What is it about the MINI that men like so much?

You don't have to be a motoring chauvanist like me to admit that the MINI & cars of this ilk are aimed squarely at women.

You'll never see an advert for a MINI in GQ or FHM or instance, but you will in Top Sante or Woman's Own for example.

I don't really see large numbers of men driving Fiat Puntos or Vauxhall Corsas for example, yet I see lots driving MINIs.

Have BMW stumbled on some magic formula for selling small cars to men or is the MINI just 'trendy' (& we all know what happens to trends)?

I'd only have a Mini if it was the Works one.

As a male owner of a Cooper S Convertible Chilli I can perhaps bring specific comment. Please note that I live in rural Scotland where the raods are clear, sweeping, undulating and Gatso free.

I love fast cars and the missus loves convertibles, but we do 35K per year (split between the summer and winter cars) so it has to be reasonably confortable day to day.

I do miss my previous TF160, but the other half was always twitchy about the RWD in the wet and it wasn't refined. The mini provides most of the same fun, but in a more pleasant and accessable package. Any cack handed idiot can drive it fast and, short of absolute lunacy, it will get you out of trouble. The handling will wipe out pretty much anything, especially if (like mine) a proper LSD is fitted. It has excellent brakes and grip levels. It is very comfortable at the spec level I have and we used it to drive to Cornwall (~700 miles) in a single day without any worries (you don't do that in a Punto). Financially it is currently worth most of what I paid for it 2 years ago.

Yes it driven mostly by posers, by underneath is an extremely capable little car. I have never bought the same car twice, yet after 2 years of enthusiastic ownership I would gladly buy another - you can't a better advert than that.

One a separate note. I would not buy a 'one' or a 'cooper' as they are (IMO) underpowered and aimed more at the posers. The extra spant on the 'S' is money well spent.

You're right Syntax; men do love a Mini!

Then again, baldboy sums it up well, but I can't help but think it's an image thing.

They wouldn't be driving them in such vast numbers if Mini was owned by Tata or Daihatsu; you can be sure of that.

It's a cheap way to get a BMW, £4k cheaper than a 116i for a base MINI.

I don't think many customers ponder choosing between a Mini and 1-series, they're two very different cars.

Men don't like Mini Clubman's though. And women would rather have a 4x4. That model is doomed already.

Good....

Cooper S. Cooper S Works. Cooper S Works GP.
All superb cars.

quote:

Originally posted by Bamford:
Cooper S. Cooper S Works. Cooper S Works GP.
All superb cars.

Like all cars, MINIs have their strengths and weaknesses. The quicker versions have outstanding performance to offset the discomfort and girly image.

The bog standard ones (like the one that I got given as a courtesy car) are for non-discerning women who think that they are "cute" - like the VW Beetle that had the flower holder in the dashboard (Ooops! - what a giveaway that it is a woman's car)

And before anyone accuses me of being chauvinistic, I am happy to recognise that there are plenty of discerning women drivers out there.

The Mini is a very good car, ateotd.

Yes, absolutely. The best MINIs are indeed very good cars - Great enthusiasts cars.

As for the cooking versions - well I am not so sure. The one that I had left me deeply underwhelmed. 1.6 Petrol engine, and I think that they fitted a Go-Kart suspension on it!