Automobile has updated its review of its long-term 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman All4 now that it has been driven 12,366 miles. Initially, there were haters among the staff, especially associate editor David Zenlea. Now, however,
Zenlea was, however, able to come to grips with some of the persistent Countryman complaints: "Long trips have a way of putting cars into perspective and clearing away some of the white noise. After driving to Boston and back, I'm willing to rescind my complaints about the clutch -- I adjusted to it after a few days, as would any real owner. Ditto for the interior ergonomics. The iDrive-like interface works very well, particularly for controlling an iPhone. And the steering, gearbox, and engine remain entertaining."
Even without making a long road trip, associate web editor Jake Holmes, one of the Mini's sharpest critics, also has mellowed somewhat with familiarity. "The things I initially hated about the Countryman -- the poor clutch take-up, the odd switch positions -- are now becoming second nature. Perhaps the Countryman is not poorly designed but is just designed differently from other cars we drive, and we'll get used to it over time." We shall see.
