Help Design & Spec MotoringFile’s Countryman (Part 1)

<p>I’ll think about options later but I voted for the All4 simply because (unfortunately) I think that the majority of customers looking to purchase a Countryman will be looking for an AWD vehicle (sort of like the BMW wagons and X Drive).</p>

<p>MF doesn’t have a review of the Cooper Countryman w/ manual yet. Just saying. Save the money, and spec that bad boy out.</p>

<p>Has to be the ALL4 so you can get valuable experience in the first ever all-wheel drive MINI.</p>

<p>I say FWD S. Other publications are getting the AWD, so be a bit different.</p>

<p>Don’t get the sunroof – use the weight savings to get the All4. Then help put together a MINIs Take The ALCAN in 2012.</p>

<p>all4, manual, no sunroof, NAV with Connected</p>

<p>White/Black FWD S, cloth, chrome line interior, 18″ wheels.</p>

<p>I think the Countryman looks fantastic in Apline White with black roof, mirrors etc and the black wheels. It would also match your 1M :P</p>

<p>And I’d pick the All 4 Cooper S, manual…just for the extra tech. An all purpose vehicle that’s family-friendly would be a good match with your BMW.</p>

<p>All4 has to be done, it helps on the corners, not just in the bad weather.</p>

<p>Then tick all the boxes, I want to know how connect is to live with, how sat nav has evolved over the years, I want to know how the top of the range sound is in such a large cabin.</p>

<p>And then for looks, well try and create your own WRC and go Red/White</p>

<p>FWD S (sans All4)
Manual
No Sun Roof
Black/Black/Polar Beige
All packages/nav/mini connected
Xenon
Sport Suspension</p>

<p>Looks similar to an Autoblog post from one day before this one. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/04/you-pick-autoblogs-long-term-2011-mini-countryman/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/04/you-pick-autoblogs-long-term-2011-mini-countryman/</a></p>

<p>If you want the feel and the ownership experience of MINI, please test a real MINI. The Countryman’s experiences may be very rewarding, but will not be Mini.</p>

<p>Can you please consider trialing both rear seat configurations – initially the rear bench seat, then the two separate seats if possible? Thanks!</p>

<p>As this is a long term evaluation loaner from MINI I would get every option you could. How will you give us a feature evaluation if the accessory or feature is not installed?</p>

<p>A year in a Cooper Countryman would be a slow one…</p>

<p>Cooper S All4 Manual</p>

<p>Cosmic Blue/White or Oxford Green/White</p>

<p>Polar Beige leather and color line with black door panels and piano black accents</p>

<p>Cold Weather and Convenience Packages (although I know you’ll want to trial MINI Connected and the Nav…)</p>

<p>Sport Suspension (b/c we need to know if it’s enough to lower the car a bit without going full JCW on it)</p>

<p>Otherwise, keep it simple. 17″ wheels and tires.</p>

<p>Also, add the JCW tuning package when available. A little extra power for a little extra weight.</p>

<p>This is an important review. Do I get an R60 with a bench seat? Do I wait for an F30 and hope they didn’t mess it up and then get the next gen 3-door Cooper? Do I go and order an end-build E91?….</p>

<p>I would do the unexpected and get the Cooper manual and sport suspension.</p>

<p>Adding to the voice of many as far as the All4 package, I also would like to see the rear-hitch bike rack and the rear bench seat. The bike rack is an important consideration for us. Aftermarket hitches with holes drilled thru the bumper isn’t going to cut it. Roof racks have already been done a million times. I’d really like to see how well a $600 rear rack works.</p>

<p>Oh, add Sport Suspension to validate (or not validate) the $500 cost.</p>

<p>When the voting was up, I checked a Cooper S with the All4 system. I think the Countryman would appeal to the demographic that strongly considers the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV-4 and others in this segment. But, I think it would be the more adventurous folks in that group. Functionally, the vehicles would do essentially the same things: carry people, a reasonable amount of cargo and do it with decent fuel mileage. However, the big difference is that the MINI offers a much more sporty driving experience that the others.</p>

<p>As far as how to outfit it, I would pick and chose judiciously. I think you want to wind up with a well-appointed vehicle and not one where the option list is really a laundry list. With a base of about $28k, I would keep the total around $35k to $36k to prevent things from becoming ridiculous.</p>

<p>All Oxford Green S All 4 Manual, Heated Polar Beige Leather, Carbon Black Plastics, Anthracite Roof lining, Premium Pkg, MINI Connected, White lenses, Xenons with Adaptive Lights, 17″ 5 Stars in Black, Sports Suspension. All adds up mind you!</p>

<p>If $$ is not an issue, load it to the gills so that you can comment on all the available options. When it goes in for service (if it goes in for service), you can request a different model to do a comparison and let us know what items you could live without. Not to open up this can o’ worms again, but I think the biggest question here is transmission. Can you live with the auto for a year? I’m guessing that 80-90% of these will be sold in the U.S. with an auto. As a buyer, I know what I would prefer to drive–but I also know that not everyone in my household will feel the same. If I were a reviewer, I think I would be torn in deciding between what I would prefer to drive, and what I know most will be driving. Oh, bloody hell…just get the manual.</p>

<p>I know that I am still in the minority, but this Jason would still like to see a non-S, sport suspension, and a manual; unless you just want to wait for a Beachcomber instead.</p>