Talk:Supermini
Extry, Extry! Definition Defies Logic!
Just been reading about the word "supermini." The Morris Mini Metro, it seems, was cramped in the front and couldn't be driven for long distances comfortably. Lo and behold, the Fiat 128 was two feet longer, having 28% more usable volume for 14% greater weight. They called it the "Supermini."
How can you call the Fiat 500 a Supermini when it came before the Mini? This defies logic! If this were a paper encyclopedia, I'd tear this page out! --Sobolewski 16:21, 18 January 2006 (UTC)
You are assuming that the 'mini' part of 'supermini' comes from the Mini Metro (a 1980 car) when in fact the term comes from the Austin/Morris Mini which was first produced in 1958. The Fiat 500 started production just a few months ahead of the Mini - but it wasn't seen in English-speaking countries until AFTER the Mini splashed all over pop culture in the early 1960's. Hence (at least for English speakers), the Fiat 500 did indeed come AFTER the Mini - at least culturally.
As for the Mini being uncomfortable because of cramped driving space - I have to disagree. The classic Mini was indeed a car of microscopic dimensions - but it was VERY cleverly designed. I'm currently restoring a 1963 Mini and I can tell you that as a fairly normal 5'10" person, with the seat slid all the way back, my feet only just touch the pedals - I have to have the seat moved forwards a couple of notches in order to be comfortable. In fact, the worst problem with driving the Mini is that with fixed three-point seatbelts, you can't reach the controls on the center console (The Mini originally shipped with only lap belts). One very popular after-market part for the Mini was 4" long plastic 'switch extensions' that brought the controls a couple of inches closer to your hands! The thing that made the Mini so uncomfortable to drive was that the seats were very poorly padded. The designed (Sir Alec Issigonis) was famous for saying that drivers would be more alert if they were not sitting too comfortably - and DELIBERATELY made the seats a little uncomfortable!! Well, with modern seats and switch extensions, my Mini is now very comfortable to drive.
Now, please smooth out the page and carefully tape it back into the Encyclopedia!