Think about the original VW Beetles that were imported to this country in the 1950’s. The back seat wasn’t very roomy, the heating system let you freeze in the winter and roast in the summer. The car didn’t have a gasoline gauge. When the engine started to sputter, you kicked a lever on the floor for the reserve tank. The engine had only 36 horsepower (and the pre 1955 VW’s had less than that). This was at a time when Chrysler had a car with 300 horsepower and air conditioning was beginning to be installed in cars. Yet, the VW Beetle caught on and many women were attracted to them and bought them. The design of the Beetle was really old in the 1950’s. Hitler had Dr. Ferdinand Porsche design this car in 1939 to be the “people’s car”. The Mini Cooper design dates back to the late 1950’s. The original design was marketed as the Morris 850 and Austin 850 (same car). I liked driving the Morris 850 back then and I’m afraid to go into a Mini Cooper dealer today because I would probably buy one.
There’s something to be said for kick starters, I’m currently trying to charge my dead motorcycle battery (that I’ve been neglecting all winter).
“So the question is, is it the best buy in its price range or are you justt dead set on buying it.”
Who cares, it’s a toy?
“The Mini Cooper design dates back to the late 1950’s. The original design was marketed as the Morris 850 and Austin 850 (same car). I liked driving the Morris 850 back then and I’m afraid to go into a Mini Cooper dealer today because I would probably buy one.”
Well, sorta. The similarity is mostly cosmetic, almost like a new bug compared to a real bug. The new minis are kind of cool IMO, but I think I would prefer an original morris if I was going to buy one for myself. For my wife or kids, I would buy a cooper.
You make a good point. If one really likes a car and has the finances, why not buy it? I read Consumer Reports, but when it comes right down to it, I’m the one that is going to drive the car, not them. I’ve noticed that they include “owner satisfaction” as well as reliability. Some cars have a poor reliability but high owner satisfaction (e.g. the Pontiac Solstice).
In the current issue of Consumer Reports (April, 2008) the Mini Cooper is a recommended model. It has the highest mark in reliability and in owner satisfaction. It also ranks gets the highest mark in low ownership cost. If it doesn’t break down, maybe it isn’t a “manly” car.
I was being a little sarcastic, but really: life’s too short to drive something you don’t enjoy.
You are right. They’ve probably taken the fun out of the car as it evolved from the Morris 850 to the Mini Cooper. My Dad did a lot of business with the DeSoto/Plymouth dealer in our town and the dealer also picked up the Morris line. My Dad and I were at the dealer while he had his Chrysler product serviced and I was looking at the Morris 850. The dealer had me go out and drive one. He told my Dad that this would be a great car for a college student which I was at the time. However, I didn’t have the money to even own a car. I really liked the Morris 850–the sliding windows instead of windows that cranked up and down, the 4 speed shift, unsynchonized in low, and the starter button on the floor by the gearshift. The present Mini Cooper probably has power windows, although 5 speed and 6 speed manual transmissions are availble. However, the Mini Cooper requires premium fuel and Consumer Reports give the overall gas mileage as 30 mpg. I’ll bet that the Morris 850 got better mileage and probably ran on regular. The Mini Cooper tested by Consumer Reports accelerated from 0-60 in 7.2 seconds. This is more than twice as fast as the Morris 850 accelerated. On the other hand, it was fun to use the gears to maximum advantage in the Morris 850 to stay with traffic.
12:30AM EDT! You guys out west have it good for this one. But are you getting up at 5:30AM for the European races?
Yup, it’s on at 10:30 here. I try to get up for all the televised practices, qualifications, and races; I don’t always make the start.
It was the removal of the kick starter and the addition of the electric starter that changed the Harley Davidson Sportster from the ultimate macho bike in the 60’s and 70’s to today’s status as a chick bike.
“It was the removal of the kick starter and the addition of the electric starter that changed the Harley Davidson Sportster from the ultimate macho bike in the 60’s and 70’s to today’s status as a chick bike.”
True, but who can blame them for doubling their market. Besides, the Sportster is a very small bike by todays standards.
I love those questions.
I wonder if the one asking is worried about his manhood and believes it needs a manly car to improve it, or if he is really smart and is not worried about his manhood and knows that chicks like certain cars and are therefore attracted to the man in them, maybe in part because he is assured of his own manhood.
Yea, I drive a NB. It works.Why on earth is a Corvette and Lamborghini listed as chick cars?
I don’t think it doubled the market, the “chick bike” stigma causes a lot of men to shun it.
You’re probably wasting your time trying to recharge that battery. Even if you get a charge it’ll probably be short lived and you may not be able to trust it in future.
So then . . . what’s a MAN car/vehicle? Geez, I hope that I drive one . . . couldn’t face myself if I didn’t :0) Rocketman
The ultimate man vehicle would have to have magneto ingition, no battery, and no electric starting. It also helps if it is an antique. Yes, you can manually restart such a vehicle when you are gliding with the engine off to save fuel.
Would you buy one (before your 60th birthday). My wife would probably drive one, I would feel like a viagra commercial.
“You’re probably wasting your time trying to recharge that battery. Even if you get a charge it’ll probably be short lived and you may not be able to trust it in future.”
Probably, I traditionally have to buy one in the spring if I don’t bother to keep it charged all winter. We’ll see if it survived another year of abuse.
But I don’t believe that is the approved method. 