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People don't like the new Mini because it's popular. If it had been a flop and not a cool car to drive a lot of people who 'hate' them would love them. I'm only speaking from my point of view here, but I very much dislike the new beetle and the new mini. I think they are decent little cars. They look ok and they drive ok (from what I can tell having been a passenger in both). The reason I dislike them so much is because, from what I can see (and obviously I stand to be corrected if I'm wrong) but the ONLY reason they are called the new beetle and new mini respectively is a cynical marketing ploy by VW and BMW to cash in on the image and reputation of the original cars. The new beetle doesn't share any commonality with the old beetle other than a dash vase. There's no horizontally opposed, 4 pot, rear mounted, air cooled engine in the new beetle is there? The old beetle was about value for money. It was a cheap(ish) car that was built with huge efficiency of detail. The new beetle on the other hand is a Golf in sheeps clothing, with all the associated whistles and bells and a far greater degree of luxury than the original would ever have afforded. I find it a shame that VW and BMW didn't have the guts to innovate with these cars. They had the opportunity to create something new rather than trying to corner the DINK market with "funky" cars that pay nothing more than lipservice to the originals. Don`t get me started off about new MINI`s again ! ;D BTW, the Wife`s got a new Beetle cab
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Jul 14, 2006 11:32:39 GMT
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Its marketting driven. Some neame hang on for a long time on an evolving line of cars some pass away when the value is gone from the brand. I totally agree with you except for the fact that in both the mini and beetle cases they weren't an evolution of a model, they were "resurrected" after years of being out of western european production. Grahamini ... someone has to
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Last Edit: Jul 14, 2006 11:33:07 GMT by Peaches
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Jul 14, 2006 11:57:13 GMT
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Its marketting driven. Some neame hang on for a long time on an evolving line of cars some pass away when the value is gone from the brand. I totally agree with you except for the fact that in both the mini and beetle cases they weren't an evolution of a model, they were "resurrected" after years of being out of western european production. The Mini was an evolution of a model though. The classic Mini continued in production and new sale right up to the introduction of the new MINI. Well, possibly to within a few months. You could still buy new unregistered Minis after the MINI had gone on sale. What was amazing though was the way that the MG-Rover dealer network washed its hands of the Mini as soon as the MINI came out. That was wierd.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jul 14, 2006 12:21:49 GMT
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The MG-Rover dealer network washed their hands of the Mini long before then I think it was a bit old fashioned for their plug and play mechanics ..
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Jul 14, 2006 12:44:45 GMT
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The Mini was an evolution of a model though. The classic Mini continued in production and new sale right up to the introduction of the new MINI. Well, possibly to within a few months. You could still buy new unregistered Minis after the MINI had gone on sale.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Jul 14, 2006 12:51:58 GMT
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People don't like the new Mini because it's popular. If it had been a flop and not a cool car to drive a lot of people who 'hate' them would love them. The reason I dislike them so much is because, from what I can see (and obviously I stand to be corrected if I'm wrong) but the ONLY reason they are called the new beetle and new mini respectively is a cynical marketing ploy by VW and BMW to cash in on the image and reputation of the original cars. The new beetle doesn't share any commonality with the old beetle other than a dash vase. There's no horizontally opposed, 4 pot, rear mounted, air cooled engine in the new beetle is there? The old beetle was about value for money. It was a cheap(ish) car that was built with huge efficiency of detail. The new beetle on the other hand is a Golf in sheeps clothing, with all the associated whistles and bells and a far greater degree of luxury than the original would ever have afforded. I do see your point but I don't see why BMW and VW should have to try harder to impress a tiny minority of previous fans. Previous fans who will never be happy with the replacement and very unlikely to part with any money, people who aren't even in their demographic and people who, lets face it, probably only picked the originals because they looked cute anyway. Yes it's a marketing ploy but that's how car manufacturers sell cars in this age. The days of people buying pratical cars died a long time ago.
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Last Edit: Jul 14, 2006 12:52:26 GMT by MWF
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