Don't ever site in an.......
 

Audi A1, it will make you mad at the low rent interior MINI delivers with the CM.

I was at the local VW/Audi dealer yesterday collecting my wifes new Touran, while she was going through how everythihng works I was looking at the A1, the interior is beautiful, everything you can touch and see is of considerably higher quality then the CM, I knew I shouldn't have looked inside, when I jumped in the CM this morning I was a touch jealous. I love my MINI, but I'll have to keep well away from the Audi dealer when the 5 door A1 arrives early next year.

We don't have to worry about that comparison here in the U.S. yet but I look at it as a bit of an apple/oranges comparison. The A1 is a entry-level luxury vehicle and I look at the CM as more of a utility vehicle. We bought one for hauling around our dog while our other vehicles are BMW and Porsche. If, I'm looking for more of a luxury touch, I'll jump in the bimmer but I'll bet that I'll be driving the CM more often. :)

It sounds like we'd have to schlep down to NZ to experience that kind of decision humiliation. I guess that's the good news and the bad news.
:)

I cant see a MINI as a utility vehicle at all.

I would consider MINI a sport compact/sport luxury.

I'm thinking a "field trip" to visit KiwiRob in NZ...or is it Scandinavia?

It would be Norway.

I looked in a BMW X1 the other day and was surprised how bland the interior was. Fit and finish was top notch but I prefer the CM interior.

I find it utilitarian. It's has a hatch so you can fit large stuff in the boot, a fairly low flat roof so you can carry stuff on top, and you can put a hitch on and tow stuff, or a rack on the back and carry bikes, etc.. A car would look ridiculous with my hitch mounted bike rack on the back. On the CM it looks great.

This! Mymwife an I ended up getting an Audi, but only becausevof size and awd. The interior features of the CM are second to none.

Depends on how you outfit your CM, utility or luxury, our is on the high end. :grin:

I did see a few of those nice Audi's in Norway this past July, the neighbor had a very nice A1 coupe, it looked pretty slick.

I did see one or two Countryman on the streets, we in the USA will just have to settle for the lesser BMW and Audi models. :razz: