A little over three years ago, I got kind of soured on MINI after a disappointing time with a Paceman. A few months before that, my wife wanted something a little more substantial than her Countryman for a long commute to work, and traded it for a VW Tiguan. I've been in a Mazda since then, just picking up a CX5 a couple of months ago. It was the first time we were MINI-less after 5 MINI's before that between us. But she's been missing her MINI and wanted to go test drive the new ones. First we took out a Clubman S All4, which was a blast. Then just for giggles she took out a Countryman S All4. Next thing I know we're putting a deposit down on one of the latter. Just arrived yesterday, her blue and black Countryman S All4, auto with Tech package and blacked out trim stuff. What a friggin fun machine.

 

Nice! Hope you enjoy this one much better than your Paceman....

 

It's the wife's -- and she's not letting me enjoy it too much so far!!

But from one short drive I can tell it's a whole lot better car than the Paceman was. If the Paceman had come out with this drivetrain instead of the 1.6 and it's tweaky clutch, I'm sure I'd have liked it a lot more.

 

Congrats and welcome back to the family.

Hopefully you will eat to try her soon :-)