Lost sales due to no "3 across" rear seats?

[madsedan]

I just sold my Mini last weekend, easiest sale I've ever done, never even listed it up, the guy and his girlfriend saw it and drove it and bought it.
The reason I sold it was I have 3 young kids, and there are situations occasionally where the wife and I will end up needing to drive 2 cars home and meet up and consolidate vehicles because the Mini only has 2 seat belts in the back and all 5 of us can't ride in a bind.

I went to the dealer thinking, easy, I'll just get a countryman, but no dice, even the larger model only has 2 buckets in the back. When showing my frustration the salesman agreed and said that at least once a week they have someone in there wanting one but once they realize it truly only seats 4, its a deal killer.

We talked about it for a bit and were admiring the car when a service writer walked by and got into the conversation with us, he was very knowledgable about the product line, and agreed with me that there are loads of cars with narrower back seats than the Countryman that can accomodate 3 young kids, hell the Honda Fit I've been looking at can fit 3 adults in the back seat, albeit very tight. He also said there have been enough of the dealer network complaining that Mini is considering offering the 3 across bench as an option on the Countryman.

[SilverBeam]

I can see what that would be a problem for a family of five. I did think it was odd that the Countryman doesn't come as a five seater and I do hope it is something they fix in the future. What is the point of a bigger Cooper if you can't transport more people?

[GBimmer]

The Countryman is offered with a rear bench in Europe. When I was researching them myself I found out that they expect to be offering it on the 2012 models.

[TanOOki]

I have a countryman all4 and actually prefer just having 2 buckets in the back. Grown ups get in all the time and comment on how nice it feels in back with the buckets.

I know they keep talking about a bench in the back, but who's to say it will have 3 seat belts? The Coopers and clubman also have a bench in back and just 2 restraints.

I think the option would help sales, but I still prefer the buckets. Even if the bench had been available, I personally would not have wanted it.

[OEMPartHaus]

I have a countryman all4 and actually prefer just having 2 buckets in the back. Grown ups get in all the time and comment on how nice it feels in back with the buckets.

I know they keep talking about a bench in the back, but who's to say it will have 3 seat belts? The Coopers and clubman also have a bench in back and just 2 restraints.

I think the option would help sales, but I still prefer the buckets. Even if the bench had been available, I personally would not have wanted it.

My Clubman doesn't have a bench seat.....

[zavor]

You should be able to order a 2012 with a bench seat

[4500 RPM]

It was due to US regs but those were relaxed, so now the bench comes for 2012.