oldstan

I just checked online and it was confirmed that, following a re-furb with lots of shiny fittings and bright lights and massive windows .... that BMW and MINI share the same showroom and the lady that pointed me towards those three MINIs when I asked to see the new MINIs on show was entirely correct in doing so - and, in fact, that was the extent of their display of new models. No, having spent a few moments summing up in my mind whether I want to follow that course, the answer is no. MINI isn't for me.

Grateful to you for taking the trouble to reply in such helpful detail, Expatman. It's a bit of a shame they only had those three models. You raise a fair point in asking if there's a MINI only showroom available to visit. To be honest, there definitely WAS a MINI showroom on the Marsh Barton Estate, a feww hundred yards up the way, but it now sells something else. I will double check to be absolutely sure. From what you've said I may well not have felt so out of my depth in a more basic model, so thank you for reiterating that point.

Thank you.

Regarding the MINI Countryman. Went into the BMW showroom at Exeter today. Quite a few BMWs in there looking very posh. Some of them looking spectacularly posh. Only three MINI's though. A convertible, A JCW Countryman and another that I've forgotten. I only looked at the Countryman. A few things jumped out at me. Ihe interior was very dark with the headlining being so dark. Everything seemed to be nicely built and high quality and a bit posh to my simple eyes. Quite a lot of shiny things, including the bit under the sills which was gloss black. Doesn't seem a good idea but looks flash. Comfortable seats with plenty room to stretch legs in the front. The back didn't seem bad either. Nice steering wheel adjustment - although i could feel the drivers head rest on the back of my head and it didnt adjust - that would be an issue for me. Because it was a John Cooper Works model it I presume it had more stuff on it than a more basic one. It all looked quite overwhelming to me, but I'm used toi a 2011 Yeti and a 2011 Hyundai i10 I fely uncomfortable in the BMW showroom and wasn't drawn to the ambience and atmosphere. There weren't enough plus's to outnumber the minus's and I won't be buying one. But I appreciate the suggestion, Expat, and now know just how sizeable and sophisticated a MINI can be.

Is that up or down from where it was in the past?

As mentioned, it would be wrong to discount the car now that you have highlighted that it's the size equivalent of other cars that I would seriously considedr (primarily the ones I listed earlier) Several things did spring to mind after you spoke about the Countryman - for better and for worse. By outlining them below I'm afraid I expose the mixed up and illogical state my frazzled brain is in. For example I like the (supposed and reputed) build quality of BMWs but have a very firm dislike of them - but I will not go into any sort of detail regarding what it is that puts me off them for fear of causing offence. And there is a strong link between Between MINI and BMW which I may not be disposed to overlook. I've said for years how incredibly popular MINIs are on the road ... so they can't all be bad. But I've never yearned to own one. I'm not at all sure I like the amount and the design of the interior design and degree of technology. It's not only me that's not keen on having to learn, and remember, how to control everything - my Mrs would be worse than me and wouldn't be at all happy because, trust me, she's not good with new technology. And if I'm going to spend more on a MINI than I would on one of the alternatives I want to be happy and contented, and ditto the good lady. I don't know how cheap or expensive the servicing and insurance and ongoing maintenace is. I'm aware that BMWs have aspects of their maintenance that I wouldn't be happy to get the bill for. My neighbour has a Sport model 3 series and some of what he tells me I don't find appealing. I'll be honest and say I foresee that the sense of familiarity that I had when sitting in the Karoq recently MIGHT be enough to draw me towards staying with something that feels psychologically comfortable. And financially I can see that a MINI is going to make a bigger hole in my pocket.....Skodas can attract at least four grand off list and the Main Dealer is handy wheras a MINI dealer isn't. But I haven't, yet, been to look at one so it's early days. Further thanks to yourgoodself and the others who have troubled to reply so far.

All received, Bas. Ta.

Ah, I see. Thank you. For some reasom (most likely an age related reason) I assumed it was a transmission thing and that the gearbox was, in some way, semi automatic, but on reflection I was barking up the wrong tree there.

I shall continue to keep myself aware and informed of the alternatives should my Yeti have to go (for whatever reason) but think I'll carry on with it and have the occasional maintenance / repair done as and when.. (I did, recently, fit four new Goodyear All Seasons so would probably feel aggrieved to give them away 😞 )

I just looked at the dimensions of the new MINI Countryman. Blimey! Thats remarkable! It's honestly as tall, wide and long as any of the more obvious candidates spoken about here. I'm amazed. It would be churlish not to, at least, go and have a look. Thanks. Incidentally, what's "semi-automaticdriving"

Regarding BEVs, I can say with reasonable certainty that all the time I can avoid having a full electric car then I will. A hybrid sound fine and full ICE is OK but not a BEV.

I'm looking at all these replies and taking it in. Yes, the presence of the software is something I realise gets mentioned a lot but is something I've not experienced at first hand, not having driven anything other than my 2011 Yeti and my 2011 Hyundai i10 for all this time. I suppose I've been putting it to the back of my mind and hoping it will go away which it won't.

Thanks very much, both. I shall take keen interest in what you've said. This topic is helpful and I appreciate the stuff I've read here.

^^^^^^^^ Ta. 👍

Thanks ^^^^^^^^^^^ Yeti = 1691mm high Karoq = 1603mm high That's about three and a half inches. I haven't used the VariFlex removable/sliding facility in 14 years. Point taken about boot space - but if I did want or need to change the Yeti for something else then you have to get whatever's available, given you can't get another new Yeti. More's the pity. I did list some of the other models I had considered and none is perfect. But compared to, say, the Kamiq ( which I had thought might be OK ) it's an improvement.....for me, obviously - I can't speak for anyone else. But the points you raise are pertinent and helpful - ta.

Carlo, For some reason I failed to notice that you're not a million miles from me. Dare I take a stab in the dark and ask if you dealt with SCC @ Roundswell? Many years ago, around 2000, I went to the trouble of importing half a dozen Yaris's From Europe and brought each one back personally on a boat (and once on a hovercraft) and registered them here for personal use .... and some I sold on straight away and made a couple of pounds on each, and one or two I kept for myself. As it happens when it came to selling the diesel one I advertised it privately and a fellow came to look at it and, long story short, he stole it from under my nose ... carjacked. Not a pleasant experience. At the time I had a Corolla Verso on order from Drive the Deal and the carjacking caused a loss of apetite for owning another new car and they kindly cancelled the deal for me. Ever since then I've held them in high esteem. I have had a couple of new cars since but would be reluctant to sell privately again.

Thanks for replying to both points. On the face of it I might have been fearful of going for a "sporty" version thinking it was going to be harsher but am happy to hear that, in your case, that wasn't so. And the information you give regarding Carfile versus the other course is, indeed, worth bearing in mind. I do look at the Carwow videos on Youtube with a bloke who might be called Matt Watson, or something similar .... but always assumed his company could be beaten - but clearly I was wrong (again).

Thanks, Carlo. Does the GR Sport have any firmer suspension compared to the lesser models? When you mention a good price may I ask if that was from the dealer or from a broker? Drivethe Deal don't deal with Toyota but Carfile do and I see you model has over two and a half grand off list.

All the above makes perfect sense to me, Stubod. I can easily put myself in your position. Luckily I don't have to replace mine in any particular timescale and It may well go on without event for a good while. My neighbour has the previous shape Niro, like yours. He's fine with it. And, as you so rightly say, the new one is quite a bit of an advancement, for better or worse. It happens that the the three most convenient makes to own (regarding servicing and any warraty issues) are Kia and VW/Skoda. And the fact that Kia have enough confidence to offer 7years warranty I find encouraging. I have wondered if the new Niro is liable to show its age via the black glossy plastic - I'm not at all fond of that. I would need to pay return visits to KIa and Toyota but I feel fairly sure I would continue to find the Yaris Cross a bit confined, especially after the open, airy atmosphere in the Yeti. The Karoq did appeal though - size wise it offers a most respectable amount. However, as you say, it's not a Hybrid and I think I would be even more fond of the Karoq if it were so. Again I say it's a shame the Corolla Cross isn't available here.

Didn't drive it but had a look round and an amicable chat with the slaesman. I've made a quick post in the Yeti forum if anyone with a Karoq felt like adding anything to my musings. But suffice to say I had a good feeling about it.

Fairly regularly on here we talk about what to replace our Yeti with. Mines coming up 14 years old. I'm fond of it and will keep it until something happens that causes me to re-think it. It's low mileage and nigh on immaculate. It's a DSG. But I was in Exeter today and Marsh Barton in Exter has the biggest collection of car dealers in Europe and it's tempting to pop in to one or the other every now and again. The Skoda showroom is a reasonablr size, not massive, but has a fair number of models to see. There were two new Kamiqs in the showroom and having read the reviews and comparisons I sat in one for the first time. I'll be honest and say I won't be buying one - mainly as it's not quite big enough. The seats are definitely lower to the ground when compared to alternatives. I didn't find it as easy to get in and out of as the Yeti, the boot wasn't tremenously impressive and the interior was a tiny bit oppressive compared to the Yeti. They had no new Karoqs but had a couple of used ones. I sat in one of them and was immediately struck by the extra room behind the wheel, in the rear seats and in the boot. The extra height was noticable too. The base model (SE Edition) has sensible wheels that aren't diamond cut and the tyres are a sensible 215 55 17. Theres no keyless locking, which is fine by me, and the mirrors power fold, which I'm happy with. but It has enough bits and bobs but nothing too extravagant. In short, I quite liked it. If I had one it would be a DSG 1500 SE Edition and might have a space saver spare wheel given that one is available. Metallic paint is extra if you don't want it in blue (I don't). It could well be suppied by Drive the Deal or Carfile. DtD is doing a good discount on them, better than Carfile although you would need to get it on PCP and cancel it within a week or two to get the best price. I've sat in a Yaris Cross, A Mazda CX30, a Puma, a Kia Niro and a new model Duster and I thought the Karoq seemed the best (for me) so far. Loads of front legroom in particular. It achieved decent NCAP results in 2017 too, but that will be different now with a new, stricter NCAP regime. It had a nice familiar Skoda feel to it but that's neither here nor there. Apart from the five models I noted in the paragraph above I have also wondered about the Citroen C5 Aircross. Honda CRV and VW T Cross or T Roc. Of all those the ones with a longer warranty are Kia, Toyota and Dacia (the latter two providing extra annual warranty if the car is main dealer serviced). A manufacturers extended warranty on the Skoda is in the region of £630 (recently up from £570ish). I believe that includes breakdown cover. I'll be happy to hear if any of the above resonates with any of you good people. I'm always happy to get other people views.

Right you are.

I can easily imagine myself doing something like that. Who would have fitted yours had it been needed?

Point taken, Prez. I did actually mean that I wish I'd bought a new one when they were still available. But I didn't.🙁 I have a very slight nagging concern that if the DSG did fail then it might write the car off. I don't actually know how much a major repair would be and I don't know what my car is worth. It's low mileage and immaculate but it's still a 2011 1.2 petrol Yeti DSG.

Don't wish to barge into this and am not sure if Don't want to barge in here, and not absolutely sure if you mean't the above for me ... but if so .... I have looked long and hard at the Vitara but would want an automatic and I stand to be corrected but strongly suspect they've gone over to single clutch automated manual (I think they call it ASG). I have the DSG in my Yeti and it's fine (it's a 2011 car so later ones might be better still) . I wouldn't say no to another twin clutch although ideally from Hyundai/Kia rather than VAG. I wouldn't say no to a CVT or a conventional Torque Converter and if it were a full hybrid then, of course, it would have whatever full hybrids come with. But I wouldn't have an ASG type transmission. And it's pointless me saying that the Yeti ticks all the boxes for obvious reasons. There's nothing wrong with mine but I wish I'd bought one of the last models to be made.