Does anyone know if the base Thule Roof Rack will fit onto a Countryman? I ask as a neighbor is selling his base rack fro $20 versus the $260 for a MINI one...thoughts? Advice?

Ask the neighbor to let you install it and check it out. Also the Thule website I think says it does fit depending on the specific thule model.

I would think it comes down to having the appropriate "feet" for the rack to attach to the roof rails. Crossbars aren't the big deal; just need the right feet.

I thought I read in another thread about Thule working on some new feet specific to the Countryman rails? Anybody?

Thule have designed a specific rack for countryman but in Italy it cost 196€ and the Original Mini rack with discount cost only 186€, so i bought the Original one

Thule does have correct fit "feet" kit for the Countryman rails....I just bought a Thule rack set from a 3rd party vendor (Rack Attack) here in Vancouver. Feet are a precise fit to the shaped Countryman rails. cost was about the same as the Mini system...but thought i'd have a bigger potential market for the Thule branded one if I ever need to re-sell it.