Quite the opposite. The issue has been finding a car that meets the criteria. Neither of us had any particular desire to get a Mini when we started looking and the criteria has stayed exactly the same along the way.
Car for the Mrs - Mini Countryman?
- Thread starter Abyss
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Quite the opposite. The issue has been finding a car that meets the criteria. Neither of us had any particular desire to get a Mini when we started looking and the criteria has stayed exactly the same along the way.
There's enough out there in terms of 2010/2011 Cooper S with around 50k on the clock and chili pack but not a huge choice once you add in heated leather seats and the Mrs gets picky on colour!
Our local mini garage had a 2011 with 80k on the clock for 9k but it was the 4 seat version which put us off. I was also eyeing up a Cooper S in Stockport from a mini garage for £9.5k but that's now sold.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
One example I was looking at:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702092153861?atmobcid=soc3
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702092153861?atmobcid=soc3
I haven't looked into it if I am honest. Is it the same as the BMW one that you can renew it after 12 months and the price is less if it's sub 60k miles? Any idea how much it is to renew?
My initial thoughts and preference is to buy from mini if possible to get the 12 months warranty then take the risk given it will be a second car and only doing very low mileage
Caporegime
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Volvo V40?
The 2.0 diesel is 180BHP so about on par with your Audi. Would be also newer than a 10k countryman.
I really cannot see the appeal of the countryman myself. You are paying several thousand premium (almost double the price) over a equivalent clubman for a raised ride height and an extra 2 doors. 10k would actually see you in a JCW Clubman.
The 2.0 diesel is 180BHP so about on par with your Audi. Would be also newer than a 10k countryman.
I really cannot see the appeal of the countryman myself. You are paying several thousand premium (almost double the price) over a equivalent clubman for a raised ride height and an extra 2 doors. 10k would actually see you in a JCW Clubman.
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It is exactly the same as the BMW product but unfortunately they seem to treat the S Mini like an M Power BMW - the warranty is almost a grand for the top package which is significantly more than the non-S.
It's also more money than equivalent BMW's with the same engines, which are of course not treated like they are special ********* ultra uber models...
Associate
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Doesn't seem like there's a lot of love for the countryman here... Yes, it's not mini (in size) at all, but it retains the nice/quirky Mini styling while offering more space.
We've had a Countryman Cooper All4 D for about 3 years, as the gf enjoyed her Mini Cooper and wanted something AWD and more ground-clearance as she was spending a lot of time going along farm tracks at the time (she also specifically wanted a diesel at the time, can't remember why, but that's what she wanted). It's not a bad car to drive, and doesn't necessarily feel its size, it's a little wallow-y, but jumping from my car (previously a MX5, now a M135i) to it, it's not an awful experience - but the diesel option is... Whatever they've done to the diesel engine, it's woeful... Try to pull away from slow speeds in 2nd (like you're approaching a junction in 2nd, see it's clear and try to set off) and expect it to bog down and practically stall. Today we were going up a hill, the computer "advised" a change to 4th for the speed/revs, but in 4th it started bogging down/struggling. I keep thinking a remap would probably work wonders. The handling is obviously going to be worse than a hatchback, but it's not too bad. We like the car and the space (FAR more room than the 1 series) so we're presently thinking of swapping it for an All4 Cooper S, to bring some of the fiz/fun from the smaller Mini Cooper back to its drive. So, we're certainly not put off the brand/model after 3 years of ownership.
We've had a Countryman Cooper All4 D for about 3 years, as the gf enjoyed her Mini Cooper and wanted something AWD and more ground-clearance as she was spending a lot of time going along farm tracks at the time (she also specifically wanted a diesel at the time, can't remember why, but that's what she wanted). It's not a bad car to drive, and doesn't necessarily feel its size, it's a little wallow-y, but jumping from my car (previously a MX5, now a M135i) to it, it's not an awful experience - but the diesel option is... Whatever they've done to the diesel engine, it's woeful... Try to pull away from slow speeds in 2nd (like you're approaching a junction in 2nd, see it's clear and try to set off) and expect it to bog down and practically stall. Today we were going up a hill, the computer "advised" a change to 4th for the speed/revs, but in 4th it started bogging down/struggling. I keep thinking a remap would probably work wonders. The handling is obviously going to be worse than a hatchback, but it's not too bad. We like the car and the space (FAR more room than the 1 series) so we're presently thinking of swapping it for an All4 Cooper S, to bring some of the fiz/fun from the smaller Mini Cooper back to its drive. So, we're certainly not put off the brand/model after 3 years of ownership.
Soldato
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we've had a Cooper S for 3 years now, didn't even consider a diesel and it been fine for 3 kids. The upright posture gives you plenty of space for a relatively short car and easy to get in and out of. Running around typically no more than 10mile or shorter it's been sat 33mpg and on a run will do 38-40. Quirky and a bit of fun with a decent turn of pace. Ive been made to see the appeal. 
TLC has made it cheap to run... other than the 18" tyres!
TLC has made it cheap to run... other than the 18" tyres!
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