2,429 online now
238,360 members
Newsletters
Log in or Join now

Fairfax Digital

Essential Baby > Shopping > Product Reviews

Navigation

Welcome Guest
( Log In | Register )

Quick links

Help

Forum links

Blogs

Today's active topics

Newsletter Subscriptions

Rules

EB product panel

See what mums are saying about the latest products;
http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/ind...logid=5068&

Mini Countryman, am i being silly thinking this will be fun with 2 kids in boosters

gasgirl View Member Profile	20/01/2013, 01:09 PM Post #1
Posts: 516 Joined: 2-March 05
Regular Member
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 View Member Profile	20/01/2013, 02:59 PM Post #2
Posts: 6,004 Joined: 19-September 07
+
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 View Member Profile	20/01/2013, 03:07 PM Post #3
Posts: 4,806 Joined: 26-September 03
Advanced Member
While I think the Mini Countryman is a cool little car, it's more suited to dogs rather than children.

knickerless View Member Profile	20/01/2013, 05:02 PM Post #4
Posts: 182 Joined: 2-November 10
Member
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 View Member Profile	20/01/2013, 05:11 PM Post #5
Posts: 2,033 Joined: 7-August 06
I will be still and know you are God.
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 View Member Profile	20/01/2013, 08:24 PM Post #6
Posts: 516 Joined: 2-March 05
Regular Member
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 View Member Profile	20/01/2013, 08:30 PM Post #7
Posts: 4,806 Joined: 26-September 03
Advanced Member
QUOTE So now I have bright yellow Countryman!! Excellent! Enjoy. QUOTE Foogle LOVED that dog pic, reminds me i need to squeeze the dog in sometimes too..... No, you squeeze - he drives.

smileforever19 View Member Profile	21/01/2013, 10:16 AM Post #8
Posts: 510 Joined: 8-April 08
Regular Member
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 View Member Profile	22/01/2013, 08:15 PM Post #9
Posts: 516 Joined: 2-March 05
Regular Member
QUOTE (smileforever19 @ 21/01/2013, 10:16 AM) 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

« Next Oldest · Product Reviews · Next Newest »

1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)

0 Members:

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

The accidental attachment parent

"Attachment parenting has set me up for ... well, I'm not going to say failure, but for a very difficult time," says one mum.

Baby love is worth the expense

Amidst all the arguing over which paid parental leave scheme is best for parents, is anyone talking about what's best for babies?

Immunisation, fever and pain relief

Find out the benefits and risks involved with protecting your child from harmful diseases.

Thank You Mum

Send your mum a personalised eCard this Mother?s Day to show her you are thankful and to help us remember the women who face motherhood in situations of great adversity.

Free: 'The First Year' ebook

Check out our new interactive ebook, part of the brand new SMH Shortbooks series, for free!

One mum's 'biggest mistake' offers lesson for all

A mother sparked conversations around the world when she declared, in a national newspaper, that she wished she'd never had her two children. But her story can teach us a valuable lesson on parenthood.

Ask an expert: My child is suddenly resisting toilet training

My child is resisting the toilet training process. We got off to a good start, but now she?s refusing to use the toilet. What can we do now?

Johnson's Baby 'how to' videos

We've learned a lot since we launched our first JOHNSON'S� baby powder way back in 1894, so we've put together this collection of 'how to' videos to get you started on your exciting journey.

New dads are sexy and they know it

While most women wouldn?t associate being a new parent with feeling more attractive, it seems men see it differently: they think they?re better looking than before they were dads.