Hi everyone! I've spent a lot of time in this forum reading up on all your thoughts on the countryman. I currently live in NYC and haven't been driving daily in about 4 years, only when I go to my parents' in CT. I am about to move back to the burbs and am dying for the countryman! I've been tracking the changes for the 2013, as I think that might be my next car, however I have some questions for you veteran countryman owners:

1. I have a 2004 Jetta TDI Automatic that gets about 45mpg. I've never really tracked how far this gets me (except when I was in college and drove to DC on half a tank), and considering I haven't really paid for gas in 4 years, I'm nervous about sticker shock. The mileage on the non-S is better, but it seems that the consensus on this forum is that the S is more fun all around. Does the gas difference between trims make a big difference?

2. I test drove the 2012 all4 a month ago and the dealership pretty much said they don't even get in any other trims since it's the northeast and most people want the all4, but I can always order something else. Is it really worth it? He made it sound like no big deal, just an extra $1,700 or so, but the mileage goes down again...

3. I've read a lot about rattling in the car after a few thousand miles, mostly on the 2011 models. Have the 2012 models been having this problem as well?

4. Looking at the center console to check my speed seems odd (but a mini quirk) - Is this something you just get used to?

5. I'm only 5'3 and I have this weird thing about being able to see over the front of the car. In my jetta, I have a pump to lift the seat. I don't remember if the countryman has this as well - it is necessary!!

Sorry for all the weird questions! Just trying to make an educated purchase and this forum has been very helpful thus far!

 

First, welcome to NAM!

1. The mileage compared to a TDI will seem bad, regardless of S or not. Given the torque in the TDI, I think the base Cooper will feel really sluggish to you. There is nothing wrong with the base, but the S is just peppier and faster.

2. Order what you want. FWD S with winter tires would be my choice, but the snow chain Gestapo in California is why I went for the All4. You might have seen posts reporting clutch and other driveline problems on All4's that don't seem to affect the FWD models. If I had to it again, that alone would push towards FWD or another AWD car.

3. My 2012 has over 12k miles and has been problem free. I don't like the clutch feel and the carpets are really cheap, other than that, no problems.

4. Yes, but if you're concerned about it, order one without the console.

5. The seat has height adjustements.

These are my opinions, others will vary

 

It's funny, I've seen more posts with people going from VW to MINI. I went from a Touareg to a CMS ALL4 so gas mileage was a special treat. I only have 3K miles since August and I'm still shocked when I fill up expecting that it should be much more - even with the higher prices. I also haven't had any problems with my car (knock wood).

My Touareg was an All4 and I live in Massachusetts so I wouldn't have it any other way - did not want to deal with winter tires.

I'm 5'4 and also like the feeling of looking over - I can pump the seat to get there - did have power seats on Touareg but can totally deal with self-adjusted seats.

In the Tach in front of you is a digital speed gauge - I look at that mostly.

All I can say, I have been a MINI fan for a long time but needed 4 doors (kids and dogs). I have a son in college and was able to get most of his things in my car in the fall. My husband wanted to keep the Touareg for that reason - CMS proved him wrong! I absolutely love my car - bought it off the lot - wish I had a few different options but not enough to bother me - car is just too much fun to drive!

Also this forum is the best! Great people, great tips!

 

1) Mileage between the 2 is much different, but they type of gas required is.

2) Its a pretty good AWD system, and makes for a better drive IMO. You'll get the money back in resale. Slight power loss and 1mpg difference. But in that area its a no brainer.

3) Nothing changed on the inside, but thats what a warranty is for

4) theres a digital readout in the tach, most use that. the center speedo is more for design.

5) seat is height adjustable. might consider the rear park assist though, the back head rests are quite high.

 

2 months with my Countryman S, FWD. love it. no rattles, other than my wifes sunglasses that she has in the door pocket. :-) I'm at 3300 miles or so and it is still the most fun I've had driving in a long time.

My wife is on the shorter side so she loves the seat adjuster that lets her move it higher. I have it all the way down, but I'm 6'2" so there you go.

I live in TX now, but just moved from KY, if I was still in KY would have bought the AWD as they get enough messy weather to make it worth it... where you live, I'd most def go with AWD just for the added safety... also, you won't get the torque steer around corners as much if your flooring it :-)

Buy one, they are a blast.

 

1. We also have a TDI (2010) and the mileage does not compare. We regularly get about 18-20 MPG *more* in our TDI than the Mini given the same roads and driving style. That being said, the CMSA4 gets good mileage for an AWD sporty hatch that comfortably seats 4.

2. If you are any kind of driving enthusiast, you will want the All4. Drive them both back to back, and the FWD CMS is just an abysmal torque-steer fest. As others have said, the MPG difference is only 1, but the driving experience is miles apart.

3. My car has some rattles, but none that are excessively annoying. More annoying than the rattles are the constant trips to the dealer. At 48k miles, the CM has proven to be the least reliable car I have ever owned, and the only car I have ever owned that has left me stranded while still under warranty. My 50 year-old Pontiac is more reliable.

4. There is a redundant speedometer readout in the tachometer. You'll never look at the pie plate speedo.

5. As others have said, there is a height adjustment that works identically to your Volkswagen.

 

Just had an S loaner...torque steer is insane. All4 drives better, feels better.

 

Love my 2012 CMs non-all/4. 11,000+ miles and nary a rattle. Responsive, peppy, fun driving. 8 months in and I am still in LOVE. I am 5'3" and the seat pump is my friend. I wish it took regular gas--but I get mid 20s city and low-mid 30s highway. I cannot believe how much stuff I can cram into the boot! And it is positively HUGE with the seats folded down!.

 

I hated the torque steer on the FWD, so I had to get the All4. It'll help with the Colorado winters and the extra control in turns is awesome, even on dry pavement.

Also, if you're worried about premature clutch wear, get the automatic. That's what most most reviewers recommend anyway.

 

thanks for all the great responses!! I completely forgot about the digital MPH reader, so that takes care of that. I was looking into a new Jetta or Tiguan, however the new ones are just not the same; the jetta body style is completely different, not to mention it's bigger, and the tiguan's mileage is abysmal. The mini seems like the perfect sized car. I wish it had a backup camera, but I think the rear assist should be good enough.

The 2013 all4 is already at a much higher price point, I'm trying to decide which features are worth getting. Is there anything you got that you found you did not really need? I'm thinking cold weather package, tech package (sans navigation), and xenon headlights are a must. I'm intrigued by the adaptive headlamps, and sunroof (my jetta has one now), and the comfort access.

 

You should also consider an A3 tdi.

 

The must vs. nice to have equipment will vary from person to person, but here are my thoughts on your list if you're trying to keep the MSRP reasonable:
- Cold weather pkg - makes sense where you live, although on the 2012 you could get the heated seats as a standalone option for cheaper than the package. That's what I went with.
- Tech package - I skipped that and went with bluetooth and iPhone cable. No regrets
- Xenon's are a must IMO. I have the adaptive version in another car and it's kind of cool, but not needed unless you drive a lot of twisty country roads. I find no benefit to the adaptive function on the highway and in well lit urban areas which represent 90 plus percent of my driving.
- Sunroof is nice if you want a brighter interior, but it creates a ton of noise whether just cracked or fully open. I end up closing mine after a couple of minutes on the highway.
- Comfort access - I did not get it for the MINI but have it in another car. Since I don't have a purse and don't like stuff in my pockets, I always end up inserting the key in the dash anyway. If you have a purse and want to just leave the key in without fishing for it, it's a nice feature.

The only other must have I can think of is auto wipers. They were a stand alone option on the 2012.
I thought long and hard about adding the garage door opener but that added $600 and I thought that was a total rip off. I skipped it and keep a small opener velcroed into the upper door pocket where no one can see it - cost was $24.

I was trying to keep it around 30k and I failed but I feel I got the equipment that I had to have. I'm attaching our build sheet for reference.

 

Also a Jetta Sportwagen TDI, it's on the same platform as the A3/Golf/GTI, not the Jetta sedan.

As for options, the one option I believe is truly mandatory is the Harmon/Kardon audio. The base audio system is just awful.

 

I was just going to say - isn't the A3 a glorified Golf and about $10k more? I have to admit that part of my love of the mini is the aesthetic, and the golfA3/Wagon are just not the same. I'm in my 20's and don't have a family to haul around (only a boyfriend and a dog) so I wanted something a bit more exciting than a wagon. The A3 looks very nice on-screen, but it would also end up being $7-10k more for the same features sans AWD. Although it would be diesel, so something to think about.

FredoinSF, thanks for the input! There are many twisty roads with no streetlights up here, so I think the adaptive xenons would be nice. I have never used autowipers - I feel like I'd get annoyed that they would turn on automatically with a drop of rain.

 

You're welcome!

Given country roads with low light, it sounds like adaptive might be a good option for you.

About the auto wipers, you have to push a button at the end of the wiper stalk before they come on, and you can turn them off by pushing the same button. They default to "off" when you restart the car. You can also change the sensitivity to suit your taste so basically you push the button and forget about it - except when you go to a car wash and you need to make sure they're off. The standard wipers are just a single interval or full on and that's what we have in the 06 MINI. It's one of those things where once you have the auto wipers, it's hard to go back and constantly mess with it when it's misting and the interval is too short.

 

My must have list:

• Harmon Kardon stereo
• Bluetooth/iPod connector (Get this even if you don't have an iPod. It also gives you a USB port so you can plug in a thumb drive and play MP3s)
• Cold weather package
• Manual transmission
• All4 S
• Sport leather (the lounge leather I have now doesn't provide enough lateral support)
• Flat load floor (might be standard in 2013)
• Auto dimming mirrors (also dims the side mirrors!)

Things I would NOT recommend:

• Comfort access (you have to use the keyfob to lock the doors and turn off the radio, lights, etc anyway)
• Adaptive headlights (cool, but expensive for something that doesn't seem very useful)
• Sunroof (heavy for a small car, the tinting is too light, and the screens are mesh ... makes the interior so hot)

Other considerations:

• Mini Connected gives you a cool display, video playback from iPod, and easier access to some controls. You also get Bluetooth audio streaming.
• There's a MUCH better tire selection for the 18" than 17" wheels.
• However, the 17" stock tires have less road noise and are more comfortable than the 18"stock tires.
• There are several reports of premature clutch wear on the manual transmission.
• Automatic wipers are nice, but I could live without them.
• I could live without auto climate control too, but there are some reports of the normal A/C being very weak. (Not sure why ... it's the same compressor)
• Though it's possible to upgrade the speakers and amp later, it's a huge hassle and expense. Get the Harmon Kardon now unless you really don't care about sound or enjoy custom builds.
• Get the color and interior options you want up front. They are expensive to change later, like blackout lights and trim.
• Compare the leatherette, sport leather and lounge leather before you order.
• If you thought the road feel was harsh on 18"wheels, wait till you try it with sport suspension too.
• If you get buckets in the back, order the split rail. This lets you lay things flat across the floor.

 

Thanks for such a detailed response! I wasn't planning on splurging on leather seats; I'm fine with leatherette as long as it's not cloth. Did you notice a comfort difference?

I also wasn't going to get the auto climate control because I would never use it, but if there is a difference in the air conditioning quality then I think it's definitely a consideration.

Also good to know about the sunroof. I like having mine in the fall when the weather is nice and I'm driving in Connecticut, but that's really the only time I use it. Do you find that even when it's closed and covered there is still heat coming in? I read about people having leaking problems too...

 

We own both a CMS All4 and a 09 VW Sportwagen TDI (both with manual gearbox). The lifetime average of the TDI is 40.7; while the CM is 29.7 (similar driving). However I would note on short trips (2-5 mi) when engine is cold, the CM gets the same or BETTER mileage, due to the longer warm-up time for the diesel engine.

 

i have a 2012 cms all4 built 03/2012

i have the standard a/c system

when it was over 100F and humid last summer, the air coming out of the vents was 48F

the standard a/c is just fine

the rest of my options are in the footer of this post

scott

 

The leatherette in the Mini is good quality, comparable to the leatherette in our Jetta and my previous BMW X3. However, unlike the Jetta or X3, the Mini's is not perforated, and leds itself to, shall we say, persperation issues in the summer. Never had this problem with any other car, cloth, leather, or leatherette.

As for the auto climate control (ACC), you say you would never use it, and that's the point. You set it for a temperature and then never touch it again. In my experience BMW has really good ACC programming, the system was excellent in my X3 as well. On the CM loaner I had for a while with no ACC, I was constantly fiddling with the tiny temp and fan controls to get the cabin to the right temperature. With the ACC in my car it stays at 70 and is always at the right temp. I think it's worth the money.

Agree with detours on the sunroof. I never had a problem with it making the car too hot, and like you I like to keep it open on fall/spring days, but the CM sunroof is LOUD when it is open or vented above about 45 MPH. Forget driving on the highway with it open, you can't hear yourself think. For around town it is nice, but if you are on the fence about it, don't bother.

Very odd, we have the exact same cars as you, but both of ours are autos. For similar driving, our TDI gets about 5 MPG more than yours, and our CMS gets about 2 MPG less than yours. That's the advantage of a well-programmed DSG vs a torque converter, I guess. Don't even ask what the 6.5L GTO gets...