliminate 2 seats, keep ALL4 – and make mine diesel, please!</p>