Why modern cars are rubbish (no 327 in a series...)

[Arragonis]

Thanks to the BBC.

[cons]

Wow, I've been curious about that but never remembered to look it up. I always looked at the old version and thought, "That just seems so much smaller! And cooler!" They should just go back to the original. People would love it. Make it electric though.

[brucey]

In 40 years it increased size by 25% but it gained ABS, air bags, traction control, fuel injection (allowing the engine to easily adapt to changing conditions), Supplementary Restraint Systems, crumple zones, it's much much faster than the original and gets equal if not better gas mileage. Plus getting a 1960's era car to 100,000 miles would be amazing, but getting a car to 100,000 miles today is an everyday occurrence.

I personally would call that a win.

The Countryman is an entirely different animal, it's like comparing a jeep wrangler to a jeep commander. They're completely different vehicles. The new mini is still being made and is nearly identical dimension wise to the '01. Furthermore the original mini was British Motors and the new ones are BMW made.

So it's more like comparing a Kaiser (or even Willys) made CJ Jeep to a Chrysler made Jeep Commander. No relation, it's just journalists backing up their short sighted opinions with some distorted facts.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by brucey

In 40 years it increased size by 25% but it gained ABS, air bags, traction control, fuel injection...

(sigh) But nobody ever asked me if I wanted any of that. And aside from fuel injection (which should actually shave a bit of weight off a car), I mostly don't.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by brucey

In 40 years it increased size by 25% but it gained ABS, air bags, traction control, fuel injection (allowing the engine to easily adapt to changing conditions), Supplementary Restraint Systems, crumple zones, it's much much faster than the original and gets equal if not better gas mileage. Plus getting a 1960's era car to 100,000 miles would be amazing, but getting a car to 100,000 miles today is an everyday occurrence.

I personally would call that a win.

I've had several 60's era cars over a 100k miles. I have two sitting at home right now ('67 Mustang with 140k miles, '68 Chevy truck with 220k miles). It's not much of a feat...

There are certainly improvements, but a lot of the weight comes from overstrict safety standards, unneeded electronic gizmos, sound deadening, and the ever-increasing exterior dimensions. Most of this I would prefer to have eliminated from a new car.

Originally Posted by brucey

So it's more like comparing a Kaiser (or even Willys) made CJ Jeep to a Chrysler made Jeep Commander. No relation, it's just journalists backing up their short sighted opinions with some distorted facts.

Distorted? Not really... The Mini is just one example of many, many cars that have gotten very bloated. This is hardly a unique example.

[Arragonis]

The original Mini was still selling reasonably well in 2000 when it was withdrawn. It had loads and loads of 'passes' on safety issues from the EU because it had been in continuous production in an unaltered form since 1959.

By the end the engine had fuel injection and catalysts (on an engine first made in 1952), electric coolling fans (for noise levels) and even an option of AC. It was only withdrawn so that BMW could introduce their MINI - they removed the then Rover Group's right to use the Mini name, plus of course it was the only car still using the A-series and gearbox in sump.

It rusts very quickly though - those last ones made are quite ropey now. My dad used to buy a new one each year, each on replacing the last. Every one of them already had rust by the time he traded them in.

The A-series engine is pretty remarkable too - still capable of competitive power and economy right up until the end. For example a carb fed 998cc version made 46bhp in 1982 (I had one ) and claimed up to 80 MPG (at a steady 56 mph) - in reality it made 45 in everyday use, and I drove it like any 17 year old would, on or near the red line everywhere.

A Cooper 970 or 1071 S is on my wish list even now. You get much more fun and waves in one than the modern one.