When the Countryman came out, my reaction was best described as "are you frakking kidding me?" And without the turbo, it is an underpowered dog. And corners like a boat. Was not impressed on a test drive a few years back.

But in December my wife got a Countryman S, and damn if the thing hasn't grown on me! Good power (and with a JB+ it could go to a better power to weight ratio than my Clubman S), easy as pie to get the kids in and out of, cavernous storage, better handling than the base model… I'm pretty sure with the sport suspension and an aftermarket sway bar it would be a ball of fun.

I'm not quite sold on the from seats; I prefer the hatch/clubman sport seats with the slightly raised front edge. But aside from that, it's a pretty sweet car.

I'm being increasingly tempted by thoughts of trading my 2009 Clubman S for a Countryman S. (The All4 is tempting but I don't actually need it.)

I have about 65k on my R55; a few bolt-ons I can remove and sell used; it's in very nice condition overall but does need a walnut blasting on the intake valves. I bought it used and my current equity is roughly market value so I shouldn't lose money on it but I'm also not plus-EV.

Good idea? Bad idea? What do you guys think? I'm looking for some outside input. Thanks!

 

The Countryman S is a pleasant family car. It just doesn't handle like a Clubman S. Not at all.

 

When I do a walk around showing our R55 off to folks that ask, I demonstrate the 3rd door and I swear I hear, and in this exact order: 1) Cool/neat/wow, and 2) What's that 4 door model? and last, 3) Boy they sure are ugly.

 

I had the countryman s and the fuel economy was horrible my wives Honda crv got the same mileage.. I traded and got the clubman but non-turbo around MD/DC where there is a ton of traffic it hard to go much faster then 65 most of the time - I can get 45/mi

 

The OP is correct, in my experience. A stiffer rear ASB and front strut brace/bar really firms up the CM suspension. We had it on the Dragon last September and with the All4 drive, it handles the twisties really well. No rear end lightness or drift at speed through the curves with the rear end under power. BMW did a fantastic job with this All4 system. It's very useful in all weather conditions.

Speaking for us, we love our CM-everything about it. BUT, we are glad to have a 2nd Mini in the family that scoots around quicker and is just pure driving fun.

Although my wife drives the CM 95% of the time (to work every day), this past weekend she went to visit a friend in another town about 50 miles away. It's all country roads and twisties to get there, so she hopped in the MCS JCW instead of the CM to really carve up the turns.

We like the variety of having a "practical", but still fun Mini, as well as one much closer to the original intent of the brand.

 

Here's a thought -- hold out a couple of years for the Clubman Concept (2015). It's going to be the F platform done right - wider, more spacious, 4 doors with barns in the back. Looks like a worthy successor to our R55s. JMO.

 

Agreed. The new, coming-soon Clubman looks to be a better car than the Countryman.

We, too, own a 2009 Clubman, and like it very much. I have driven a Countryman loaner, and was not at all happy with its handling. It's also more difficult for me to enter and exit.

 

This.

I too have been tickled by the Countryman bug, although it would be to replace our aging Element in a couple years, not to displace our R55 S. But the Clubman Concept looks like it is the wagon I'd prefer for the job.

 

We actually traded in an Element for our CM..

 

👍

 

one word SLOWER

 

Don't do it.

 

I always get Countryman loaners when they see me pull two boosters out of my Clubman and I really do not enjoy driving them. They seem too floaty to me. I'm sure plunging money into it would help, but I just don't like knowing I'm going to have to do that going into a deal.

 

Thanks for all the thoughtful comments. I think the advice to sit tight for the newer 4-door models is good; both the next gen Clubman (despite the Concept's hideous tail lights) and the four door hatch might be better handling while also providing more room as my kids get bigger.

For the time being at least, I think I've re-settled on my R55, and will remain here until I can see new models in real life. And come to think of it, given the model rollout schedule — 4-door hatch in late '14 or early '15, Clubby in '15, and R60 likely to run through at least 2016 based on a minimum 6-year model life — if the hatch and bigger clubby fail to impress, I could still revisit the R60 idea easily enough. :-)

Again, thanks all for helping identify both implications and options! Y'all rock.

 

We've had our Clubman S for almost a year. When test driving both the Clubman and Countryman last year, my wife and I agreed that the Clubman had better handling and overall feel. However, after driving Pacemans (Pacemen?) twice as loaners, they grew on me. I think I could live with a Countryman or a Paceman. Would have to make sure the sport button is always engaged, however. It's been fun discovering the Mini brand since our somewhat unexpected purchase last year.

 

Major kudos to Titleist76 here. I credit anyone who makes a fun car like the Clubman work to fit their practical requirements :-0...there are so many stories of these poor souls who get rid of their Mini and buy a minivan when the kids come.... Bravo!

 

The Paceman is fun; I enjoyed taking one for a test drive. It has fully an inch less rear-seat headroom than the Clubman, though, and less space behind the rear seat than the Countryman. I decided that the styling wasn't enough to justify the loss of rear-seat comfort for adults, and it nets out with barely any more capacity than my Clubman. (More on the floor, but not as you stack vertically, due to the steeply raked roof and rear window. So, more than Clubbie, but too many compromises for my taste. Obviously YMMV and it's a plenty fun vehicle to drive!)

Edit: I'm not a tall guy; I'm 5'7", and in the back of a Paceman my head was pushing against the ceiling. No problem in the Clubman (or, of course, the Countryman).

 

I don't know why I didn't get a picture, but I shocked my in-laws when I got the entire load of baby shower gifts (including a still boxed carseat AND swing) in the back of the Clubman. Minivan, schminivan.

 

Two of my friends with Countrymen got seriously hit recently. I think it's a bigger target, and therefore easier to hit.

 

On the other hand, the IIHS crash ratings are far, far better than the hatch or clubman. I'd rather be hit in the countryman.

(I'm not sure about target size. It's what, about six inches wider and eight or ten inches longer than the hatch? Unless your friends got clipped at the very edge of their bumpers, I doubt target size is a huge factor. Idiot drivers not paying attention are a bigger one. And by idiots, I don't mean your friends, but the people who hit them.)

 

Hey Bratling

Look for Tata Steva on the pace man forum. He had an awesome Clubman now has a beautiful paceman. He'd be best to tell you what's better on each. Search Red Baron

 

<cough> Attempted humor. </cough>

 

This was exactly what I was planning to say. It seems to me that the clubman just might be the best of both worlds. I would probably wait an additional year or two to let them work the bugs out.

 

I'm a little slow...