Countryman Cooper S - About to order one....
Discussion
Hi all,
Interested to hear some opinions on the Wife's new car, Shes a MINI fan, has a 04 hatch but child #3 arrived in May meant we needed to shift car size. At first we got a 09 Civic but she continues to complain she cant park it (which Im inclined to agree) and it hasn't really got a personality.
We nearly bought a Cooper 6 months ago but decided against it; however this time round, as I will also drive the car on family trips, Im only really comfortable paying the significant money on a decent specced one that doesnt mean stepping down in power from the 1.8 Civic and has an air of PH about it (ie 184bhp!). The back end looks far better on the Cooper S models aswell with the twin exhaust and no kink in the black valance.
Spec is looking to be a Blazing Red with Chili and model designation delete, the car really works on the 18" Turbofans compared to the dumpy base models littering the streets
. Im playing the dealer game of seeing what stock they have rather then waiting and hence relatively flexible on spec.
Gonna get a test drive later but noticed a number of comments on road noise and the ALL4 spec doesnt blunt the car a little as well as fuel penalty so Im okay avoiding that.
Ugly car but I'm more on the page of ugly rather than dull hence my daily drive to work in is a 2001 Hona Insight
Cheers!
Interested to hear some opinions on the Wife's new car, Shes a MINI fan, has a 04 hatch but child #3 arrived in May meant we needed to shift car size. At first we got a 09 Civic but she continues to complain she cant park it (which Im inclined to agree) and it hasn't really got a personality.
We nearly bought a Cooper 6 months ago but decided against it; however this time round, as I will also drive the car on family trips, Im only really comfortable paying the significant money on a decent specced one that doesnt mean stepping down in power from the 1.8 Civic and has an air of PH about it (ie 184bhp!). The back end looks far better on the Cooper S models aswell with the twin exhaust and no kink in the black valance.
Spec is looking to be a Blazing Red with Chili and model designation delete, the car really works on the 18" Turbofans compared to the dumpy base models littering the streets
. Im playing the dealer game of seeing what stock they have rather then waiting and hence relatively flexible on spec.Gonna get a test drive later but noticed a number of comments on road noise and the ALL4 spec doesnt blunt the car a little as well as fuel penalty so Im okay avoiding that.
Ugly car but I'm more on the page of ugly rather than dull hence my daily drive to work in is a 2001 Hona Insight
Cheers!
We have also had a history of owning MINIs and have two kids at the moment. We manage with a clubman S and a roofbox at the moment.
I have been looking at countrymen, but just cannot convince myself about one. When they first came out I test drove one and hated the ride. Undoubtably the runflat tyres won't help, but for driving on the Isle of Wight it was a no-no for me. So I bought a clubman instead.
I do keep looking at the countryman though..... Let me know what you think when you pick it up. At the moment I cannot find anything which ticks the boxes that the clubman does for me. And it is probably due for replacement in about six months.....
Mike
I have been looking at countrymen, but just cannot convince myself about one. When they first came out I test drove one and hated the ride. Undoubtably the runflat tyres won't help, but for driving on the Isle of Wight it was a no-no for me. So I bought a clubman instead.
I do keep looking at the countryman though..... Let me know what you think when you pick it up. At the moment I cannot find anything which ticks the boxes that the clubman does for me. And it is probably due for replacement in about six months.....
Mike
mike9009 said:
We have also had a history of owning MINIs and have two kids at the moment. We manage with a clubman S and a roofbox at the moment.
I have been looking at countrymen, but just cannot convince myself about one. When they first came out I test drove one and hated the ride. Undoubtably the runflat tyres won't help, but for driving on the Isle of Wight it was a no-no for me. So I bought a clubman instead.
I do keep looking at the countryman though..... Let me know what you think when you pick it up. At the moment I cannot find anything which ticks the boxes that the clubman does for me. And it is probably due for replacement in about six months.....
Mike
Gonna try getting a test drive again tomorrow before I press any buttons, will see when dealer gets back to me with the group stock as I'm pushing for light coffee lounge. I'd like to think the cooper s is a relatively flexible car on price compared to the diesels!I have been looking at countrymen, but just cannot convince myself about one. When they first came out I test drove one and hated the ride. Undoubtably the runflat tyres won't help, but for driving on the Isle of Wight it was a no-no for me. So I bought a clubman instead.
I do keep looking at the countryman though..... Let me know what you think when you pick it up. At the moment I cannot find anything which ticks the boxes that the clubman does for me. And it is probably due for replacement in about six months.....
Mike
There literally nothing else out there I can see that will suit what she wants!
We have a Cooper S All4 Auto and like it a lot. The runflats came off after 300 miles and the ride improved greatly. However you need to tick lots of boxes to make it feel special. They can be pretty drab in standard form. Go for the pan roof if you are putting kids in the back. Performance is ok but nothing to write home about either.
My wife has a Countryman SD All4 and loves it after having had eight Discovery 4's in a row. The ride was terrible until we put winter tyres on, she has kept them on ever since. The car was useless in snow without them.
Performance is great now that it has a tuning box fitted, £80 from Ebay and the car was totally transformed, quick and flexible and returning 44 mpg. Don't buy one without xenons.
Performance is great now that it has a tuning box fitted, £80 from Ebay and the car was totally transformed, quick and flexible and returning 44 mpg. Don't buy one without xenons.
We have a Contryman Cooper SD,no extras fitted.
Would deffo agree about the standard lights which are pretty poor.
The ride is solid and you do feel every bump.Pirelli run flats.
Also the fuel economy is nowhere near the claimed 60mpg.
We get about 45mpg,BUT that is mainly on school runs mon-fri and a long run at weekends.
Apart from the above the car is fab,we are a family of 5 and im 6'8'' and can drive it comfortably and there is room for the 3 girls in the back.I can also sit in the back comfortably as the wheels dont encrouch into the back seat.
Its got plenty of power when needed and its a safe,solid car.
I dont regret getting her and would have another one.
Ben.
Would deffo agree about the standard lights which are pretty poor.
The ride is solid and you do feel every bump.Pirelli run flats.
Also the fuel economy is nowhere near the claimed 60mpg.
We get about 45mpg,BUT that is mainly on school runs mon-fri and a long run at weekends.
Apart from the above the car is fab,we are a family of 5 and im 6'8'' and can drive it comfortably and there is room for the 3 girls in the back.I can also sit in the back comfortably as the wheels dont encrouch into the back seat.
Its got plenty of power when needed and its a safe,solid car.
I dont regret getting her and would have another one.
Ben.
Thanks all.
Well deal done yesterday on a new build. Brilliant Copper S with Chili and leather black lounge then polar beige colourline. Should tie in with the seat piping and brighten it up inside and work lovely with the ambient lightning.. Wife won on the seats as I was more keen on the media pack. Not much else; flat load board, chrome mirrors & sun protection glass. Wanted armrest but not for £140, particularly as its a bit of a HMI nightmare with the handbrake..... Then worked out enhanced Bluetooth with chili drops right down to £60 and includes the armrest so that's gone on!
Well deal done yesterday on a new build. Brilliant Copper S with Chili and leather black lounge then polar beige colourline. Should tie in with the seat piping and brighten it up inside and work lovely with the ambient lightning.. Wife won on the seats as I was more keen on the media pack. Not much else; flat load board, chrome mirrors & sun protection glass. Wanted armrest but not for £140, particularly as its a bit of a HMI nightmare with the handbrake..... Then worked out enhanced Bluetooth with chili drops right down to £60 and includes the armrest so that's gone on!
Edited by JonnyVTEC on Sunday 17th November 21:28
Edited by JonnyVTEC on Sunday 17th November 21:30
Nice one.
I have a Cooper petrol Countryman I got on a great deal from a dealers stock. It is REALLY slow - I definitely regret not getting the Cooper S.
We're really happy with the car - just wish there was a bit more boot space.
Oh and yes the standard headlights (I have them) are pretty poor at best.
I have a Cooper petrol Countryman I got on a great deal from a dealers stock. It is REALLY slow - I definitely regret not getting the Cooper S.
We're really happy with the car - just wish there was a bit more boot space.
Oh and yes the standard headlights (I have them) are pretty poor at best.
Waugh-terfall said:
What did you go for outside?!
Brilliant Copper! 
thought the way I wrote that may catch people out. Silver turbofans and body roof, not sure roof is best but it gives option to vinyl wrap either way. Gonna confirm with dealer tomoz and also add model designation delete as COUNTRYMAN does nothing for the car's back end!After seeing alot of cars I think I now agree with the wife that the non S grille is better!
Looking at an S for the Mrs at the moment. Had a look at Williams Mini on Sunday at a couple of used ones.
Do you mind me asking if you managed to get much of a discount? Think I'd be inclined to go new, on a 2 year finance deal, but have no idea what kind of prices would be involved at this stage.
Do you mind me asking if you managed to get much of a discount? Think I'd be inclined to go new, on a 2 year finance deal, but have no idea what kind of prices would be involved at this stage.
It's a Xmas red and was current stock so had a few options I didn't really like. Anthracite headlining was too dark and it didbt have flat load board or sun protection glass; so we went for new to order and was debating royal grey and copper. Went off the blazing red, wife saw one and said she didn't like it as its 'too Christmassy'!!?
Still have fears ill regret no going for radio boost at the very least to get the funky screen!
Still have fears ill regret no going for radio boost at the very least to get the funky screen!
JonnyVTEC said:
It's a Xmas red and was current stock so had a few options I didn't really like. Anthracite headlining was too dark and it didbt have flat load board or sun protection glass; so we went for new to order and was debating royal grey and copper. Went off the blazing red, wife saw one and said she didn't like it as its 'too Christmassy'!!?
Still have fears ill regret no going for radio boost at the very least to get the funky screen!
It's probably my favourite Countryman colour alongside Cosmic Blue, both need black roof & mirrors though. Beleive it or not, not Flat Load Floor can have a detrimental affect on residuals!Still have fears ill regret no going for radio boost at the very least to get the funky screen!
JonnyVTEC said:
Yeah I think I would have stuck with red with had anthracite wheels been on the table, however they had to be silver otherwise they are 'too boy racer'.
Sorry did you mean not having the flat load is a bad thing?
Sorry, yeah, not having it. Looks like a missed a word!Sorry did you mean not having the flat load is a bad thing?
I've got the black wheels on mine but no tints. Think the wheels look smaller than they do in silver in the csase of the R124 5-Star Double Spokes.
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