This is just me and my own opinion, but any of the car mags, as well as Top Gear, have their spin on what something should be. If it does not measure up to THERE standard, then it is poorly designed and fails to deliver. Why not just report the numbers and let us decide if we like it or not. I will get blasted here, but Clarkson is simply trying to build his TV ratings.
I tend to agree with you, but how do you know what Clarkson said? Did you read what he wrote? I did not. I found the "Clarkson drives the Mini fatso" pretty damned funny. :lol: Maybe there is some useful info in his piece like how many mince pies fit in the boot. :ihih:
The other article that was linked to was pretty complimentary of the BIG MINI...
Car reviewers are some of the most jaded folks on earth. They get to drive all of the best & the latest offerings all on someone else's dime. They do a long term review of a car for 12 months & maybe 10,000 miles. Hardly long term. Guess what I am saying is read your favorite rag or watch you favorite TV show, but take it all with a grain of salt. Drive it yourself & make up your own mind. :yesnod:
I thought the linked review was generally positive. He didn't rave about it, but he really didn't put it down either.
I'm a little disappointed in the front styling of the Countryman, especially the headlights. They don't look like the other MINI headlights.
When the series two MINI was introduced, the styling differences between it and the series one MINI were subtle. The Countryman's front end is a bit too much of a departure from what came before.
The original Mini's styling remained basically unchanged for thirty one years.
Lets not forget they get jetted off to exotic locales, plied with food and drink, stay in 5 star hotels and drive all kinds of cars all on the manufacturers dime.
Everything I have read says the Countryman is a BIG MINI. I am glad the magazines are complementing the space inside the Countryman. Even the Clubman felt smaller than need be on the inside. I have really enjoyed watching how BMW has expanded the MINI brand. Much like Porsche needs to make SUV's to be able to make GT3's, I think the Countryman will allow MINI to make another GP type car.
