For those of you who are familiar with Top Gear and watched the first episode of season 16, they talked about the Countryman during the "news".
Clarkson definitely doesn't like it and think it's hideous.

How does that make you feel? What do you think about what he said?

Personally, as much as I love the show, I don't give a crap about what he said. I love the car and I don't even own one.

 

If you've followed Clarkson as long as I have that's about the best endorsement any car can get!

They also thought the Clubman was ugliest car of the year a while back and dislike all "New MINIs" because they just aren't the Classic; there is a certain cultural nostalgia on the other side of the pond that I think is often viewed as imitated but never duplicated, and some get hung up looking for that duplication and not enjoying what's sitting right in front of them.

 

Clarkson is an entertainer. If I were buying a car for him, I would be concerned about whether he liked it. Otherwise, I think it's of no consequence.

Yet reading forums, I get the feeling that many are looking for the approval of others. If you are happy with what you drive, that's all that matters.

One of my greatest joys is driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. Me, my MINI and the beautiful mountains. Gosh, do you suppose Clarkson would approve?

 

you mean Herman Munster...

 

Can't blame him. It's a really different looking MINI. I like it one day and think it is the ugliest thing the next. I really want to see one in person before I make a judgement on it.

Clarkson did say he liked the new MINI's though.

 

I don't think it is about approval. Sure, I value the opinion of a person with access to nearly every car as they have a certain perspective I do not. Would it change my mind on the car? No. Not any more than any other single review but it is fun to talk about.

 

These guys are douche's....just my opinion

 

I have an 04 Cadillac CTS-V, when Top Gear tested it, he said it looked like the car was designed with a straight edge ruler and completely trashed the car, but then spanked an Audi with it and the Stig could not catch him no matter how he tried, so regardless of performance he did nothing but complain. Thing is My V is a beast, and I am very happy with it regardless of what is said. Its hard to believe, but I've grown to love my Mini as much as my V, so nobody can tell me how I'm supposed to think. To each their own...period!

 

Clarkson is a no taste British ******. Have you seen his wardrobe? I think he's mad because it's made in Austria.

 

Consider the source.

Clarkson is a well-known Mini enthusiast. He has written about the Mini owned Minis and speaks highly of the iconic car. The Countryman is nothing like the Minis he cut his teeth on. It's nothing like the MINI, which as pointed out he's also a fan of.

As such, I would have been really surprised if he said he _liked_ it.

 

There ya go! Don't really care what anybody thinks a car looks like or is or does or whatever. I buy 'em based on what I like, not anybody else. I understand what MINI was trying to do with the Countryman, and I think they've done a great job with it. I like it; question is if I like it enough to part with the MINI that I currently love. Luckily I can't even think about pulling that trigger for another year.

 

All:

Jeremy Clarkson is a true genius. Just watch the US version of Top Gear and that becomes apparent immediately. If you have been watching Jeremy on TV for the last 20+ years, as I have, and if you have read most of his books, as I have, you will realise that when he says he doesn't like something, that doesn't necessarily make it a bad product. That said, what he says is generally right on. 2 rear seats won't fit 3. And the countryman doesn't fit the mini mold. Most reviews echo this.

Jeremy doesn't like the Porsche 911. Yet the Porsche 911 is the best car in the world. He doesn't like it because the engine is in the wrong place. He's correct.

I would be interested to see Top Gear feature the Countryman rather than just mentioning it. You can be sure that if they do, it will be spot on.

Cheers,

Paul.

 

Bullydog! FTW.

 

So you have taste, never choke your chicken, and are always impeccably dressed, yet you call yourself Fat Bob?

Give me a break.

 

I agree Clarkson is a genious. He is one funny guy. I would never base my vehicle purchases on what other people think. If I genuinely like a car and it suits my needs and budget, then I will buy. I just recently bought my MINI and I was torn between that, a WRX or a GTI. A lot of my friends reactions to my thought Of getting a MINI were like "Buy a MINI so I can make fun of you." Nobody understood, until I took them for a ride....

 

Please see my comment about the US version of Top Gear. Those guys are douches...

 

And it doesn't bother me a bit that Jeremy doesn't dig The Countryman...all good comments I agree with from Kenningtons. Jeremy always digs the Mercedes options though

Top GEAR uk is one of my favorite shows!

 

Well put. Couldn't agree more.

IMHO, in the context of MINI the Countryman is a highly polarizing design. Not only does the Countryman depart from some of the iconic MINI/Mini design language (I'm thinking of the non-circular headlights, for example), but it departs characteristically.

It's larger, heavier, sports all-wheel drive, and it has four doors. To top all this off, the Countryman doesn't _handle_ like the MINI/Mini we're all familiar with. Nearly every review I've read, watched or listened to highlights this fact.

With these departures in mind, that editorials come up with a strong opinion one way or another is not at all surprising. In fact, I'm going to speculate that the Countryman will be, on average, the least well-received MINI iteration to date for a few key reasons.

That said, despite reviews like Clarkson's, the Countryman will "succeed".

Discounting the Countryman out of hand is shortsighted, of course. We're already hearing from happy Countryman owners, and it's clear that it will fill the (fatter) niche _BMW_ desires, boosting unit sales for the group.

Beyond that reality, critics of the Countryman might well accept this addition to the MINI family; it might well turn out to be considered mini compared to what appears to be in the pipeline:

"2016 will see the launch of the biggest Mini ever with the ‘MAT’ F62":

 

I like the show and watch it whenever I have some time. I don't agree with their opinions all the time, and won't base what I buy on their taste. We placed our order based on our test drive of the CM against other vehicles in the same general size, price and functionality range. Guess we'll see in a few years if our CM holds up as well as the MCS has.
MINI has to produce vehicles that will sell, and apparently research has decided this will be profitable. If it helps keep the MINI line going, then so be it. Personally I'm waiting for a MINI pickup truck ! I'm sure Clarkson will hate that, too, but to each his own.

 

Don't forget that the reason they say they didn't like it because the vehicles he (and James May) drove had only four seats, they didn't know/care enough to check that the 5 seats is actually the standard option on all CM over here. I wonder what their opinons would be if they knew that and actually did a proper feature on it - like they recently did with the Skoda Yeti - the whole way through that review I thought about how a Countryman did ever single thing he was excited about and yet probably looks and drives better than the Yeti

 

He didn't like the Ford GT but he did buy one. My guess is he will probably get a Countryman for his self.

 

It's an entertainment/opinion show. They aren't bothered by changing facts or making up stories/info if it suits the show and/or their opinions. It's a very entertaining show, but I wouldn't take their info or opinions too seriously.

 

LMAO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY9u0LxIWJk

 

I'm buying one because after a test drive I feel that it does handle a lot like the MINI we are used to - in my case a 2003 Cooper S...

Yes it's not quite as good cornering (although it's much better than you would think for the size). But the steering is still very direct with a ton of feedback, and even though it's larger I can still feel the road.

I test drove a Juke which is supposed to "handle" better and I thought it was not that great. The steering felt really loose, I didn't think it cornered better at all - yet Car & Driver thinks it's better because you can apply a little more throttle around a corner because of the split 4Wd. Corner acceleration alone does not handling make.

I think when people see them in person they will be more accepting of them, I was really unsure about them myself until I was able to walk around and sit in one. They are MINI enough for me.

 

+1
That show is unwatchable. Utter crap.

Top Gear (UK) is pure genius.