i originally posted this in the "waiting for 2012 thread".....thought it might be of interest here....

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this probably won't make waiting any easier, but

THE WAIT IS WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i have had my countryman S All4 for 5 days, and i am still giggling every time i drive it!

i can't wait to get past the "break-in" RPM limit......i think that will bring out uncontrollable laughter.

a couple notes so far (first 250 miles):

1)my digital speed in the tach is spot on with the center speedo, all the way up to 100mph

2)according to the instantaneous MPG readout, at 55-60MPH, i get better MPG in 5th gear than 6th gear (35-36 in 5th, 30ish in 6th)....this may change as the break-in completes

3)the pirelli RF tires (i have 18" wheels, 225/45-18 tires and sport suspension) are harsh riding (i did bump the pressure from 32 to 38, 38 being listed in the OM as the pressure for ALL SPEEDS and ALL LOADS), but the handling and stopping abilities are unbelievable, i did a 100mph to 0 "panic stop"....UNBELIEVABLE BRAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!

4)i am perfectly happy with the "stock" radio, in fact i am glad i did not get the big $$$ upgrade radio, the FM HD reception is very good, better than the aftermarket HD receiver in my sonoma p/u...going to play with the am radio today

5)rear visibility is much improved with the back seat headrests removed

6)the manual gearbox is really a 5 speed + overdrive, there is a "notch" to get into 6th similar to getting into reverse.....1st thru 5th, the shifting is very slick, among the best i have ever driven

7)over the first 250 miles i am averaging 27.5 mpg, according to the computer

8)you will find you have many more friends than you thought, they will want to borrow your new mini!!!!!!!


scott

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i am overall extremely happy with my new mini

planning my "mods attack" now, on the list, in no particlular order:

buy a compact spare

sidestrips in white, as per the mini tape on stripe, but painted

a bright blue pair of stripes from front to back, top to bottom, painted

BOV valve

downpipe back exhaust

16" winter wheels/tires

2 inch lift kit

skid plate

strut brace front and rear

LED bulbs everywhere

learn NCS-Expert to fix alarms caused by LED bulbs

remove turbo "muffler"

ureathane bushings everywhere

find alternate cupholders (new mounting location)

make the exterior chrome "go away"

scott

 

i sugest 17' for winter tyres.. with all4 you domt will need never chains.. and 17 are very good balanced betaween confort and sporty driving!

 

i was looking at 215/75-16 or 215/70-16 all terrain truck tires (AT)

they are 1.5 inches greater diameter and i think would be great with the lift kit for winter and "gentle offroading"

otherwise, i agree, 17" would be the way to go

 

I have been figuring out a way to go to a taller tire with my 17" rim. 55 seems to be the max I can figure out with a 215 size. May hold off on mods like this, and lift kit/skid plate until it's paid off and/or out of warranty.

 

2) That's pretty interesting. It may be that you're using the turbo in 6th. It's hard to tell when it's spinning with the standard intake.

6) Someone here posted the gear ratios, and 5th is actually an overdrive gear as well. I don't have a notch to get into 6th, so I don't know what that's about.

 

i actually knew that 5th was an overdrive too, but i was more referencing that 1-5th shift much easier than into 6th

5th to 6th is not a straight line like 3rd to 4th, there is a "gate" requiring a slight movement to the right from 5th to get into 6th

i may jump into a demo at the dealer saturday for comparision

 

Depends on where he lives, the more sidewall you have the better traction you will have in snow obviously, but people always over dramatize how much snow they actually will have to drive in and forget the tire usually spends most of its time out of the snow/ice. Unless you live in really cold area that gets a ton of snow and the roads are sparkly plowed, I agree a 17" performance snow or even a really good snow specific all season (Nokian WRG2s) is a better choice.

 

5th to 6th is a straight line in my car. I'm trying to remember if it was more difficult when I first got it and is now "broken in", but I don't remember for sure.

 

i work at a small airport in wisconsin, when it snows, due to the hanger configurations, we get a lot of drifting every time it snows.

it can be days to a week before we get plowed and right now, i am one of the few that can get around with my 97 sonoma 4x4 with 235/75-15 AT type tires.

before the AT tires, i had all-weather type tires and i could not get through the snow

subarus and audis and bmw x-drives etc are totally useless, not enough ground clearance and lack of traction in deep snow

and i expect my mini will be also be unable to get thru, unless i get the 2 inch lift kit and the 215/70-16 or 215/75-16 AT tires

there is a method to my madness

i will keep my 18 inch wheels with summer high perf tires for the 8-9 snowfree months

depending on the difficultly of installing the lift kit, i may install and remove it seasonally with the 16" wheels (i have a car lift and spring compressors)

looking at the pictures of the lift kit, it looks like they mount on top of the struts under the shock tower

scott