You are correct. A co-worker of mine is about to buy a Tahoe. When asked if she remembered the $4 a gallon gas that we were buying not very long ago she just replied with a blank stare. Go figure.

 

It's because they're giving them away.

 

Just because something is free or cheap doesn't make it a good deal. With the way car sales are now new & used, there are scads of deals out there for the smart shopper.

 

I bring this thread back to life in the name of...... Can we some how harness the AWD tranny to fit the Regular S. if so i say we hould definitley go thru with it so that I can vistit the parts department. i bet it would be a nightmare trying to fit it though.

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/06/...mini_in-depth/

 

AWD in the MINI would be great... AWD like the Suburu WRX used (performance-based) not the kind that helps you drive in the snow, I mean.

Does anyone know if they've decided on the Coupe yet? I heard a rumor that the 2-seat MINI might have AWD (which is, in a word, SEXXXXXXXY). The coupe might just be the car that convinces me to sell Dawn (don't tell her, though!).

That crossover though? Gag. Simply terrible (IMHO of course).

 

I was reading in last months Top Gear mag that there are rumors that MINI might be joing the WRC next year, so I wonder if they would be running an AWD Coupe? They were also saying that Fiat might be joining as well.

 

Rumors on the WRC front say it would be the SUV.

I for one would like to see the coupe be rear wheel drive, but I think we all know that is not going to happen. It would be nice if BMW would take that chasis and make a rear wheel drive car like a lighter smaller Z3, especially with the weight and size of the new Z4 (it is nearing Z8 size). better yet I think BMW owns the Triumph name if they made a rear wheel drive Mini based roadster and marketed it as a Triumph that would be killer, people would probably be more willing to buy a 4 cylender Triumph than a 4 cylender BMW.

 

Let's see BMW pulls out of F1 due to the huge costs involved. IMO a WRC MINI is pretty unlikely, costs are huge there too. Mitsubishi, Subaru & Suzuki have all bailed because of the huge costs to run a team in the WRC.

 

Ok to start with I must admit,I'm thinking of buying one because I live in Southern California and drive up to Big Bear most weekends and I hate chains. I know I'll hear from all the experts that AWD doesn't really help you in snow but try telling the CHP at chain control that you can drive your FWD car with skinny snow tires better in snow than that stupid looking Escalade with 22"s on it that he just let go without chains because it was AWD.
That being said I have often joked that if the Hummer keeps getting smaller and the MINI bigger they will be the same car soon.

 

Now that the car is about to become a reality, and in fact there are a number of them on road in Europe already, I'd be curious to hear how some of the original posters in this thread feel about the final production version we saw last month during MTTS?

I have a good friend here in KC who is on the list and may receive his All4 before the end of the year.....

I think the car will sell like gangbusters, because there is a strong market in this country for smallish 4dr CUV's. How it drives will be the final arbiter for me tho, I don't love the looks, but I'm OK with them....

 

Guess I was off base that MINI would enter the WRC. Glad I'm wrong, more compition is a good thing.

I think it looks like a toad, but you are right, folks will buy it.

 

After seeing it in person during MTTS I like it and will get one on order for my wife as soon as the US configurator is on-line. The configurator for the UK has been working for several weeks already.

 

Everyone's taste in cars is different. I'm sure it will be a nice car for your better half. Mine drives a Forester XT after all so maybe I shouldn't say anything about toady cars.

 

I think most Audi owners would disagree with that thought (that AWD doesn't help in the snow) - I know I would, as we have an Audi allroad that is pretty much unstoppable in the snow, and that's with all-season tires. With proper snow tires it will climb walls!

I think you will very much like and appreciate your new Countryman All4 the first time you go up the mountain in the snow, but the one thing I would say about AWD is that it may help you go, but it's not much better stopping and turning than front or rear drive, so just be aware.......

 

[QUOTE=MINIdave;3141703I would say about AWD is that it may help you go, but it's not much better stopping and turning than front or rear drive, so just be aware.......[/QUOTE]
Good point. As a guy who learned to drive in Maine with a 2wd pickup I noticed it was always the FWD and AWD Vehicles that ended up in the ditch. Seems they gave the drivers plenty of ability to go fast, just not the control after that. I had a 4Runner and rarely put it in 4wd for that reason. I figured as long as I could still drive in 2wd I would save 4wd to get me out when I got stuck (which was rare). The problem in SoCal is none of the flatlanders know how to drive and they all want to go see the snow so CHP makes chains mandatory unless you have AWD.
I would also like to have enough room to put my powder skis inside the car. My roof box is bigger than the car.

 

We saw the Countryman at MTTS this year. We liked it and actually debated trading in the Clubman for one when they come out. I just have two problems... I love my Clubman too much and never want to get rid of it and the Countryman isn't made in Oxford. I told Robb I just don't think I would be able to drive a MINI that wasn't made in the UK. That's just me though. For now our verdict is stick with the MINIs we already have.

 

Personally I'd rather have a 2wd with real snow tires than an awd with all seasons. The snow tires will run circles around an awd with all seasons.

Now put real snow tires on an awd & you really have something. I've got a lot of miles on Audi A4 Quattro's & Subaru's. Awd + real snows FTW.

Now if I understand the system in the Crossdresser correctly it sends power to the rear wheels when the front slips. I think it may be a Haldex system. Hardly a real awd system. Part time at best.

 

So where is the countryman built? And why not in oxford?

 

It's built in Austria, at the plant that makes the 4 wheel drive parts - Steyr-Puch.

I think the reason they build them there is that they have no more capacity in Oxford, don't forget the Coupe and Roadster are coming too.