I want a MINI Countryman but I am reading this brand is unreliable. What to do? I want this car for its design. Advise?

The Mini is a triumph of style over quality. They are unreliable and expensive to run. There is no way round that. If you want a Mini you'll have to live with that.

Consumer Reports rates the Countryman reliability as worse than average based on their own tests as well as surveys of thousands of actual owners or previous owners. If you are buying a used Countryman, avoid the 2012 model, which CR includes in their "Worst of the Worst" used cars.

Of course, no two cars are exactly alike. You could buy such a car and never ever have a problem with it. On the other hand, your risk is higher that you will have problems. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

Get a skateboard dude, it cheaper.

Be sure to buy one still in warranty and under 50,000 miles so that the faulty timing chain will be covered under the recall notice.