Those Germans really annoy me.....

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Am I alone or does it p others off as much as it p's me off that Herr Beamer has totally messed up the naming of the Mini series. They call their estate the Clubman and then bring out what is really just a 4 door Saloon and call it a Countryman..........:eek::mad::mad::eek::mad:

In anything the estate should have been called the Countryman surely........ It just isn't right now calling a saloon a Countryman. I know what I'd like to do with the wood it should have had on it too. But to paraphrase Dad's Army, I doubt they'd like it up 'em.........
 
The countryman is called the countryman for the same reason the Audi allroader is called the allroader, it's not just a 4-door saloon, it's jacked up to soft-roader heights.
 
Not really the point is it. The original Countrymans, Minor or Mini, weren't a jacked up estates. The new Mini soft-roader should have been given a new name IMHO. Besides would you truly want to cross a soggy dirt track in the new Countryman? I think you'd fair better doing that even with a Xara Picasso........:p
 
I wouldn't want to drive a new MINI of any kind anywhere, I hate the cabin, I hate the lack of visibility, and I don't really like the look of the things. Actually despise having to drive the Cooper S that's sat on the drive.

Oh, and it's Xsara ;)
 
True it is Xsara. Actually the wife has the new C3 Picasso Exclusive, amazing amount of room for a car based on such a small floorplan. Can't get use to the auto headlights and wipers whenever I've taken it out though. But it handled the snow surprisingly well just after she got it earlier in the year. Haven't driven it yet much on mud tracks but suspect it will be above average there too.
 
daz said:
A disaster in every way except from a business and sales perspective for BMW. ;p
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Yep, apart from that.

It's like trying to make a country-fied Clio, Golf, Corsa etc.

Although saying that VW did make a 4x4 Polo I think?

I guess BMW aren't really fussed about keeping the mini as an 'up to date' version of the original but rinsing it for everything it's worth. Can't really blame them I suppose.
 
spoogle said:
Mini = F-Ugly Girls Toy/Fashion Accessory, why would you ever want one?
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Because they're pretty quick, easy to tune, handle brilliantly and are fantastic fun to drive?

Coming from a Boxster S I definitely think I've upgraded in terms of fun by getting a Mini
 
eidolon said:
Because they're pretty quick, easy to tune, handle brilliantly and are fantastic fun to drive?
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Pretty quick? Pretty slow in all honesty IMO.

Any forced induction car is "easy to tune" relatively speaking.

Handling is subjective, whilst they do stick to the road well, mechanical grip is not the be-all and end-all. They are far too unsettled on rough/bumpy roads, and I really dislike the torque-steer felt through the wheels when pressing on out of a sharp bend.

Fantastic fun to drive is also subjective, I don't doubt that they are a very fun-provoking chassis for some people, but the utter lack of proper visibility, the bone jarring ride when you aren't out to have "fun", and the quality of the interior (as well as the random foibles they exhibit regularly, of which there are a LOT of common faults) detracts from the package as a whole. If I pay premium brand pricing, I want a premium feeling car and ownership experience.

And as said before, there is one sat on the drive right now.
 
I really like the mini, its just about the only small car that is comfortable for the larger gent. Its well built and does alright in the twistys.

If it was cheaper i would consider buying one, but i prefer larger cars
 
paradigm said:
Pretty quick? Pretty slow in all honesty IMO.

Any forced induction car is "easy to tune" relatively speaking.

Handling is subjective, whilst they do stick to the road well, mechanical grip is not the be-all and end-all. They are far too unsettled on rough/bumpy roads, and I really dislike the torque-steer felt through the wheels when pressing on out of a sharp bend.

Fantastic fun to drive is also subjective, I don't doubt that they are a very fun-provoking chassis for some people, but the utter lack of proper visibility, the bone jarring ride when you aren't out to have "fun", and the quality of the interior (as well as the random foibles they exhibit regularly, of which there are a LOT of common faults) detracts from the package as a whole. If I pay premium brand pricing, I want a premium feeling car and ownership experience.

And as said before, there is one sat on the drive right now.
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I honestly think you've got a dog on your drive if you honestly think the above (rather than saying it to be one of the cool kids who hates Minis)

I've had plenty of turbocharged cars and I know full well that the power can be increased easily, but you still have that annoying turbo lag/power delivery no matter how much boost you run (in fact it's worse when you turn up the boost cos you still have crap off boost performance then WHAM, loads of power). With the supercharged engine power is instant and linear, the drivability is 100x better (hence why I didn't go for an R56 Mini)

I've driven and owned plenty of fast cars since passing my test some 18yrs ago and I can honestly say that the Mini is right up there with the best. For fun I genuinely think that only the Elise gave me more of a grin. On the road it's great, enough power and great handling to make me smile every time I drive it.

Maybe we just differ on our definition of fun. I love nimble chuckable cars so I personally thought the M3 was dull and boring, it didn't excite me in any way at all. I'm sure it excels on the track or at speeds of 100mph+ but realistically that's not where most of my time is spent so what's the point of having something that only becomes fun 0.01% of the time?

I'll stick with my Mini thanks.
 
If it helps, we've had two, both from brand new, a 52 plate S in electric blue, and a 55 plate S in Grey. So no, neither were dogs.

Both are equally as crap as I explained earlier.
 
Felix said:
Then why buy them? Unless its the other half's decision?
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They were both my father's, the. 2nd passed on to my brrother when he died.

The only real reason they were bought in the first place was to relive his youth when he owned original Cooper S's cars.
 
Well I apologies ediolon for slagging your car, just think generally they're overpriced, tacky inside, not all that fast and driven on the most part by posers. Can't argue with the fun part, however each to their own and all that.
For me it's a Civic Type R that wins me over.
 
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