Not sure what to make of this, but I have buyers remorse or I regret purchasing my second MINI. I have an 09 Cooper S which is still running (157k miles) and oddly enough is back to being my daily driver even though I recently picked up an F60 JCW. The F60 in my opinion is not a MINI... It's sold by MINI and has MINI badging sort of drives like a MINI, but not like a gen1 or gen2 S. It's just not what I thought it was going to be 10 years later. I test drove it (15mins), thought this is my second MINI in hand and starting writing up the paperwork. I didn't think the refresh of interior from the classic MINI, gen 1 or 2 was going to throw me for a loop or be something I couldn't bare, but that is not even the half of it. The seats are uncomfortable maybe that is because I am 6'1" (whether thigh extenders are in the open or close position), the seating position is like I'm in a school chair, so upright I can't tell if I am sitting down to eat at the dinner table, the shifts are hard to transition between, the cargo space is less than most crossovers or SUVs, I absolutely hate that I cannot synchronize both the driver and passenger AC zones, the sound while Harman Kardon is supposedly top-notch or reputable, I beg to differ. Again maybe this has to do with the interior bits of the MINI or my ears -- I have to turn the treble up just to get clear voice when I am listening to music that has words, it's plain stupid the temperature goes up or down by 2 degrees instead of single degrees, in cruise control its odd that I have to feather press to increase by 1 mph or full press to go up 5 mph, exhaust isn't anything close to sounding like a MINI JCW and coming from an Audi that makes 333hp, 228hp does not cut it. I thought being I had an 09 that at the time of sale was only 189hp and by upgrading it throughout the years getting it to 210hp I thought it would be enough for me. Frankly, what it comes down to is being completely uncomfortable. To gauge perspective my 09 S is 2" off the ground with BC coils and winter tires and is more comfortable than an 18 JCW with run flats (and maybe its just the run flats, because as soon as they wear they are not replaced) and stock JCW suspension. It is such a rough ride altogether. At the end of the day this is all purely subjective and someone else might think I am all wrong.

Maybe I am just old now and 10 years ago I wouldn't have cared or maybe like the Audi S4 I traded it in for I liked that it was luxurious and comfortable when I wanted it to be and mean, aggressive and quick in an instance by just the press of a button. It has its MINI quirks and I like that, but its not the MINI we have all come to love throughout the years, at least not for me.

To really break this down in March when I purchased it COVID really took aim and I didn't drive the car for 4 months. I also have been working remote way prior to COVID so the cars sitting, not being driven wasn't something I thought about. I went to the beach recently and after a 3 hour drive was when I really started honing in on the cars positives and negatives. It was 40 mins in that I realized my legs are killing me and its because it feels like I am sitting on a metal rung that has no cushion in my chair (or maybe I am just fat and overweight by a lot) or the fact that I have to toggle both AC zones to the same temperature or that I have to have more pressure on the stick to make each shift count (when in my 09 it is smooth as butter). I felt then I have a car that I thought would bring joy like my 09 does, my Audi did, and my Harley does. I can't believe I bought a car that I do not like all to much.

I am looking to sell it, so if you or you know someone that wants a Chili Red 18 JCW Countryman ALL4 (manual transmission) w/ 6k miles for $35,700 please let me know. It is in mint condition, fully loaded and comes with the premium and technology packages. The only thing it doesn't have is power seats. I also upgraded the headlight and taillight rings to gloss black and the door handles as well. If you don't like that look, you can just remove it and go back to chrome.

If no one responds, this at least was a good vent session for me -- Thanks in advance for all who read it.

 

I feel bad for you. You need to get rid of it and get something else. I have some more bad news, though. I bought a Forest Green with Red stripes/top, JCW, automatic, Iconic trim, power seats, with 1250 miles this past spring for several thousand less than you are asking. Best of wishes.

 

Interesting! Nothing wrong with not liking a vehicle. And the Countryman is definitely not the same as the 2-door. Based on a completely different platform (BMW X)

I don't have the JCW, i have a 2019 S All4.

SEATS - This is always personal. I find my regular lounge leather seats pretty comfy. I don't sit upright, i put the back in a more relaxed position. Do the jcw seats not adjust? I would hate that.
CLIMATE CONTROLS - I was annoyed by this too at first and complained. But now I rarely think about it. BUT MINE adjust by ONE degree increments.
HK STEREO - It's no expensive aftermarket system but I have no complaints. I probably like it better than my Audi A4 B&O system.
BOOT SPACE - Well, it is still a MINI even though it is labeled as an SUV. We have an Audi Q5, which does have more space, but not a ton more.

Life's too short to drive a car you don't like. Just go trade it in on something you really want!

 

Seats: The JCW seats do adjust as they have manual up and down (which even in my 09 I thought it was more up and forward and it would seem that platform remains in the Countryman). They also manually slide forwards and backwards, have thigh extenders and I can recline as well. What I noticed though is my seats aren't badged with JCW and do not have all encompassing headrest. They're bucket seats with alcantara and leather, but not what I have seen in other JCW Countryman's.

Climate Controls: I think my view is tainted. I first was introduced to climate controls in my Audi S4 and they went up or down by single increments. If the car could be reprogrammed that is an easy resolution, but I doubt it can. You mention, "I was annoyed by this too at first and complained. But now I rarely think about it. BUT MINE adjust by ONE degree increments." I don't understand, you were annoyed by this, but yours adjust by one increment. So did you have the dealer program something or you never had two degree increments? Your statement is contradictory.

Harman Kardon: I guess this is just a matter of opinion because, I thought my bang & olufsen is worlds better.

Boot space: I just really noticed that it was cumbersome to pack 4 people worth of beach gear (clothes, toys, bike helmets, beach soccer *****, etc.). I was doing research thinking about how small the Porsche Macan S is and found out its boot is 15" longer than the F60. Granted the F60 has come a long way, as the R60 had no trunk space whatsoever and is just plain ugly.

My F60 is a good looking whip. I think if I could get a more comfortable seat that I will be bringing to the attention of my sales rep, it will make a world of difference; at the same time I will be on the look out for another S4/S5 or something else entirely different.

 

My price listed is the private seller price. If it were a trade-in it would be less, that's not bad news or surprised news -- It is what it is. I have never sold a car via private seller, I have never listed one and I most likely won't list this either. I find that private seller is near impossible unless its a specialty make, but I am very willing to negotiate price if someone wants to start the process to make a deal on here.

It was a mistake putting up my 14 Audi S4 B8.5 as the trade-in thinking I love MINIs so much, this SUV/Crossover will be welcoming since we could always use more space overall. At this point the problem is finding another 14-16 S4/S5 manual (gotta be a manual or its not worth driving at all) for a lesser price.

 

Just chiming in on the climate control. I have an F60 S ALL4 (2020), not JCW, but my temperature can be adjusted in 1 degree increments.

 

How did you adjust it? Can you provide instructions?

 

I just turn the **** one click. This was just how I received it from the factory.

 

your thread reads like you did something different to get it to be one increment not that you got it from factory like that. Fail, haha!

 

My JCW F60 is the same way. 1 degree increments.

 

We have a 2017 F60, and was told by the dealer, the older model F60's only adjust in 2 degree increments. I was so annoyed at this also, but just gave in eventually.

What annoys me the most is how the rear doors don't unlock when you turn the ignition off, the fronts automatically do but not the rears. You have to press the unlock button on the door to unlock the rears once the ignition is off. So many times I get out and try to open the back door and it's still locked, and I have to open the door or press the key FOB to unlock, grrrrrrr.

 

I am with you, I totally agree. What would help this if they had comfort access on all four door handles, not just the driver and passenger, something else I miss about my Audi S4. You'd think after so many years these little bits would be added and taken care of, but still they focus on something that has no impact and continue about their business.

 

Yes, to this day I still miss my S4 also, traded it in for an SQ5 cause my wife really wanted one, then she started to drive it and hated it, but loves her F60 now. It's ok, happy wife happy life but man I miss my S4.

 

That is one fresh looking B8 S4. Did you end up keeping the SQ5 or trading it in? I recently purchased an OBDII adapter to use with Bimmercode, I figure maybe some of the things that drive me bonkers about the interior bits of the F60 I will be able to change. I set up a time to have a ride with the shop foreman next week to bring to light the things I have experienced, most importantly the seat issue. If we can resolve this and figure out why its hard to downshift and I can make some changes with Bimmercode, then maybe I can live with it and grow to like the F60.

 

Sold the SQ5 cause my wife dumped it on me and I felt it was to soccer mom'ish. Minute I sold it and couldn't get back my S4, I ordered a JCW.

 

the 2020 JCW F60s.. diff story imo.. i would agree that the sub 300hp F60 JCWs however if you get the JCW Pro Exhaust on them; they still sound great. However, the 2020+ JCW F60s? not like an Rxx or F56 JCW but.. just as fun in a different way. that torque and hp increase does wonders and imo is the sweet spot for JCW power in a F60.

 

have a 2020 F60 JCW also and can confirm out of factory does 1 degree increments too. i also coded mine w/bimmer code app but never touched those settings. there is a diff headunit in the 2020+ F60 JCW models vs old (ie doesn't do video playback like prev gens.. has the X1 headunit w/mini skin)

 

Having had a 2012 and 2015 S4, and a 2018 SQ5 myself, and my wife having a 2011 R60, 2012 R59 JCW, and 2018 F60 JCW, I feel like I have some insights to your concerns.

I will start off by saying that each manufacturer does some things very well, and others very poorly, even from year to year. When I went from my 2015 S4 to my 2018 SQ5, I was filled (and still am) with disappointment. Dieselgate happened, and VW has stripped everything out of their vehicles to save cash and as a result, they feel less special. Small things like brake calipers, steering wheels, and seats have been relogo'd with a simple 'S' instead of the model makes the car feel less special. Removal of grocery bag hooks to save 37¢ per car makes Audi seem desperate, and I have yet to have an Audi with a climate control system that works properly (open and close the sunroof and see what happens). My current 2018 SQ5 has a whistling coming from a vent, parking sensors which work intermittently, infotainment that locks up randomly, a clanking sound coming from the rear, and a passenger seat airbag sensor that doesn't work (yeah, I have a $67k turd ). The dealership experience locally is so bad that I don't even ask them to look at issues anymore since they either cant fix them or return a car in worse condition than when it was brought in (ask me about the 35 mile joyride a tech took in my last S4). Thankfully, my SQ5 is a lease and soon-to-be someone else's problem

I will agree with you, coming from an R56 to an F60 probably was quite a shock, moving from a small hot hatch into what is basically a BMW X1, a soccer-mom-mobile. There is definitely a lot of BMW DNA in the new MINI, which you may enjoy and embrace, or may not like at all. To remain relevant, MINI needs to market themselves to EVERYONE, not just prior and current MINI owners, which means making some compromises. Some little things bother me too, like the infotainment **** going the opposite direction of VW, or the steering wheel buttons not being as intuitive, or the temps not syncing. But, I am so burnt-out on Audi de-contenting their cars and the dealership experience being so bad, I will take the F60 all day long over my SQ5. The MINI dealership experience is AMAZING compared to our local Audi dealer (which is ironic since they have the same owner) and BMW has paid for a lot of repairs to our R60 that they didnt need to out of goodwill, and the MINI family is much less 'upity'. The hatch in the F60 is just 5" shorter than my SQ5, and the F60 is a lot more fun to drive and park. Needless to say, I will probably be leaving the Audi Camp once my lease is over and moving to a 2020+ JCW for myself.

Good luck with whatever direction you decide to go and enjoy the ride

 

I own a 12' S4 which I think is one of the last true great S4's - after that they seemed to have gone down hill - mine is a 6MT with 500hp
Bought the Countryman for my wife.
I also own an 07' S2000... with over 500hp and lots of upgrades...
Have owned plenty of other Euro vehicles Audis, VW's etc.

I agree with every single gripe you have with the Mini. If you are coming from an S4 then you absolutely will not be happy with the Countryman. If you are used to quality performance vehicles you will not be happy with the CM.
The seat position is terrible - way too high.
The MT shifter is horrid - the throws are way too long
You didn't complain about the clutch pedal either - but if you ask me it's positioned poorly - instead of pushing your foot forward to actuate the clutch you have to push it down... very odd.
The storage space is tiny - we had to buy a roof box for road trips.
It is very under powered. I feel like one of the slower vehicles on the road when I drive it. Camri's can easily take me at a light.

After 3 years I've gotten used to most of it and it's just used as a family hauler and beater to be honest...
My wife likes it too - she came from a Fiat 500 and wanted something bigger when the kid came but still small and still "quirky" - if it was my car I'd have gotten rid of it or not even bought it.

 

S4 to last gen JCW.... so apples to oranges.

You have to be in love with MINI to enjoy the CM JCW imo. The new ones with 300+hp definitely helps.
And even then, it's not the same as the 2-door hatch. IMO, if you are looking for a more performance oriented car, you get the 2-door JCW or GP.
And if you want a ton of space, don't even look at MINI. I mean, duh... it's in the freaking name. LOL Although, in this regard, I would DEFINITELY take the CM over an Audi A4/S4. Sedans are the WORST design for a vehicle from a practicality standpoint. At least they got it right with the A7 Sportback, and now A5. Nothing beats a hatchback. It's too bad more American's can't get on board with this. So many great cars we don't get here because of it.

 

I was hopeful that being I have a hot-hatch already, having the JCW SUV would be all that I needed; but boy I was way wrong. I don't like that is compared to an X1 platform, because even the X1 looks smaller then a CM. But I too feel like I have a turd. Its a good looking car/SUV, but it just doesn't do it.

I am quite disappointed! So much so I have thought about selling it on Carvana and then finding another 14-15 S4/S5 MT elsewhere. I don't like the B8 platform... IMO the B8.5 looks better all around inside and out, but motor upgrades aside is out of my wheelhouse. I left mine when I had it stock. This is actually mine here: if you stop it at the 36 sec mark, you'll see two somewhat deep scratches on the passenger door (that was where I went to home depot and loaded vinyl siding through the trunk and thru the passenger window and when unloading it I didn't get two people to help and I put two gouges in the door panel) (I've called and left an message to see if it was still available, but I think it is gone because it is not listed on the website) I didn't mind the shifter throws, but I hear you. The clutch is spot on. The real bit I noticed was that the S4 being more aggressive is stiffer and the CM is so loose I was taken back on the test drive, but figured it be nice when commuting (not that I drive to work, lol). The storage space I complain about, but I know it is a MINI it was just hard to get four peoples worth of luggage in the boot. That was want I wanted to know actually -- what is the best way (money aside) to get more power out of it? I find that it struggles with four adults, but fairly quick just me.

The problem for me is that it has to be a manual, otherwise it is not worth it. The new 2020 F60 is an auto = lame. A5, A7 they only come in auto/DSG and even the earlier years. Now if I were to pick up a 2010 R8 I could get a gated shifter and I'd totally be down, but that is at least 3 years down the road. I agree that sedans are not very pratical but they are for carrying folks although the S4 is tight in the back with two adults. Been looking for an S5 MT, but they don't seem to exist and if they do they're 200+ miles away... Not sure I want to buy any car out of state or go on a long road trip.


Honestly, if I can get more power out of it, replace the seat (because the passenger seat doesn't feel bad) I'll stick it out and be happy. I was able to adjust almost all my issues with Bimmercode so I am a bit more happy to say the least. Appreciate everyone's comments.

 

I agree some of the B8.5 touches are nice on the interior. I upgraded many on my B8 (steering wheel, pedals etc).
CM is not a replacement by any means though. The driving experience in the CM is uninspiring... I find all SUV's uninspiring to be honest.
A massive step back going from an S4 to a CM.
As I said before, the CM is my wife's and she likes it so we'll keep it... I drive it quite a bit because hauling my son around in it... and when I climb into my S4 I'm like WHoooooooo!!!!
There is no comparison between the two vehicles... the CM is not a motoring experience... but it was the only "suv" that came in a manual that was somewhat "fun" for the wife... in the 40k range... we coulda gone P car but that would have been 60-70k for a used one.

Since we are posting pics...

 

From the looks it would seem you’re doing just well for yourself. I cannot wash any of my cars or motorcycle in said garage (pretty nice drainage system you have there). All I can do at this point is wait until another S4 shows up, bc the last weeks have shown no used B8.5s available within 100 mile radius at least in a manual. I let what showed on MINI’s exterior cloud what I really wanted and sadly it was already in my possession.

I guess I could settle for a B8, but I can’t say it too would be enough and I’d be back tracking on what I had but more than what I have now; depending on how you look at it.

Live and Learn.

 

Granted your B8 looks smashing. Even though it’s not my favorite gen, it is however sitting aggressively has its black grill... If one didn’t know they may mistake it for a B8.5.

 

There are plenty of other options out there beyond the S4.
Just depends on your budget...