I've just squandered some time on the MINI configurator. I've worked out that if I spec a 2.0D Countryman S ALL4 (with only 141bhp warranting "S" status on a MINI!) to the closest closest spec possible to a standard Freelander 2.2 XS, the MINI costs £500 more!





I forgot to add the sat nav; with that, it's nearly £2000 more!!

Last edited by Tigger on 6th Oct 2011 6:37 pm. Edited 2 times in total

They look ridiculous  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

npinks wrote:

They look ridiculous

I will second the Rodius, hideous thing.
The Mini is a strange object too, always reminds me of my childhood, playing with toy cars, I had loads of matchbox cars, the mini was bigger than the petrol tanker

Sorry straying off a little, why would you pay all that for a Mini, are they trying to protect the brand from people straying toward the Evoque??

taztastic wrote:

why would you pay all that for a Mini...??

To make things worse for the mini, try fitting both vehicles with the same spec tyres and see which gets further in bad snow or off road.

If anyone near me buys one, I am putting some window stickers in my car that will read: Mini Countryman Rescue Vehicle  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

apparently they drive really well and have all the same mini handling but in a big car package... They look daft however and I'm not sure what market they are trying to attract, but they are certainly no contest for an FL2 in the mid size 4x4 class

Price wise, I suspect they are a bit pricey, but its a BMW at the end of the day and I am absolutely sure that the fit and finish will be far better than the Land Rover and not a case of comparing apples with apples.

I guess at the end of the day it depends what you want and what you will use it for. But they are two completely different cars Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

Captain Worm wrote:

Price wise, I suspect they are a bit pricey, but its a BMW at the end of the day and I am absolutely sure that the fit and finish will be far better than the Land Rover and not a case of comparing apples with apples.

Tigger wrote:

npinks wrote:

They look ridiculous

Along with the SsangYong Rodius, one of the ugliest cars ever made....

Looks are not everything - this is "ugly" and "looks ridiculous" as well but it will beat the out of any "real" Land Rover and if I could afford one I would swap tomorrow

Click image to enlarge

 2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

I've always know that landrovers are cheap for what you get.

Try configuring a X3, Q5 or XC60 that way, you'l be amazed with that prce difference.

Not taking in account the premium perception as it's a "land rover, reserved for the few".

But Freelanders can be cheap if you package it yourself and not the way Land Rover do it for you.

1). Buy the basic model without Terrain Response (not the silly 2WD crap) which you don’t need because we can all drive a 4x4 as its meant to be driven.
2). Don’t buy it with all the frilly's that LR offer except any vital things like the autobox & sunroof if you need that.
3). Then send it off for real leather trimming. Buy a proper navigation system. Get some smart alloys and proper tyres etc.

In that way anybody can own a really smart Freely and save a bunch at the same time  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Basic 'S' model now comes with Terrain Response - at least it does in the UK

Captain Worm wrote:

I am absolutely sure that the fit and finish will be far better than the Land Rover and not a case of comparing apples with apples

Picking up on this point, a girl at work has just purchased a 61 plate countryman diesel, 4WD version. It is black with full cream leather and has some black alloy wheels.

I must say that although the styling is not to my taste, the look and feel of the interior materials (around the dash at least) are excellent. A feeling of quality that does seem more premium than the FL2 but then if BMW have a say in matters, the materials will be good.

It does however look daft (although I didn't tell her as much out of politeness ) and the low profile tyres are normal summer tyres not even M+S (not that M+S tyres would be expected on the countryman )

The summer tyres will probably mean the 4WD system won't be as superb as she is thinking for the snow. She won't go for winter tyres so I advised snow socks. Better than nothing I suppose. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

In the (highly unlikely) event that the only extras that she's added are the black alloys and the leather, that'll be a £22,890 car!

Tigger wrote:

In the (highly unlikely) event that the only extras that she's added are the black alloys and the leather, that'll be a £22,890 car!