Looking at Mini/Mini Countryman

[smileymikey]

After some advice please. We were originally looking at buying a Hyundai ix35/sportage SUV for my wife. We live in a village and the local country roads while not needing four wheel drive are getting a bit potholed for her current Alfa Romeo. The Mini Countryman has just popped up on her radar and while I think they are as ugly as sin. She loves them. I'm vaguely aware that some engines on the Minis are an expensive nightmare and wonder if any owners can advise me what to look out for as good and what not to go anywhere near please.

[Big Tomm]

I’ve had a 2.0 Petrol Turbo countryman S since new and I’ve had it about 12 months now. I like minis and have quite a few classics and early model R5* cars where engine problems were pretty common! I understand this isn’t a huge amount of help to you but we have had no problems in that time with the car at all. I don’t have a huge amount of faith in their service interval time so do it earlier.

Anyway, what has made me pipe up and comment. I had one of those SUV type 35s a few years ago as a temporary vehicle at work. The useable space inside was much greater than the clubman from memory and the rear seats were far larger than that of the clubman. If boot and rear seat space is of great importance it may be worth comparing the two.

If you’re Local I’d be happy to pop by in our 2018 model for you to have a poke about.