[gasgirl]

Hiya
After a lifelong wish to own a mini I finally have the income and budget to fulfil it.
BUT I also am blessed with a 7 and a 5yr old and all the sporting and outdoor paraphernalia that accompanies children.
The girls are both still in boosters.
So that means the only option is really the 4 door bigger mini that is the Countryman.
So....just wondering if anyone owns and drives one of these, and how they manage. Is it a drag trying to fit it all into a small car? Will my dream rapidly fade? Should I stick it in the 5 year plan and patiently wait till they are out of their booster seats? Or stuf em in and enjoy my car
Our other car is an Outback so we are ok for bootspace for holidays etc but I would still need to cart around the kids and the odd grocery shop etc in my new car.

[SlinkyMalinki]

I sold my Mini when we had kids. I think you could get away with it with a big second car when they were a bit older, but booster seats and a full grocery load would really be pushing it.

[Foogle]

While I think the Mini Countryman is a cool little car, it's more suited to dogs rather than children.

[knickerless]

I drive a Cooper S and bought it when my kids were 4 and 6....never had an issue with room but we do have a second, bigger car that we use for trips to the beach, shopping etc.


Any squishiness is outweighed by the fact that they love the MINI and that it is probably the nicest car on the road

[Quack Quack]

I was so close to buying a Countryman about 18 months ago, I adore them. BUT that said, I decided against it because my youngest is 6 and I would rather wait until I am on my own without kids trashing my car.

No matter how careful they are, there will always be the odd bump or scratch... Hell my boy vomited in my brand new car... all over the black leather interior when it was 3 weeks old all I could think was " Oh I am so glad I didn't go for the countryman!"

I ended up buying an ASX Aspire 6speed diesel, Have not regretted my decision at all. I will wait and have my special car when they have all grown up and gone

[gasgirl]

thanks Girls
the dealer went crazy today when we were test driving and basically the offer got so good we went for it. So now I have bright yellow Countryman!! I will definitely stand out among all the white/silver/charcoal cars in our area
Foogle LOVED that dog pic, reminds me i need to squeeze the dog in sometimes too.....

[Foogle]

So now I have bright yellow Countryman!!

Excellent! Enjoy.

Foogle LOVED that dog pic, reminds me i need to squeeze the dog in sometimes too.....

No, you squeeze - he drives.

[smileforever19]

Hi there we have a mini countryman and loving it very much. I have a 5 year old and 1 year old and both of them are still at their car seat and also sometime we can fit a friend of us that has a small body and he can fit in between the car seat..not for a long trip though but the 5 seater countryman definetely a nice mini car that has a good space and also practical for a family. We can even fit out Baby jogger city select at the boot and also groceries when we shop...so it;s not as bad as what u think when u considering the space and the practicality of the car and also it's a nice car to drive in the inner city area..we love it so much and the driving experience is also nice..we got the mini countryman sd(turbocharge and diesel) and also 4wheel drive,..so it's fun to drive lol..let me know how u go with ur yellow countryman..

[gasgirl]

Hi there we have a mini countryman and loving it very much. I have a 5 year old and 1 year old and both of them are still at their car seat and also sometime we can fit a friend of us that has a small body and he can fit in between the car seat..not for a long trip though but the 5 seater countryman definetely a nice mini car that has a good space and also practical for a family. We can even fit out Baby jogger city select at the boot and also groceries when we shop...so it;s not as bad as what u think when u considering the space and the practicality of the car and also it's a nice car to drive in the inner city area..we love it so much and the driving experience is also nice..we got the mini countryman sd(turbocharge and diesel) and also 4wheel drive,..so it's fun to drive lol..let me know how u go with ur yellow countryman..

oh thats excellent to hear!! Im excited now, and no Foogle the dog is not driving, hubby will be lucky to get his hands on it let alone Mr Woof