To be fair it always was and with good reason as the original was of its time.Mini is now a brand. Any connection between current models and the classic original has become token and largely incidental.
The thread isn’t about the original Mini at all, just the last 20+ years of them.Mini is now a brand. Any connection between current models and the classic original has become token and largely incidental.
I like the look of the new JCW Countryman. The interior with the massive round OLED screen is certainly interesting.the new ones are far prettier and interesting. New ones are funky
New Countryman JCW sits on my shortlist for the next car.
Leaving aside the fact that this flag has negative connotations in lots of places outside the UK
Don’t look at the prices of a Golf R or Civic Type R, in that case.https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/mini-news/jcw-1-to-6.html
From £40K! A heck of a lot of spondoolies for a fun drive!
Aha, I hate to think…Don’t look at the prices of a Golf R or Civic Type R, in that case.
A used Suzuki Swift Sport 1600 is more ‘fun’ to drive on a proper road. 130 something bhp and a sorted chassis. Less than £10k used, will always be worth something. Most of these mega hatches with 300+ bhp aren’t really fun until ‘see you in court’ speeds. And their interiors are hideous.Aha, I hate to think…
…To be fare, you get what you pay for and I’m sure they’re well engineered, a great drive and a lot of fun. I have just always found it hard to fork out such large sums on a depreciating asset. I suspect if I was absolutely minted I would have a different mindset though!
Nobody would ever say the interior of the Suzuki is competing in any way with the top mega hatches, but I’m sure I could put up with it just for the reward of mastering a quick little car with great handling, manual gearbox and a grin on the inside. And nobody points at the driver and shouts ‘****er’ as you drive by. (I get enough of that at work!)There’s no accounting for taste. I’d take the unique and funky interior of the MINI over the bland infinitely replicable interior of the Suzuki Swift.
Car price inflation is insane. I can’t remember how much I paid for my JCW but it was nowhere near £40k!
They now look just like any other car. I guess the brand is now so well established they no longer have to try. And those plastic nappies tend to fall off when driven though some of the deep puddles round here.the new ones are far prettier and interesting. New ones are funky
New Countryman JCW sits on my shortlist for the next car.