Just playing around with something this morning and noticed the City Package is available, and the rear buckets and split rail options are gone. Glad I got the buckets for my CM when I did. I love them and they are always a talking point when someone new gets in.

 

I feel like the rear buckets keep one foot in the spirit of a MINI, while I'm aware some MCS owners feel the CM is an abomination, the more MINI moves toward SUV for the CM the worse off they'll be IMO, bench seats in the rear, what's next DVD display in headrests

 

It's a real shame the "purists" feel that way....we are brand new to Mini-picked ours up last night. Porsche is a good analogy....die-hards lost their minds when the Cayenne came out, but it handled more sharply and with more composure that any other SUV due it's Porsche heritage underpinnings. And it provided them a cash cow to develop more projects.

We put a couple of hundred miles on our CMJCW last night, and in sport mode, that car is tight. very, very direct steering and very little slop in the chassis. I drove a hardtop S model while we were at the dealer and the CMJCW just seems to me like a grown up version. Obviously it's not going to carve up a track like a hardtop, but for someone who wants 4 doors and a little more elbow room than the hardtop can give, this is one fantastic ride....

 

Great analogy , and if the"purists" were honest with themselves the redesigned BMW owned MINI isn't as pure as they might like to believe. I'm glad you are enjoying your CMJCW so far. I love the MINI but always felt like the hardtop was just that much too small, the CM solved the problem for us, and we couldn't be happier

 

Like Z06_Pilot, it is sad the purists are like this. They can go pound sand as far as I am concerned. The Countryman has caused a dramatic uptick in Mini Sales in the US. Sales are only 2nd to the Hardtop, and not that far behind it. In fact, the Countryman has more in sales than the Coupe, Roadster, Convertable, Clubman and Paceman combined!

And it does retain the spirit of Mini. People forget the purpose of Mini wasn't to be a small box and only the Hardtop lives up to that. It was meant to be a small car that was front wheel drive, peppy and a blast to drive.

The Countryman fulfills that, in spades. Yes, it is larger, but it is not meant to compete with the Hardtop and other small cars. It is Mini's entry into a market segment that didn't really exist 10 years ago, much less 50 years ago, the crossover. There are a lot of people that want a fun car that cannot handle 2 doors or the interior space (or lack thereof) in the R5* series.

If it weren't for the CM, I wouldn't have a Mini. I'd have had to look elsewhere.

I don't think the elimination of the buckets does anything to the spirit of Mini. I just thought it was a fun option to have and am sad to see it go. CMs with a bench are no less a Mini, and for some, are a must. You give up space, practicality and the option for the occasional 3rd passenger in the back. I think the consumers have spoken. I doubt Mini would have ditched the bucket if it was still a big seller. When I was looking for a CM, I only saw one on a lot of about 20 CMs that had buckets, but it was enough for me to know that is what I wanted.

As for the purists, thank goodness they aren't in control. Otherwise, the company would be stuck in their distorted view of what the "spirit of Mini" is and the company would be headed to financial ruin.

 

I am Pissed that they got rid of the Bucket Seats. That is one of the main reasons I feel.in LOVE with the Countryman. It was unique and loves the idea of have 2 separate seats for the back.

I now know I will not be ordering a new Countryman in the next 2 years (unless they bring them back) I will have to look for used, or just Not get one at all. It sucks because it was going to be my first "NEW" built MINI.

I hope they also change the interior of the Gen 3 hardtops....who know Electra might be my first and only MINI. (I doubt it will be LOL)

Sorry for ranting so much, just finally had to get it off my mind. :-)

 

I definitely think of the Countryman as MINI's Cayenne. It opens up a whole new market segment for them so they can continue to produce the lower-volume "purist" performance cars.

 

While I prefer the rear bench from a utility standpoint, I wish that MINI had kept the rear buckets as an option as well. It was an offering that no other small crossover offered and honestly it was a pretty cool setup.

 

Quick question, Countryman is abbreviated CM what about Clubman?

 

I don't know that I've ever seen someone abbreviate Clubman... maybe the extra three letters in Countryman necessitate the shortening?

 

MINI Cooper Clubman = MCC :-)

That's what I have seen

 

And the Countryman gets abbreviated CM or CMS if you have the turbo.

 

I played around with the configurator. A similiarly optioned 2014 CM came out to be $700 less than my 2013, and the 2014 would come with several more things: Sirius Radio (though I would never use it), 18" rims, and JCW interior accents (part of the new JCW Interior Package). Good things come to those who wait, I guess.

One interesting thing I did notice was that the JCW Interior Package comes with a black checkered pattern center console which cannot be changed to something else, like piano black. This would be okay if MINI also offered this black checkered pattern for the door panels or cockpit surface, but it doesn't. Not sure I would want a mismatching interior.

 

Don't forget the CMSA4 if you have the MINI Cooper Countryman S All-4.

 

or the CMSA4JCW......

 

And I thought we had long acronyms in the Air Force.

 

MCCMSA4JCW = MINI Cooper Countryman S ALL4 JCW.....lmao ;-)

 

I sense a contest coming on......

 

The "purists" need to go back in time and realize that the original MINI also produced a car called the MINI Countryman and yes it was bigger!

I bought a MINI (2 in fact, JCW coupe and JCW paceman) not because they were pure but because they're fun....and weird!

 

I was at our dealer (Mini of Las Vegas) yesterday for a drive event and our saleslady said shipments of the Mini Hardtop have stopped and shipments of the 2014 Hardtop will not resume before February or March of next year. They expect to sell mostly Countryman and Paceman until then. They have a lot of both models on the lot now. I think this gap in Hardtop shipments is going to be a problem for some Mini dealers.

By the way, thanks very much for the sales figures - that is very interesting. I notice the Paceman sales are picking up - ours was one of the 310 sold in June!

We knew the Hardtop was going to be too small for us - my wife has owned a 2004 S and 2008 S - but we are down to one car now. My only issue with driving has been the much more noticeable torque steer when you step on it in a sharp turn. I drove an All4 and that solves the torque steer issue. I almost makes me wish be had gotten the All4 option - if we were an area with snow, I certainly would have. Not too much snow in Las Vegas!

David

 

I remember my MA saying something similar to this last year and the year before, right around this time. MINI stopped taking orders on new models for the current year and wasn't yet taking orders on the following year. It was either buy what we've got, or wait a couple of months to order what you want. Their stock was pretty thin the last couple of years, but right now I see tons of all models on the lot.

 

good pull on the C-man pics of yore!

I won't post pics of our CMJCW we picked up a couple of days ago due to the real ridicule and hatred many vocal folks here on NAM have about the car....I almost didn't join the forum after reading many of those types of posts.....and trust me, I know how to take a ribbing from traditionalists........... I own a Harley V-Rod :-)

That's not my style and I don't want to feed that BS...... it's really sad....

 

Now waitaminute. No one said 'nuthin about the heretical watercooled Porsche designed motorcycle masquerading as an American icon!

(FLHRC & FLHX (wife's) owner here)

 

yep, I've heard that one. The only reason they don't steal my bike and spread it's parts all over the landscape is I have a Softail in the garage, so it keeps the barbarians at the gate

 

Ok, Softail. So I don't have to block you. Whew.



VRod owners are a different breed. I talk to them at the dealership but they refuse to join our local HOG chapter, or any HOG chapter. Maybe it is the assless chaps, jeans and vests that turn them away from us.