MotoringFile’s New MINI Countryman
Earlier this week MotoringFile took delivery of our Countryman long term tester. Why is this one special? It’s not like the site’s contributors are totally devoid of MINIs. Nathaniel has an R53 and DB has an R50. But I’ve been without a MINI (of my own) for almost three years. Yes the person who founded MF has been MINI-less since 2008. So this new Countryman is not only about us testing a new MINI (long-term) but it’s also about me getting back in a MINI. And not just any MINI but the Countryman. The car that will reinvents what we thought a MINI could be.
But lets get that out of the way and talk about what we’ve got in the garage. Last March you helped us spec out our Countryman so many of you likely remember what we ended up with. Perhaps unsurprisingly, you thought we should go big with the options and the model. So that meant an All4 Cooper S for starters. And when it comes to options, there weren’t many things we said no to. Navigation, all packages and every creature comfort you could imagine. On the outside you helped us choose Light White and Pure Red on the inside. It’s like a fine gray english suit jacket with a surprising touch of color on the inside. And it works. In fact in person it’s exactly what we were hoping for to help give our R60 just a dash of color and irreverence.
You can see the full list and initial thoughts after the break.
DESIGN
– Light White Body Color / STD
– Anthracite Headliner / $250.00
– Center Console & Door Trim in Piano Black / $0.00
– Center Rail / STD
– Chrome Line Interior / $250.00
– Door Panel in Carbon Black / STD
– Flat Load Floor / $250.00
– Leather Sport Wheel w/Multifunction / STD
– Piano Black Cockpit Surface / $250.00
– Pure Red Color Line / INCL
– Rear-mounted Bike Rack Prep / STD
– Roof Rails / STD
– Black Roof/Mirrors / $0.00
– Leather/Cloth: Pure Red / $1,000.00
– Sport Seats / STD Blank Line
PACKAGES
Cold Weather Package / $750.00
– Heated Front Seats
– Heated Powerfold Mirrors & Washer Jets
Conv. Package + MINI Connected $2,750.00
– Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror Center Arm Rest Comfort Access System
– MINI Connected MINI Connected with Nav System
– Rain Sensor and Auto Headlamps
– Universal Garage Door Opener
Premium Package / $1,750.00
– Automatic AC
– Dual Pane Panoramic Sunroof
– Harman/Kardon Sound System
Sport Package / $1,500.00
– 18″ 5-Star Double Spoke Anthracite
– Black Bonnet Stripes
– White Turn Signals
– Xenon Headlamps
PERFORMANCE
– 6-Speed Getrag Manual / STD
– Start/Stop Button / STD
– 7 Airbags w/Side Curtain System / STD
– ALL4 All Wheel Drive System / STD
– Dynamic Stability Control / STD
– Dynamic Traction Control / STD
– Sport Button STD Sport Suspension / $500.00
– Adaptive Light Control / $100.00
– Front Fog Lamps / STD
INSTRUMENTS
– 6-spkr AM/FM CD Player / STD
– HD Radio / STD
– Sirius Satellite Radio / STD
– On-Board Computer / STD
Rear Park Distance Control / $500.00
MSRP w/Factory Options $37,500.00
There you have it. A completely loaded R60 MCS with All4 that we can poke and prod for one year. In addition, this Countryman signals the start of what we’re calling the MotoringFile Garage. With MF Garage we’ll be bringing you updates on everything MINI related in our garages including of course the Countryman you see above.
Initial Thoughts
Most will have to wait until next week. There have been niggles here and there but I’m seeing 24mpg in the city and 32mpg on the highway in a versatile, fun to drive four door with all wheel drive and a manual. Not an easy combination to find.
Look for must more next week.
<p>why did you opt for the full rail? Most of my customers want the split.</p>
<p>Regards…. Steve</p>
<p>I figured I’d spec the car the way MINI designers had originally intended and see how it fares with the real world.</p>
<p>$40K out-the-door begins to test one’s appetite for things MINI. In this case a fully loaded Countryman. That’s not to say that similar sticker shock isn’t available with other brands. It is to say that MINI should strive to meet two essential criteria: 1) Maintenance of characteristic MINI scale; and 2) “Maintenance” of MINI pricing. Size and affordability — two significant considerations.</p>
<p>Although some may like the “irreverence” of red door panels, I would not opt for the stark contrast. It simply does not coordinate whatsoever with the interior scheme and looks strikingly incongruous. Otherwise, the car looks cool.</p>
<p>How long does “long-term” testing last? </p>
<p>Testing lasts one year, as Gabe explained.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Welcome :)</p>
<p>Sorry but I gotta say the red door panels look fine to me and accent the red in the seats.</p>
<p>You may not like the red color line trim and seats but some do. Tastes vary. That is the beauty of custom ordering your MINI. You can build it to your own particular tastes.</p>
<p>You may not like the red color line trim and seats but some do. Tastes vary. That is the beauty of custom ordering your MINI. You can build it to your own particular tastes.</p>
<p>You may not like the red color line trim and seats but some do. Tastes vary. That is the beauty of custom ordering your MINI. You can build it to your own particular tastes.</p>
<p>You may not like the red color line trim and seats but some do. Tastes vary. That is the beauty of custom ordering your MINI. You can build it to your own particular tastes.</p>
<p>Aren’t you stating the obvious. I cannot speak for some, or many, as “some” have maliciously chosen to do on this forum. I can only speak for myself. It matters not whether you agree or disagree — this is a “forum.” More importantly — this is my final post. </p>
<p>It is a waste of my time and effort to contend with any more slanderous concerted barbs spewed by miscreant sycophants and sanctioned by negligent moderators. Birds of a feather flock together. Take your flags and shove ’em.</p>
<p>Sport Suspension: That should be one of the more immediate test results. It’ll be Interesting to see how it fairs on this car. Is there a budget for a JCW suspension test down the road?</p>
<p>Not entirely sure about testing suspension yet. However I will say that the Sport suspension allows for too much front and back movement upon acceleration and deceleration. It’s also hampered by heaving to deal with the God-forsaken runflats that ruin the ride and hamper traction on un-even pavement. It’s that unusual combination of a firm (not stiff) ride with very rigid sidewalls that many of us are familiar with. It’s unfortunate because clearly BMW knowns how to dial in cars without runflats exceptionally well – they had been doing it for 40 years before runflat technology. My 2004 330i ZHP is one of the best examples I’ve ever driven.</p>
<p>The proper solution would be the ditch the runflats first and then start considering options for suspension upgrades. Granted we likely won’t do that with this car since it eventually has to go back to MINI. But who knows :)</p>
<p>I suspect you could easily go through a set of performance tires in a year, and give them back their runflats when you return the car to MINI.</p>
<p>I hope that you stay with the factory suspension and runflats for at least a few months before considering upgrades. As a consumer I’m more interested to see your evaluation of living with a stock car and all its limitations.</p>
<p>Gabe, UK MINI dealers last winter were offering a set of winter/snow tyres on steel rims for, I think about, £500 including free secure storage of the summer tyres and wheels at the dealer’s premises. It might be worth investigating this before snow falls again in Chicago. Not only does grip improve, but also ride quality because of the softer compound used in the winter tyres.</p>
<p>When Autocar tested a Countryman ‘S’ ALL4 fitted with 18″ wheels and sports suspension, they found that any dynamic improvements were more than negated by the overly firm ride which knocked the car off line all too easily on the UK’s scarred road surfaces. They concluded that the car was tiring and irritating to drive long distances. Consequently, when they ordered their own long-term ‘S’ ALL4, they specified 17″ wheels and standard suspension!</p>
<p>Having previously owned two Cooper Clubmans in succession, I am now six months into the ownership of a ‘humble’ Countryman Cooper automatic on 16″ wheels and standard tyres. So far it has proved to be an endearingly amiable, loyal and practical liitle runabout, and is surprisingly smooth and composed when cruising at 80-90 mph. I like to change my cars regularly and I buy them with my own hard earned cash, so that really concentrates the mind when ticking the options boxes!</p>
<p>There’s no such offer in the US. But I am a huge proponent of snow tires and have had them on all my cars for many years.</p>
<p>As an alternative to modifying your suspension and run-flats, it would be most interesting and informative if, during the tenure of your Countryman, you could borrow from MINI another Countryman ‘S’ just for a couple of days, but with front-drive only, 17″ wheels, and standard tires and suspension. You could then carry out a real-world back-to-back comparison test over a variety of roads, frequently swopping drivers between the two cars. It would be a fascinating experiment with possibly a surprising.outcome. What do you think?</p>
<p>We’ve already a back to back <a href="'11 Countryman Comparo" rel="nofollow">comparison</a> last fall (the FWD MCS came out on top) but I’m working to do several comparisons like this over the next year.</p>
<p>Thank you Gabe, I must have missed that one!</p>
<p>I’m curious how it works as a family car as opposed to the hatch. How do your child seat and stroller fit?</p>
<p>Great so far. I’m actually jealous of my child’s recaro :)</p>
<p>The bright red door panels are a bit much, but will definitely be an added safety feature when opened. </p>
<p>Love them.</p>
<p>you are seeing true 24mpg’s in the city? I mean … CITY???
I find that hard to believe :)</p>
<p>where is the 7th airbag?</p>
<p>Driver’s knee bag I think</p>
<p>I for one love the red panels! I keep configuring a 128/135 with the fox red interior. I wish they would offer that in the X3 or the 5xxi</p>
<p>I am really impressed by this Countryman. The red inside is fantastic! I love how you describe it “It’s like a fine gray english suit jacket with a surprising touch of color on the inside.” Well done Gabe!</p>
<p>” But at a high level I can confidentially that the R60 a great every day car”</p>
<p>But at a high level I can [say] confidentially [confidently?] that the R60 [is] a great every day car. (?)</p>
<p>At a high level I can say confidently that “All your base are belong to us.”</p>
<p>I’m looking forward to reading your reviews, especially as pertains to toting a toddler around in the back. I am finally considering upgrading from my R53, and was concerned about the rear doors not opening to a full 90 degrees, the lack of a rear bench seat (with one car in our family, we need to fit 2 kids, 2 parents, and a grandma/auntie in one vehicle), and the small HP to haul it all. If I’m going to approach 40K, the BMW 328i wagon or the Audi A3 look like better alternatives. Love MINI, but the pricing really needs to be more competitive.</p>
<p>I consider my MCS to be a 2-seater, even more so thanks to my claustrophobia, so the Countryman’s size is tempting; a fun-to-drive MINI with usable back seats. That said, its homely and I can’t see the design aging well. Doesn’t help that this one is in boring white, with an interior — red doors? — that appears to have been assembled from salvaged bits. An aesthetic bleah for $40k. </p>
<p>Will be curious as to your experiences with the manual – it’s gotten some criticism on NAM as not having as nice a feel as the rest of the MINI line. Many manual veterans have expressed their displeasure.</p>
<p>It’s the same manual in all other 2011 non JCW MINIs. Feels fine to me. The clutch on the other hand…</p>
<p>Me likey, looks almost the same as mine. I didn’t spring for the wheel upgrade or xenons, though.</p>
<p>So glad to hear your in the MINI family again. Cannot wait to hear about how much you like the new clutch. Any tips on how to manage it is very welcome. I think you will like the longer rail- I got the split rail and wish it was the full rail system. You will like the seats-very comfortable. The car is just like mine with the rail and color exceptions- oh and the Detroit tuned touches:) Have fun!</p>