I'm Back In A Countryman
 

I wondered at the time in July 2017 how long it would take before I would back in a Mini Cooper. I had just traded my 2012 MC S Countryman for a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. I made the deal because I decided I was not going to a one car garage but keep my 2003 Z4. Even though I had two vehicles that were used and liked, both of them were not used enough. I had no plans to tow a small trailer and knew the Countryman could get me to the same places to tent camp that my FJ had taken me in Colorado and Utah. The thought of downsizing to a one car garage wouldn't go away. IF I were to make the change, what better combination could I get besides the Countryman with the sport package. I can go fast and I can get off road, all in one car. It's perfect for what I want to use it for.

I ended up with a 2015 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4, cosmic blue. It's raining off and on today so any photos will have to be taken and added later.

I will look through the forum for any information I can find on the 2015 model. I know that customer reviews can be taken with a grain of salt but at the same time there is good honest information from those reviews. I must admit in all the years I have had Mini's, FJ's, and Z4's I have been very lucky and have not had to experience all the bad stories you read sometimes on forums or reviews. This Mini was a one owner lease, with documentation that all maintenance had been preformed as scheduled. I have looked everywhere under the car, sides, inside and out, finding nothing damaged or dinged.

What can I expect or look out for in a 2015 model?

It's great to be back in a Mini Countryman.

Same thing you had to "look out for" in your 2012 model.

The more I drive this car the more I like it.

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I will probably tint the windows as dark as the state allows. I am thinking about switching out the wheels for the same oem design in black.

Your CMS All4 looks gorgeous in that dark blue! I went with the silver 18" Fan Spoke wheels with 225/45/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires (non-runflats) and it made a huge difference in the look and feel of our Countryman S All4. We had the same wheels & tires as yours....while they are ok, they just don't do it for me! MINI makes the optional 18" Fan Spoke wheels in satin black as well....just a thought!

Thanks. I was looking for another Black R60 at the time but when I saw the dark blue and then another photo here on the forum with the same setup I had before with tinted windows and the same black wheels ... I knew the dark blue would work for me. I have no doubt your set of Michelin's make your ride so much smoother than the run-flats. Those are good tires for a R60. I'll have to do some research about going off-road with the larger 18" wheel. I have found this car can get me off the grid quite aways for my tent camping. I am thinking for that type of driving the engineers may have decided on 17" wheels for the specific model. I will consider your suggestion though.