Offroad BMW Mini?

Drove past Wood BMW, Bournemouth earlier and they had what appeared to be a Mini/SUV crossover parked on their forecourt.

A niche too far?

It’s a Countryman I think. Whatever it is, it’ll sell zillions.

Dad’s just bought a Cooper S – can’t wait to have a drive in it.

It’s a Countryman

While I could kinda see the point in the Clubman, this looks ridiculous. Expect most other manufacturers to come out with something similar if they haven’t already. I mean, have you seen the Nissan Juke?

Cooper S

Had one for a couple of years – brilliant fun car to drive. Mine even came with a Limited Slip Differential as standard which I loved telling people about…until they asked me what it did 😳

prodrive are doing this with it too

I for one like it!

It’s amazing how many good photos of cars I’ve seen only to be let down by the real thing when I’ve seen it.

What’s the worst part about owning a New Mini? Telling your parents you’re gay.

And now you can be gay*, and go offroad!

*Women and estate agents excepted.

What have they done to that front end? 😯

Does the Mini need 4×4?

I didnt think they could make an ugly car any worse, but BMW never cease to amaze.

Undecided, it didnt look too bad when I saw one in the Bullring a few weeks ago. If it lacks space like the mini though it will be a bit pointless really.

Unfortunately, it seems that all car manufacturers have decided that all cars should have a “4×4” version (note cynical quotation marks).

People buy them, with nice road tyres on, then think that the 4×4 that the car has will make them invincible on the roads in all conditions included floods, snow, ice and plagues of locusts. So they drive like they normally do in said conditions, then wonder why they end up in a ditch.

All through last winter, I only used 4 wheel drive _once_ on my Frontera. never got stuck, never skidded (unintentionally. I had to have a play in the car park a couple of times though) and did not end up in a ditch. They’ll also end up using more fuel and more tyres because of it.

Moan over. I need to go home.

We used our 4×4 loads when it snowed – that’s because our RWD BMW it utter cr4p in snow!

RWD BMW it utter cr4p in snow!

Yep same here. Sat on the road (slight, and I mean slight, slope) for three or four days because we couldn’t even get it up the road, not with all the built in “assists” in the world…including two neighbours pushing the bastard thing.

However, in a deserted bollard-less frozen car-park, me and mrs deadly had a blast for a half an hour. Probably the only time the thing will ever be turned “into” a skid in its life 🙂

Drove past one on the M-way last week. They are huge (even for a “new” mini). I’m sure they will sell bucket loads down here in deepest surrey.

that’s because our RWD BMW it utter cr4p in snow!

Don’t worry, ‘4×4’ BMW’s are not much better. I saw quite a few stuck X5’s last winter. I was fairing better on 23c slicks …

*iz smug and superior*

Just for reference, this kind of thing is headed for a street near you…

I give you the Nissan Juke: