I've gone right off the leasing idea for a quality car

I also looked at a Swift today

Now all the mags have been saying it's well screwed together

Feck knows what they have been used to.....

I will need to see a few more to check if the one I saw was a lemon

Will drive the VVT next week and will report back

 

I know you hate the whole Mini idea but have you looked at one in a
dealership? After the rest somehow it feels quality. I know you will
scorn my suggestion. I hated the whole scene with them from day one,
especially the image they portray but ignore that and just have a
look at one, just the thing in the flesh, the motor not the rest.

Russ.

 

I'm so glad that Ling doesn't provide figures for the new M3. Despite me looking at a second hand M3, the thought of a new M3 saloon is really tempting. If only for a short while.

 

Hey Russ

You're right that I regard whole 'MINI adventure' as more like a gay shopping trip to Bluewater, but my lack of enthusiasm goes much deeper than that.

I looked at a brochure when I was buying oil for my beemer yesterday, and was worried in case anyone saw me. If you look at the brochure on 'lifestyle' accessories, you'll know what I mean - it's truly cringeworthy.

I have driven a first gen MINI for several days. It was a base model, which the journos described at the time as being the most fun. It was also nearly new. I thought it had one of the worst gearchanges of a modern car that I have experienced (born out by a drive in another car) but my biggest gripe was that I felt it failed to live up to the hype. Yes, you could 'chuck it about' but you can do that with any number of moderns - much more cheaply.

Build quality seemed pretty good - but not so good that I felt it justified the fairly massive price premium over comparable cars. It was cramped in the back with poor boot space, so really pretty compromised for many prospective owners. Of course, if you are (gay), free and single, that wouldn't be an issue.

The image does matter and I'm afraid that if there's a gayer car on the roads, I've yet to see it. I include the Copen and Micra CC against the convertible MINI. It just can't look anything but gay, whatever you do to it, something that doesn't apply to the original at all. Whilst I am contemptuous of the styling rip off in general, I can't say I dislike the front and side view. But the back end is just a disaster.

There are positives - residuals seem good and I understand the servicing package is good value too.

But it would have to win on all ownership issues to get onto my drive, and I don't think it can. I suspect cars like the Fiat 500 (definitely a trifle suspect image wise) and the Swift (no image issues that I have heard) with do 95% of what the MINI will do, for 75% 9or less) of the cost. Depreciation on the 500 or Swift is not going to be bad. It CANNOT be bad if you buy near new for say

 

I thought it was for the other half.

Russ.