http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/mini/5-door/

 

Might just be me, but two things are apparent here,

 

1. If you need a bigger car then don't look at a MINI, you need a focus/astra type car

2. Despite the telegraph 'expert' awarding it 8/10 and declaring it desirable, ifs fugly, particularly side on.

 

I just don't get it. I had a 2003 MINI and it was great, the boot was tiny but adequate and the back seats could accommodate adults (just) due to the decent headroom (no sloping back). But the whole point was it was fun to drive and looked good. Ive not seen one of these on the road yet but I if space & rear doors were a must then I would not buy a MINI.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/mini/5-door/

 

Might just be me, but two things are apparent here,

 

1. If you need a bigger car then don't look at a MINI, you need a focus/astra type car

2. Despite the telegraph 'expert' awarding it 8/10 and declaring it desirable, ifs fugly, particularly side on.

 

I just don't get it. I had a 2003 MINI and it was great, the boot was tiny but adequate and the back seats could accommodate adults (just) due to the decent headroom (no sloping back). But the whole point was it was fun to drive and looked good. Ive not seen one of these on the road yet but I if space & rear doors were a must then I would not buy a MINI.

 

Had an original mini and one of the new ones. 

 

The BMW-Mini, like the VW Bettle and Fiat 500 emphasis style at the determent of modern aerodynamic design and you pay for that in slightly less fuel mileage then you would otherwise have.  They are all quite well engineered but comprised by their retro shapes.      

 

 BMW One Series, Golf and Punto are better cars in each case I would suggest but I suppose it would be a bit boring if we did choose the sensible choice.  

It may be called MINI but it is no longer a MINI.

 

Just take it for what it is and don't get caught up on the old image of what a MINI should or could be.

 

It's a small 5-door car which happens to be called a MINI.

Shame it's not got a decent auto. It has to make do with BMWs old school ancient 6-spd slush box. Would have been much better with the ZF 8-spd or a twin-clutcher.

So it's actually a Maxi??

MINI is just a brand now, like Renault, Skoda etc..

It looks like across betweeen a Guppy and a squashed hippo, just looking at it makes me want to vomit.

Mini is no longer a mini

Our neighbour has a Cooper Clubman estate that she bought for her beagle. It has far less space than my Fabia estate for a lot more money.

 

But I suppose it looks smart sitting outside her house all week with its union jack roof.

Which was really why they changed to calling them MINI.

So it's actually a Maxi??

 

Just what I was thinking.  My parents have an Austin Maxi in the '70's....so if the name suits.

 

Gaz

Back end looks bad.

Saw my first one today on a test drive, didn't look too bad, no worse than any other small 5 door hatch.

 

I'd imagine they are silly money though.

The ad says they don't arrive till the 25th? Maybe some naughty dealers running their demos early?

Yeah, just been recalling what the old Austin/BL Maxi's windows looked like. That MINI! should actually be called a Maxi.

The ad says they don't arrive till the 25th? Maybe some naughty dealers running their demos early?

When we were picking up SWMBO 3door mini mid-sep a 5door version drove into the dealership by a mini uk rep. to show the salesman on-site before setting back off for a days worth of driving around Reading to promote it according to our salesman. The 5door has to be a matter of taste because the 3door is a struggle to find pleasant on the eye but the 5door looks wrong IMHO.

I don't like the 2014 facelift, they've made a rather cool looking car ugly!!! Which is a shame

They'll have demo cars as no one would order on a picture alone - it doesn't have an Apple badge.

Skoda shipped CZ plated demos over for the Yeti and Rapid launches

I don't like the 2014 facelift, they've made a rather cool looking car ugly!!! Which is a shame

I'm not a lover of it but equipped with the led headlamps and wheels it has grown on me. SWMBO went for the cooper but all white with black wheels & bonnet stripes and it looks quite "cool".

All cars have grown in size over the years. Just look at the Mk1 Golf and compare it to the modern one. I think this pic of the 500 emphasises the point. http://carphotos.cardomain.com/story_images/1/2184/2361/5458680001_large.jpg

 

Mini's are no longer miniature in size, I nickname them a Bini. And if you think normal Binis are big, just look at the Countryman or a 500L which are positively huge (well except bootspace).

I was looking at a Fiat 500 in a services car park before. It was parked next to an old BMW 3 series estate. The 500 was taller and there wasn't really anything between them in terms of the length. It is pretty nutty how large cars have gotten.

We had this discussion in our family earlier on in the year.

We test drove a mini, lovely car but its wasnt big enough inside.

Dealer told us about a 5 door version coming out, but then its not a mini is it.

So we're looking at a polo now

Ah just driven an automatic diesel 5 door. Pics posted later or tomorrow. Drives very nicely and pretty good VFM.

Cooper SD & Cooper D.

Edited 20 October, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

All cars have grown in size over the years. Just look at the Mk1 Golf and compare it to the modern one. I think this pic of the 500 emphasises the point. http://carphotos.cardomain.com/story_images/1/2184/2361/5458680001_large.jpg

 

Mini's are no longer miniature in size, I nickname them a Bini. And if you think normal Binis are big, just look at the Countryman or a 500L which are positively huge (well except bootspace).

 

Whilst a particular model tends to grow in size, but hopefully loose weight, new smaller models pop up like the UP/Citygo and they are often the solution to keeping the right size of car.

 

 The Rapid hasa been the choice for many Octavia Mk 1 and 2 owners as it is useful a size than the previous Octavia and hence buyers go "down" a model size but actually the vehicle is a similar size to the outgoing one above.

 

 The Mini, whilst benefiting from current engineering excellence, is a silly shape like the Bettle, Fiat 500 etc ie the aerodynamic are poor and hence fuel consumption not as good as they could be hence for that reason, I'm out.