5 more new MINIs in 5 years

..talk about variations on a dead theme...

Dead? Mini sales seem to be going up?

My point is, the car company's name is MINI...how many vehicles can you make on that theme? Five variations of the same? These people must be insane...

You know, I hate to say this, I think MINI's theme is dead. Not for any practical reason, but instead because when they first came out we were bombarded with media on the subject to the ponit that now at least to me, hearing about them is just plain annoying. They are really not fashionable anymore...I think Scion will end up the same.

Mini is a brand not a theme. Brands define the scope of there market and often times those brand names are limiting. I don't believe the Mini name is all that limiting. Personally I loved a focused brand. GM has several non focused brands and WISH they could be as profitable as there more focused counterparts.

I applaud them for there ability to make small, light, safe, and fun vehicles to drive. They are one of the few companies still doing things to create, and support enthusiasts.

Luckily its not up to you to decide whats dead or alive. Dead to you maybe? Were they ever on your radar as the car to have? Were you ever interested in 'motoring'?

So...What...MINI is going to start making...oh large cars... SUVs ...trucks...A MINI Cooper and a MINI cooper S are not really different models; they are permutations of the same. You know, how much utility is there in a MINI truck. Granted, there are always those little Ford pickups but anymore how often do you see small trucks?

No...I have never even consiidered a MINI...I'll keep my Jaguar XJ thank you.

I believe they wanted to keep Mini more niche, but there customers demanded more variations. Do you suggest we let the brand dictate the consumers demands, or let the consumer dictate the brands products?

I say a happy balance, which is I am sure what we will get in other variations of the mini.

cdoke

The variations mini might make I am sure will stick within the MINI brand image. You don't have to get your underwear in a bunch about how bad of an idea there goals and aspirations are because as you said you will keep your XJ. Leave the discussion/speculation for people who have an interest in the company, brand, and product line. Don't you have some new R model to talk about, or an XJ to go shift... or rather let shift for you.

LOL...oh Lord you are ridiculous. My underwear isn't in a bunch...I just really don't see how they are going to adequatly expand their line-up. Let them try I don't care.

I will say that everyone I know who has ever had a MINI has gotten rid of them, and none of those people were over 19 years old. That demographic is rather fickle in my opinion.

Where do you live that people under the age of 19 are all owning minis? I could see maybe socal, but thats a rather narrow perspective.

It is much broader than you think (checkout the mini forums in-case you doubt). Everyone I know who has owned a MINI still owns one(they might have even upgraded to an S).

In fact your comment about short ownership seems to completely contradict the high resale value.

From hearing more of your argument I really feel your bases for argument is founded in an unusual perspective of the brand, and target market.

Maybe you know something I don't but I still believe the expansion of the currently profitable MINI brand seems like a plus for the consumer and the company.
I am open to discuss your idea that it is not though.

I live in Denver: well surounding area anyway. I don't pretend to know a plethora of MINI owners. I have known 2 owners of MINIs and all I know is that neither still has them and one now has a Scion [don't ask me why, I would rather have a MINI..maybe he wrecked it on something] These people where not in my immediate social group, but they were no so ancillary that I didn't know a fair amount about them.

I'll be perfectly honest with you, I really know nothing about MINI, I don't know what they cost, their performance, anything. Thinking about it now, I would bet that these kids' parents purchased them their vehicles.

I mean, despite what I drive I am young, I'm 23 and my parents bought me my car for Christmas probably 3 years ago. I am not a native here, though, in fact my parents live and I am from a very small town [2500 people].

You know, if MINI's consumers want more products and MINI will make money off of it...by all means go ahead.

... the point of that latter part is just to say that I really don't know that much about the social circle I am in relative to other social circles. So, I can't really provide you with an analysis of if it is a social thing. Its possible.