I took Fenimore to the local dealer yesterday for a check-up. (He's in fine health, they tell me!) As a loaner, they gave me a MINI Cooper S Countryman All4. Quite a mouthful, that!

No offense to those who own and love these, but I didn't care for it at all! It was an S, but didn't really feel any faster or more powerful than my base model Cooper. The extra weight of the CM, plus the drag of the AWD system, plus the fact that it had less than 700 miles on it when I picked it up were likely to blame for that.

The handling was respectable, but the car was not nearly as responsive as Fenimore. I'm sure the weight hurt there, as well as the lack of the sport suspension option.

I didn't care for the driving position. The seat was very high up, even when set down as far as it would go. I felt like I was perched on the car, as opposed to cocooned inside the car. The support wasn't as good, and there was a bulge in the top of the seat that caught me right at the shoulder blades, which was quite uncomfortable. The seat heaters were interesting, and quite appreciated by my wife. I might get used to them in time, but I found the heat to be kind of disconcerting.

This car did not do the "burble and pop" that the previous MCSa that was a loaner did, even with sport mode selected. I don't know if that's specific to the Countryman, or if it's this particular vehicle.

The clutch pedal (the CM was indeed a manual!) was quite soft, and the engagement felt funny. I think it needed bleeding, which is weird in a 600-mile car. Or it could be that the CM All4 clutch is just plain soft.

It also had an annoying rattle somewhere in the back. I didn't track it down, but it was annoying.

I am very glad to be back in Fenimore today! That's the car I have come to know, and the car that I ordered just the way I wanted!

 

I haven't driven a CM yet, but I had a chance to track a 2012 base Cooper at a HPDE day the dealership put on... I was really surprised at how punchy and quick the base R56 is.

 

While I can see the reality of Mini creating many new models, I will always enjoy my current hatch or the next hatch. I am an old fart who has owned a multitude of sport cars, including a few Ferraris. The current minis( r53 and r56 ) are incredible,sporty cars.

 

I had a 2013 CMS All4 and I actually loved it =/ Granted, I've been thinking about upgrading from my MCS Hardtop to a CMS and that may have been why.

Yes, it was heavier and didn't have as much pickup, but for an "SUV" I thought it was decent and still felt like I was driving a MINI. To each their own, though! If you don't like the CMSes, I'd stick to your little guy

 

I guess I'm not an SUV person.

Fortunately, we don't all like the same things, so it's easier to tell us all apart.