It is NOT a BMW

[DaveN323i]

Ok, Jon was kind enough to add the Mini to Bimmerfest. But judging from all the letters in Roundel magazine, I beg to ask whether the Mini is a BMW or not?

My answer is that it is not. Although it carries a lot of parts from BMW (specially the rear E46 suspension), the heart of the matter is that it is an English design from Rover. Had the car been actually produced by the English patient, I bet none of us here would even bother that much.

In my opinion, the Mini is something akind to Jaguar, Volvo or Saab. You don't call a Jaguar or Volvo a Ford, or a Saab a GM, eventhough they carry parts from other corporate division cars.

If the Mini is a BMW, then the upcoming Rolls Royce will also be a BMW too, right? :bigpimp:

[Imola Ed]

Maybe not literally a BMW, but it's designed by BMW, built by BMW, and sold by BMW dealers. That's good enough for me. It means quality parts and build to me.

[JPinTO]

Dont forget: priced like a BMW :rolleyes:

[Mr. The Edge]

Originally posted by JPinTO
Dont forget: priced like a BMW :rolleyes:

:confused:

under $20,000 is priced like a BMW?

[AKDejaVu]

This is from another thread in this forum titled "Entry level BMW":"Entry level BMW"
I've seen several people use this term as a description for the Mini2.

Its strange, but I don't believe alot of Mini owners even really consider it a BMW of any kind. I know I don't.

I owned a 91 525 for a few years. It was an OK car, but BMW couldn't hook me with it. Lately, I've given their styling a pretty big "Its alright, but nothing special". My wife is totally uninspired by anything wearing the BMW nomicker. Its not that we don't like them, its just that they never really seemed remarkable.

I didn't really like the VW bug when it was re-introduced recently. It was bulbous and seemed to be a new shell on the old rabbit chassis.

Then came the mini. Its not typical German styling. It has all the personality of the original mini which thuroughly hides the fact that there's a butt-ton of German engineering underneath.

I don't consider my Mini to be a BMW. I do thank BMW for buying Mini and re-introducing the car with the best of BMW engineering behind some aspects of it. I also thank BMW for not trying to make it a BMW.

So... I don't own a mini hoping that I'll someday be able to afford a better BMW. I own a mini because there's nothing else out there that's quite like it and I very much like what it is (as well as what it is not). No other BMW really does that for me. Different strokes for different folks.

AKDejaVu

[JPinTO]

Originally posted by atyclb


:confused:

under $20,000 is priced like a BMW?

For the size of vehicle that it is. For that kind of money you can get a real car!

[PhilH]

Is the Mini a BMW?

The answer is pretty simple if you look only at the facts. The Mini is made by BMW, but they do not call it a BMW. Therefore, it's not a BMW.

How about this. Ford bought out Jaguar, and now owns all the factories that produce Jaguars. Can anyone walk up to a non-car guy on the street and say, "the XJ8 is a Ford" without giving an explanation of who owns who? No. The XJ8 is a Jaguar, but the Ford Motor Company makes it.

BMW doesn't want us to think of the Mini as BMW, that's why they didn't slap the roundel on it.

However, that shouldn't stop us, as BMW enthusiasts, from welcoming the Mini into the BMW family.

[JPinTO]

Originally posted by PhilH
Is the Mini a BMW?

The answer is pretty simple if you look only at the facts. The Mini is made by BMW, but they do not call it a BMW. Therefore, it's not a BMW.

How about this. Ford bought out Jaguar, and now owns all the factories that produce Jaguars. Can anyone walk up to a non-car guy on the street and say, "the XJ8 is a Ford" without giving an explanation of who owns who? No. The XJ8 is a Jaguar, but the Ford Motor Company makes it.

BMW doesn't want us to think of the Mini as BMW, that's why they didn't slap the roundel on it.

However, that shouldn't stop us, as BMW enthusiasts, from welcoming the Mini into the BMW family.

Drive the new X-Type: You'll find it's the nicest Topaz that Ford makes! :D :D :lmao:

[DaveN323i]

Originally posted by JPinTO


Drive the new X-Type: You'll find it's the nicest Topaz that Ford makes! :D :D :lmao:

Mondeo, Mondeo, Mondeo. :lmao: