I have decided to sell my CM S All4 Manual. I have had it for about a year. The reason is because my wife cannot drive it, and she needs to be able to drive it now sometimes. She hasn't learned, not going to learn ... it's just not her thing. I don't blame her ... the All4 can be bit tricky in a manual, esp. in the mountains. I don't want to create more stress in her life ... we have enough and life is short anyway.

Anyway, I was going to just trade it in or sell it to get a CM All4 Auto, same exact configuration. I love how mine is configured and wouldn't change a thing. However, when I go to the Mini Configurator to configure the same thing, holy smokes, it's around $3000 more. The auto is $1250 more, but they changed all the packages so that to get an equivalent it ends up being more. I ended up adding the Mini Connected because of the way it is bundled - I currently do not have Connected. The window sticker for my current car says $36,500. I paid a grand below that in Raleigh (not much negotiating room at the same and Raleigh is a boom town).

I love this car -- it's got everything I could possibly want in a car, but getting near the $40k ceiling puts me in luxury car territory, like Audi. The thing that keeps me from going to a Q5 is the gas mileage. I am currently getting over 27mpg in city, so that would be a big bump in fuel cost, as I expect to be driving about 20,000 miles per year.

Someone mentioned the X1 and 1-series 5-door (I need a hatch), but not sure when they will be available in US. A diesel would be great too, but very limited choices in US. I'm not particularly fond of VW.

People complain about the relatively cheap interior on the CM vs. Audi or BMW, but I don't find it cheap. In fact, the interior seems to have this rare quality of staying cleaner than any car I've ever owned. I don't know what it is about the soft bumpy textured material but it never gets dusty or dirty. My Nissan always looked filthy after a week after cleaning it.

Just for the heck of it, I also test drove a Land Rover Evoque. Very off-road capable, good looks ... but expensive, very poor gas mileage, no diesel, no sunroof that opens, and not much bigger than the CM (not much at all, just wider).

Anyway, just wanted to know your advice/opinions...

 

Seems like quite a loss for swapping to an auto. If you found a beater for $1k for her to learn on would that change anything? It just takes a little time to get comfortable. 2 hours here or there will never let it sink in.


x1 will be coming soon, but starts at 32. since you like yours decked out, the iDrive, xDrive and luxury features will be well over the CM. A 1 series would be near the same.

Theres always an A3/A4 Avant. If you want more sport than luxury, theres the Juke. Or used x3/x5. Of course any Subaru would fit the bill.

 

If you like the Audi, there's no reason to not be fond of VW. Same company, same platforms, same cars.

I've owned two VWs and an Audi, and they've all been more reliable than the Mazda and two Toyotas I owned.

I have a 2000 1.8T New Beetle that I've had only ever had to replace an O2 sensor on. My 2007 Audi A3 has needed nothing so far (knock on wood).

I have a couple friends with Tiguans, and they love them, and have had zero issues. The 2.0t (which is in the Tiguan) is the same engine I have in my Audi, and is the one thing I've been worrying about missing once my CMS All4 comes in.

Before you disregard the Tiguan, I'd really check it out in person.

 

I actually have a beater for her to learn on ... been sitting there for more than a year. She got in it once ... not gonna happen.

 

How attached are you to the Misses? She can't drive a stick, so chances are you'd get to keep the CM in the divorce.

Just saying. :D

 

If you're not opposed to used, look around for a nice 3-series, X-Drive Touring. I had one before the CM and it was quite nice. As with the CM, watch the larger wheels and run flats.

 

Build your own X1 will be available in 5 days according to the BMW website

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...x1explore.aspx

 

You're a much more patient person than I am lol. What made her ok with the purchase in the first place?

I'd lineup 8k ( between depreciation and additional new costs) and put it next too the junker. Learn or burn it

 

I hear you. When I began to spec out my CM, my better half asked me (didn't demand) to make it an auto. She can drive a stick (learned on one), but has a bad left knee and on the few occasions she has to drive my current 6-spd MCS (when I borrow her Flex), she struggles.
I know this doesn't help your situation much, since you're already an owner. But I'm glad I made my decision early enough.

 

I have been going through something similar to you, but I may be offered a situation from MINI in which they offer to buy back my 2011 Countryman All4 because they've had issues repairing it.

So when I go and rebuild my car EXACTLY the same it is more, but only by $850. You have to avoid the packages (in my opinion) from our 2011 builds. Have you tried it multiple times to see if it changes?

I love the automatic on mine and I came from a 2009 subie wrx manual tranny.

EDIT: just realized I didn't consider you had to add the $1250 for the actual automatic change. Gah!

 

My 2012 manual all4 works well in the NC mouintans with out any major issues. I have never stalled at launch or expereniced a smelly clutch. Compared to the R53 and R56 the All4 is a heavier vehical combined with the AWD it does require more time for the clutch to engage. It may be interesting to try out a 2012 year model All4 with manual just to see if there is any difference in the clutch feel.