AndyRKett said:

A couple of weeks back mini lent us a new cooper with the updated Idrive System from BMWs installed.

The screen is not a touch screen and as you can see all the heating controls use conventional buttons, but the computer is controlled by the buttons on the centre console, the best bit is that to input text or anything you simply draw on the top of the control dial with your finger to type letters and text, extremely well designed and easy to use with absolute minimal time with eyes off the road.

This system has one awards

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I'm not a fan of all the buttons down by the hand brake like that, it was similar to an A4 I drove recently, had to take my eyes off the road to see which button ms I was pressing, on the Focus, the buttons for the media are on the steering wheel or on the radio where you can see.

Changing the time on the clock is one button, adjusting the sound is one button etc, rather than going through menus.

JimbbobW1977 said:

I'm not a fan of all the buttons down by the hand brake like that, it was similar to an A4 I drove recently, had to take my eyes off the road to see which button ms I was pressing, on the Focus, the buttons for the media are on the steering wheel or on the radio where you can see.

Changing the time on the clock is one button, adjusting the sound is one button etc, rather than going through menus.

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I hope you don't mind me asking, but what do you do for a living?

puntofan01 said:

I hope you don't mind me asking, but what do you do for a living?

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Purely out of interest.

AndyRKett said:

A couple of weeks back mini lent us a new cooper with the updated Idrive System from BMWs installed.

The screen is not a touch screen and as you can see all the heating controls use conventional buttons, but the computer is controlled by the buttons on the centre console, the best bit is that to input text or anything you simply draw on the top of the control dial with your finger to type letters and text, extremely well designed and easy to use with absolute minimal time with eyes off the road.

This system has one awards

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Please don't hold the mini up as a good example of anything, the R53 model wasn't that offensive however since then the only example it has set is how to shamelessly cash in on an old much loved brand whilst urinating on it's principles. The cooper S version of the new one looks like it belongs in a freak show. It is shame they didn't show the "maximum go kart feel" legend on the centre screen so it isn't in sport. But then it's total bull anyway as each generation gets bigger and more remote. The only good thing to come out of the MINI is the premium small car business some of which aren't forced to look increasingly like they being deformed with each generation, DS3, Audi A1 are neat looking cars for example and aren't copying anything.

This brings us neatly to the 500 X saw one in the metal today the front looks like a countryman especially round the lights. Well done fiat..I hope it was worth selling a lot of cars short term while your well known and much loved name plates died in the show room whilst you attempted to follow the BMW business model. However fiat appear to have forgotten BMW sell real cars as well.

StevenRB45 said:

Please don't hold the mini up as a good example of anything, the R53 model wasn't that offensive however since then the only example it has set is how to shamelessly cash in on an old much loved brand whilst urinating on it's principles. The cooper S version of the new one looks like it belongs in a freak show. It is shame they didn't show the "maximum go kart feel" legend on the centre screen so it isn't in sport. But then it's total bull anyway as each generation gets bigger and more remote. The only good thing to come out of the MINI is the premium small car business some of which aren't forced to look increasingly like they being deformed with each generation, DS3, Audi A1 are neat looking cars for example and aren't copying anything.

This brings us neatly to the 500 X saw one in the metal today the front looks like a countryman especially round the lights. Well done fiat..I hope it was worth selling a lot of cars short term while your well known and much loved name plates died in the show room whilst you attempted to follow the BMW business model. However fiat appear to have forgotten BMW sell real cars as well.

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I'm not sure if it was actually Mini who Fiat were aiming to steal sales from: I wonder if it was actually the Nissan Jukes pie that Fiat want a slice of. I think it's mainly thanks to the Qashqai and Juke that there is so many "crossovers" being offered by manufacturers today, including the 'premium' manufacturers.

puntofan01 said:

I'm not sure if it was actually Mini who Fiat were aiming to steal sales from: I wonder if it was actually the Nissan Jukes pie that Fiat want a slice of. I think it's mainly thanks to the Qashqai and Juke that there is so many "crossovers" being offered by manufacturers today, including the 'premium' manufacturers.

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I wasn't saying the are necessarily competing with the MINI more that Fiat are using that business model while taking no regard for the fact that they are leaving existing customers who want a new car that isn't a 500 with no option but to go elsewhere. Want a punto with 100bhp or more? No, want a powerful bravo? No want a car design that isn't more than 6 years old? No. With the possible exception of the new panda which still has a full range for now at least until the get round to a 5 dr 500..

StevenRB45 said:

I wasn't saying the are necessarily competing with the MINI more that Fiat are using that business model while taking no regard for the fact that they are leaving existing customers who want a new car that isn't a 500 with no option but to go elsewhere. Want a punto with 100bhp or more? No, want a powerful bravo? No want a car design that isn't more than 6 years old? No. With the possible exception of the new panda which still has a full range for now at least until the get round to a 5 dr 500..

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To be fair, I do wish they'd hurry up and launch a new Punto.

StevenRB45 said:

however since then the only example it has set is how to shamelessly cash in on an old much loved brand whilst urinating on it's principles. The cooper S version of the new one looks like it belongs in a freak show.

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Isn't 'shamelessly cashing in' all fiat is doing with the 500 brand, even the basic 500 fails in anyway to be anything like the original 500.

Aesthetics aside the mini is a good car and time and time again gets positive reviews. So you can't be down on the car. In addition many of the classic mini owners also own the newest models as well so they can preserve their classics in a nice warm garage, those are the real fanatics and they love the new models

Fiat have openly said they are chasing mini customers and the 500L was apparently going to wipe the floor with the countryman.

Again though we where talking about technology in cars and the likes of bmw vag and Mercedes are well in advance of what fiat are currently able to produce.

Even citron are making great strides in technology fiat can't even make an electric car work (financially) unless in California the main issue is fiat are becoming the 'cheap' brand again below the likes of Hyundai and Kia

I like the 500x it's a smart looking car but I'd still rather spend the £20k+ they expect to charge for it on a mini which would hold its value better and be better built for the same sort of money

AndyRKett said:

Isn't 'shamelessly cashing in' all fiat is doing with the 500 brand, even the basic 500 fails in anyway to be anything like the original 500.

Aesthetics aside the mini is a good car and time and time again gets positive reviews. So you can't be down on the car. In addition many of the classic mini owners also own the newest models as well so they can preserve their classics in a nice warm garage, those are the real fanatics and they love the new models

Fiat have openly said they are chasing mini customers and the 500L was apparently going to wipe the floor with the countryman.

Again though we where talking about technology in cars and the likes of bmw vag and Mercedes are well in advance of what fiat are currently able to produce.

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I agree both the 500 and MINI are shameless cash ins...hence why my point was Fiat is ripping off the MINI business model. However it's funny now because I agree with you mechanically the new mini is excellent but ironically it would be a much better car if it wasn't hamstrung by the need to look like a MINI. It could have decent boot and back seats, it wouldn't look constantly surprised and a little sad, but that's the corner you build yourself into with branding everything under the same image. Fiat will find themselves there shortly too but with no proper cars to fall back on if they aren't careful.

The Nuova 500 was very basic motoring and helped get Italy (and other countries) back on their feet again after WW2. Other cars like the 2CV and various Bubble Cars helped as well, but small (and not so small in the case of the new Mini) is considered pretty chic nowadays rather than an indication of lack of money and one of our Sergeants has just bought one.

Although in her mid 50s by now she is a bit of a "glamourpuss", sorry Sarge, and the 500 suits her down to the ground. Over the last few years the 500 has also become the default motor for female cabin crew at Manchester Airport replacing the Mini. Considering just before the 500 came out the motoring press were all wondering if it would be similar in price to the Mini and of course it was quite a bit cheaper in the end.

To really be a successor to the old 500 it would have to be very basic but that wouldn't fit in with the chic image. It might work with the Dacia but that kind of price range would be underselling the little FIAT.

The 500X is moving into a very crowded marketplace with the like of the Juke, latest Qashqai, Mokka and countless others and it has to be good.