@Andrew Marriott Thank you for all you do to provide us Americans with a unique and fun car to drive! Every other car here in the U.S. is so very boring in comparison to the Mini. Truly wish we had more dealers in the U.S. and/or the BMW dealers we do have were permitted to work in Mini's. There seems to be dealer franchise protection which limits the number of Mini dealerships. The Mini brand here in the U.S. is not marketed as well as I think it could be in my opinion. For example, I'm 6'4" 255 lb. and fit extremely comfortably in our F57 (2016 Convertible) as I also did with our 2005 and 2009 hardtops. So many people here think it is only for smaller stature people. My heritage is both British (father 100% from England) and German (Mother side from German) so this car is a natural for our family ;-) Many thanks to the MINIac for bringing more awareness of the MINI brand to the U.S..
Great job. I ordered my clubman cooper s in july, white silver with multi tone roof blue leather. When do you think I will get it. The wait is killing me.
Hadn’t really considered a mini for various reasons but after a long car search a Countryman Cooper S came on my radar. Test drove, bought and love it. It says a lot about a cars character that it’s only the second car I’ve owned that felt deserving of a name. A week on and I now plan to replace our 2nd car with a Clubman JCW when the time comes.
Haha same happened to me. I got a 2022 JCW clubman, and a few other cars think if I have to replace my kia sportage at some point I will consider a JCW countryman. Great little cars 🎉🎉
I just got the Mini Countryman after falling in love with while renting it from Enterprise. It’s fun to drive, spacious, and I love the way it sits up tall. While at the dealer, I was wondering if I should consider the Mini Cooper S or Mini Clubman S. However, your video made me realize that I made the right choice intuitively. I prefer sitting higher up, having more passenger space, and also driving a mini that’s a CUV. It gives me the feel of being in an SUV. Thank you. I can’t wait to see more of your videos.
Great video. Yes you are absolutely right the Clubman it’s really good that’s why I own f54. I am thinking the Clubman it’s more sharp on cornering and more fun to drive.
Thanks for doing this video. I just bought a 2020 JCW Countryman yesterday! I watched this video the night before, and it helped me decide between them.
I chose the Countryman, because i felt more comfortable in it and the visability is great! I like the higher seating position and space around me and above my head. I think it's a likable and friendly car and great everyday driver! As my first own bought car , my One Countryman feels good and drives really nice. :) Even on the Autobahn you don't need 300hp to "swim" with the Traffic Flow. I think it's the personal taste, for which Model you go! Basically it's the same car. But i think MINI/VDL in Born is building a better quality then Oxford. I had two R55 Clubman and they we're not reliable. Then i drove a 2013 VW Beetle till Last year. Greetings, Sebastian
I test-drove a 2016 Countryman and 2018 Clubman this weekend. The Clubman was zippy-er with standard transmission. The Countryman just felt more open--more light.
As always another awesome review fella. I have a Countryman and love it. Epic information. I didn’t realise the two are on the same base. Quite interesting thank you 🙏 💋
So glad to see the comparison between the two. I like the look and size of the countryman, butt I’ve always loved the barn doors on the clubman. I think the test drive will make my mind up. I’m thinking countryman though 🤪 but until I drive, who knows😬 Oh and I love the info you give where I can even understand what your talking about. 😊
I wanted a countryman but a 2017 clubman became available and I checked it out and loved it. now it's mine! I wasn't sure I'd like the clubman but it's great and I think I'd be unhappy with the country man, it seems top-heavy, may as well just get regular crossover/SUV. I only wish I had roof racks on my clubman. But that can be added. :)
Happy Forth. Please tell me, if you look over your right shoulder, which vehicle has more visibility out the back ? The Countryman or the Clubman Love your channel !!!!!!!
I bought a 2010 mini cooper s clubman back in November of 2020. I love the damn car. I plan on getting the new version of the clubman within 2 years. The countryman is beautiful however it's too expensive for me. I love both but the Clubman just screams at me with its aesthetics.
"The average person would not slam this through corners like I would" you give yourself too much credit, friend. It's still a Mini which are known for their fun factor 😂
OMG, I totally need your thoughts on buying a used Mini. ( I just found your page, and you being a Mini enthusiast is awesome.) I test drove a Mini Cooper (2 door) yesterday. The dealer said I should try the 4 door hardtop, but I stuck to my guns on that one, but let him convince me to to try the Countryman, and I loved it. I aimed to try to the clubman originally, but he said the ride the same, but then I saw this video. (Now I don't know). This is so crazy, as my aim was a used Mini 2 door hardtop, and now I am considering the Countryman because the ride was so fun.. My aim is to buy a used car. It's my first car I should add, and I am in my 30's (NYers are train people lol). Should I consider the Countryman or go back and try the Clubman ( I thought it looked rather longish). Any advice?
Good in depth test and points of view I opted for the clubman here in the UK just love the look of the barn doors, gives it a feel of the past. Not a get view from them but who cares as I drive like an Italian and don’t use the rear mirror😎
Hey Zach, are you planning any upcoming Live Q&A programs? Perhaps a general program in which we can ask you (or other subscribers) our thoughts, questions, etc. Where would I go to find that information in the future? Thanks been following you for a couple of years now. Steve
I own a 2017 F54S. Every time I take it in for service, my courtesy car has been a new Countryman. So I’ve driven both the S version and the 3 cylinder version. To me, the Countryman always gives me the feeling of being top heavy. Also, the 3 cylinder version seemed significantly under powered. Easy solution...drive both and buy (or order) the one you like. Can’t go wrong with either, although I would stick to the S version.
The MINIac Being 6’ 3”, I always have the seat all the way down. Since my other vehicle is a Suburban XL, I have a pretty good idea what top heavy feels like. Also, I’m comparing the Clubman to the Countryman, not the Countryman to the Suburban. Just passing along my observations from what I have experienced.
I personally prefer the styling of the Clubman. It has the traditional MINI face. That being said I would still want to own a Countryman as my family vehicle. The Clubman would be my daily driver.
I can't decide between a mini 3 door, 5 door, countryman or a clubman. They are all beautiful. 3 door is a handsome cheeky b.stard though its depreciation scares me. 5 door has a better value but doesnt look as good as the 3 door. Clubman looks fantastic, wider, aston martin like, but again with bad depreciation. I'm guessing it would be a lot harder to sell in in future. Countryman is preferred more in the market, normally I don't like suvs at all, but it is so stylish. It is so hard to decide.
@@TheMINIac I've been eyeing on MINIs since I got a gift toy model when I was little, but considering a family life I'd need 4 doors and more carriage room. Another aspect I'm looking for in a car, which many may not think of, is how it would survive an accident (a minor bump or a total distortion).
It's funny that the Clubman is closer to the Countryman of old, which was a wagon (estate in the UK) with double doors on the back. Bit of a difference in power and handling though. Had a Countryman and a pick-up in the 1970s. I find my 2021 Countryman Cooper S much better than the Clubman, due to its cathedral-like interior space. Long live Mini, and long may BMW keep their hands off the Countryman!!
@@TheMINIac What I'm wondering is whether BMW intend to 'kidnap' the Countryman. The car hasn't been made in the UK for some time, and now they intend to move production from Holland to a plant deep in Germany. Will the new model bear the propeller badge? SUVs are lucrative, cars not so much, although there is no reason why car production should not go the same way. All from the General Motors song sheet? Time will tell, no doubt.
i got my wife a 2019 Yin-Yang. she loves the higher position of the Countryman. I recently took it to service and got a Clubman S loaner which it definitely handles better and i love the driving dynamics. BUT both my wife and I agree that the Countryman looks better and we both can't stand the barndoor that blocks the rear view. The Countryman also feels more open inside. I did love the new 6WB and the new UI tho, so I did the Ui update and is waiting for the 6WB dash to come in mail for the upgrade. I also installed the sport mode switch that the Yin-Yang was missing which made it much more fun to drive.
@@TheMINIac yup, best $80 ever spent on the part and just needed to spent some time to learn the E-Sys and coding in 4VA. Also had the idrive updated by a coder remotely and updated the UI graphics and full screen carplay to the 2021 interface. just waiting on the MOST cable and the 6WB digital gauge to arrive in mail, so I can contact the coder again to update the Kombi module coding.
@@TheMINIac btw, when we bought the car in march, i did a search on the yin yang edition. your yin-yang edition video was why i followed your channel. lol
Just a thought. You think of a car for just you. I'm 5-11 and 215 lbs. My other half just over 5-2 less then 100lbs. You have no idea how nice it is when either of us is driving, and whom ever walks up to the driver door the seats are memory set. My son is 6-4. Same when he drives how nice it is for me to push the memory button and my seat is back to my preference after. Incredibly nice accessory for multi drivers.
@@TheMINIac- Thank you! Just came across another video tonight that said the Countryman seating position was 5" higher. Btw...your videos are great. Really enjoy all the detail that you include in them!
Thank you for the video it was helpful! This may be a silly question but when 'reviewing?' the cars could you please showcase the centre center consoles and controls inside the vehicles? Thanks!
I have a 2020 Countryman S all 4. LOVE it!! I have 4500 miles and try to drive it everyday because it just is so much fun. Wife liked the Clubman looks but felt more comfortable in the Countryman. I think it felt smaller and harder for her to get in and out. The Countryman is small on the outside but roomy on the inside. Only down side is NO blind spot warning, which is sad and unbelieveable. It is also super in snow. Price is a little high but "Life is too short..."
@@TheMINIac wow, how, where. It is a must have 4 me. I rate the Countryman a 9 out of 10, the one point lost is for no blind spot warning. I had it on my last car, Mazda 3X, about 10,000 $ less.
Do you know why the 2016 JCW marketing claim to have slightly better fuel economy than the facelifted version? They seem to be almost identical in every way.
@@TheMINIac I test drove a clean 15 mini 4 door JWC its was very nice but I'm 6 2" and about 300lbs I felt very tight n a 4door does a coupe have more space🤔
@@TheMINIac... That's great, but why? I don't see MINI as any more premium than VW. Plus the closest dealer is 62 miles away. Also, I can get an Alltrack with a manual (now), but will have to wait until 2021 before MINI puts 3 pedals back in most models? So again, why a Clubman over an Alltrack; and how is it superior/better? There is plenty of aftermarket to help "fix" any short comings in the Alltrack
Can someone help me? I’ve got my car connected to Apple CarPlay, but it only seems to work through my cellular connection. Is there a way to get it to connect over Bluetooth?
The MINIac it makes it look/feel like a bigger car, Not mini as the name implies and it just doesn’t look like it belongs on a mini. Honestly reminds me of an Xterra and that is an insult because I LOVE minis.
@@TheMINIac my dad had one years ago, me any wife have had a clubman for 3 years and just ordered a 2021 model. The are lovely cars. We are in the UK so suits us well
The option power seats is for a fat mans because its hard to turn in a small cars back doors also must be electro close nice video is this you cam compare to 500x fiat 600x
@AG-hu5jj it’s a MINI. They tune the engines a little differently and the stability controls. The MINI gets a firmer ride and a quicker throttle response.
Personally- I HATE the BIG ASSED WHEELS on skinny looking little tires... the ratio gives CRAPPY ride and performance... and LOOKS like something a retarded rock would have..