New car

joelsim

Veronese68 wrote:

Fenix wrote:

(wouldnt a hatch be more practical ? )

But that wouldn't be a nod to the original. Although that was the Traveller not the Clubman, they seem to have lost that name. I see they haven't done a van or pick up of the new Mini, I'd have thought a van would be quite funky, but doesn't fit with the image.

They have.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/mini/clubvan

fenix

No I just meant the opening doors - a hatch would be simpler. I see the nod back to the original but the car is so far away from the original design that I cant see it matters.

tangled_metal

Glad you bought a mini Joel. We supply parts in to them so I'm glad BMW quality is good, Ours isn't! Joking! Good car, as almost all new ones are these days.

I like to think of them as BMW 1/2 series. They have 7, 5, 3 and 1 series BMW s so IMHO the mini is the half series. It's too big to carry the heritage of the badge these days.

BTW one mini variant pulled up to me at lights once. As I looked up into the driver's side window I realised they're actually big cars, I was.sat in a SEAT Altea xl MPV car which isn't exactly low down!

veronese68

Joelsim wrote:

Veronese68 wrote:

Fenix wrote:

(wouldnt a hatch be more practical ? )

But that wouldn't be a nod to the original. Although that was the Traveller not the Clubman, they seem to have lost that name. I see they haven't done a van or pick up of the new Mini, I'd have thought a van would be quite funky, but doesn't fit with the image.

They have.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/mini/clubvan

Oh yeah. Never noticed one of those. Maybe I've seen one and assumed it had really dark tint on the rear windows.
I really can't see that the doors are anythnig more than a nod to the original. They are a pain if your unloading with another car parked behind you. They only make sense in a panel van becasue you can get a fork lift up to the back which you can't with a hatch. At least not without disastrous consequences. Presumably they still have the large gauge in the middle of the dash. They have to keep some of the styling cues from the originals.
Maybe the name Maxi doesn't have the same value, perhaps they should choose something else. I know, the Allaggro and they could fit it with a square steering wheel.

andcp

Tangled Metal wrote:

BTW one mini variant pulled up to me at lights once. As I looked up into the driver's side window I realised they're actually big cars

Indeed:
Mk1 Range Rover-
Wheelbase 2,540 mm
Length 4,445 mm
Width 1,781 mm

Mini Clubman-
Wheelbase 2,670 mm
Length 4,253 mm
Width 1,800 mm

mr_goo

You won't regret buying a mini. Build quality is excellent. The TLC service plan is excellent.... free servicing and parts for 3 years. Then 2 further years on parts. Mrs Goo has had 2 minis in last 7 years and never had any problems with getting stuff sorted if it needed doing.
This year Mrs Goo fancied a change, queue Alpha Romeo. What a ball ache it is to get stuff done under warranty. It's a fab looking car, but nowhere near as solid as the mini. And the paint work is rather on the thin side, careful not to sneeze near it lest a layer peals off.
Only had it since March but already thinking of getting rid of it.

joelsim

Andcp wrote:

Tangled Metal wrote:

BTW one mini variant pulled up to me at lights once. As I looked up into the driver's side window I realised they're actually big cars

Indeed:
Mk1 Range Rover-
Wheelbase 2,540 mm
Length 4,445 mm
Width 1,781 mm

Mini Clubman-
Wheelbase 2,670 mm
Length 4,253 mm
Width 1,800 mm

Ha!

joelsim

Well.

I've just put a deposit down on one, an hour ago. Managed to get 10% off the RRP all things considered, for delivery next month - one that is unregistered but available immediately - not quite my chosen spec but fark it, I lose out on a heated front screen and a Harmon Kardon stereo saving me £800, and also given the dealer has an annual target to make big bucks in incentives, have managed to get a grand off plus £1400 deposit contribution on the finance.

Can't say fairer than that.

Panoramic sunroof, black n silver and a chilli pack.

meanredspider

Mr Goo wrote:

This year Mrs Goo fancied a change, queue Alpha Romeo.

No wonder you had problems - you bought a cheap Chinese knock-off of an Alfa Romeo

joelsim

meanredspider wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

This year Mrs Goo fancied a change, queue Alpha Romeo.

No wonder you had problems - you bought a cheap Chinese knock-off of an Alfa Romeo

I suspect that would have been slightly more reliable.

meanredspider

Joelsim wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

This year Mrs Goo fancied a change, queue Alpha Romeo.

No wonder you had problems - you bought a cheap Chinese knock-off of an Alfa Romeo

I suspect that would have been slightly more reliable.

Ha - I don't mean to upset you on the day you ordered a MINI but just google "MINI death rattle" before you say that :twisted:

joelsim

meanredspider wrote:

Joelsim wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

This year Mrs Goo fancied a change, queue Alpha Romeo.

No wonder you had problems - you bought a cheap Chinese knock-off of an Alfa Romeo

I suspect that would have been slightly more reliable.

Ha - I don't mean to upset you on the day you ordered a MINI but just google "MINI death rattle" before you say that :twisted:

Luckily mine isn't a Cooper S, nor is it from 2007-2012.

meanredspider

I know - I wouldn't be that cruel. But any ideas that MINIs are reliable is a bit of a myth - they're the same as any other car. It's also true to say that Alfas are no less reliable than pretty much any other car either. Build quality could be a bit iffy (I've owned quite a few in the last 30 years) but reliability is very good.

Mrs MRS wants a MINI Clubman BTW.

joelsim

meanredspider wrote:

I know - I wouldn't be that cruel. But any ideas that MINIs are reliable is a bit of a myth - they're the same as any other car. It's also true to say that Alfas are no less reliable than pretty much any other car either. Build quality could be a bit iffy (I've owned quite a few in the last 30 years) but reliability is very good.

Mrs MRS wants a MINI Clubman BTW.

I got a new 147 a few years back, and in the 4 ish years I owned it I must have been at the dealers 12 times if not a couple more. A joy and a PITA.

meanredspider

Joelsim wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

I know - I wouldn't be that cruel. But any ideas that MINIs are reliable is a bit of a myth - they're the same as any other car. It's also true to say that Alfas are no less reliable than pretty much any other car either. Build quality could be a bit iffy (I've owned quite a few in the last 30 years) but reliability is very good.

Mrs MRS wants a MINI Clubman BTW.

I got a new 147 a few years back, and in the 4 ish years I owned it I must have been at the dealers 12 times if not a couple more. A joy and a PITA.

Yeah - there are always cars that prove a point. I once owned a 164 TS that did 100k (from 50k to 150k) and only needed an oil pressure switch in that time. And they ALL needed an oil pressure switch. I also owned an E-Class Merc that, at 3 years old, needed new front wings because the originals had rusted. Who knew?

I'm sure your MINI will be fab. Enjoy it.

joelsim

Is being picked up tomorrow. Too exciting!!!!!!

tangled_metal

As a kid our family had an Alfa 33. A very reliable car, hardly in the garage other than a quick MOT and service, which it sailed through while me and my dad got a sportier version as a courtesy car to play with. Cloverleaf version IIRC. Had a few issues keeping it on the ground over a few bumps but once on all 4 wheels again it handled very nicely indeed.

You have good/bad in all makes and models. If you like reliability then fiat pandas used to have a rep for going at least twice round the clock. Telegraph once had people write in to find the British owned car with highest mileage. Up there in top 10 were more than one fiat panda. Fiats had a terrible rep back then too.

joelsim

Tangled Metal wrote:

As a kid our family had an Alfa 33. A very reliable car, hardly in the garage other than a quick MOT and service, which it sailed through while me and my dad got a sportier version as a courtesy car to play with. Cloverleaf version IIRC. Had a few issues keeping it on the ground over a few bumps but once on all 4 wheels again it handled very nicely indeed.

You have good/bad in all makes and models. If you like reliability then fiat pandas used to have a rep for going at least twice round the clock. Telegraph once had people write in to find the British owned car with highest mileage. Up there in top 10 were more than one fiat panda. Fiats had a terrible rep back then too.

Fiat engines have always been good, the electrics and rust-proofing perhaps not. I had an Uno (and a 127) which simply disintegrated.

Got to say I always enjoyed them. Italian cars are my favourites as driver's cars, Japanese are my least favourite - dull as.

Had to go to the Mini dealer today to sign the finance agreement and I saw my new one, filthy and covered in white wrap. Stripes have been applied this arvo and it was booked in for a bit of a valet before pick-up tmw lunchtime.

Like this.

http://s3.motoringfile.com.s3.amazonaws ... 50x807.jpg

http://images.cdn.autocar.co.uk/sites/a ... k=bpHUE0tZ

joelsim

Him has arrived.

)))))))

https://twitter.com/Joelsimi/status/806947528105226240

tlw1

Nice