Just curious, is your Countryman your first MINI or have you owned previous MINI's?

For first timers, like me, what made you choose the CM?

For current or previous MINI owners, what made you stay loyal? What made you decide on a CM as opposed to another MINI?

 

First one for me. What pushed me over? I'm done driving a motorcycle through the winters....i've had enough close calls. My new car criteria was "aggressive looks, good gas mileage, AWD/4WD". The Countryman hit the bill.

 

My Platinum is my first Mini. Coming over from a 01 X5 4.4. Transmission was finally going bad on the X5 and at first was looking for something similar either another X5, X6 or consider X3. X3 came out too ugly so set sights on X5/X6. Then I saw a CM in a parking lot for the first time. It was actually love at first sight .

Test drove one, loved it, and immediately test drove an X6 and STILL loved the CM despite the 400 horsies on the X6. After thinking it over and can get a CM for half the price of an X6 (not to mention all the blind spots in the X6 and all the problems BMW was having with their HPFPs in their turbo engines) I placed the order for CM.

 

My wife has a Cooper S Hardtop 2009. When we got the 2009 it was her car and I was not in love with it. It drives great but I feel cramped in it. I do like unique cars though. I am getting the CM for the excellent drive, unique factor, gas mileage, and this Mini is big enough for me to be comfortable!

 

This is my first after 3 BMWs. Just picked her up last night! See separate thread.

 

MINI #2 (see sig below) and counting...

 

This is my first Mini. In the 70s a friend and I rallied a MC - we even blueprinted the motor and worked the car over pretty well to be more competitive. It was a fun time and always stuck in my mind as something I'd like to revisit.

After going through a number of cars including two BMWs, three Suburbans, and a Honda Pilot, I was ready to down size to a 5-door hatch with AWD. I hadn't considered a Mini until the CM popped up before my eyes - a Mini with AWD, independent suspension, and OK performance - let's go. My CM should be here by June.

 

2nd

 

This is my first MINI. I have always loved the looks of the Cooper, but my #1 criteria for my new car is that my bike fits inside. I looked seriously at the Clubman, but the fit was a bit tight and I didn't like the wagon-y look of the bars going down to the bumper and boot. I took one test drive of the Countryman and fell in love. Perfect mix of style and functionality for me.

 

My 4th......

2003 Cooper S - All packages/6 speed manual SOLD
2005 Cooper S Cabrio - All packages / 6 speed manual SOLD
2009 John Cooper Works - All packages / 6 speed manual (still have)
2011 Cooper S CM All4 - Cold Weather/Sport Pkgs / 6 speed manual (everyday car) - traded in my 2010 Jeep Patriot

MsBrit

 

I once dated a guy that was just over 5 feet tall. But, I'm guessing that's not what you were asking about.

I like small, sporty, practical vehicles for daily use. My Mazda3 hatch was fantastic and I wanted to go back after my BMW 3 Touring. But Mazda made too many changes with the redesign that I did not agree with. I've been attracted to MINI since the reintroduction, but they always lost out on the pratical side - my SO, me, and 4 dogs need room. Lease was up on the BMW, Coutryman was introduced, and the order went in. We'll have to wait and see if it's love or infatuation - but, I have a good feeling.

Sealy - Who's pacing the floor for 2 more weeks

 

FIst Mini for me too. I always wanted a Mini, but living in the land of ice and snow meant that 4 wheel drive is a very good thing and the size of the CM is perfect for our family. I am very excited about getting it. THe wait is brutal though!

I have had MANY cars before this one, a few mini vans, a Mercedes B class, a few fords and hondas.

 

Misty is my third new MINI, 4th altogether. #1 was a beat up 67 which I owned for a summer and sold when I went into the army. #2 (Goldilocks) was an 05 cabrio justa cvt, gold with a green top which was traded for Miniblue, a six speed S, when I needed roof racks for the kayak. Misty for the room and because I got tired of getting towed off the beach.

 

This is my first mini. I wanted one when they first were introduced in 02 but the practical side of me won out. I need a 4 wheel or AWD where I live due to the winters of New Mexico. When they introduced the countryman last year I told my wife that I was going to get one. It meets my 3 basic requirements 4 doors, AWD or 4WD, and good gas mileage. It has a bonus; it should be fun to drive. It replacing my jeeps of 10years so I hopefully I will like it.

 

This is my wife's fourth since 07.

07 R52 MCS (Still Have)
07 R56 MCS (Traded in for CM)
08 R55 MC (Won at MOT, Lease was up)
11 R60 MCS ALL4

 

I am a virgin when it comes to Mini. This will be my first time owning. We had looked at the Clubman a few years back, but not having four full doors swayed our decision against it as we had a 1-year old at that time.

With the Countryman having four full doors and the rear seats seemed very spacious even when I sat in the back. Another thing that brought us to Mini in the first place was we were looking for something that didn't take a huge beating in value after owning a few years.

 

This is our 4th Mini. my husband had a 2002, and then traded it in for a 2008. I got my first one in 2006, and am currently waiting for my surf blue Countryman. we adopted our grandson in 2007, and now we need a bigger car, he is looking forward to having "his own door and a window that opens". He is 9 years old now. We have needed a bigger car for some time, but were waiting for MINI to build one. the clubman just was not practical, for a child to exit the car (school drop off, etc) the way the passenger back door opened.

I also ordered on 3/19/11 and am impatiently waiting for my "week 14" countryman to arrive at the dealer in the Philadelphia area.

 

This will be my first MINI. My family has always been Ford people. I currently have a 03 Escape, which I'm giving to my brother, awwww. Anyway, I figured I would just get another Ford. But last Winter I came across pictures and specs for the Countryman. I liked what I saw and read so I test drove one the first time I had a chance. I loved it! So no more Fords for me!

Can't wait to drive mine!

 

The countryman is my first MINI- have always loved the brand but I live in the land of ice and snow and I have always had to drive something the whole scout troop- Manton 154 could fit in, or an entire OM team. So when both roles in my life moved off to college I no longer had to be the mom with the biggest car. I saw the beachcomber at the Detroit Auto Show site and fell in love. I waited until September when the first one rolled off the line in Europe and have patiently waited until I could get my hands on one to test drive- well I can tell you that first donut in the snow and I was truly sold.
Now I call it my empty nest mid life crisis and I have never had so much fun in a car. My latest addition was racing seat belts and a new camper to match. Hope to see lots of Countryman at the dragon.

 

Lisbeth (Pure Red CM S model) is my very first MINI. In fact I had never driven a MINI before, but I have several friends with MINIs and they love them. I never considered getting a MINI until the CM came out. We have 2 teenage boys and my last 2 vehicles (Subaru Forester & Saturn Vue) were SUVs.

When I got married, I owned an RX7 & my DH owned a Toyota MR2--surprising how much your life changes when you have kids! Before we knew it, we had an SUV & a minivan.

I love Lisbeth because she is a total blast to drive, especially on twisty roads.

~Amy

 

My first.

You see, I'm 6'4" and depending on what I ate for lunch, just about 200 lbs, so this is the first MINI that didn't feel like I was wearing a suit 2 sizes too small.

Also, I've had as much as 42" of snow on my front deck, and I don't recall a winter that it didn't snow at my house in the 9 years I've lived here (1500' up a hill in Oregon) so I try to stick to AWD for my year-round cars.

Cheers,
Tad

 

[QUOTE]so this is the first MINI that didn't feel like I was wearing a suit 2 sizes too small.

Ha!

This is my first as well. I (like so many) first became aware of the MINI's with the remake of The Italian Job. Always liked the looks but they just seemed impractical. I was really intrigued from my first glimpse of the Countryman but again, thougt it would probably be too small/impractical and too expensive!

So when I started the search to replace my Escape, I was looking at other Utes and just was...not in love. Mr. Chapiko, who is a big BMW fan, pushed for the test drive of the Countryman and we loved it. When he drove it he giggled like a schoolgirl. Yes, still somewhat impractical for what we really need a vehicle for but what can I say? It was love.

 

It's my first. I wanted one when they first came out but they were too small...impractical for the family and my wife had safety concern about the kids being in the smallest car on the road. With its larger size, added weight and the AWD system, the CM overcame my wife's objections and we're now owners.

The new CM is large enough for us and with the extra pair of doors my wife

 

First MINI, First BRAND NEW Car!

 

[QUOTEFirst MINI, First BRAND NEW Car! ][/QUOTE]

Hey now, that's truly exciting. Congratulations!