Cons.

Stiff ride, run flats, rear seat belt rattle, no spare tire.

Pros.

All4, sport suspension, xenon, mini connected, nav, heated seats, fun to drive, holds a lot with the rear seats down, feels well built (solid like my Dad's BMW)

 

not even a fake spare tire (like the one that came with my R50) ?

 

Check the accessories catalog for seat belt holders. They fasten to the post of the head rest and will hold the belts away from the hard plastic trim.

 

nope..

 

The current gen Golf is actually 20cm longer than the CM, though the CM is 12cm taller (they are approximately the same width). That said it wouldn't surprise me if the CM feels more spacious on the inside. I am 6' and I find the backseat of the CM a surprisingly pleasant place to be if there are only 2 adults (it gets a bit tight with 3 in the back). It is more comfortable in the back than many larger cars and even compact SUV's (including the new Ford Escape).

 

The '15 that was just unveiled/announced gains additional sound deadening, though they don't go into details.

 

I drive an automatic CM ALL4 (MINIs aren't available with manuals in my market) and while I haven't driven a manual MINI, I have owned/driven manual cars in the past. And I would say that, yes, the automatic does reduce the FUN factor, BUT... if you get one with the Sport button (actually, toggle) it can do wonders to restore the FUN factor. With Sport mode enabled the throttle response is near-instantaneous, the steering is tightened, but most importantly the automatic will hold the revs and not be so eager to shift into a higher gear. It really does transform the car, and my friends who have driven my car really like Sport mode too.

Actually, the automatic does have an advantage over the manual, and that is smoother launches (with the turbo models) - some reviews have noted that the S with manual has a tendency to bog down on launch, especially when ALL4 is thrown into the mix (by the way, ALL4 is a must-have even if bad weather isn't a concern).

As for problems, there were a few but it seems that the major ones were resolved in the '13 model year and later. One lingering complaint is with interior rattles though thankfully I have yet to experience this.


Pros:
-good looks (IMHO)
-the MINI badge/dealer service (I think?)
-best handling CUV
-ALL4
-rear-seat comfort (see my earlier post in this thread)
-easy to drive and park yet very practical
-drives like a premium/substantial car (doesn't feel cheap)
-Sport button really transforms automatic-equipped cars
-girls like it (and so do guys!)

Cons:
-ride is stiff with the run-flat tires and can get tiring on bad roads
-no spare time (no room for one either)
-road/wind noise at highway speeds
-doesn't have the ground clearance of a "real" CUV
-engine doesn't sound premium at idle
-parts can be expensive and hard to get (so I've heard)

 

I had a 2003 Cooper S and moved up to my current 2011 CM All4.

In general I really like it, though I have to admit I do not love it quite as much as I loved my Cooper S. But in many ways it works a lot better, it has more space in the back for cargo and people (as a tall person I am comfortable in the back of the CM) and I also really enjoy the rear doors for getting to things in the car.

If I were buying again from scratch I'd still go for the CM over the base MINI, though I think I'd stretch to get the JCW package as I could use just a touch more horsepower than the All4 S model gives me. The handling is still great and I think the All4 system works really well for both delivering power and handling in snow (I have had some amazing saves on snowy roads I attribute to the CMS control features).

One other thing to note is that I have an automatic, and from the test drives I've done with other CM's I think I prefer the automatic in the CM to the manual version. In the Cooper S by far I preferred the manual. The paddle shifter + sport mode (which I activate EVERY time I turn on the car) makes up for a lot. Realistic milage with sport mode on 100% of the time is around 26MPG for average driving (not too fast but not too slow either).

My dream MINI remains the Rocketman concept; if they would ever produce that I would be first in line. The current minis are large enough the Countryman is just a little larger and has many more benefits, but a truly small MINI like the Rocketman would be fantastic.

 

Lots of good points so far. Here's my $.02. We have the Countryman S All4 loaded to the gills with options.

Pros:
Short doors. You wouldn't believe how convenient this is in a tight spot.
Bigger interior (as compared to an R56)
Higher seating position (vehicle is taller) to see in traffic better
Pretty darn quick for it being a big MINI.
Can carry 4 people - everyone has a door!
Car handles great in curves
Lots of storage with rear seats down.

Cons:
All4 has smaller gas tank than non-All4 model
S had noticeable steering torque under heavy acceleration
Assume new models have rear cupholders? Ours doesn't.

 

Just to clarify, the S ALL4 doesn't suffer from this, right?

 

It is not like the 2WD model in that regard, so the answer is yes. Having said that, I'd like to retract my earlier note of steering torque being a "con" but instead list it more as a difference in the All4 vs 2WD.

 

I'd leave it in the CON column. Early on I learned that if I mashed the gas to get away from a stop light, I'd end up in someone else's lane. It'll scare the stuff out of you. Definately a "con".

 

I am on my fourth version of the MINI....R53, R56, R58, and now my R60.
All "S" models...

I really miss my Coupe S I traded in for the 2014 CM ALL4 this past December, but without the dedicated Goodyear snows and the great ALL4 traction, I would not have been able to drive to work many many days this winter.

It saved my a**.

As for likes, it is a very easy-to-look-at MINI, especially in Brilliant Copper, and it allows me to mod in more Range Rover-esque ways....

Roof rails, Thule Basket, Black Magic driving lights...

packimocity

 

define " steering torque "

 

I have always called it torque steer. A strictly front wheel drive (FWD) issue. some vehicles will have a tendency to pull left or right upon takeoff from a dead stop if enough throttle is applied. I have driven some vehicles where you truly had to really hold the wheel tight to prevent it.

with the CM, I have never driven an automatic more than block, but with the M6 tranny, I have launched at 2500 RPM's in an S model, and the front did indeed want to pull left. I agree with others that this should not be considered a con when considering the purchase of a FWD CM....FWD is FWD and if the vehicle has enough low end grunt, the front end is going to want to play, regardless of make.

Fortunately, Mini makes the All4, and like others have said, there is no hint of torque steer since the front and rears are driven 50/50 when pulling away from a dead stop (again, I can only speak from an M6 standpoint. I have never driven an All4 auto tranny). the addition of the rear drive eliminates the problem. I can launch as hard as I choose in our All4, and it is off in a straight line with no pull whatsoever. A truly beautiful system for many reasons in different seasons !

 

My wife had to have a partial knee replacement last year and she has zero issues getting in and out of our Countryman. However, getting in and out of my daughters Subaru Impreza is a painful experience. The seat height of the Countryman seems to be perfect.

 

Looks like you received plenty of feedback, but here's a little more.

I purchased mine after my girlfriend purchased her 2012 Convertible. That car is an absolute blast to drive. I wanted a ClubMan, but decided with two kids (13/15) that two and a plus doors was not enough and the extra three or four inches of legroom for the back would not cut it.

Cons

* For me, normal Mini stuff, extremely pricey accessories. $250 for a cargo net, really Mini?
* Noisy.

Pros

* Almost as fun as the smaller Mini, just not quite as quick and nimble. Could consider this a con, but it is not that much less.
* Extra space, but not too much so you still get descent gas mileage. I came from a Grand Cherokee which seemed like a suburban compared to the CM. But, even with the four of us and my cargo carrier we take a 2 week drive to Maine from Florida in the summer and have all we need.

I would disregard the torque steer stuff myself, practically all FWD cars have it to varying degrees, it is just the nature of them. If it is a concern get All4, I punch my ALL4 off the line and come on it right after the apex in corners and have not had any issues. Even w/FWD knowing your cars characteristics and having two hands on the wheel should be plenty to counter it.

Good luck.

 

This pic is of my first CMS, I'm on my second CMS, third Mini in total. Needless to say, I enjoyed the first CM so much that when that lease was up it wasn't difficult to jump right into a new one.

I would like to add to the cargo space comments aplenty. This is a full size dryer, and a 6 foot picnic table. No problem, suspension held it just fine, and on the 10 mile drive home it handled beautifully with the full load.

Definitely get the roof racks! I inherited them with my first and moved them to my second...I've used them more than I could have imagined. I carry a few tie downs in my boot and they've come in handy!

Side note...is it because I'm on a mac that the pics always show up sideways!?!?

 

is ALL4 drive equivalent to 4-wheel drive?

All good feedback.. Lots to think about. I will probably look at the non-S. I heard the same comments when deciding between the S and non-S when looking at my R50. Miranda is a non-S, she has plenty of power and get-up... After I drive a CM.. I'll know which I need.

Thanks everyone~!

 

A Countryman is definitely not as quick as the other models because it is bigger and heavier (although not by that much). That having been said, my Countryman is a non-S, and I have never had an issue with lack of power. It has plenty of get up and go, without all of the inherent issues with the turbo models (high pressure fuel pump, death rattle, turbo oil line leak, carbon build up). Also, in South Florida, there's lots of stop and go traffic, so I don't need a turbo to rush from one light to the next. It's my third MINI. All of them have been non-S models, and they have all been great and very reliable.

 

That's impressive! The largest "appliance" I've tried transporting in my CM is a euro-style oven (60 x 60 x 50 cm) which fit with plenty of space to spare.

By the way, I love the picnic table on the roof too.

 

Yes, ALL4 = AWD. In North America, ALL4 is only available on the Cooper S and JCW.

That said, I test drove a Cooper automatic and it felt surprisingly peppy. This was after having driven the One automatic (98 hp) first, which felt like a slug.

 

weak audio system, used to my brothers a6, pink floyd sounds unreal, cannabis does help though haha.

 

Wondering if you are referring to the base sound system? I am very impressed with the H/K audio upgrade..... well worth the $750. Can play loud for when all the glass is open, with no distortion at all....loads of power, and the sub goes deep and very punchy. very good speaker placement as well.

Finally, a car with the door speakers mounted high where your leg does not block the sound!

 

Traded in my '06 Xterra and picked-up my first Mini today. '14 CM Black, Cold Weather Package, Sport Package, Premium Package, H/K audio, Maintenance package, Extended bumper to bumper, 18's in Blk, 6-spd manual (of course). Wanted leather and connect with Nav, but I traded those for worry free ownership over the next six years.

Pros:

• Feel. My X was shaking over bumps. CM's Handling is tight.
• Height: Lower than a truck & higher than a car =
• Sound: Audio is very good. Would like deeper bass, but overall very good
• MPG: Put 40 miles on today. In the Xterra that would have cost me $25 in gas. CM is $5

Cons into Pros

• It rained today, the day I got my new R60. The way I see it, my Cm was baptized because if you're lucky enough to own a Mini, you're lucky enough.