In 1959 British Motor Corporation launched a compact, econo box car which it dubbed the Morris Mini-Minor and/or the Austin Seven.  The quirkly little car had a horizonatally opposed engine, employed front wheel drive and had a boxy, space saving design which devoted 80 percent of the car's floorpan to useable space for the occupants.  In 1969 Mini became a seperate brand and, during its 41 year lifespan, it became a staple on English and European roads.  In fact, the car was so successful that, over its entire production run, 5,387,862 2-door Mini's were produced.  This makes the original Mini the most popular British car of all time.

In 1994, the Mini brand was acquired by BMW.  BMW was interested in the brand because it would help the company compete in the sub-3 series marketplace.  Thus, the company began laying plans to release a compact, competitively priced auto which blended the heritage of Mini with the build quality of a BMW.

BMW examined 15 designs prior to chosing the one penned by California based designer, Frank Stephenson.  In responding to questions about his design, Stephenson stated "We wanted the first impression ... to be it could only be a Mini."  And, in examining the Mini, it is so obviously still a Mini.

The Stephenson design set off a sales wildfire.  Minis began to sell so fast that the company was hard pressed to keep supply currently with demand.  The original Mini was soon followed by a cabriolet version and currently the Mini brand has five distincitve models. 

The last of these models is the Mini Countryman.  In examining this car, it is obviously NOT a Mini.  The primary reason that is is NOT a Mini is size as this car is - by Mini (not modern) standards - enormous. In fact, the car is so large that it can comfortably seat 4 adults and their weekend luggage too!  A secondary reason this car cannot qualify for "Mini" status is the presence of 4 doors.  Another reason (and this is by no means the final one) is that the Mini Countryman actually qualifies as a sport utility vehicle.  That's right - a Lilliputian SUV from Mini.

The Countryman's saving grace is that it is actually a very nice SUV.  Thus, the Mini Countryman is either the begining of a new chapter in the long saga of the Mini brand or the begining of the end of the brand.  Having driven two versions of the car, I can honestly say that, in my opinion, it is the begining of something entirely new (perhaps even better) for Mini.

The driving experiece in a Countryman is much more refined that that of a 2 door Mini.  The car weighs more, has a higher ground clearance and a beefier suspension.  As a result minor road bumps are more easily absorbed and are not transmitted to either the driver's seat or the steering column.  Further, the Countryman is better insulated from road noise and thereby invites a more relaxed style of driving.  The Countryman is also simply more luxurious that a base Mini and offers amenities that cannot be found is its less expensive siblings.  Based on my driving observations, the Countryman moves the Mini brand out of its econo-box roots and into the true luxury car field.

The car presented here is powered by a 1.6 litre, 16 valve, 4 cylinder, turbocharged engine producing 181 horsepower.  It is also equipped with a 6 speed MANUAL Getrag transmission.  This transmission is wonderfully smooth and adds to the car's sporty character.  The powertrain allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 in roughly 8 seconds (which is not bad for a 3800 lbs car).

The car's suspension is MacPherson front strut and multi-link rear.  The brakes are 4 wheel disc (front vented/solid rear) with electronic brake distribution (EBD).  The car also has both Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) making it both quick and stable.  These mechanical components generally mean one thing - sporty yet reliable driving pleasure.

The cars paint is termed "light coffee" which is a warm, milk chocolate brown.  The hood has vinyl racing stripes which add to its sporty character but are completely removable.  The car has both the Convenience Package and the Premium Package which include Bluetooth, garage door opener, dual pane panoramic sunroof, Harmon Kardon sound system and Sat/USB/Ipod/Aux input.  In addition, the car has 18" turbo fan alloy wheels, chrome line exterior trim and a second load floor (the second floor is so the rear reats can be laid flat). 

The car's interior was specifically designed for a sophisticate's taste.  It has off white leather seats (termed polar beige gravity by Mini) which were a $1,500 option on the car.  The seats have matching door inserts which give the car an elegant elan.  The car has rubberized floor mats which are stain and water repellant.  The rear seats will actually fold flat and increase trunk space from 15 cubic feet to a massive 41 cubic feet.  As previously recited, the car has all the expected gadgetry of a more expensive car.

As shown by the following pictures, this car is exceptionally nice and is well-worth the original MSRP of over $32,000.

The car is covered by a 4 year / 50,000 mile manufacturer's warranty.  According to a local Mini dealer, the "in service date" for this car is July 25, 2011.  Thus, the car should be covered by the manufacturer's warranty for another 16,000 odd miles or until July 24, 2015.  Please verifty these details with your local dealer and please consult Mini for complete details on the warranty issued on this car.

Please note, this car is accompanied with two keys and its original owner's manual, books and records, including a Level 1 certification from Mini.  This means that there are no known mechanical issues with this car.  Thus, as it currently sits, the car is in "buy it, drive it, enjoy it" condition.  Further, if a mechanical issues does arise, you may be able to use the remaining manufacturer's warranty to cover the repair costs.  Again, please consult with your local Mini dealership for details about the manufacturer's warranty.

If you are interested in owning this fine example of a not-so-Mini Countryman then please contact Mark Counts at 713-320-3059.

Features

We are a licensed lender in the State of Texas and can assist you in obtaining financing for your automobile purchase.

If you need assistance with financing then please contract Mark counts at 713-320-3059.

Please ensure that you have obtained financing prior to bidding on one of our cars.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, our cars are sold "As Is" and without warranty.

However, some of our cars come with the full manufacturers warranty and some are eligible for extended warranties.

Please discuss the potential purchase of an extended warranty with your sales representative.

Unless stated otherwise in the vehicle's listing, shipping is the sole responsibility of the buyer.

There are many reputable transporters across the country and the Buyer is required to contract directly with one of them.

If required, we can locate a shipper for the Buyer but will not assume responsibility for the vehicle once it is consigned to a shipper.

Terms and Conditions

All vehicles we sell have clean and clear titles. 

We do NOT sell salvage vehicles or vehicles with reconditioned titles.

All vehicles are sold "AS IS" and there are no representations or warranties except those contained in the written sales contract or bill of sale.

The winning bidder must contact us within 24 hours by phone to start the transaction.

The winning bidder must respond within 2 days after the auction with a $500 deposit required via wire transfer, Visa/MC, or certified funds(cashier's check) to start the transaction.

It is understood that the vehicle is sold on an "As Is" basis. 

Buyer are free to purchase with or without an inspection.  

We strongly encourage pre-purchase inspections.  These inspections are relatively cheap and help ensure  that the Buyer is completely satisfied with their purchase.

All sales are subject to a state inspection fee of $40.75 and a Vehicle Inventory Tax based at .2271% of the purchase price. Ex. $10,000.00 X .2271% = 22.71.

Texas residents must pay applicable sales tax and a registration fee.

Out-of-state customers may pay tax and register the vehicle in their own applicable state. Upon request, we may be able to complete the buyer's home state registration.

The buyer is responsible for all shipping costs. We will arrange for shipping, if requested. Also, transportation to and from the airport and our location is buyer's responsibility.

We make every attempt to deliver our vehicles to our clients with two keys, key fobs, manuals, booklets, NAV CDs, wheel locks, tool kits, etc..., however, from time-to-time, a vehicle may be missing one or more of these items and we cannot guarantee that they will be included in the vehicle at the time of sale. Please call for the exact accessories included for the vehicle.

Our vehicles are pre-owned vehicles and they are sold in "As Is" condition. At time, some of our vehicles may still be in factory warranty or an extended warranty may be purchased. Ask for details.

For Canadian car buyers: If the title is to be released at the time of delivery (which is much mandatory to move the vehicle through customs), a wire transfer is the fastest  way to complete the sale.  If the payment is not by bank wire transfer, i.e., certified bank check or approved loan check, the title will only be released when all funds have cleared. Please keep in mind that the funds verification process can take up to 15 days. We will assist you with the documentation needed to clear Canadian customs, but knowing exactly which documents are required by your home province are the buyers responsibility. Requirements for Canada can be found at www.riv.ca under "Registration of import vehicles, Canada".

Notice to All Bidders

Please remember your eBay obligations. When you bid, you are entering into a legal and binding contract. Do not bid if you do not intend to buy this vehicle!

All bidders must have pre-approved loans or other financing.

The winning bidder must contact us within 24 hours by phone to complete the sale and to receive a purchase order via fax.

Major Credit Cards are accepted.

Please call for limits and details (credit card charges may incur a service fee).

Payments are accepted through paypal.com (Deposit only-$1,000 max.). Please call for limits.

We do not accept Escrow or E-Loan. Please call for exceptions prior to bidding.

Please remember that you have the option to call for the reserve price direct at 713-320-3059.

We appreciate your interest in this auction and look forward to seeing your bid. Good Luck and Happy Bidding!