Hi everyone-

I'm lurking on this site in the hopes of buying a new Clubman S this summer. I'll be test driving one this week and if I like it, placing an order soon.

I currently drive a 2000 Honda Accord and have been active in the car forums for several years now. I've totally ruined my car (in high school, I imagined you could make an Accord fast, and not only fast, do it cheaply. You can do neither, especially combined.) and i'm looking for something that's fun to drive, small, with good gas milage, without the theft rate and social stigma of Hondas (I'm sick of being revved at and broken into!)

So that's why i'm here, now convince me to buy one of them!!!

 

We won't have to convince you -- the test drive will. I'll just give you what will no doubt become one of the standard Clubman disclaimers -- beware test driving a Clubman S if you are not sure you want to pay the difference.

 

Hiya and Welcome to the world of MINIs.... Try it and you'll love it...


Donna

 

Welcome, the soon you get one the more you will think why did I wait.

 

Trust us, if you test drive one you WILL buy one. I was going to go new car shopping and look at a bunch of different makes of vehicles (honda, scion, bmw, etc etc...) and I probably should have test drove everything before the MINI....because once I put my foot on the pedal I was sold.

You'll love it...be prepared!!

 

Nope, everybody's right. We don't have to convince you of anything. The test drive will take care of everything. Be prepared to buy ...

I'd been wanting a Mini since 2003 but never got around to doing anything about it until January 26, 2008. And that was the first nice day here in the Twin Cities - that Saturday. I'd previously decided that this was going to be the year I got my Mini, so figured that Saturday would be a good time to go test-drive one. I'd fondled one at Southdale a time or two, but never driven.

Anyway, long story short: I fell hard. Drove out of Motorwerks the owner of Harmini and I'm still high.

It took husband a little less than two weeks occasionally driving my girl to become a confirmed MiniLunatic, and Harmini is JustaCooper!!! On March 3, husband bought a 2006 Chili MCS from a fellow NAM member out of Wisconsin, and we became a two-Cooper family.

I rest my case.

 

Oh believe me, I am well prepared to pay the 8k difference if the car is that much more fun. I have more than enough for a down payment, and I've got a good career lined up here after grad school

That's what I figured,

Toyota engineered the fun out of the Scion, and the Civic is too cramped, but styled well. The Mazda3 wagon was a LOT of fun, but I think the Mini is safer from the reports i've read, and I don't want to help out Ford as an ex-Michigander and the 2 Ford nightmares in our family

It's going to be quite a surprise moving from one import to the other though!!!

Nice to see another Minnesotan, and I have a feeling i'm going to join the cult...I mean the club, from just the things i've been reading!

I'm going to Moterwerks as well btw, if there's a certain salesman you'd recommend!

I just want to check out leasing and financing options, and the wait list!!! The wait list is probably going to be the hardest of all...

My girlfriend chose the color already though: Chili red with black roof and rear panels. She thinks a proper Mini needs to be red

 

My SA is a "Used Specialist Advisor" - if you're buying new, then you'll go up the ladder ...

Here's a fact: The Mini Cooper line is so safe, you won't pay too much more for your auto insurance than you do now - or you may pay less!

 

hey accordselux.. have you checked out your local MINI club?? http://www.sotaminis.com/

One of the people on there works for Motorwerks actually. He should be able to help you there, I think his name is Charlie??

Good luck with your search. Pencil NL2NB 2008 on your calendar - 5/17 - New London, MN

 

Hey, thanks for the link, I just registered

 

I'm from South St Paul and I bought my car from Charlie. He's great.. very knowledgeable and never made me feel pressured.

If you're buying new then it won't be a matter of if you buy a MINI, it'll be which options and color combinations to decide on.

Good luck with your decision(s).

 

good to hear accordselux! I'm on there also (same screen name), but spend most of my time here. If I happen to see someone from MN here, I'll usually direct them to 'Sota. Maybe we'll see you at NL2NB if you don't have a MINI by then, I'm sure someone will let you ride along.


boostednorm, I know several 'Sota people who've bought 2 MINIs from Charlie. I think he drove an R56 last year at NL2NB. maybe he'll bring a Clubman this year. I know there's at least 2 Clubmans in the club now. come on out for NL2NB... 5/17

 

I went to Motorwerks yesterday and test drove the Clubman!

It's nowhere near as harsh as I thought it would be on Sport and 17's, I think the longer wheelbase IS a plus in that manner.

I had a blast, it's a great car.

And there was a couple buying the exact color scheme I want so I snapped a pic!



It's like crack, I want more!

 

Sounds like fun, I'll see about attending it. My break in period should be over about that time.

 

Well, it's official!

I put a deposit on a Chili Red Clubman S. Should get here in late June, just in time for me to return from a family vacation in New Mexico!

:claps hands anxiously: