Old car, new car; no car, zip car

  (next car?)

The prospect of an impending sabbatical gives one time to think about their "car situation". First we get rid of the old one before we leave, then we make-do with public transpo/bikes/walking/zip cars, or whatever, when we get to where we're going for a year (New Zealand looks probable). On return we buy a replacement late model vehicle that minimally holds two people and a string bass. (Or three people and a cello.) For larger hauls we'll use the Zip-van from the colleges or rent one for the occasion. The problem is that Mini has just released a maxi-mini (the Countryman)! Now, I have a year and a half to work on my husband to see the beauty of buying a crossover mini; a small (but not too small), fuel-efficient, safe (all wheel drive), cute car that offers our exact capacity requirements :~).