By Jonathan Mellberg
There are really only a few cars out there that scream FUN
when they catch your eye; and it's not even an issue of price. A Ferrari can be fun;
so can a Hummer. So can a Maybach, a Mustang, or a turbo-diesel Dodge Ram
pickup truck. But none of these are a singularly-focused representation of FUN;
and even if they were, they’d still be nowhere as close as the Mini is to embodying it.
There’s only one other car I can think of that is as
innocently playful as the original Mini Cooper, and that’s the original Volkswagen
Beetle. The people’s car was born in 1938. In 2003, production of the Type 1
Beetle ended, with over 21 million cars sold worldwide. It wasn’t until 1997 that
the New Beetle took the reins, fully reincarnated; much the same as its
spiritual cousin, the Mini Cooper. The first Mini Cooper hits the streets in
1961. It, like the Beetle, enjoyed a rebirth near the turn of the century when
BMW fully acquired the brand in 2000. And ever since, Mini’s jubilant style
has continued to evolve and proliferate beyond the original, singular model,
the Cooper.
Today we still have the Cooper, in both naturally-aspirated
and turbo-charged offerings. But the Mini family has grown; the Cooper now has several
unique iterations: There’s the Countryman, the Paceman, the Convertible, the Hardtop, the
Coupe, the Roadster (a drop-top version of the Coupe), and the high-performance
variants of these models, called John Cooper Works. Need to read that again? Me
too, and I had to write it!
Mini Cooper S Coupe
Mini Cooper S Hardtop
Mini Cooper S Clubman
Mini Cooper S Hardtop
For the love of Pete, they all look the same! Well, only
until closer examination. While I won’t get into the thick minutiae of model
differentiation, I will say that every Mini is unique but familiar, just like a real family. Brothers and sisters may look alike and talk alike and even walk alike,
but they are still individuals. Today we’ll be focusing on only one member of
the Cooper family: The Countryman. My curiosity in Mini was piqued after a long-held
perception regarding the brand was recently erased. Mini’s can be
affordable! Sort of, at least. This revelation was in part due to my ignorance
regarding Mini’s price point; I assumed that since they are in cahoots with BMW
(and until recently in MN, sold at BMW dealerships) and imported from across
the Atlantic that they must be too expensive to ever seriously consider.
And to a certain extent, that is still true. They are a niche brand with niche
cars. But they’re actually quite a bit cheaper than I realized. A base Mini
Cooper Hardtop stickers for $20,450, and the Mini Roadster stickers for $26,100
(on the other end of the scale). Not too bad. Of course, prices only go up from
there.
Mini Cooper S Countryman
The bigger piece of the dilemma as to whether I’d ever want
to purchase a Mini primarily has to do with our lovely Minnesota climate:
Winter. Kill me now. I’m only (half) kidding; it’s not really that bad. But a
good “you-betcha” snow storm can be treacherous enough when piloting a big, four-wheel
drive truck with a foot of ground clearance. There is no way you’ll convince me
that the go-kart Mini can even begin to compete with that (especially when the
roads are blanketed in five inches of snow).
Insert segway here: The Mini Cooper Countryman. It’s
relevancy? Available all-wheel drive, higher ground clearance, more room. Now
this is a little more Minnesota-friendly. Like is two-door brother,
the Mini Paceman, the Countryman is the Mini for grown-ups who are ready for
true all-season weather, if equipped. The Mini Countryman comes in three flavors: Base
($22,750), S ($26,100), and ALL4 ($27,850) trim levels. The base comes with a
turbo-free, 16-valve 1.6Litre inline-four engine that rounds up 121hp and sends
power to the front wheels only. The S and ALL4 models slap a turbo to that same
1.6Litre motor, and the result is an additional 60hp. You can shift yourself
with a six-speed manual or let the six-speed automatic make light work of gear
swaps. All Countryman models come with four doors and five seats. They’ve been
an IIHS top safety pick for the last few years; no doubt the seven airbags help
out. Standard equipment includes a CD player with AM/FM radio,
USB/i-Phone/i-Pod hookups, and six speakers (Navigation, Sirius XM radio, and a
more robust Harmon Kardon stereo are optional). Alloy wheels come in the 17”
variety, with 18” wheels optional. Curb weight is just under 3000lbs on the
base model and just over 3200lbs on the ALL4 (thanks to engine modifications
and the inclusion of the all-wheel drive system). Not unlike BMW, Mini offers
free scheduled maintenance for 3yrs/36,000 miles (BMW’s free maintenance is
4yrs/50,000 miles). The Countryman is the first Mini to offer all-wheel drive
(followed by the Paceman), and is a three-time Dakar End Race champ (endurance
racing). Just in case you needed to know, which you don’t. What I care about is
this: Is the Countryman still quick? Yes, according to Mini’s website (0-60mph
in 7.0 seconds in the FWD S model). Is the Countryman capable? In all-wheel
drive mode, I’m sure it is. But what about functionality?
Mini Cooper Countryman
nifty hatch release
After a splendid morning at Cars & Coffee (at the Automotorplex
facility in Chanhassen, MN), I headed back into the metro interior and stopped off
at the brand new, stand-alone Mini dealership. I’ve never seen a dealer like
this. The entire structure is painted black, save for a splash of playhouse colors
that pinstripe and border the structure in a few specific areas. Why’d they do
this? It was a question that my ever-so capable salesman Charlie Wyffels was
more than prepared to answer. In our conversations regarding the cars and the
philosophy that is Mini, Charlie helped me realize something that was so
obvious I’m embarrassed I forgot it. Mini is FUN, always has been. And since BMW strategically distanced itself
from the Mini brand, so now is their dealership. I can dig it.
new Mini dealership in Golden Valley, MN
And how about the car? Well, I did want to sneak behind the
wheel of a new Mini Countryman ALL4, but as none were currently on the lot,
Charlie tossed me keys to a Countryman S, which is basically the same car (and
same powertrain), sans all-wheel drive. Which was fine, since there was no snow
(and since we wouldn't be hitting any dirt tracks during on drive), AWD isn’t a
requisite for me. Charlie offered me a model with a six-speed manual, which I
gladly took. Our white Countryman S was more garden variety than others; it
didn’t have a moonroof or navigation or leather upholstery. All fine by me. Firstly,
I’ve never felt the need for a moonroof. Secondly, leather is only nice when it
can be heated and cooled, not just heated. Thirdly, I’m a guy; I don’t need
navigation and much prefer arguing with my wife when it comes to giving or
taking directions.
Mini Cooper S Countryman
The first thing I noticed when Charlie handed me the key is
the key itself. A solid, hefty, circle-shaped medallion, the “key” inserts into
the dash to the right of the steering wheel and immediately below the cute,
little “start” push button starter. Inserting this key also charges it; no more
hoofing it to Radio Shack every five years for a new battery. Though a small
car (still bigger by Mini standards), the Countryman easily accommodated my 6’2”
frame. The rear seats were OK, but I wouldn’t recommend extended trips for
long-legged passengers like myself, especially if you’ve got a tall driver in
front of you. Mini has grown up over the recent years but never takes itself
too seriously. There are still plenty of cool fighter-jet toggle switches, and
this modern Mini even features a built-in Mini sunglasses case. Cool! The
parking brake reminds me of the throttle handle on a 747 jet and its lever action
sort of feels the same too. A giant, circular speedometer is still front and
center in the Countryman’s dash; a smaller look-alike gauge that features the
tachometer readings sits above the steering wheel. Fit and finish and quality
are above segment standards, and considering Mini’s parent company is BMW, they
should be. The Countryman is a handsome fellow whose big-eyed headlights and
upright stance work very well together. Though I must say, I’m a really big fan
of the Countryman’s twin, the Paceman. With two doors instead of four and a sloping
roofline, the Paceman is instantly sportier than his more proper brother.
As for driving impressions: the Countryman isn’t loud even
in S trim. Its six-speed manual transmission clicks through gears nicely
enough, though shift action is just slightly rubbery. The Countryman rides on a wheelbase that’s
inches longer than your standard Mini Cooper Hardtop. The result is a more
forgiving ride which goes a long way when debating on making a Mini your daily
driver. Power is peppy but not outrageous. As an owner I wouldn’t regret not
having more oomph, as long as I upgraded to the same turbo-charged S model of
which we drove. Though taller and longer and with more ground clearance, the
Countryman can still channel its inner go-kart; zipping through turns is fun
and fancy free, with very minimal body roll. The whole package, which seems a
bit silly from a distance, really gels together once you’re behind the
wheel. The bigger Countryman is adult enough to accommodate you and passengers
with a little room to spare. Its optional all-wheel drive coupled with its
taller stance means that Minnesota winters aren’t out of the realm of
possibilities. And the interior, with premium-feeling materials and an upscale
feel, lets the owner feel good (and smart) about his choice. The car is definitely fun; and
I’m sure that’s the whole point. My reservations mainly stem from concerns over
costlier repairs (due to its BMW-sourced underpinnings, its chassis is shared
with the BMW X1), but if bought new, scheduled maintenance is free for the
first 3yrs/36,000 miles. Hooray! That leaves one nagging worry; will I get
tired of the Mini’s excessive personality? With all its cool interior toggle
switches, its porthole-sized speedometer and tachometer, and its airliner-style
e-brake? I think I’d answer this question the same as the next; do I ever tire
of having fun? No, I sure don’t.
Mini Cooper Paceman (the Countryman's better-looking brother)
Post Script
I'd like to take a moment to thank my salesman, Charlie Wyffels. A man who knows his product through and through, what's equally impressive is how easy Charlie was to talk to. He being a fellow auto-enthusiast sure helped. If I ever decide to embrace my inner-child I'll be heading back to Golden Valley Mini (known as Motorwerks MINI) to see Charlie about a new go-kart, i.e. Mini Cooper.
-Thank you for reading The Wheelspin Journal-
photo by the author
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