Help Me Spec My MINI Countryman...
Discussion
Well, not my MINI Countryman, but my Wife's. 
Background: she currently has an LCI R56 MINI Cooper S (that she really likes on the whole), but we are expecting our first baby next year and so she really needs something a bit more practical than her current car. I know some people get by with kids in hatchback MINIs, but it's not something she's willing to do and I understand that it would be far from ideal. This is a car she'll use as her everyday wheels for shopping, carting the baby about and going on holiday to places quite far away like Cornwall and Scotland etc. I will drive the car on and off, but 95% of its use will not be by me.
Personally, I would not be looking at the MINI Countryman for this task, but my Wife, bless her, will now not own anything other than MINIs. Why? I have no idea. She doesn't want anything too big (even with a Countryman, I fear for its alloys and bumpers!
), and just generally likes the MINI experience and image. I would probably go for a Škoda Yeti, new Nissan Qashqai or, selfishly, an M135i. 
My own R56 JCW GP will be staying and is exempt from any form of baby carrying duty.
Anyway, due to me knowing a MINI saleswoman, I have managed to borrow a new MINI Countryman Cooper for the past few days. We've used it quite a lot, covering about 500 miles between us and, on the whole, it's quite likeable.
Good points:
The car we have on loan is odd. It seems basic in some areas, and yet unnecessarily plush in others. It has cream leather seats, but they are not heated. It has a double panoramic sunroof, but no Xenon headlamps.
So, what engine do we go for? The One and One D are out - they will be simply too dull to consider. It's harder to discount the Cooper like we have on loan as, while I do not like the engine, it is both powerful and competent enough to live with. Its fuel consumption to performance ratio is not acceptable, however, and so it's out I think. The Cooper S would be nice, but it's over £3k more than the Cooper and would have similar fuel consumption (although I would have no issue with this due to the performance on offer). The John Cooper Works is - unfortunately - too expensive and overkill for us! The diesels may be worth a look. Obviously the Cooper D isn't going to be any faster than our petrol-powered Cooper loan car, but if it did, say, 45mpg, then I would be okay with that. I had a Cooper SD Roadster loan car a few weeks ago and it was quite a nice unit; a bit rough, but plenty of power and decent-ish fuel economy. It's expensive, though. On balance, I'm thinking Cooper D (we'll do 12-15k per year and keep the car at least three). I would very much like a longer range than the loan car offers, too.
All4 or just the 2? Personally, I would without hesitation have the All4 model over a FWD equivalent. I don't care if it's slightly less economical or more expensive - I think it would be silly not to. My Wife disagrees, claiming 4WD is unnecessary in the South East. Fair point, but why not?!
Colour is sorted: Blazing Red with a black roof.
The Pepper pack seems like a no-brainer, but is Chilli worth the extra? I think it might be.
Xenons (£670) with the black surrounds (£85) are essential, as are heated chairs (£250). I like adaptive headlamps, but how can they be £825 more than the regular Xenons?!
What's the deal with the (£155) flat load boot floor? What's the standard one like? The loan car's boot floor is flat with a compartment underneath.
'Sports' suspension for £175 just sounds like a way of making the car less comfortable, non?
Anything else we should spec?
Apologies for the massive post - in a way I'm just using it to rationalise buying a car I'm not overly keen on! For reference, here are some pictures of the loan car:
Background: she currently has an LCI R56 MINI Cooper S (that she really likes on the whole), but we are expecting our first baby next year and so she really needs something a bit more practical than her current car. I know some people get by with kids in hatchback MINIs, but it's not something she's willing to do and I understand that it would be far from ideal. This is a car she'll use as her everyday wheels for shopping, carting the baby about and going on holiday to places quite far away like Cornwall and Scotland etc. I will drive the car on and off, but 95% of its use will not be by me.
Personally, I would not be looking at the MINI Countryman for this task, but my Wife, bless her, will now not own anything other than MINIs. Why? I have no idea. She doesn't want anything too big (even with a Countryman, I fear for its alloys and bumpers!
), and just generally likes the MINI experience and image. I would probably go for a Škoda Yeti, new Nissan Qashqai or, selfishly, an M135i. My own R56 JCW GP will be staying and is exempt from any form of baby carrying duty.
Anyway, due to me knowing a MINI saleswoman, I have managed to borrow a new MINI Countryman Cooper for the past few days. We've used it quite a lot, covering about 500 miles between us and, on the whole, it's quite likeable.
Good points:
- It is comfortable. It's running 17" wheels with non-runflat tyres and the ride is in a different league when compared with her current MINI, which is running 17" run flat Bridgestones.
- It seems nicely made. The doors close with a reassuring thump and everything seems nicely put together.
- It is quite practical. Passenger space, both front and rear, is excellent. The boot is a big improvement over the MINI Hatch, but it's still not massive.
- It feels like a MINI. It may look a little odd, but on the inside it looks and feels like a MINI, just bigger!
- It's slow and uneconomical. Perhaps we have been spoiled by our current MINI, but this thing does not deserve a Cooper badge. The engine is joyless, noisy and lacks torque. Don't get me wrong, the engine is more than adequate but, for something we will use a lot, is adequate enough? Fuel consumption also seems poor - 30mpg is all it can muster so far. That is not acceptable for the performance on offer.
- The Halogen headlamps are poor. These are not just poor when compared with Xenons or LEDs, but poor when compared with other Halogens. The optional Xenons are essential.
- Will it be outdated quickly? With the F56 now well on the way, the days of the current range of engines in the Countryman are obviously numbered... does anyone know when the change is likely to occur?
- Being built in Austria does not a proper MINI make.
The car we have on loan is odd. It seems basic in some areas, and yet unnecessarily plush in others. It has cream leather seats, but they are not heated. It has a double panoramic sunroof, but no Xenon headlamps.
So, what engine do we go for? The One and One D are out - they will be simply too dull to consider. It's harder to discount the Cooper like we have on loan as, while I do not like the engine, it is both powerful and competent enough to live with. Its fuel consumption to performance ratio is not acceptable, however, and so it's out I think. The Cooper S would be nice, but it's over £3k more than the Cooper and would have similar fuel consumption (although I would have no issue with this due to the performance on offer). The John Cooper Works is - unfortunately - too expensive and overkill for us! The diesels may be worth a look. Obviously the Cooper D isn't going to be any faster than our petrol-powered Cooper loan car, but if it did, say, 45mpg, then I would be okay with that. I had a Cooper SD Roadster loan car a few weeks ago and it was quite a nice unit; a bit rough, but plenty of power and decent-ish fuel economy. It's expensive, though. On balance, I'm thinking Cooper D (we'll do 12-15k per year and keep the car at least three). I would very much like a longer range than the loan car offers, too.
All4 or just the 2? Personally, I would without hesitation have the All4 model over a FWD equivalent. I don't care if it's slightly less economical or more expensive - I think it would be silly not to. My Wife disagrees, claiming 4WD is unnecessary in the South East. Fair point, but why not?!
Colour is sorted: Blazing Red with a black roof.
The Pepper pack seems like a no-brainer, but is Chilli worth the extra? I think it might be.
Xenons (£670) with the black surrounds (£85) are essential, as are heated chairs (£250). I like adaptive headlamps, but how can they be £825 more than the regular Xenons?!
What's the deal with the (£155) flat load boot floor? What's the standard one like? The loan car's boot floor is flat with a compartment underneath.
'Sports' suspension for £175 just sounds like a way of making the car less comfortable, non?
Anything else we should spec?
Apologies for the massive post - in a way I'm just using it to rationalise buying a car I'm not overly keen on!
For reference, here are some pictures of the loan car:
My girlfriend has just got a Cooper. Agree about the performance / fuel economy but we didn't want diesel due to low mileage and short journeys. Cooper S was too expensive.
The packs aren't really that good value. They're only a tiny bit cheaper than getting the options individually so if there's even one thing you don't want it's not worth it. Although consider resale of a 'non pepper' if you're buying it.
I've found the headlamps better than expected. I was concerned about not getting xenons but it turns out the halogens are fine, much better than my Astra!
I wish we went for auto wipers. I don't actually like auto wipers so we never specced them. Turns out the standard ones don't have an adjustable intermittent speed which is very annoying!!
Standard stereo is very functional but quite fiddly to use. Going up to the visual boost might be worth it.
The packs aren't really that good value. They're only a tiny bit cheaper than getting the options individually so if there's even one thing you don't want it's not worth it. Although consider resale of a 'non pepper' if you're buying it.
I've found the headlamps better than expected. I was concerned about not getting xenons but it turns out the halogens are fine, much better than my Astra!
I wish we went for auto wipers. I don't actually like auto wipers so we never specced them. Turns out the standard ones don't have an adjustable intermittent speed which is very annoying!!
Standard stereo is very functional but quite fiddly to use. Going up to the visual boost might be worth it.
Without the flat load boot floor, the boot is what the loan was but without the flat bit, I always used to recommend my customers ordered with the flat load and take it out if they didn't like it as the car will be more desirable with it.
The economy on all of them isn't fantastic, even in a Cooper D you will probably only get around 40mpg, the SD is a good engine so if you could stretch to that, I'd do it.
I wouldn't bother with adaptive lights (you can't opt for these and the black headlights), Xenons are well worth it imho.
ALL4 would be a no brainer too as for the 2 weeks a year we get snow/ ice, the car will cope perfectly otherwise it could struggle.
The economy on all of them isn't fantastic, even in a Cooper D you will probably only get around 40mpg, the SD is a good engine so if you could stretch to that, I'd do it.
I wouldn't bother with adaptive lights (you can't opt for these and the black headlights), Xenons are well worth it imho.
ALL4 would be a no brainer too as for the 2 weeks a year we get snow/ ice, the car will cope perfectly otherwise it could struggle.
Just got our Cooper S with chilli, xenon are amazing. We nearly bought a Cooper 6 months but I just couldn't get excited by the lack lustre performance for no economy gain and the dumpy bum of the non S so have waited a bit longer.
Load board is a good one, as the side trim is unique so it's no easy to add. The trunk lighting is poor thigh only one lamp halfway up the RH side.
Load board is a good one, as the side trim is unique so it's no easy to add. The trunk lighting is poor thigh only one lamp halfway up the RH side.
I had a Cooper D loaner recently and I averaged only 35. I average 28 in my Cooper S petrol so I don't really see the point of the D versions. To make it worse, both the Cooper D and non D are gutless performers. Get the S petrol is my advice. With regard to the other options I would go for the flat boot floor, swivel Xenons, pan roof and nav. The ambient lighting is lovely too if you can stretch to that.
Xenons are a must IME. All4 useful, we live on roads which aren't gritted and came in very useful during last years snow, but depends what how much you value the system. Visual Boost is the best thing to spec on the inside (gives you the navigation screen), sorts out the mess that is the standard speedo/stereo unit. Sunroof is nice, as is the Harman Kardon HiFi if you enjoy your music. 18" wheels affect ride quality quite a bit, bear this in mind if you fancy these 
Full leather not worth the cash IMO, anthracite roof lining looks superb when spec'd with sunroof.
Parents have a Countryman Cooper SD All4 Auto (has to be auto unfortunately for mum's disability), engine is gruff but fairly gutsy, and easily achieves 38mpg locally, despite auto box and All4's extra weight.
Full leather not worth the cash IMO, anthracite roof lining looks superb when spec'd with sunroof. Parents have a Countryman Cooper SD All4 Auto (has to be auto unfortunately for mum's disability), engine is gruff but fairly gutsy, and easily achieves 38mpg locally, despite auto box and All4's extra weight.
My wife wanted a high spec Countryman SD after having about 12 Discovery 4 HSE over the last few years, having four children I thought this would be too small. It is now a year old with 16,000 miles on and she absolutely loves it. Xenons and pan roof are a must, nav nice to have. Hers is an All4 but it was rubbish in the snow until we fitted winter tyres. The car was gutless until we fitted a power boost device, under £100 from Ebay, we were recommended this by someone who works for Englands' largest BMW and Mini dealer, it totally transformed the car and returns 44-45 miles per gallon all the time.
Cooper D All4 Auto is an absolute peach.
Flat load boot floor is a wise spec, it seems rare to find without, and customers prefer to have it.
Xenons are fantastic, I agree that the halogens aren't great, but then I have one car with, one without.
Blazing Red, Black with Dark Anthracite wheels makes a really nice choice (see My Garage), though, Light White, black a Roof/Mirrors and silver wheels is smart too. Cosmic Blue with White Roof/Mirrors and Matt Anthracite wheels is a great combo too.
CHILI is a definite. The seats are so much better, plus you'll find other options become cheaper.
Flat load boot floor is a wise spec, it seems rare to find without, and customers prefer to have it.
Xenons are fantastic, I agree that the halogens aren't great, but then I have one car with, one without.
Blazing Red, Black with Dark Anthracite wheels makes a really nice choice (see My Garage), though, Light White, black a Roof/Mirrors and silver wheels is smart too. Cosmic Blue with White Roof/Mirrors and Matt Anthracite wheels is a great combo too.
CHILI is a definite. The seats are so much better, plus you'll find other options become cheaper.
Can't say i agree on the lights....my standard mini 1 with "normal " lights are fine (are they any different to the "countryman" lights....ask)
I would get the spare space saver tyre as a must
The radio "boost" is great...(will hide the baby crying!)
criuse control
The ambiant lights are fun to play with.....
Mud flaps a must....will be getting some on mine when it goes in for a service...it will really help keep sides and rear of car cleaner
I find my diesel fine on the power if I want to "welly it" and feel at a return of near on 500 miles on a 40 litre tank blinking good (near on 60 mpg on all kinds of roads)if you want to accelerate fast i would buy a different car. She will not be "wellying" it with a baby in the car......they can't cope with poor driving as their necks are not strong enough to cope with the jerking when accelerating /braking hard
I would get the spare space saver tyre as a must
The radio "boost" is great...(will hide the baby crying!)
criuse control
The ambiant lights are fun to play with.....
Mud flaps a must....will be getting some on mine when it goes in for a service...it will really help keep sides and rear of car cleaner
I find my diesel fine on the power if I want to "welly it" and feel at a return of near on 500 miles on a 40 litre tank blinking good (near on 60 mpg on all kinds of roads)if you want to accelerate fast i would buy a different car. She will not be "wellying" it with a baby in the car......they can't cope with poor driving as their necks are not strong enough to cope with the jerking when accelerating /braking hard
We spec'd my wife's as a cooper, 6k miles a year didnt justify all4 or the s model plus diesel didnt make sense.
Low30s is the norm around town.
spec wise I agree xenons are a must along with the chilli pack. Having a wee 1 we also went full leather it also adds to resale. The combo we have is white, blackroof, black 18 turbo fans (can be bumpy - non sports susp) privacy glass. Think it looks very smart in this combo.
we considered nav or visual boost along with h&k but it was 1.5 to 2k, we wouldnt get our moneys worth.
other bits and pieces were chrome external and internal along with dark headlining, white indicators, rear spoiler, just wee things that made the car a bit smarter.
Low30s is the norm around town.
spec wise I agree xenons are a must along with the chilli pack. Having a wee 1 we also went full leather it also adds to resale. The combo we have is white, blackroof, black 18 turbo fans (can be bumpy - non sports susp) privacy glass. Think it looks very smart in this combo.
we considered nav or visual boost along with h&k but it was 1.5 to 2k, we wouldnt get our moneys worth.
other bits and pieces were chrome external and internal along with dark headlining, white indicators, rear spoiler, just wee things that made the car a bit smarter.
My wife has had a Countryman for just over a year, she really likes it.
We have a slightly different spec to the above. Having test driven a diesel (non-S) we found it to be lacking a bit of low down power so we tried the Cooper SD and liked that a lot more. Also, living up the north east of Scotland we went for the All4.
Other spec points on ours are the 18" turbine alloys with run flats are firm on the road (not as bad as the M-Sport X5 I was running at the time of Mini Purchase). if I was to order again I'd look for non-run flats. Chilli pack is good as is the cruise as previously mentioned. Our Bluetooth is the most basic version, if spec'ing again I'd look to upgrade that. One last point is the mini connected media package, ours doesn't have that as I thought it was an expensive option.
We have a slightly different spec to the above. Having test driven a diesel (non-S) we found it to be lacking a bit of low down power so we tried the Cooper SD and liked that a lot more. Also, living up the north east of Scotland we went for the All4.
Other spec points on ours are the 18" turbine alloys with run flats are firm on the road (not as bad as the M-Sport X5 I was running at the time of Mini Purchase). if I was to order again I'd look for non-run flats. Chilli pack is good as is the cruise as previously mentioned. Our Bluetooth is the most basic version, if spec'ing again I'd look to upgrade that. One last point is the mini connected media package, ours doesn't have that as I thought it was an expensive option.
Run flats are standard on 18" alloy wheels, and the 17" 5-Star Twin Spoke Alloys are standard on CHILI Pack'd Cooper/Cooper D models, 18" Turbo Fan alloys (and Runflats) are standard fit on the a Cooper S/ Cooper SD with the CHILI Pack. They're an £80/85 option on the 16s and 17s.
Edited by Waugh-terfall on Wednesday 8th January 23:11
blank said:
£80/£85 for RFTs?
Contender for worst factory option ever??
I had a Cooper S All4 Paceman over New Year, felt nothing like my rock-hard Cooper S Hatch does on the RFTs to be fair. Saves rigmarole with the Mobility system (tyre weld and compressor found under the passenger seat).Contender for worst factory option ever??
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