Monday I sold my Clubman and picked up a 2014 green All4 Countryman S. The Clubman ran flawlessly for the last five years but I wanted something with all wheel drive and just a little more space to take skiing. So far I love the car, it feels just like driving the Clubman. After reading some of the posts on this site I hope I made a good choice.


12" of new snow here today and the Countryman stayed home in its garage, its just to clean to drive in this weather,

 

Nice! I ordered a second All4 on Saturday and the sales rep told me that 2015 or 2016 hardtop will have an all wheel option.

 

Excellent!

You are going to really like All4. BMW put a really good, full-time AWD system in the CM.

It's great having all 4 wheels under power at all times.

8" of snow,freezing ice overnight here in Central Ohio.

My wife went to work and reported that she had no issues whatsoever. so nice being able to take off from a light in the snow/ice with no slippage or drama...

AND don't forget, that All4 system is fantastic when you want to attack the twisties in nice weather....the rear end of the car rotates really well through corners and does not step out on me at all..really inspires confidence when driving the car hard...

 

Why the hell do people say this, a CM is nothing like a Clubman to drive, it's heavy, has lots of body roll (non sports suspension models) and if you have sports suspension is overly stiff. I could push my Clubman around corners 10/15kph faster than I can in my CM.

I'm sure people like to think they are the same to justify their purchase and to make themselves feel good about buying a bad MINI.

 

Congrats!

Dont be skeerd. . .your CMS will tackle that 12" with no problem!! Go out and pop it's cherry!


90% sure my CMS will traded for the ALL4 Hartop!!

 

Someone sounds bitter.

 

um yea..

for the OP. I actually drove a Clubman S and an ALL4 CM S(they didn't have a JCW for me to test drive), both with sport suspension, back to back, on several switchbacks, double apex, and decreasing radius corners near our local dealership. I love the Clubman and take every opportunity to drive one !

No question the Clubbie was more nimble(sits lower, less weight, chassis geometry, etc), but I was totally blown away by how well the CM handled with All4. it really helps equalize the physical differences between the cars. When I really pushed the Clubman, it was very easy to get the rear end to step out, requiring steering/throttle input to straighten it out. The same corners, and the same entry speed in the CMS All4 were no muss, no fuss. Rear end tracked perfectly, and rotated so easily.

IMO, its an impressive package for what it is: a multi-people mover...I have driven a LOT of small SUV's before we tried the CM All4, and it was far and away our favorite.

 

You should have gotten the All4. I can take corners just as fast in my CMAll4 as my wife's Clubman, and with more confidence.

And honestly dude just give it a rest. Go post on the Audi forums and quit bashing the CM in every thread. We get it, you don't like it. I don't know if you're trying to "save" us or what, but move on with your life.

 

Amen brother Chrunck!

 

It's enough already with the douchebaggery. Just because YOU don't like a car doesn't mean you need to keep bashing it over and over again (you have posts like this in other threads). I don't really care about your "right" to express an opinion. Try having a responsibility to not offend other people at every turn. None of the Countryman people repeatedly post stupid comments about the other models, so try taking a hint from them.

 

You do realise that at speed the All4 transfers all the drive to the front wheels, it's not a performance AWD system it's a traction AWD system to help get the thing moving on slippery surfaces. It isn't an STi or EVO performance AWD system. So really the All4 isn't helping you at all in fast corners, it's no different to a FWD CM but with extra weight.

I like bitching about it because it's a **** MINI, it makes me sad because I've owned 4 MINI's to date, this one is a disgrace to the brand and should never have been called a MINI, what pisses me off is that people who aren't really MINI people have bought them and now BMW is going to really screw the brand up buy building more oversized stupid MINI's like this.

 

KiwiRob,

Just because you didn't like your CM doesn't give you the right to bash it in every thread. GTFU!!! I know that opinions are like A--holes everybody has one. Right now you have the biggest one. Please take your comments elsewhere. Like to a Suzuki or Saturn Forum.

 

^^ What he said. ^^

 

You do realise that this is not true. Are you not doing your reasearch or just making it up as you go?

http://www.motoringfile.com/2011/12/...tem-clarified/

 

I rarely take corners at 80mph, which is the speed at which the system reverts to 100% FWD for efficiency purposes

I am fully aware of when the rear axle is under power when driving the car hard. Anyone who doesn't should not be taking corners in a "spirited" way, IMO.

LA, thanks for posting the link.

 

It's my 4th MINI (R50, R53, R55, R60) and I love it. I'm not sure what you mean by "screw up the brand" but they're tapping a new market, which is great for profits. They get to keep their old customers and gain new ones. The hardtop is still there for purists, and the CM is there for those that want a bigger car. You sound like all the whiners that say the Cayenne shouldn't exist for completely illogical reasons. The CM is the second best selling MINI month after month, and you're saying MINI should stop making it? Why?

 

Interestingly, it's actually the hardtop that is becoming less Mini-like, and "ruining the brand" as some say . Moving the speedo to be inline with the driver's view behind the steering wheel, making the tach a half-moon shaped afterthought, center conical vents gone in favor of BMW square ones....the auto climate control system shaped like the Mini emblem-also gone on the new F56 hardtop. And of course, window switches moved to the doors.

The CM is not diluting anything within the Mini brand. it's Mini's senior mgt listening to what Joe Q. Public says in JD Power surveys regarding ergonomics.

Within just a few years, Mini interiors will have the same sterile look and feel as BMW's, and it has nothing to do with Mini expanding the line of models they sell.

That's why I bought an R56 while I still can and am driving 7 hours each way this weekend to pick it up...

 

Yes, please. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

Exactly my thoughts....

 

Cant we all just get along !

 

Hey kiwi rob not all of us have the luxury of being a single guy who has no need to drive others with us. Some of us have friends and families who like to do things. Thus the all4 CM is the perfect solution. I think we all realize it is not as nimble as it's smaller relatives but to say it is not worthy if the MINI name is obsurd For many of us the CM is the perfect blend of fun and function. I think it is time you realize that. Motor on. BTW on a non related thread I take it you are one of those MINI owners who do not wave back to us CM owners

 

It would help if your read the entire article otherwise you look like a complete tool



and



On a dry road it's not going to make much if any difference to the average driver, it'll take someone with serious skills to make that difference felt.

 

Window switches on the doors is where they should have always been. In 1969 Austin moved the speedo from the centre of the dash to in front of the steering wheel, more Mini's where built like this than with the central speedo. It was BMW who reinstated it, but it was never practicle and allowed my wife to see how fast I was going, which often lead to damands to slow down.



I don't see a Mini emblem on the climate control in this picture either.

 

KiwiRob has a 3 kids, and a wife with an BMW X5.


I wave, I've been waving since I had my first Mini back in 1989, and kept waving when I bought my first BMW MINI in 2002, I've owned 2 original Mini's and 4 BMW MINI.

 

Ah yes, the troll comes out late at night.