Yahoo Autos I Adopted Dog Number Two And My Mini Is Too Small! What Car Should I Buy?
Yasha adopted a second dog, and her two-door Mini Cooper is no longer ideal for two pups. She wants something with a bit more space but doesn’t want anything giant. She is also looking for something that is reasonably fun and has a bias against anything with a CVT. What car should she buy?
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Here is the scenario.
I adopted a dog two weeks ago after years of wanting one but not being able to give them a good life while still being a functional adult with a full time job. She doesn’t even have a name yet but I already decided I need a new (to me) car for her! I currently have a 2016 Mini JCW 2-door manual that I absolutely adore, but not having a second set of doors is a pain with the new pup, and with the backseat now occupied, cargo space is even more at a premium! I do all of the work on my car, learning as I go, from suspension bushings and shock care, fluids, pads & rotors, engine mounts, and exhausts (plus after 2.5 years with a mini, I have become an interior-rattle-finding ninja). We just moved to WI, and my partner is an opera singer so I do a lot of road trips to see her perform.
I want something bigger than the Mini but not too big. My wish list is - Leather interior, heated (did I mention WI?) front seats, a fun powertrain (please no CVTs!), carplay (I can swing an aftermarket upgrade too), fuel economy. Flush roof rails would be great for a roof rack, but I can always install a hitch mount for a rear carrier. I prefer a hatch or a station wagon as I’m not a huge fan of tall cars, but a super compact SUV with good cargo space would be great, too! I would also really prefer an AWD car.
The budget is up to $30,000
Quick Facts:
Budget: up to $30,000
Location: Madison, WI
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: 4 doors, small-ish, fun
Doesn’t want: A CVT
Expert 1 - Tom McParland: The Devil You Know
Yasha, you may not like everything that comes with owning a Mini but you seem to enjoy the overall driving experience, size, and quirkyness of that brand. So why not just get the bigger, slightly more practical version of your Cooper? The Countryman offers 4-doors, available AWD, and the zippiness you would expect from driving a Mini.
It also has leatherette or full leather seating, roof rails already installed, respectable fuel economy, and all the tech you could want from a premium English/German small car. Finding one with three pedals probably isn’t in the cards, but the BMW-sourced eight-speed automatic moves through the gears very well.
There are several Mini Certified examples for under $30,000 with reasonable miles, which should give you plenty of warranty protection for the next several years. Here is a very cool example in metallic orange with only 13,000 miles. This Countryman S is going to be a little down on power compared to your JCW, but that can be remedied in the aftermarket with an ECU flash and a few other upgrades.
