I don't think he quite gets the car's appeal.

http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011...oper.cnnmoney/

 

That is the most superficial, useless review from the most awkward, boring person I've ever seen.

He says the car is fun and a lot like a regular MINI but with more space. Then he goes on to say that for the money, you can get a bigger car. Uhh...yeah...it's a MINI. The whole point is not that you get a big car for your money, but rather that you get a whole lot in the small car package.

And why not mention that it's the most fuel efficient crossover AWD available?

 

Yeah, why not just price cars in $ per cu ft, since that is what Americans value the most....which is why it's hard to find nice smaller cars here. BMW 1-series 5-door, X1? Anyone?

 

That might be the lamest car review I have ever seen - MINI or othwrwise.

 

I think his review is right on. Its overpriced for what it is but still has some of the MINI charm. I agree that he is a horrible and boring presenter.

 

I don't mind that he thinks it's overpriced. It's that he uses size as the primary measurement of value. For $35,000, you can get a much bigger car. The question is whether you can get the efficiency, performance, versatility, and amenities for that pricetag. I don't really know of another car with that combination.

Subarus? You want premium features, enjoy your manual transmission and slightly inferior mpgs for the same interior space. Ford? Again, they don't offer an equivalent combination of size, efficiency, AWD, quality, and amenities for any cost.

Just look at the difficulty reviewers have in making comparisons. It's bigger than an Impreza hatchback, and it's smaller than any other CUV. Want a Juke? CVT, less efficient (and ugly as sin, but that's in the eye of the beholder).

Given that the same combo cannot be obtained from any other manufacturer, to say "it's overpriced for what it is" is kind of an unprovable statement.

 

i had an All4 S manual as a loaner for the day. I was not impressed at all. I think its cool because its a bigger MINI but I really did not care for it. I feel comfortable making that statement. I was not out on a test drive for 20 minutes with a sales person. I had it all day and drove it for about 30 miles.

My JCW will be paid off in November of 2012. I am keeping the car so I will be in the market to add another car to my garage. I want to get a small all wheel drive SUV. I have settled on the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CRV. That is assuming that no other new cars come out and they do not change too much. I will not be getting a CM. Not even an option. I plan on keeping that new little SUV for a long time. Owning a Toyota or a Honda will be cheaper in the long run. Maybe not as fun but more reliable.

My JCW is all modded and tricked out. That is my different car. My wife has a BMW X5 that is leased. Its not worth it to buy a BMW. Too expensive to maintain for the long term.