Comments on: Woofcast #273

By: db

db — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:20:21 +0000

And with that, comments are now closed.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:14:34 +0000

Ok so let me get this straight. You have no idea what the needs are in my life right now and how they relate to cars. Yet you’re trying to make some mis-guided point that I’m selling my car because it’s not practical even after I clarified that that wasn’t necessarily the reason. Am I missing something? Are you really trying to create some sort of controversy out of thin air? I’m selling my car for a bunch of reasons that can be summed up by life-changes (period).

By: dr

dr — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:31:10 +0000

Quoted at the 21:36 mark

"Todd: So, Its time to go a little more practical for ya huh?

Gabe: Umm yeah, Just ya know, a bunch of life changes. I'm gonna get Something a little bit, little bit bigger and little bit more practical for a couple years"

By: Gabe

Gabe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:00:38 +0000

So Gabe abhors the R60 and SUV’s in principle but is selling his MINI because it is no longer practical. Which is the exact reason most people are leaving the MINI brand (i.e. too small after kids) and why so many people drive SUV’s (because they are practical with families)…The fact that some people cant afford gas to put in them does not diminish the fact that they are functional and practical.

A - I didn't say anything about it being impractical. B- if I do get something larger it WILL NOT be an SUV of any kind. So you won't ever hear any argument for an SUV from me unless you're living in the mountains or where it snows 24" weekly.

By: dr

dr — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:39:53 +0000

So Gabe abhors the R60 and SUV's in principle but is selling his MINI because it is no longer practical. Which is the exact reason most people are leaving the MINI brand (i.e. too small after kids) and why so many people drive SUV's (because they are practical with families)...The fact that some people cant afford gas to put in them does not diminish the fact that they are functional and practical.

As was touched on with saturn. A brand is a result of the products produced not the marketing. The marketing by MINI has ben toward small and effecient, while the soul and substance is fun and performance. Those who bought in on image rather than substance should be disillusioned by an R60 concept. Those who bought a MINI are skeptical that an SUV can be fun and performance oriented.

What will happen in reality is that the R60 will be the smallest and one of the most fuel effecient SUV's on the market AND it will give the functional and practical kid/cargo space needed by families. It will sell VERY well...as long as it doesn't look anything like the concept.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:32:59 +0000

Have to say that Gabe pretty much nailed my view of the R60. I think that the R60 has the chance of really doing well, however I have to say that at the same time a huge risk. BMW/Mini really is rolling the dice with this, they have taken many years of a hard won consumer view of the brand. I think that a huge numbers of reviewers are going to mention this fact. I also assume that the R60 is going to be at the heart of more than a few automotive joke.

As for the community I think Mini's success is largely what is causing the changes in the Mini community. There seems to be a increasing numbers of owners out there that are happily ignorant to anything outside of their personal car.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:41:14 +0000

Good deal Gabe, a very tempting offer.

By: dickdavid

dickdavid — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:46:51 +0000

BTW, Gabe, I wish I had $30K right now. Good luck with the sale.

By: dickdavid

dickdavid — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:44:46 +0000

I'm beginning to think that Gabe is just DB in disguise. I haven't heard them in the same podcast in quite some time. LOL!

Great show guys.