Decided I'm disappointed
 

After owning my Paceman All4 now for over a year and giving it a LOT of thought, I've come to the conclusion that I'm more disappointed with it than satisfied. This is our fifth MINI -- I've had two Cooper S's, and my wife has had a Clubby S and her present Countryman All4. My Paceman is the latest and by far my least favorite of them all. It's not all bad, as there are things I like about it -- it is generally more comfortable and quiet, and the All4 is quite good -- when you need it. The base stereo is also good enough that I don't miss the HK I had in my last Cooper S. Handling isn't bad, about what I expected from a heavier MINI. But the complaint list may get longish; granted some of these are personal and picky, but for what you pay for these cars, I think we're allowed to be picky.

First and foremost is the performance. I thought I'd get used to it, but I haven't. I knew it wouldn't go like a Cooper S, but face it, this car is a dog. Maybe it's the 6-speed manual coupled with the All4, I don't know, but from a dead stop this car can't get out of its own way. I've been driving manny trannies for over 40 years now, so it's not that I don't know how to drive them. I'm at the point now where I hate having to come to a complete stop, because taking off has just become a totally ungratifying chore. MINI's are supposed to be fun, and this car is anything but. I added a JB+ at one point, but I removed it when something threw a CEL, and to be honest I didn't notice much of a difference -- still a dog with or without, so I never re-installed it.

Second, the clutch. Plainly put, it sucks. Its feel is lighter than the one in the Cooper S, and it is just woefully inadequate for this weight. Maybe it's the All4, and maybe it's part of what contributes to the disappointing performance. This morning, for example, taking off into an intersection up a slight incline, it actually started slipping with the pedal all the way up, along with that disgusting burning clutch smell, which I also get all to frequently in stop-and-go traffic. Too much car, too little friction. Again, not fun.

Third, as many have pointed out, those dreadful rear seats that won't fold flat. One of the reasons I got this car was for the extra room (plus the AWD), mainly to haul my keyboard and sound gear. What a pain in the balls it has become packing gear just right so that it doesn't come toppling backwards on those seats that simply will not lay flat. I thought after some time with weight on them it would improve, but it hasn't. The seats in the Countryman fold flat, so what the hey is the story here?

Next is a complaint I share with my wife and her Countryman -- who at MINI or BMW had the brilliant idea to put a fuel tank one gallon smaller in a car that is bigger and 500 lbs heavier?! I went from filling up every two weeks in my Cooper S to having to fill the Paceman up once a week. Same driving, same routine, twice the fillups. And on that subject, what monumental feat of engineering makes filling the tank up full such an ordeal? Fill it until it stops, wait a few seconds, pump again. Repeat. Maybe twice. Never had another car with that annoying quirk.

And then there are the more personal annoyances. Like the dash displays from which they removed most of the driver customization. In 2010, I could set up my dash to show the temperature (or any of several other options) in the upper square display, and the main and trip odometers in the lower rectangular display. Time displayed in the radio, so all the information I want to see was always visible. Now I can only see my speed in the upper square display (because that huge-a$$ pie plate in the middle of the dash apparently isn't big enough). Picky, yes; but another added annoyance when I go to reset the tripper after every already annoying fillup.

The seats. Anyone who had a 2012 or earlier MINI should immediately notice the buckets no longer wrap around you as they always did. I get in my wife's Countryman and sit in it; I get in my Paceman and sit on it. I noticed the same thing on a 2013 Countryman loaner. It's been neutered and now feels like every other vanilla econobox out there, and not the sporty MINI experience I fell in love with in my first MINI.

A lot of nit-picky stuff, I admit. And I used to find MINI's quirkiness rather endearing. But now it all adds up to me anxiously awaiting the point that I can trade it without taking a bath. Hopefully before it needs a new clutch. And most likely not for another MINI.

Sorry, and I hate being a negative Nellie -- but I needed to vent. And kind of wondering if there are any other less than satisfied customers out there.

I totally agree with 1-4. But....the JB+ fixes most of the power issue and I do think the clutch is adding to the negative feel even more from a stop. After my 2011 Countryman clutch sucked, I ordered an auto in the new Paceman. I wonder if all Paceman owners would list these 4 issues as the top complaints. You nailed it perfectly with your complaints. I hope we can get the 2015 software upgrade to solve more of the HP issue, but the other issues I will live with has this is the only MINI that is comfortable enough for me to drive daily and there is no other brand that is as fun to drive.

This might be what aggravates me the most -- the motor is perfectly capable of delivering enough power to make this car really fun with nothing more than a software update. But BMW has taken that almost completely out of our hands as well. And they no longer even offer a JCW tune, which I would GLADLY pay for at this point.

So just for grins I went out and plugged the JB+ back in (yes, after letting it sit for about 20 minutes). Let's see tomorrow if my brain has just gone numb and it really did make a difference. Think I'll grab one of those code reader/resetters too, just in case that stupid yellow light comes on again.

A code reader is good to have with these cars even without the JB+ installed. I also want to add a Sprintbooster to add quicker acceleration.

If your clutch is slipping when the pedal is all the way out it is time to ask the dealer to fix it under warranty. And how could it not be a dog with a slipping clutch?

Don't forget that the ECU needs time (i.e miles) to adjust to the JB+ (about 100 I think). And if you can fill up with 93+ octane gas, you'll see an even bigger improvement

That would be a waste of money, since they amount they charge for the amount of HP increase is totally not worth it. You should just get the JB+ for $299 or for a little more get a real ECU tune.

That is, if you're keeping the car, since you have so many issues with it.

You might want to re-read post #3. OP already has the JB+

I agree with hsautocrosser. Your clutch should not slip like that. You need to get it repaired.

It's been kinda doggy all along. The slipping clutch is more recent. But yes, I will be calling the dealer about it.

I had the JB+ in for I think about 6 months before it threw a CEL (which the dealer diagnosed as a high idle warning). I do fill it up with 93 exclusively, usually Shell. I plugged it back in last night. Didn't feel much of a difference today, but I know it needs some miles to do whatever it has to do. So I'll give it a few more days. Again.

It's not a terrible car, it's just not all that I hoped it would be. Plus BMW seems to be trying to make it more 'normal' and less MINI-esque.

The slipping may just be more pronounced rather than recent. Have you read the "smelly clutch" thread? How does the Paceman performance compare to the Countryman auto?

Funny you should ask.... I actually find the wife's Countryman All4 auto to be more fun to drive than my manual Paceman. It just feels quicker and more responsive, which I've never experienced that way before between a manual and auto. It's always been the other way around.

I'll have to check out the smelly clutch thread. Is that in the Countryman forum? I though they solved the clutch issues in these things in late 2012.

The good thing about cars is they are not lifetime commitments, for me once I get bored with them everything becomes annoying and its time for change.

Personally I've enjoyed our Paceman fwd auto after adding decent tires, jb+ and a few other performance mods to get an extra 30 hp.

Which other mods do you have?

Jb+ 20 hp, pre-intercooler, hot side resonator delete, jcw bov, high flow air filter and exhaust bottle neck clean up.

Paceman all4 manual 7.2 seconds 0-60mph
Countryman all4 auto 7.7 seconds 0-60mph

And you are slower even with a JB+ tune?

They made a code change, a change in material, and installed a stiffer spring in late 2012 while claiming there was no problem. Your production date is on the driver door sill. Any clutch can have a problem with defective parts or workmanship.

I'm having similar problems as well with the clutch! I came from a 2008 R56S, and I knew getting into the paceman it was going to be heavier and slower. The lack of power doesn't bother me at all, it's the clutch I quite simply cannot stand. I've driven all kinds of different cars with different clutches on the track, but even just driving around town the clutch in my R61S is just downright terrible. I thought I would get used to it over time, but its been almost a year and I still hate it. I took off from a stop sign the other day pulling out into traffic (needed to get up to speed very quick), and it took a solid 2 seconds from the pedal being fully released for it to completely grab...it just kept slipping. On top of that it's very clunky and noisy, and it just feels so flimsy! Considering calling the dealer at this point, but I don't really know what to tell them that will make them take it seriously. Took them months to admit the chain tensioner issue on my R56. I have a production date of 4/13 so as far as I know I should have the updated clutch.

OK.... I've had the JB+ plugged in again now for a couple of weeks, and it definitely makes it more tolerable. I've also been making a point to not romp on it from a dead stop, especially on any kind on an incline; but geez, isn't that half the fun of driving a manual? Anyway, no more smelly clutch since I've been being 'nice' to it. *sigh*

Mini really needs to develop a upgrade / fix kit for the R6X manual transmissions. Not doing so is short sided and a foolish way to harm brand confidence and loyalty.

Yea those dang rear seats. I have an automatic and find it responsive enough for me, but those rear seats.

Well now ... My wife got a Clubman S for a loaner while her Countryman is in the shop to figure out why it keeps stalling. I forgot how friggin much fun this little car is, and I'm ready to trade my one-year-old Paceman in for one right now. :eek:

I am back on forth on my paceman, some days I love it others I am not happy with it. Just not "quick" enough, I know the car isnt fast but it doesnt feel quick enough either. I will probably leave this car behind in another year or two.

Good luck!

I have this problem everyday! Glad I am not alone! I have to accelerate quick from a stop sign into moving traffic to leave my neighborhood and head to the highway and the clutch just never grabs fully and quick enough. I feel like I dont know how to drive a manual transmission when this happens :confused:

Need Sprintbooster.