I have a couple questions for the coupe owners. So I went from a hatchback to a countryman and have missed the performance. Now im getting my coupe next week. How does the coupes drive ability compare to the hatchback? Edmans gave the car a poor review that's there is a blind spot.. Is that true?

 

I've had mine for almost a year and you get used to the blind spot. The roadster is missing the glass in the B-pillar so it's even worst.

It is super stiff and there will likely be a lot more rattling from the trunk cover and rear wall etc. and remember, no sun roof so it'll feel a bit more cramped.

 

Didn't you drive the car?

 

It is true but you will get accustomed. As for performance and handling, the coupe is far better and has no body flex.

 

Hi , I am on my second coupe a 2012 s and now a 2013 jcw you will love it . With mirrors adjusted properly there is no blind spot .

 

I have the Roadster and while I absolutely hate the blind spot it's no worse than other fastback cars.

It's something you adjust for.

Besides in rainless SoCal who drives with the top up anyway.

Perhaps a larger concern would be actually getting in and out of the car. The coupé/roadster have a much shorter window height, especially coming from the CM.

I believe the roadster is slightly worse. When the top is up I have to do a sit and pivot to get in the car.

Definitely check thus out when you test drive.

 

No problem getting in and out for me. I am 5'11" and I am fine. I bought the Coupe because the cabin was far better than the HT.

 

No problems here , thats a big change in feel from a CM to a Coupe. You will feel more connected to the road and it handle much better. The CM does have smoother more BMW X1 kind of ride.

Just get some euro blind spot mirrors if you have issues, they sell out pretty quick so just auto-notify when they come back in.

Regular: Heated.

http://www.ecstuning.com/News/MINI_Blind_Spot_Mirrors_R55_R56_R57_Clubman_S_JCW_ Hardtop_Convertible_Cooper_2007_2008_2009_2010_201 1_2012_2013_2014/




OR

If you already have the auto dim function ( cant be added ).

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51169803799KT/

 

I find the Coupes and Hard Tops pretty similar in everyday handling. I've never pushed a Coupe very yard (I've only driven them on customer test-drives), but they do feel pretty tight. We're doing a swaybar on one this morning: now that'll be a tight little car.

 

They are completely different cars like driving a Nissan Altima and a Z. The Mini HT is an econo box that flex at every corner or twisting at road curves if not braced.

A Coupe is not the same thing............I know because I aggressively drove both in JCW trim.

 

+1 Yea driving the R58 and the R56 , I felel they are different. On the track they feel different when pushed. I can say in the JCW models they feel even more separated and aggressive. The JCW Coupe feel really different then the JCW R56 , in just how it handles. But that's what I felt.

 

hah, the difference between the Coupe and Hardtop base models must be a lot less than on the S or JCW then because when I test drove a base Coupe, I felt like the I was just driving a regular HT just with a wall behind the front seats. Of course, I don't really get into the spirited driving much, so my perspective is probably more from the point of view of an old grandma. I do love the look of them, but the interior amenities I was able to get in a HT versus the barebones interior of a similarly priced Coupe were too much to pass up. But I do still envy the Coupes and Roadsters.

 

so, even if you have the convenience package with the interior autodim, and you have heated powerfold mirrors, you still cannot add autodim side mirrors?

 

The reason they are different is the chassis and body structure is not the same as the HT. There is no magic here...... the wall as you mentioned does the job in a wonderful way and keeps all the body panels very thigh together.

It has nothing to do with the choice of any performance package. The dynamics of both models are far apart from each other.

 

i know all that - i moreso meant the type of person (me) that drives a base model would likely not notice as much a difference as an S or JCW driver would, given that we can have much different expectations. I drive my car like a grocery getter, so I'm not going to see much difference as I turn corners at 20 or 30mph. I just figured it was worth mentioning that driver perspective can have an impact on how much of a difference one feels between models.

 

Auto dimming wiring already has to be present thus already have the autodim US side mirror ( you will see they outside edge ring ). Its for a direct swap.

I guess you could add the wiring but you would have to rewire and then feed into the control module in the kick panel then tap into the auto dim review mirror light eye. But I dont know how to do this.

 

Hey how goes it my Coupe Friends. I'm Josh I have a 2012 Coupe S and a 2014 Mini Countryman. I have ordered a 2015 JCW Hardtop to swap out the Coupe however.. she's (Vesper) been a great car the last two years and deserves her own post!

 

Corrected Pics!

 

Congrats on the new MINIs.

 

you get used to the blind spots, just use the side mirrors correctly and it's no problem. It's a little different getting out of. I have the sport suspension, and so the ride is on the stiff side what with the strengthened frame and all. No rattles though.

 

My 03 cooper S is become quite the moneypit these days. I'm thinking of switching to a coumtryman S All4. Having owned both, can you say it is a night and day difference between the two? Obviously the countryman will be sloppier, but how would it compare to other sporty SUVs? It seems to fit the bill quite nicely for me, being slightly larger, still under 3000 lbs from what I've read, sporty, AWD with manual.

 

You will notice the ride height, smoothness of a ride. You can feel the weight of the CM and the steering control is sharp, especially in sport mode , but it will never be as sharp as the Gen 1 MINIs.

The CM compared to other SUV, Countryman feels still sharp and not sloppy. Feels tight and you can throw it around, most small crossovers and SUV which feel like a truck and not tight.

 

Ok so the coupe is by far the funniest Mini I have opened. I had a 05 Hardtop S and can say the Coupe S is deffy quick and fun on the curves. The fact that it has a spoiler that comes up around 50 mph just adds to its uniqueness. To me it felt more of a sporter feel then the hardtop. Blind spot wise the only thing I found you have to get use to is not being right up on a red light be issue you will not see it lol. You get use to it and you will nautically give yourself some space at red lights. I have enjoyed the Coupe so much that the only thing I could get to try to one up it was the new JCW.. So that should give you a idea on how much the Coupe has to offer.

 

No, the only thing you could get to try to one up it is the JCW Coupe! You could have ordered one, but noooooooooo! Too late now.

 

hahah I need 4 seats!! the wife was killing me over using the Countryman anytime we rode has a family. I'll deff miss my Coupe.