Countryman I saw you!!!

Tomorrow is MAG's special year end sales event. I got a mailer this week. They said that they will have a Countryman there.


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Alas I received no flyer. Guess my money isn't green enough.

Allen you can ride over with me & we can take one to my secret off road mud bog to give it a good test. :idea: Heck even better, we can drive the Sunriser rally course from 86. I still have the route book. :ihih:

 

I drove a BRG Cooper Countryman last week while I was in getting my MC serviced. We took the I-270 loop from MAG to SR 161 and back to MAG. Nice ride and more than adequate power...can't wait for the wife to see it and maybe take a spin!

 

My wife's is due in the 1st week of February. Can't wait to get it.

 

I drove the black Countryman S All4 last week. I was more than impressed . With the 6 speed manual transmission, it felt as quick as a Hardtop S. The suspension felt firm and bodyroll was not noticed. I hope my wife will seriously consider trading in her X3.

the Countryman has a lot of potential for a few mods. Alta Accessport would be the first mod I would add. In my opinion the car is more impressive in person.

The wife may want to wait for the bench seat option later next year. I prefer the bucket rear seats.

 

I was in MAG for the event this morning. I was not the winner of the Countryman I am sad to report. Although when questioned about the most important thing to me about any car I might purchase by the MAG associate conducting the give away, to which I replied "fun of course", she told me that she had received that answer multiple times in only a few hours and found it an odd response. As she had fumbled the secret MINI handshake upon our introduction as well as wrinkled her nose at my fashion T of a British bulldog marking its territory on the wheel of an SUV, I am to guess they had re purposed her from the Bavarian side of the dealership. Once I had reassured her that I was not going to sign paperwork and leave with a new Countryman today, she handed me a stylish Midwestern MINI coffee mug filled with sweet bits as a consolation prize, and I went off to poke my stick at the large and presumably oafish lederhosen clad cousin of the MINI. I have not kept up on the Countryman since the photos with the strange patterned wrap appeared, but I have to say that upon initial inspection I did not forcefully vomit my spinach, feta and bacon omelet upon the showroom floor. In fact it really didn't look that bad. Now it did sport a badunkadunk, or whatever the hip-hop crowd are calling a generous posterior of note these days... and that rear MINI emblem certainly is reminiscent of any given belt buckle at your finer local line dancin' establishments, but over all it was far from the vision of Chunk from The Goonies that I guess I had been expecting. The interior was a complete Tardis experience, vastly larger than I was expecting from the outside. While I don't mind putting my mother in law in the rear seat when we enjoy some S-car go, I would perhaps feel guilty placing an adult there for the duration of an interstate haul. The Countyman however seemed to have ample adult leg room in the rear row from my short experience, and a boot large enough to put things in. Larger things than three sacks of potatoes from Costco and a child size toothbrush. Most of the bits and pieces seemed fairly well put together from first inspection, although the center "accessory tracks" seemed a bit questionable with the cup holder, sunglasses case and phone mount seeming perhaps a bit plasticie (if that is not a word, it is now). And considering the compliment of amenities the floor model was stocked with I didn't think the sticker price was bad at all either. While I don't have a current need for small MINI styled sports-ute, I wouldn't mind putting one through its paces when I have the time just for the experience.

 

I enjoyed your Countryman review.

 

Ditto, a bit hard for my old eyes to read, but Ditto.

 

WOW.....
That is big news.....
Congratulation Mark....
You might seriously need to check out a four door Countryman now. Start with a new clean slate for mods.

 

It is coming out after the new super sized MINI 3 door.

 

Saw one in person last Thursday at MINI Baltimore County. I have to say I was very impressed. I was looking at a fairly optioned S. Forget the name of the color but it was navy blue with tan leather interior and blacked out wheels. It was SWEET!!! I may be whooed into upgrading the wifes Grand Cherkee. Not enough to trade the R53 though. Besides, my Fiat 500 will be coming shortly.

 

Crashton- Whats a "NOT N MG roaster"? A Miata?

 

Ding, ding, ding..... We have a winner! :yesnod:

My best friend Eric Jones, who was a British car mechanic of the highest regard his whole life named it that. I've had many British cars over the years, but grew very weary of doing roadside tech sessions. I sold off my both my MG's along with a garage full of parts & bought a used Miata. Every time I went over to Eric's shop he'd say "THAT'S NOT AN MG". I decided to get that plate for my Miata. Eric had a good chuckle when he saw it & stopped saying that every time he saw my Japanese roaster.

 

Tell us about your 500.... I think they will be fun cars. :yesnod:

Do you think they will rebadge the Durango & sell it as a Fiat Multipla? :crazy:

 

Chuck- I thought thats what you were refering to. So we have a few things in common. I used to be an MGB fanatic but, kids, jobs, and a relocation caused me to go in another direction. I see you are from Ohio, I used to attend the Roadster Factory show in Johnstown PA several years ago. Won a few times with my 72 MGB Roadster. I still love old british cars but dont have the time and/or money tinker with them anymore. The new MINI was the closest thing to a modern british car for me. Bought my 05 R53 new in 7/04 and love it. Thats why I cant get rid of it. Now there will be 2 small cars in my garage, an R53 and a 500. I'll post some pics and a review as soon as I get it.

Cheers and Merry Christmas
Tom M

 

Thanks for filling me in Tom. Looking forward to your review & photos of the 500.

Happy Holidays to you & your family.