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@@KiwamiJoryuBMW fixed a lot of issues after 2016 BMW itself now has vehicles in top 10 most reliable. From owning a 2016 Countryman myself, only had one minor issue with it and drove it well over 110’000 km
@@OmgItsLeaathe prince n18 was and is reliable. But In jcw form they were only available in 2013-2014 the 2008-2012 stay away as that's the n14 the engine that gave mini it's not so great reputation.
I love that MINI made a crazy number of Cooper variants during that 2nd BMW generation! One of them, the two-seater Coupe (R58), is my first "forever" car. I know it will be expensive to hang on to, but so far it hasn't had any nightmare issues or left me stranded (other than two flat tires in seven years, due to highway road hazards . . . admittedly, I had ditched the run-flats for Michelin Pilot Sports, improving the ride quality). The N18 engine, I hear, is more reliable than the earlier N14, and I wonder which engine this Paceman has -- I've got the N18 and again, it's been fine. The car is like a puppy eager to play, and is a blast to drive in the mountains but also injects a lot of fun into every drive no matter how mundane. It's a shame zany, sporty little cars like this have all but vanished from new-car showrooms.
Having being reluctant to embrace the BMW mini,I can honestly say I love them now. Having started with mini classics back in 1994, my first being a 1979 1100 special, I ended up having 6 over the years up to 2008. I bought an R50 in 2012, it was 9 years old at the time but was a great car, swapped that for an 54 plate R53 which was even better. Currently I have an R55 JCW and I love it, only problem is that N14 motor but if your handy on the spanners it’s an easy car to keep on top of cheaply.
@@neilneilorangepeel that's cool to hear! That's an amazing "mini" history you have! R55 is on my short list if I need something with more than 2 seats or want to carry larger objects, and I bet the JCW is a blast.
@@beaglemusiclabs yes it is a blast, done some upgrades from the factory spec and is a really great all rounder. I agree the run flats were terrible and gave a really crashy ride. I’ve fitted coilovers and it sits so much better now. Mines running a S1 remap and just has rear silencers and the CAT, it sounds great. Would look to have a new Clubman JCW in the future, they seem to have grown quite a lot though from the size of my R55.
My wife has the Cooper S version of these and have to say it's actually a brilliant car. JM isn't wrong about the space - it's really practical, surprisingly fast and has good handling. And in the potholed back of beyond where we live it's probably the best car she could have.
A novel use of the LTT 'for scale' banana... I never realised the Paceman was meant to be an SUV - I just looked at it as a smaller version of the second generation Mini... Which seemed like a hard sell - the standard Mini definitely living up to it's 'mini' name inside... It certainly was the best looking of the Mini variants.
We have a Cooper SD paceman , it's exactly as you say , unusually odd and yet fun to drive . Definitely a keeper as long as the servicing is regular and decent tyres are used . Even with RF's the ride is more than acceptable. We love it . Keep up the great work, you are a go-to channel after a long day 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Ive had a paceman cooper non turbo all4 for a few months now did want a jcw but that was way out of my budget that black and red one there looks great . Ive always had minis from r53mcs to clubmans to countrymans and ive got to say the paceman is my favorite big mini looks great drives great not going to win any races but still can be fun on the b roads, can fit 4 people more than comfortablely and fits two mountain bikes ( in bits ) with ease . As a do it all car im very happy with it . Its just quirky and a nice to drive ,lifes to short to drive plain cars haha . Lastly 35mpg around town and 45 mpg on a long trip isnt bad at all .
I've got a 2022 Countryman JCW...its a superb little car (other than slightly firm suspension, it fits a large dog, decent interior space and pretty comfortable). A real disregarded gem.
I get the Paceman 1.6 to be 215 bhp ,the later JCW 2.0 Hatch/ Countryman and Clubman to increase to 230 and the even later Countryman and Clubman ( Mini GP only in the regular hatchback) to have the 306 bhp unit from the M135i. I could of course be totally bloody wrong, which in most cases… I am!!
I saw my first ones a couple days ago at the first Mini meet I attended and actually loved it. The JCW one that was there looked so good thanks to what the owner had done to it, after market wheels, lowered and such made it look like a race car honestly. If there was say a 22 model version like my 2dr hardtop S I would totally think about getting one.
We have a 2019 countryman cooper S with JCW extras. I was really surprised how well it drove when we first got it. It is somehow firm yet compliant. And it’s a really nice place to be.
I had a JCW Coupé, I really regret selling it, it's the one car I miss the most. I have an F56 Cooper S now which is amazing but just not the same. Loved the crazy minis
Yeah, same here. I should hate it, but I can't. Same with a Cybertruck or with a BMW X6M: I can only look at those cars ironically, which makes me consider them a laugh.
I howled laughing at the Maxi comment, having been in the back of my uncle's Austin Maxi as a kid. That amused me no end. Meanwhile, this is an intriguing proposition. I'm just pondering whether to stick with my current car or whether something like this might be the right switch for me. Hmmm, maybe I'll have a closer look at one after this - thanks!
I like these "mini suv's": they are weird, decent interior, lots of buttons instead of a screen (prefer physical controls), not too expensive. "Annoyingly good" as you said.
Hi James, long time fan here I work for a car company that works with Magna, the build quality will be due to the engineering and test standards of the OEM, magna literally just bolt the thing together. They have input on hiw to make them easier to manufacture, but nothing the end customer would know about. I’m not sure calling them a coach builder is fair, again this suggests that they have design input whereas they don’t, just manufacturing Sorry to be pedantic, love the vid as always 😊
I have a Countryman JCW of this generation which is also an auto and the thing to bear in mind with these is the fuel economy is tragic. I get 23mpg in mixed conditions driving sensibly. A lot of this might be down to the auto as well. Surprisingly mine was also genuinely good in the snow. Excellent review as always 👍
That’s really weird. My 2014 Countryman JCW is also an auto and gets 30 mpg relatively easily. When driving spiritedly it falls to about 25ish. It’s not exceptionally economical, but even then 23 seems weirdly low, I’d get yours checked over. I agree it’s a tank in the snow, and interestingly the higher consumption is related with that. The JCW All4s have a 50/50 power split from the start, and slowly transfer more power to the front until about 80mph, where all power is carried to the front, so essentially in most situations the AWD system is always engaged. It’s a weirdly advanced AWD system for such a car.
Thanks for the reply. I’d never really looked how the All4 system worked but I’m glad someone else has had the same experience with it. Had the car fully laden with 4 blokes and their luggage in the snow last year and it absolutely smashed it. Thinking about it 23mpg is probably closer to city driving than a true average. Most of my journey home is up a hill in standstill traffic (hence the auto).
2014 Countryman R60 JCW manual gets 36mpg regularly on swift b road use! 42 on a long m-way run according to the on board computer. It's one of the things I really like about mine ! It's a weapon on winter tyres in proper snowy conditions. I was concerned that the lowish front splitter would act as a snowplough and break off but no such event ever occurred 😊 Get the pops and bangs going and you feel like a Group B rally hero!😎
So I suppose you have the same issue with a Vauxhall that isn’t made in Vauxhall? Grow up man. Seriously. This is a twenty year old concept. Mini is a brand, not just an adjective. Plus, it’s still a small car.
Yeah, well, the 2024 Countryman is a bulkier cersion of an X1. It's bigger than a Karoq even. At least the first generation car had the sales argument of having the same interior space as a GLA with less exterior dimensions. Like a compact should. But everyone seems to have forgotten what the concept of a compact car is. These are midsizers.
Engine variant depends on whether or not the vehicle is “LCI” or not. Model year 2014 onwards has the B18, rather than the B16 and as far as I’m aware it’s has an output of 218 hp (euro figure as I live in Sweden). The B18 is fine for reliability and the clutch issue is much more prevelant on pre LCI thanks to the not-so-good anti-stall software. It doesn’t suffer from lag but does have a high(ish) boost threshold due the small engine volume. I really enjoy my 2014 Countryman JCW (manual btw, auto was never an option) and beyond completely switching off the nanny controls to eliminate understeer there’s one recommendation I’d give here: Change the all the transmission fluids. It’s awkward/difficult (all the underbody panels must be removed, along with the exhaust system) and therefore expensive if done by a workshop but it’s like having a new transmission fitted.
That's interesting because in the standard minis the codes were N14 and N18. And like those the 14 is the one to avoid. N18 fixed most of the key issues but is still complex and things like vanos solenoids and coil packs are considered service items! It hates neglect so good servicing is key. I've got the n18 in my cooper S convertible. Even in the cold weather doing a commute it can put a smile on one's face for it's eagerness. I'm not sure many arrive at work having enjoyed their commute so much. The ride in that is firm but not horrible. I've had an Alfa mito and know what a really uncomfortable ride is! It can get bouncy on a bad B road. Seems like paceman suspension is quite a good compromise for something a bit more grown up. Despite the known reliability glitches and that dreaded engine warning light mostly due to coil packs and an occasionally sticking vanos solenoid. I like the engine. For something modern it's got a bit of character and makes the 1.5 turbo in our other car (a VW golf) seem soulless in comparison despite in the real world it being nearly as quick.
If all R52s are dropping to bits my mum's 19 year ownership of a Cooper CVT is going quite well. Probably has some to do with only having 45k on the clock
Hi Jay, do you mind asking Voice Over Jay if he could include the KW along with the HP figures on your reviews? It would really be appreciated by a South African subscriber 😁
Had the same one, one albeit for not very long. About a year old quite a rare car at the time, felt heavy and very lethargic and tram lined like crazy. That bad even different tyres made no different. Dealer had it 10 months before it finally sold….
Eh not all R53s are falling apart. Mine is in fine fettle and doesn’t give me any trouble. It’s my go to daily. V8 vantage roadster in the garage for sunny days 👍
We have a Paceman JCW and we even use it as a family car with two young children. Fun fact: MINI called the Paceman a SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle) and not a SUV.
That's the way it is on driving tests in the U.S. with commercial driver's licenses now. With the advent and ubiquity of automatic road trucks many drivers never even get to touch a manual transmission gearbox tractor trailer anymore. A truck transmission is a non-synchronous transmission so some skill is actually required to double clutch without banging the gears about and breaking the transmission, which with modern truck engines making on the order of 600 hp and right at or over 2,000 lb ft torque, it's a certainty that an untrained driver would end up breaking the gearbox. So if you take the test in an auto, that's what you're stuck driving. With regular operators licenses it doesn't matter, either/or works. To be fair, a car or pickup truck with a fully synchronized gearbox is quit a simple apparatus compared to an 80,000 lb 600 hp road tractor that requires double clutching or proper float shifting all while pulling a load up or down a mountain grade in the middle of the night somewhere.
Not the biggest fan of the looks but appreciate it that it's a Gen 2 mini 3 door with AWD which is unique. As an R56 owner myself, I don't think it's fair to say throwaway comments like all 2nd gens are 'falling apart but this one has faired ok'. The 2nd gen is a well built car, much better than the 1st gen which was effectively a rover product that BMW stole late into the project while the 2nd gen was all BMW designed. The only issue for them is the engine, the prince PSA/BMW engine has it's issues but it's not a fully unreliable lump that's going to strand you every week as you make it sound. I won't lie, they are many people buying cheap neglected R56s that have been poorly maintained then moaning it doesn't run right etc and that will due to the timing chain being stretched over time and needing replacement, or the oil controlled vanos issues either due to low oil level or timing issues, also oil consumption on the valve stem seals and piston rings if they are not looked after (too long oil change periods of 15-20k from factory do not help, personally no more than 7.5k) But if you get a well looked after and maintained one, continue to maintain it well, it will look after you back. I've had an early 07 R56 Cooper 1.6 NA (N12) for the last year, I changed the vanos solenoids, spark plugs, coil packs and an oil change myself when i first got it, probably about £100-150 in parts just to give it a good service, over the last year and 11k miles (and another oil change after 7.5k), the only issue i had was a check engine light for the pre cat O2 sensor, changed it, bosch one, £36 and 1.5hr of my time, issue fixed. Still runs well today. It has never let me down or not started, only time was it would go into slight reduced power when that O2 sensor code was active for about a week. (It's on 104k miles now, bought on 93k). I've now bought a later 2012 R56 Cooper S with the revised updated N18 1.6T engine (as seen in this car), 101k miles, former head office MINI UK owned car for it's first year of it's life, and it's been great, runs brilliantly and smooth. The previous owner only had to get oil changes and some subframe bushings in it's last 3 years, no engine issues. It's a very nice car with all the options, satnav, cornering xenons etc. and it only cost me £3500, full history etc. I have full confidence in the coming year, this will also be another reliable 2nd gen mini like my first one. I say two last things quickly, anything JCW, it will be 2x the price (either the model itself, or the specific parts) hence why the clutch in this (also at main dealer pricing) was £2.5k, in addition it wouldn't have failed so early if an automatic driver had ruined it as mentioned, my 101k mile car is likely on it's original clutch and it still bites very sharp and low on the pedal. But yes if you don't want high costs, don't buy a JCW, especially when a similar Cooper S has the same engine just slightly detuned about 20hp and will cost half as much to buy and run (in terms of parts cost), less tax also. 2nd thing, don't go and buy a cheap neglected R56, especially older pre-facelift/pre-LCI N14 engine unless meticulously maintained, you will encounter issues as mentioned above, don't be persuaded by the low prices as it will likely not been maintained good enough and neglected. Decent service history of oil changes and a timing chain change (highly recommend) is a good idea. Listen for any werid running at idle or timing chain ticking sounds. I would personally recommend getting a facelift N18 engine as MINI revised many issues the original N14 faced and there are many posts of N14s having issues but not many N18 posts, so consider that.
My mum was going to buy one of these new, thank god we test drove it first. It had to be ragged in order for it to move, a Paceman SD was quicker in most circumstances even with 75bhp less, and as a result no-one who’d driven it at Mini had seen more than 30mpg. The very early F56 Cooper S we ended up with did 40+ easily and would’ve left it for dead anywhere.
My brother in law is a mechanic at an independent garage, If i mention Mini (or maxi if you prefer, i do tbh) he rolls his eyes. He sees a lot of them, 'nuff said!
N18 arrived in 2011, bur with a few teething problems re coil packs & Vanos. These were quickly rectified and after 2013 the engine is N18B fitted to all JCW Paceman. N14 (Single VANOS, Turbocharged 128 kW (171 hp) @ 5500 rpm) in 2007-2010 Cooper-S; N14 (Single VANOS, Turbocharged 155 kW (208 hp) @ 6000 rpm) in 2009-2013 JCW Cooper; N16 (Double VANOS, Valvetronic 90 kW (121 hp) @ 6000 rpm) in 2011-2013 Cooper and N18 (Double VANOS, Valvetronic Turbocharged 135 kW (181 hp) @ 5500 rpm) in 2011-2013 Cooper-S
My brother had a red Paceman Cooper D with a black roof and, unfortunately, black wheels. Notwithstanding the wheels I thought it was a smart-looking thing. If it hadn't been a PCP car that he needed to PX, I might have bought it from him at 4 years old, to replace my beloved Clubman and provide me with more space, similar to today's owner.
If the Paceman addresses the crashy ride and limited boot space of the standard Mini without significant compromise elsewhere, that can't be bad. (Look at me being all grown up 😅).
Why do the majority of old people keep making the tired joke of mini not being mini anymore 🙄 eye roll every time I hear this. That being said Great insight into the car and I enjoy the videos
These engines aren't unreliable if you actually have the decency to change the oil properly 🙄 Get the timing chain replaced at 100k whether it's slapping or not and upgrade it to the racing chain and guides. The service isn't that much I've had my N18 JCW R56 now for years (60k miles) Modified asf and beaten to absolute death for all 60k miles... I've had to replace.... drum role.... the thermostat 😐 the valve cover😐 and the timing chain🙄 oh and the clutch at 105k miles🫥
I love small cars and even had a Canada-spec Austin Mini 1000 while living in New Jersey. I’ve avoided the modern MINI because I’ve heard from mechanics that it’s horrible to work on and despite its English heritage name is actually designed by BMW. No German (or German-designed) cars for me.
It kind of depends on how the previous owner(s) treated the car. Apart from that, they are very likely to suffer from overheating - similarly to other gasoline BMW engines, iirc those also keep coolant temps around 105°C, leading to premature valve seal failures and, as I've seen in Peugeot belonging to one of the family members, valve seat could also happen to leave its place, not a pleasant one. Other things, common within N-series engines: direct injection problems (filtering of the fuel I'd say is nonexistant, only a strainer in the tank, so injectors could clog; some hpfp's were built worse and can send shavings off to injectors; tank lpfp needs to be functioning properly), some valvetronic issues may occur. Spark plugs and coils should be replaced rather frequently and must be clean of any oils (e.g. oil on the plug cap contaminates the rubbery material of coil, which leads to it burning through, shorting and then misfires). Misfires, combined with improper treatment (as fully loading a cold engine), can lead to timing chain skips/failures and head gasket issues (point in which I'd like to thank previous owner of my N53 equipped thing for making the car cheap (for me) to buy (and fix)). "Just" set some money aside for some more or less inevitable "quirks" of those engines and you probably will not go bankrupt.
@@Nick-lm5lz Get an F20 1-series pre-facelift instead with the 1.6, that engine is way better whilst still being very similar. Better yet get the 2.0 as it's a lot more potent
@@Nick-lm5lz Unless you are in a desperate need to swap a car (perhaps bored?), I'd frankly stick to it - it feels to me as getting a bit more pep and better in/out quality is not enough to give up reliability, simplicity and lighter chassis in exchange. I'd go little in contrary to @kristoffer3000 - personally would skip pre-lci F20 and look for one with B48, but those surely are way more expensive. N12/13/14/16/18/20 had their better and worse moments (mostly near start of production) - I'm not trying to say those are absolutely the worst engines (it's not a V10 TDI), but everyone looking into buying them should know things can go south - as Jay has said: pricing is on a BMW level, as it literally is a Mini-BMW.
Everyone that I have known to own a Mini - new, used, variety of variants- have all had repeated mechanical issues. They all ditched them after a year or so. Nice design, but poorly screwed together.
I owned a 2014 JCW Countryman (5 door paceman) for 4 years. The most unreliable car ive ever owned including 20 year old sh!t boxes. It was fully serviced from Mini for 3 years in my ownership and did nothing but let me down and cost me £1000's. It however was a fantastic car to drive , loveley to be in and very useable all year round. It was a love hate relationship that i had to leave after abuse to my wallet !
Every time I drive one of those (2 of my friends have one, each), I feel like I'm driving a couch... so boring! 😴😴😴 Especially the one with the auto transmission, is the definition of soulless. These cars are all about looks and status, and nothing more IMO.
A friend of mine had a Mini whose engine failed letting her stranded at the side of the road. The water pump as long as most of the pipes around the engine were made out of plastic.... Plastic is the worst material to make an engine water pump and coolant pipes from., All that heat and pressure makes it crack and you risk catastrophic engine failure What on Earth was on their mind when they designed those ? .... Knowing they were made by BMW...The same BMW . Who, after cars such as E39 5-series and E46 3-series that were bulletproof high quality cars and proved BMW was well capable to produce good cars..... The only answer I got they made them unreliable intentionally, to make lots of money from them them through service repairs, once they get out of warranty and are designed to become money pits... It is impossible to have been a mistake... BMW made reliable engines from decades... I just can't see why all of a sudden they would decide to make a critical component such as a water pump out of plastic....unless they wanted them to fail.... I was a big fan of BMW and Mini.... ( The 5-series E39 still on a poster on my wall)... But since this story.... I never want to hear anything about buying a BMW....😔
Great! Now please review a convertible Evoque. Just saw one the other day here in snowy Finland and couldn’t believe my eyes. It looks so wrong, yet so right.
Ive got a yellow R53 called Pac-Man ...... completely irrelevant to this video other than when it comes to putting the name badge on the boot, I can use the PACEMAN lettering and just "drop the E" : (sounds a bit late 80's that) !
I had one for a while, it should have been so much better than it was unfortunately. Lazy engine choices and bland interiors really let it down. Of all the 9 minis I've had it was the biggest let down
All form over function unlike the real mini. Not surprising the people who buy them mostly tell you the colour if you ask what they drive. All BMW minis I've driven or bern in have had a terrible ride, something which is a deal breaker for me
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My wife owns a Paceman. She absolutely loves it and wouldn’t change it for a standard hatch
Big mistake, especially being a BMW/Peugeot engine
@@KiwamiJoryuBMW fixed a lot of issues after 2016
BMW itself now has vehicles in top 10 most reliable.
From owning a 2016 Countryman myself, only had one minor issue with it and drove it well over 110’000 km
@@RetroKingOG tbh hitting 110k km without major issues is the absolute bare minimum
@@RetroKingOGthat's nice and all, but 110k km is not really something to be applauded, you've barely broken it in.
@@OmgItsLeaathe prince n18 was and is reliable.
But In jcw form they were only available in 2013-2014 the 2008-2012 stay away as that's the n14 the engine that gave mini it's not so great reputation.
I love that MINI made a crazy number of Cooper variants during that 2nd BMW generation! One of them, the two-seater Coupe (R58), is my first "forever" car. I know it will be expensive to hang on to, but so far it hasn't had any nightmare issues or left me stranded (other than two flat tires in seven years, due to highway road hazards . . . admittedly, I had ditched the run-flats for Michelin Pilot Sports, improving the ride quality). The N18 engine, I hear, is more reliable than the earlier N14, and I wonder which engine this Paceman has -- I've got the N18 and again, it's been fine. The car is like a puppy eager to play, and is a blast to drive in the mountains but also injects a lot of fun into every drive no matter how mundane. It's a shame zany, sporty little cars like this have all but vanished from new-car showrooms.
Having being reluctant to embrace the BMW mini,I can honestly say I love them now. Having started with mini classics back in 1994, my first being a 1979 1100 special, I ended up having 6 over the years up to 2008. I bought an R50 in 2012, it was 9 years old at the time but was a great car, swapped that for an 54 plate R53 which was even better. Currently I have an R55 JCW and I love it, only problem is that N14 motor but if your handy on the spanners it’s an easy car to keep on top of cheaply.
@@neilneilorangepeel that's cool to hear! That's an amazing "mini" history you have! R55 is on my short list if I need something with more than 2 seats or want to carry larger objects, and I bet the JCW is a blast.
@@beaglemusiclabs yes it is a blast, done some upgrades from the factory spec and is a really great all rounder. I agree the run flats were terrible and gave a really crashy ride. I’ve fitted coilovers and it sits so much better now. Mines running a S1 remap and just has rear silencers and the CAT, it sounds great. Would look to have a new Clubman JCW in the future, they seem to have grown quite a lot though from the size of my R55.
My wife has the Cooper S version of these and have to say it's actually a brilliant car. JM isn't wrong about the space - it's really practical, surprisingly fast and has good handling. And in the potholed back of beyond where we live it's probably the best car she could have.
A novel use of the LTT 'for scale' banana...
I never realised the Paceman was meant to be an SUV - I just looked at it as a smaller version of the second generation Mini... Which seemed like a hard sell - the standard Mini definitely living up to it's 'mini' name inside... It certainly was the best looking of the Mini variants.
If by "best looking" you mean "tallest"... yes
We have a Cooper SD paceman , it's exactly as you say , unusually odd and yet fun to drive . Definitely a keeper as long as the servicing is regular and decent tyres are used . Even with RF's the ride is more than acceptable. We love it . Keep up the great work, you are a go-to channel after a long day 🎉🎉🎉🎉
2:21 That corner made a right mokkaery out of them :)
Ive had a paceman cooper non turbo all4 for a few months now did want a jcw but that was way out of my budget that black and red one there looks great .
Ive always had minis from r53mcs to clubmans to countrymans and ive got to say the paceman is my favorite big mini looks great drives great not going to win any races but still can be fun on the b roads, can fit 4 people more than comfortablely and fits two mountain bikes ( in bits ) with ease .
As a do it all car im very happy with it .
Its just quirky and a nice to drive ,lifes to short to drive plain cars haha .
Lastly 35mpg around town and 45 mpg on a long trip isnt bad at all .
I've got a 2022 Countryman JCW...its a superb little car (other than slightly firm suspension, it fits a large dog, decent interior space and pretty comfortable). A real disregarded gem.
I get the Paceman 1.6 to be 215 bhp ,the later JCW 2.0 Hatch/ Countryman and Clubman to increase to 230 and the even later Countryman and Clubman ( Mini GP only in the regular hatchback) to have the 306 bhp unit from the M135i. I could of course be totally bloody wrong, which in most cases… I am!!
The 2019 and later Clubman JCW and Countryman JCW also got 300hp.
@@SuperShyChild Sorry I meant those cars too and the GP only out of the hatchbacks, amended it.
I saw my first ones a couple days ago at the first Mini meet I attended and actually loved it. The JCW one that was there looked so good thanks to what the owner had done to it, after market wheels, lowered and such made it look like a race car honestly. If there was say a 22 model version like my 2dr hardtop S I would totally think about getting one.
We have a 2019 countryman cooper S with JCW extras. I was really surprised how well it drove when we first got it. It is somehow firm yet compliant. And it’s a really nice place to be.
I had a JCW Coupé, I really regret selling it, it's the one car I miss the most. I have an F56 Cooper S now which is amazing but just not the same. Loved the crazy minis
I had a mini for several years. I regret getting rid of it. Loved that car.
I like the fact that they kept with the floating roof design. The countryman has a funny kink that breaks the flow of the window line bit line.
Just bought myself one. Loving it so far... Thanks for the overview.😊
Yeah, same here. I should hate it, but I can't. Same with a Cybertruck or with a BMW X6M: I can only look at those cars ironically, which makes me consider them a laugh.
I howled laughing at the Maxi comment, having been in the back of my uncle's Austin Maxi as a kid. That amused me no end.
Meanwhile, this is an intriguing proposition. I'm just pondering whether to stick with my current car or whether something like this might be the right switch for me. Hmmm, maybe I'll have a closer look at one after this - thanks!
Those n18’s in 62 plate jcws and above are far more reliable than it’s n14 brother 😂
I like these "mini suv's": they are weird, decent interior, lots of buttons instead of a screen (prefer physical controls), not too expensive. "Annoyingly good" as you said.
Love these, wouldn’t mind one for family duties.
Brother has an R56 JCW and it's just hilarious to drive
Hi James, long time fan here
I work for a car company that works with Magna, the build quality will be due to the engineering and test standards of the OEM, magna literally just bolt the thing together. They have input on hiw to make them easier to manufacture, but nothing the end customer would know about. I’m not sure calling them a coach builder is fair, again this suggests that they have design input whereas they don’t, just manufacturing
Sorry to be pedantic, love the vid as always 😊
Thank you for that clip at 8:00
1k for disc and pads !!! Is the owner mad 😮
A green Cooper S Paceman was my first car, loved it to pieces, but the build quality wasn’t great
I had a Paceman Cooper S and loved it! I now though have a three door Mini Cooper S and it is a lot faster then the Paceman.
You need to own a Paceman - its a blast - great styling - handling - and performance 💪🏼
I was looking at these a few years ago, didn't make the shortlist in the end, but it's a neat thing.
I have a Countryman JCW of this generation which is also an auto and the thing to bear in mind with these is the fuel economy is tragic. I get 23mpg in mixed conditions driving sensibly. A lot of this might be down to the auto as well. Surprisingly mine was also genuinely good in the snow. Excellent review as always 👍
That’s really weird. My 2014 Countryman JCW is also an auto and gets 30 mpg relatively easily. When driving spiritedly it falls to about 25ish. It’s not exceptionally economical, but even then 23 seems weirdly low, I’d get yours checked over. I agree it’s a tank in the snow, and interestingly the higher consumption is related with that. The JCW All4s have a 50/50 power split from the start, and slowly transfer more power to the front until about 80mph, where all power is carried to the front, so essentially in most situations the AWD system is always engaged. It’s a weirdly advanced AWD system for such a car.
Thanks for the reply. I’d never really looked how the All4 system worked but I’m glad someone else has had the same experience with it. Had the car fully laden with 4 blokes and their luggage in the snow last year and it absolutely smashed it. Thinking about it 23mpg is probably closer to city driving than a true average. Most of my journey home is up a hill in standstill traffic (hence the auto).
I had a Countryman All4 S and while it was tragic in many aspects, I wouldn't say fuel economy was an issue with it.
Maybe yours has an issue?
@@AKK5Iit may just be the type of driving he's doing. Cold starts, short journeys, stop-start traffic could give you 23mpg.
2014 Countryman R60 JCW manual gets 36mpg regularly on swift b road use! 42 on a long m-way run according to the on board computer. It's one of the things I really like about mine ! It's a weapon on winter tyres in proper snowy conditions. I was concerned that the lowish front splitter would act as a snowplough and break off but no such event ever occurred 😊 Get the pops and bangs going and you feel like a Group B rally hero!😎
The idea of a big car called ‘mini’ is to ironic for my liking
Well with such a small interior it's definitely mini.
All the bulk is coming from the safety regulations.
Minis are still small compared to many vehicles on the road.
So I suppose you have the same issue with a Vauxhall that isn’t made in Vauxhall?
Grow up man. Seriously. This is a twenty year old concept. Mini is a brand, not just an adjective.
Plus, it’s still a small car.
Yeah, well, the 2024 Countryman is a bulkier cersion of an X1. It's bigger than a Karoq even.
At least the first generation car had the sales argument of having the same interior space as a GLA with less exterior dimensions. Like a compact should. But everyone seems to have forgotten what the concept of a compact car is. These are midsizers.
*too
James is the special kind of weird bloke to buy a Paceman JCW and two banana plushs from Linus bloody Tech Tips
Modern maxi ! Had to chuckle at that !
Engine variant depends on whether or not the vehicle is “LCI” or not. Model year 2014 onwards has the B18, rather than the B16 and as far as I’m aware it’s has an output of 218 hp (euro figure as I live in Sweden). The B18 is fine for reliability and the clutch issue is much more prevelant on pre LCI thanks to the not-so-good anti-stall software. It doesn’t suffer from lag but does have a high(ish) boost threshold due the small engine volume.
I really enjoy my 2014 Countryman JCW (manual btw, auto was never an option) and beyond completely switching off the nanny controls to eliminate understeer there’s one recommendation I’d give here: Change the all the transmission fluids. It’s awkward/difficult (all the underbody panels must be removed, along with the exhaust system) and therefore expensive if done by a workshop but it’s like having a new transmission fitted.
That's interesting because in the standard minis the codes were N14 and N18. And like those the 14 is the one to avoid. N18 fixed most of the key issues but is still complex and things like vanos solenoids and coil packs are considered service items! It hates neglect so good servicing is key. I've got the n18 in my cooper S convertible. Even in the cold weather doing a commute it can put a smile on one's face for it's eagerness. I'm not sure many arrive at work having enjoyed their commute so much. The ride in that is firm but not horrible. I've had an Alfa mito and know what a really uncomfortable ride is! It can get bouncy on a bad B road. Seems like paceman suspension is quite a good compromise for something a bit more grown up. Despite the known reliability glitches and that dreaded engine warning light mostly due to coil packs and an occasionally sticking vanos solenoid. I like the engine. For something modern it's got a bit of character and makes the 1.5 turbo in our other car (a VW golf) seem soulless in comparison despite in the real world it being nearly as quick.
The INEOS Grenadier is also built by Magna-Steyr, I believe.
If all R52s are dropping to bits my mum's 19 year ownership of a Cooper CVT is going quite well. Probably has some to do with only having 45k on the clock
Hi Jay,
do you mind asking Voice Over Jay if he could include the KW along with the HP figures on your reviews? It would really be appreciated by a South African subscriber 😁
now, THIS came exactly, when I needed it! Thanks, man! And yes: when Jeremy Clarkson says so, it's so. 🤞
Had the same one, one albeit for not very long. About a year old quite a rare car at the time, felt heavy and very lethargic and tram lined like crazy. That bad even different tyres made no different. Dealer had it 10 months before it finally sold….
Some of the plastics inside are a bit iffy and the Diesel engine sounds like an old transit van. All that aside drives well. Like a FWD beemer.
Drove its sister the Countryman and the suspension was always unsettled and lumpy. It was as if no road surface was right for it.
Eh not all R53s are falling apart. Mine is in fine fettle and doesn’t give me any trouble. It’s my go to daily. V8 vantage roadster in the garage for sunny days 👍
Mine is taken apart……
Most reliable car I’ve ever owned
Wonderful Star Trek news!
I like unusual but there are limits . Good to hear it's better than it should be but still wouldn't be able to look back as i locked it
R60 (first countryman, paceman, JCW) has the best design in all Mini SUV models.
We have a Paceman JCW and we even use it as a family car with two young children.
Fun fact: MINI called the Paceman a SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle) and not a SUV.
That's the way it is on driving tests in the U.S. with commercial driver's licenses now. With the advent and ubiquity of automatic road trucks many drivers never even get to touch a manual transmission gearbox tractor trailer anymore. A truck transmission is a non-synchronous transmission so some skill is actually required to double clutch without banging the gears about and breaking the transmission, which with modern truck engines making on the order of 600 hp and right at or over 2,000 lb ft torque, it's a certainty that an untrained driver would end up breaking the gearbox. So if you take the test in an auto, that's what you're stuck driving. With regular operators licenses it doesn't matter, either/or works. To be fair, a car or pickup truck with a fully synchronized gearbox is quit a simple apparatus compared to an 80,000 lb 600 hp road tractor that requires double clutching or proper float shifting all while pulling a load up or down a mountain grade in the middle of the night somewhere.
As someone who drives that road on the regular…how FAST must they have been going/ not paying attention to come off there 😬
Not the biggest fan of the looks but appreciate it that it's a Gen 2 mini 3 door with AWD which is unique.
As an R56 owner myself, I don't think it's fair to say throwaway comments like all 2nd gens are 'falling apart but this one has faired ok'. The 2nd gen is a well built car, much better than the 1st gen which was effectively a rover product that BMW stole late into the project while the 2nd gen was all BMW designed. The only issue for them is the engine, the prince PSA/BMW engine has it's issues but it's not a fully unreliable lump that's going to strand you every week as you make it sound. I won't lie, they are many people buying cheap neglected R56s that have been poorly maintained then moaning it doesn't run right etc and that will due to the timing chain being stretched over time and needing replacement, or the oil controlled vanos issues either due to low oil level or timing issues, also oil consumption on the valve stem seals and piston rings if they are not looked after (too long oil change periods of 15-20k from factory do not help, personally no more than 7.5k)
But if you get a well looked after and maintained one, continue to maintain it well, it will look after you back. I've had an early 07 R56 Cooper 1.6 NA (N12) for the last year, I changed the vanos solenoids, spark plugs, coil packs and an oil change myself when i first got it, probably about £100-150 in parts just to give it a good service, over the last year and 11k miles (and another oil change after 7.5k), the only issue i had was a check engine light for the pre cat O2 sensor, changed it, bosch one, £36 and 1.5hr of my time, issue fixed. Still runs well today. It has never let me down or not started, only time was it would go into slight reduced power when that O2 sensor code was active for about a week. (It's on 104k miles now, bought on 93k).
I've now bought a later 2012 R56 Cooper S with the revised updated N18 1.6T engine (as seen in this car), 101k miles, former head office MINI UK owned car for it's first year of it's life, and it's been great, runs brilliantly and smooth. The previous owner only had to get oil changes and some subframe bushings in it's last 3 years, no engine issues. It's a very nice car with all the options, satnav, cornering xenons etc. and it only cost me £3500, full history etc. I have full confidence in the coming year, this will also be another reliable 2nd gen mini like my first one.
I say two last things quickly, anything JCW, it will be 2x the price (either the model itself, or the specific parts) hence why the clutch in this (also at main dealer pricing) was £2.5k, in addition it wouldn't have failed so early if an automatic driver had ruined it as mentioned, my 101k mile car is likely on it's original clutch and it still bites very sharp and low on the pedal. But yes if you don't want high costs, don't buy a JCW, especially when a similar Cooper S has the same engine just slightly detuned about 20hp and will cost half as much to buy and run (in terms of parts cost), less tax also.
2nd thing, don't go and buy a cheap neglected R56, especially older pre-facelift/pre-LCI N14 engine unless meticulously maintained, you will encounter issues as mentioned above, don't be persuaded by the low prices as it will likely not been maintained good enough and neglected. Decent service history of oil changes and a timing chain change (highly recommend) is a good idea. Listen for any werid running at idle or timing chain ticking sounds. I would personally recommend getting a facelift N18 engine as MINI revised many issues the original N14 faced and there are many posts of N14s having issues but not many N18 posts, so consider that.
Really underrated car
My mum was going to buy one of these new, thank god we test drove it first. It had to be ragged in order for it to move, a Paceman SD was quicker in most circumstances even with 75bhp less, and as a result no-one who’d driven it at Mini had seen more than 30mpg. The very early F56 Cooper S we ended up with did 40+ easily and would’ve left it for dead anywhere.
My brother in law is a mechanic at an independent garage, If i mention Mini (or maxi if you prefer, i do tbh) he rolls his eyes. He sees a lot of them, 'nuff said!
If your a car fan problems and money doesn’t put you off .
What year and which engine N18 to buy instead off N14 engine thank you ❤️❤️
N18 arrived in 2011, bur with a few teething problems re coil packs & Vanos. These were quickly rectified and after 2013 the engine is N18B fitted to all JCW Paceman.
N14 (Single VANOS, Turbocharged 128 kW (171 hp) @ 5500 rpm) in 2007-2010 Cooper-S;
N14 (Single VANOS, Turbocharged 155 kW (208 hp) @ 6000 rpm) in 2009-2013 JCW Cooper;
N16 (Double VANOS, Valvetronic 90 kW (121 hp) @ 6000 rpm) in 2011-2013 Cooper and
N18 (Double VANOS, Valvetronic Turbocharged 135 kW (181 hp) @ 5500 rpm) in 2011-2013 Cooper-S
My brother had a red Paceman Cooper D with a black roof and, unfortunately, black wheels. Notwithstanding the wheels I thought it was a smart-looking thing. If it hadn't been a PCP car that he needed to PX, I might have bought it from him at 4 years old, to replace my beloved Clubman and provide me with more space, similar to today's owner.
If the Paceman addresses the crashy ride and limited boot space of the standard Mini without significant compromise elsewhere, that can't be bad. (Look at me being all grown up 😅).
My r53 is still in one piece and keeps on going 👌
The Prince engine isn’t that bad, it just needed the French to fix it without the Germans getting involved.
Why do the majority of old people keep making the tired joke of mini not being mini anymore 🙄 eye roll every time I hear this.
That being said
Great insight into the car and I enjoy the videos
Maybe because its true, eye roll...
@@andywarhol. sure thing old timer . I’m sure back in your day it was all tiny stuff and these new larger things are scary
@@darmeshpatel Seems like you are are too sure for your own common sense to prevail.
So what later happened about the auto test result?
As car nerds, we should appreciate the distinction between Mini (BMC) and MINI (BMW). It's all in the script.
These engines aren't unreliable if you actually have the decency to change the oil properly 🙄
Get the timing chain replaced at 100k whether it's slapping or not and upgrade it to the racing chain and guides. The service isn't that much
I've had my N18 JCW R56 now for years (60k miles)
Modified asf and beaten to absolute death for all 60k miles... I've had to replace.... drum role.... the thermostat 😐 the valve cover😐 and the timing chain🙄 oh and the clutch at 105k miles🫥
I love small cars and even had a Canada-spec Austin Mini 1000 while living in New Jersey. I’ve avoided the modern MINI because I’ve heard from mechanics that it’s horrible to work on and despite its English heritage name is actually designed by BMW. No German (or German-designed) cars for me.
They are nice car's, but definitely not a mini. Mabey it's a Riley, or possibly a Wolseley?
I might buy one later this year and if I do, I''ll get decals made that say Maxi to replace the Mini bages
If you want something similar/quirky, test drive a BMW F45 225i
Just needed round front lights. Grill is agressive.
You would have thought he’d learnt his lesson after 2 previous mini’s!!😅
I like this. No idea why. I wonder how reliable these are
It kind of depends on how the previous owner(s) treated the car. Apart from that, they are very likely to suffer from overheating - similarly to other gasoline BMW engines, iirc those also keep coolant temps around 105°C, leading to premature valve seal failures and, as I've seen in Peugeot belonging to one of the family members, valve seat could also happen to leave its place, not a pleasant one.
Other things, common within N-series engines: direct injection problems (filtering of the fuel I'd say is nonexistant, only a strainer in the tank, so injectors could clog; some hpfp's were built worse and can send shavings off to injectors; tank lpfp needs to be functioning properly), some valvetronic issues may occur. Spark plugs and coils should be replaced rather frequently and must be clean of any oils (e.g. oil on the plug cap contaminates the rubbery material of coil, which leads to it burning through, shorting and then misfires).
Misfires, combined with improper treatment (as fully loading a cold engine), can lead to timing chain skips/failures and head gasket issues (point in which I'd like to thank previous owner of my N53 equipped thing for making the car cheap (for me) to buy (and fix)).
"Just" set some money aside for some more or less inevitable "quirks" of those engines and you probably will not go bankrupt.
@@Ogden741 I have swift sport that I use daily. Not sure I can handle the budget this mini requires...sad cuz I kinda like it
@@Nick-lm5lz Get an F20 1-series pre-facelift instead with the 1.6, that engine is way better whilst still being very similar.
Better yet get the 2.0 as it's a lot more potent
@@Nick-lm5lz Unless you are in a desperate need to swap a car (perhaps bored?), I'd frankly stick to it - it feels to me as getting a bit more pep and better in/out quality is not enough to give up reliability, simplicity and lighter chassis in exchange.
I'd go little in contrary to @kristoffer3000 - personally would skip pre-lci F20 and look for one with B48, but those surely are way more expensive. N12/13/14/16/18/20 had their better and worse moments (mostly near start of production) - I'm not trying to say those are absolutely the worst engines (it's not a V10 TDI), but everyone looking into buying them should know things can go south - as Jay has said: pricing is on a BMW level, as it literally is a Mini-BMW.
Someone get this man a drive in a range rover evoke convertible.
Everyone that I have known to own a Mini - new, used, variety of variants- have all had repeated mechanical issues. They all ditched them after a year or so. Nice design, but poorly screwed together.
I’d love a permanent all wheel drive 6speed manual version of the original NEW supercharged Mini Cooper S.
Please review a r55!
The F48 engine is not built by the Germans but the Italians i believe. Magnetti Marelli.
Looks like you're being attacked by the spam bots!
Dosent it just. Just nude pics and generic comments
Have now given up reporting these Bots to UA-cam. They do nothing about the problem !...
I owned a 2014 JCW Countryman (5 door paceman) for 4 years. The most unreliable car ive ever owned including 20 year old sh!t boxes. It was fully serviced from Mini for 3 years in my ownership and did nothing but let me down and cost me £1000's. It however was a fantastic car to drive , loveley to be in and very useable all year round. It was a love hate relationship that i had to leave after abuse to my wallet !
Saw one of these. Even my wife didn’t like it and she loves mini
I’d rather have the 3 liter inline 6 in a JCW special.
(If only Mini would produce one;)
There’s a Ferrari SUV, Mini needs to step it up!
All4One
One4All
I prefer the Countryman
I have a Paceman but took those awful runflats off!
You hate Abarth 500, but you don't hate that abomination 😂. Intriguing
Every time I drive one of those (2 of my friends have one, each), I feel like I'm driving a couch... so boring! 😴😴😴
Especially the one with the auto transmission, is the definition of soulless. These cars are all about looks and status, and nothing more IMO.
I would LOVE a RR Evoque convertible. In that horrid orange color no less
A friend of mine had a Mini whose engine failed letting her stranded at the side of the road. The water pump as long as most of the pipes around the engine were made out of plastic.... Plastic is the worst material to make an engine water pump and coolant pipes from., All that heat and pressure makes it crack and you risk catastrophic engine failure
What on Earth was on their mind when they designed those ?
.... Knowing they were made by BMW...The same BMW . Who, after cars such as E39 5-series and E46 3-series that were bulletproof high quality cars and proved BMW was well capable to produce good cars..... The only answer I got they made them unreliable intentionally, to make lots of money from them them through service repairs, once they get out of warranty and are designed to become money pits... It is impossible to have been a mistake... BMW made reliable engines from decades... I just can't see why all of a sudden they would decide to make a critical component such as a water pump out of plastic....unless they wanted them to fail.... I was a big fan of BMW and Mini.... ( The 5-series E39 still on a poster on my wall)... But since this story.... I never want to hear anything about buying a BMW....😔
Most of the E46 cooling system is plastic, replace it and crack on.
Great! Now please review a convertible Evoque. Just saw one the other day here in snowy Finland and couldn’t believe my eyes. It looks so wrong, yet so right.
😂
Abnoyingly good.
Ive got a yellow R53 called Pac-Man ...... completely irrelevant to this video other than when it comes to putting the name badge on the boot, I can use the PACEMAN lettering and just "drop the E" : (sounds a bit late 80's that) !
It will break down often, unless mini have started engineering correctly
every iteration looks more akin of 1 series
As an R56 owner, I still don't understand it.
Rain? Not that I could see.
My 2013 Paceman JCW (very similar spec to this one) is for sale if anyone is interested :)
£2.6k for a clutch anf flywheel is criminal.
Probably because he did it through the main dealer, you're just asking to be charged 2x as much as an independent garage.
A grand for brakes was more of a gasp 😂
I had one for a while, it should have been so much better than it was unfortunately.
Lazy engine choices and bland interiors really let it down.
Of all the 9 minis I've had it was the biggest let down
Oh dear 😅
Big Trucks Volume 6
I hate that sad grill, why they ruin the og mini look?
Mini Pac Man
All form over function unlike the real mini. Not surprising the people who buy them mostly tell you the colour if you ask what they drive. All BMW minis I've driven or bern in have had a terrible ride, something which is a deal breaker for me
Can you fit in it - I couldn't
why can't the owners of the review cars actually give them a good clean before handing them over..