I just drove the countrymanS out of curiousity to compare it to my clubmanS fully loaded and I must say, I was unpleasantly surprised. First of all, it sits way higher than it looks and inside the cabin feels like an SUV and definitely not like a mini in any way at all. The secret compartment on the dash has been eliminated, a small quirk that I really like on the clubmanS. Driving was extremely quiet and you just don't feel the road like you do in all the other mini models. There is no engine noise (I actually like hearing the exhaust not which you don't on this model). It cornered very well when I tested it in an empty parking lot down the road. Accelleration was as good as the clubman but I just did not feel I was in a mini. There was simply no "sports car feel" like I get in all the other models. I hear the JCW model will be lowered and feel more sporty but I think I will be sticking with my clubmanS. If I get anything down the road it will be a JCW clubmanS in black with red roof and mirrors and black wheels. I am sure they will sell a lot of these countrymen to SUV owners but not to me! Don't get me wrong, it's a great car and most likely will do terrific in the snow and ice, unlike the other minis, it's just not my cup of tea.

 

I do not think they created this for us that like our Hatchbacks & Clubman Mini's. The Countryman is for the people that want a Mini but could not have one because the Hatchback was just toooo small. The Clubman was good for small children but not great if you needed to bring your Mother-in-law with you. The Countryman fill a gap that really needed to be filled and does it very well. It has enough room for four and still has room in the rear for luggage if you want to take a vacation with your family.

I'm sure they will come out with a JCW or a WRC version that will be really fun and handle with the best of them.

This was a great Mini.


***************But so is this !!!!!!!!!!!************************



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I've got to agree on the Countryman...I went into the dealership a Subaru owner looking for something with AWD to replace my Impreza with, fully expecting to say "Yeah, that's close enough" after driving the Countryman...

Boy was I disappointed! I'd had a Chevy HHR a few weeks back while my Impreza was in the shop, and the Countryman feels very much like a competitor for that class of vehicle, rather than a Mini.

I test drove a MCS, then a MCCS, then a MCC, then the Countryman. The first 3 had HUGE grins on my face from how fun they were to drive and how well they handled. The Countryman made me feel like I was going to lift a wheel going around a broad intersection corner (turning from the second to right lane into the left lane of a 2 lane road) at 25mph...

It's very nice as a well equipped small crossover, but if it didn't have a MINI badge on it, you'd never think you were in a MINI.

 

It ain't no pocket rocket like the MCS, nor was it never intended to be.

It's a cute "ute" or those who like something that stands out a little more from the crowd.

I'm actually thinking of eventually replacing the 2002 MCS with a newer Clumban S down the line rather than going the way of the Countryman. I'll go to another manufacturer for my AWD needs.

 

+1 to the first two posters ... Clubmans rule and im so glad someone at MINI figured out a way to stay as close to the hardtop w just enough to help those needing some room (the club door is the magic - just perfect for car seat entry!)

 

I picked up a Clubman as well this weekend. I was initially in the market for a Countryman, test drove both the cars. But i liked the way the clubman drove and the room was just enough for me to fit my daughter's baby car seat..

But i agree with ronnie948 comments on they are targeted for people who are looking for a 4dr MINI.. (my wife liked the countryman over the clubman)..

 

Can you imagine how much a JCW countryman will cost??? North of 40k is my guess. I love my '05 S, but I just don't see the justification.

 

I love my MCS, more than any other car I've owned. Unfortunately, after this winter in NE, I don't think I can go another one without an AWD vehicle in the family. Ironically -- or maybe typically -- we traded the wife's AWD Vue for a Clubby this past spring, so of course we're now in the middle of one of the worst winters in recent memory. Doesn't it just figure. I hate having to choose between the expense and hassle of snow tires or depending on somebody with AWD to get to work.

Anyway, I'm also in a band and lug around keyboards and gear, so I could use a little more room than the MCS offers. I can fit everything in it right now if I push the passenger seat all the way up, but if I grab one more piece of gear or a bigger amp, I'm SOL. It's just about a lock that the Countryman will be my next car once a trade for mine is viable. I know I'm going to be giving up the go-cart with doors, but it's a compromise I think I can live with. I also hear that the Countryman isn't a total tub ... it's still a lot of fun to drive, just not quite as much fun as the MCS; so the change shouldn't be too traumatic. I hope.

 

I think you will probably really like the AWD Countryman. It will hold all of your equipment. Be better in the snow and ice. Still look and feel like your MCS in normal driving. If you are like most of us you only drive spirited about 2% of the time. Most of your driving is just transportation.

I personaly really like the size and feel of the Countryman in normal driving. It sure rides a lot smoother then my JCW. I'm waiting for them to bring out a JCW or WRC model Countryman. I don't think it will happen for another year or so.

 

I just saw on line an article about the "Paceman" concept. It is a bit more zippy than the countryman (I thought personally it had a lot of zip!).

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows...ept/index.html

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...or-Production/

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mini-...-detroit-2011/

Take note that this one has only two doors and no club door!

 

It looks nice...but is it, or the countryman, any longer a MINI at that point? The countryman is so large--about the size of a RAV4 or a Honda SUV, that to me, its no longer a true MINI as it was originally conceived. Maybe it should be called a "MAXI-MINI".

 

That's pretty sharp ... like that color! Much lighter than the True Blue in the

I finally got to test drive one just a little while ago. Two, actually ... myself a manual, and my wife drove an auto. Absolute very first impression, I was underwhelmed a bit with the manual. Then I had to remind myself that I've got a RMW tune in my MCS, so between that, the added weight, and whatever added drain the AWD puts on it, it sure isn't gonna run like my MCS. Other than that, it was very comfortable, responsive, and handling felt as crisp as could be expected with a car that's a little taller and heavier than my own. The ride was much quieter than the MCS and more compliant without being mushy. Certainly not disappointing, other than the missing throttle response (which could be cured very quickly with another tune if I ended up missing it that much). I also noticed right off the bat how much lighter the clutch is in the Countryman; and it grabbed much lower to the floor than mine, so of course I stalled it pulling out of the parking lot.

The auto, on the other hand, behaved much more similarly to the wife's Clubby. I've never seen anything like that before where an automatic trans actually felt zippier than a manual with the same engine in the same car. Maybe it was just the difference between being the driver and passenger.

Overall, I really liked the car ... the wife may have liked it even more. Luckily I have almost another year before I can even think about trading mine, so there's plenty of time to ruminate on it.



Now that I would jump on in a heartbeat. If the USNews article is correct, I'll have no problem whatsoever hanging on to my MCS for one more year to be the first in line for one of these. Ooh yeah ... can I place an order now?????

 

You felt the auto was zippier?? Really? I've only driven the manual but I can't imagine how the auto would be better.

Not having been ruined by any other Minis I felt the CM was pretty good. The suspension feel was VERY similar to my E90 M3 in comfort mode. Throttle, surprisingly, was a bit better. It had a VERY similar overall feel. Almost like my M with the seat all the way up. i really enjoyed driving it.

 

Yeah, strange as that sounds. Of course there is the difference that I drove the manual and and was a passenger in the auto while the wife drove. When I mashed the gas on the manual, it just didn't seem to want to go, even launching from a stop (and I do know how to launch ...). The auto just seemed to take off better.

But that's ok ... I think we'll let the wife get a Countryman first when her car is tradable, and I'll just hold off a couple more years for this Paceman.

 

I drove the countryman over the weekend and I think it's much quieter then my clubman...kind of like my previous e90 330i

 

Is there a Sport button on the Countryman?

 

Yes.

 

The Countryman is 15 inches longer thant the MCS, 4 inches wider and taller and certainly it's heavier. It's 6" longer than the Clubby. So it's a very different animal to drive (I haven't tried on out). That's what it sounds like reading some of these posts. Higher off the ground will make it steer differently, and steering is what makes the Mini handle like it does. But if you gotta have 4 doors then there she is.

 

It actually handles pretty nice. Even being taller, longer, heavier, and having 1.5 more doors than the Clubby, it still handles better than most other cars I've driven. Obviously it handles differently than a Cooper, but it's very good for that type of car. I was just a little disappointed in the missing throttle response.

 

I am so glad that my fellow clubmen felt the same about countryman. I test drove an ALL4 S auto. It is roomier and taller. But, I felt it was just another car. And on that note, I guess I will be driving my JCW for some more years

 

Well come on, now ... after a JCW, anything else is just another car.

 

I am hoping to get a JCW for my next MINI! sigh . . .

 

Whoever said its was the size of a RAV4 or Honda CRV is way off. It's smaller than a Honda Fit (look it up) and smaller than a GTI. It's big by Mini standards but RAV4 give me a break.

 

RAV4 is 181.9 inches long, Countryman is 161 inches. New math says that's the same size. Actually the RAV4 is about the size of the last model X3 believe it or not.

 

I was referring to the older RAV4 and CRV models more so that the newest versions, although I don't know those measurements. New math or old math, it doesn't hide the fact that, for me, the Countryman is a little too big to be a "mini".