It's like a big, big Mini

We recently spent some more time with a MINI Countryman. So, what do you guys think about it?

Linky: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2011-mini-cooper-s-countryman-all4/

I hate the Countryman so much I don't even really like the new MINIs that much.

They should call it a Maxi.

If my wife had her way, she'd burn all of those Maxis. She's MINI fanatical like that.

One thing about the Countryman - it's got more rally cred than the other MINIs do. It's the base for the surprisingly good WRC car.

i dont' like anything about them. at all.

You know it's funny I drive an original austin mini and consider myself somewhat of a purest but me and the wife drove one and it looks like it would be a great replacement for her golf as a family hauler. Also I love seeing mini returning to top tier rallying, something I haven't seen done with the other poser new minis. Either way in my opinion anything from the BMW backed all caps MINI is a pretender to the thrown, now they just make something fun to drive with room for the family and the St Bernard.

lets just change the subject to fiat 500s.

Hate it.

I'm sort of enamored with the countryman. I think it gets a bad rap for the badge it has. Were it any other make, I think people would like it more. Aside from that stupid center bar that runs the length of the cabin. REALLY ruins the interior. Wife's in love with it. We'd probably consider it if the all4 turbo wasn't so stinkin' expensive.

Lots of money for a small, heavy car.

MG or Austin made a Maxi ,once upon a time, forget which.

I like them, but they cost waaaaayyyyyy too much.

Haven't driven it. Did drive the new coupe, which is great fun... other than having next to no visibility and looking as though a turtle was welded to its head.

I thought the Ford Flex was the really, really big MINI.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I like them, but they cost waaaaayyyyyy too much.

This!

Not may new cars you can get AWD with a stick these days. Not to mention small-ish, and turbo. I really dig it, though I've done nothing but read about them and look at pictures on-line. I've only seen one in the wild. I can think of a couple hundred other things I'd spend $35K on before one of these though.

I even dig the light coffee color, but SWMBO would never go for it. I hate the center rail, would have to get the 2 piece one, and WTF is with having to get a $2K optional package to get an arm rest?

• Lee

In reply to bigdaddylee82:

I hadn't really thought of it that way, but you're right - it is one of few compact SUV's available with a manual trans. That said, I still think its too expensive for what you get. Once the MINI fanatics who have pining for an awd MINI get theirs, I'm not sure how many they'll sell.

I don't get it and I don't like it. What cars are people choosing this over? I don't see what its target demographic/segment is.

Yuck.

It's tiguan competition

Oh and by the way if you want to talk about not a mini the coupe is the stupidest thing I've ever seen, I think of the countryman as a modern mini moke, I know it's a stretch.. But did I mention how stupid I think the coupe is?

One thumb up for the Cooper. Two thumbs up for the Cooper S. Even the Goodwood gets a pass. But the Countryman is a gimmick gone too far.

I saw on of the ALL4's on the road and it had dimensions similar to an original Rav4

ReverendDexter wrote: I thought the Ford Flex was the really, really big MINI.

The Flex is just a big toaster, with twin turbos.

iceracer wrote: MG or Austin made a Maxi ,once upon a time, forget which.

Aaaggghhhhhhh NNNOOOOOooooooooo......

There are piles of E36 M3, steaming piles of E36 M3, complete utter total steaming piles of E36 M3, then there are total, complete utter unimaginably bad steaming piles of E36 M3, and finally there was the Austin Maxi

Do not ever utter the words Maxi in conjunction with any automobile ever again.

Oh, BTW I like the Countryman

Hmm, a loaded Countryman, or a Subaru STi. Some decisions are hard. This one is not.