So this kind of comes to close with the “New MINI” vs. the “Classic Mini”  Does this rift really exist?  Sadly, yes it does.  I know a few classic owners who are totally against doing anything with “BMW” owners.  In England there is the “Mini” and the “BMW MINI.” I even joined a group on Facebook and after we all shared pictures of our MINIs (and Minis) someone went through and commented on any picture of a New MINI- some comments not fit for polite company.  I have been to events where the classic Mini owners ignore the new owners.  Unfortunately, as MINI brings in new models and updates the MINI the rift hasn’t seemed to shrink but in some ways it has splintered.  R53 owners feel sorry for R56 owners (and vice versa).  For those not in the know the R50 and R53 are the model designations for the MINI from 2001-2006 after 2006 the hatchback MINI has the model designation of R56.  The differences: the engine, the interior and it is a little bigger.  Classic owners feel sorry for the New MINI owners.  The funny thing is there are a lot of MINI owners like me who just like the car.  We only own three.  The R56 is our “Big Car” by I think 3 inches. So I find this kind of funny, but for those who take their MINI or Mini seriously, thems fightin’ words.

I do apologize to Clubman, Traveller, Moke ,and any other Mini models I skipped over.  I reserve the “plethora” of Mini variations for another time. Since it seems like each model has it’s own variations. I found it amusing that while at Mini Meet East Meets West while the classics were all divided into areas the New MINIs were clumped together, even though there are at this time, three different “MINIs.”  The fun thing was to watch each side mix.  The new MINI owners were fascinated by the classics and were asking questions and the classic owners were just as confused by the different New MINIs, but still don’t think some would let their daughters marry one of them “BMW owners.”

No matter what car you drive- stay safe the roads are getting dangerous this time of year either due to weather or holiday insanity.

History 101 part 6
Posted on December 11, 2009 by Bruce
So this kind of comes to close with the "New MINI" vs. the "Classic Mini"  Does this rift really exist?  Sadly, yes it does.  I know a few classic owners who are totally against doing anything with "BMW" owners.  In England there is the "Mini" and the "BMW MINI." I even joined a group on Facebook and after we all shared pictures of our MINIs (and Minis) someone went through and commented on any picture of a New MINI- some comments not fit for polite company.  I have been to events where the classic Mini owners ignore the new owners.  Unfortunately, as MINI brings in new models and updates the MINI the rift hasn't seemed to shrink but in some ways it has splintered.  R53 owners feel sorry for R56 owners (and vice versa).  For those not in the know the R50 and R53 are the model designations for the MINI from 2001-2006 after 2006 the hatchback MINI has the model designation of R56.  The differences: the engine, the interior and it is a little bigger.  Classic owners feel sorry for the New MINI owners.  The funny thing is there are a lot of MINI owners like me who just like the car.  We only own three.  The R56 is our "Big Car" by I think 3 inches. So I find this kind of funny, but for those who take their MINI or Mini seriously, thems fightin' words. I do apologize to Clubman, Traveller, Moke ,and any other Mini models I skipped over.  I reserve the "plethora" of Mini variations for another time. Since it seems like each model has it's own variations. I found it amusing that while at Mini Meet East Meets West while the classics were all divided into areas the New MINIs were clumped together, even though there are at this time, three different "MINIs."  The fun thing was to watch each side mix.  The new MINI owners were fascinated by the classics and were asking questions and the classic owners were just as confused by the different New MINIs, but still don't think some would let their daughters marry one of them "BMW owners." No matter what car you drive- stay safe the roads are getting dangerous this time of year either due to weather or holiday insanity.

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