just some summer fun?



http://jalopnik.com/5557493/mini-challenges-porsche-to-a-race-porsche-considering-it

http://www.facebook.com/MINIUSA?v=app_122731241101196

 

If only I could get everything the Porsche has going for it for 1/5th the price...... I actually would want Mini to win!

 

Porsche needs show up with Sabine Schmitz as their driver.
She's a hoot and a hottie so that should throw Mini's marketing scheme for a loop.

 

Cooches, where is your imput?

 

Tacky. I can't imagine Porsche doing this, it's win-win for Mini and lose-lose for Porsche.

I would love to see some more serious stock car racing though. 911 vs M3 and GTR would be a great race.

 

My wife and I looked at a Mini Cooper - not even maxed out, it was $40K - pass. 2x that for a 911 seemed like a no-brainer.

 

I could have swore those things were in the high 20's low 30's maxed out. I guess I'm a little out of touch!

 

The following was a comment 'zbeeb' posted on the OP's link. I can't take credit -- this is a great idea:

I love Porsche's, not too big of a fan of Mini. Here are my thoughts:
Porsche, bring a 1974 Carrera Rs 3.0 have it driven by a beautiful female racer.
Now if Mini wins, they have to
a) admit that the driver was a beautiful woman (no bald middle aged p*ssy seeker here)
b) Put an asterisk next to the We beat porsche*

*Professional driver on closed course, against a 37 yr old Porsche.

If Porsche wins
a) They can say, "We gave them 37 years head start, and the competition still can't catch up"
b) they look wicked cool in an awesome car
c) hot women + porsche driver = win
d) treat entire outing as a Photo shoot, have driver take off clothes at end and pose in bikini, have strong accented German photographers everywhere, telling the mini driver to "please remove ze toy car from ze photo. It is ruining ze beautiful voman"

 

The MiniCooper, IMHO, is an over-priced, faddish vehicle. Cool, yes, but way WAY overpriced for what you are getting. Then there are the Custom ones... for more $$$. I do like the Clubman, but again, it is over-priced. I don't care if BMW owns them or not.

In Europe, where space is a premium and most commuter cars are that size, well, okay. I have no idea of the price of them over there.

That said, I don't reside in Europe primarily, and I expect much more for my $$ spent in the USA than a strap-on Roller Skate.

YMMV.

I'll take a 997.2 at x2+ the price anyday.

 

I can't disagree more. If the MINI is over-priced, what is the 911? Granted, I'm a new Porsche owner and I couldn't be happier, but new it ain't exactly cheap, and hard to justify to the masses. Then again, luxury items need no price justification. The MINI is really a luxury, or high-end small car. You either get it or you don't. It's more about the passion and uniqueness than size and dollar value.

I bought my loaded new '02 Cooper S for $26K and sold it for $16K three years later. I've regretted it ever since. I've obviously moved on, but that car had the same vibe as a 911, believe it or not.

I'm first in line for the new Countryman, and I'm looking forward to it. My guess is around $35K. I'll benefit from its increased utility and size over the original Cooper, but I'll always fondly remember my '02. It was no 911, but it was fun as hell. Don't knock it until you try it!

 

Being the owner of both a 997 C2S and a Mini JCW I will chime in... on a road course like road Atlanta, the 997 should smoke the tires off the Mini. Especially since they are using the standard 172bhp Cooper S. That being said, the Mini is a very capable and fun car overall. If the race was on a smaller auto-x course, I'd say the Mini would give the C2S a run for it's money. I'm still getting used the rear engine rear wheel drive... even with PSM, I had to get used to counter steering on hard corners as the back comes out pretty easy (partly attributable to 40% tread left on rear tires)... With it's limited HP (209 for my JCW), you can really be aggressive and the car handles on rails, but with the C2S, you defintely have to be more cognizant of the road...

 

The Porsche is what it is, a highly-refined sports car.

I 'get it' about the The Mini.

For $35-$40 I expect much more than the Mini offers. What it offers mostly, is appearance and niche. I do hear they are a blast to drive, but the MINI is a bear on urban streets (expansion joints, etc) not a very forgiving ride. I would think the Clubman rides a bit better. (and so I hear)

Conversely, for @ $100k I know exactly WHY I'm paying that for a say, C2S, and wouldn't blink.

Ok, put me in the driver's seat of one and I might change my mind. But I don't think I can get past that *******box narrow cabin. I just don't care for that.

I'm not saying I'd never, ever buy a Mini. But I would be hard-pressed not to find a better way to spend $35k on a car than a Mini.

 

correct. mini doesn't have the best price point... cabin is so-so... the ride in my JCW w/ sport suspension is a bit harsh... wife and i were supposed to "take this everywhere". she didn't like the bouncy ride, so we end up taking her car... the car is what it is... some ppl like it, some ppl dont. and it is much more different than the 997. My mini is "fun" and my 997 is "inspiring"....

 

Hmmm ..

They pose the challenge , stereotype the Porsche , pick the race and the course , and even define the consequences of win or lose . At least Nissan had the guts to go to Germany post a lap time and then backpeddle over the many questions.

If Mini wants a race .. a real race ... why not have equal input into the selection and terms ?

I don't think Mini picked a race that they thought the results would not be close enough to justify the price gap . Even if they lost the race they can still win the respect that usually comes with being the underdog (consumer sentiment).

I have two Porsches and never drove a Mini in my life but I do have an M3 which ought to be able to cream a Mini so I'm not really fully understanding this .

 

I heart Sabine.