I've got a small business selling custom soft fitted luggage for roadsters and the like. And for the longest time I've used my MR2 Spyder's passenger seat to bring my packages to the post office. Now that my volumes have gone up, I'm in need of a practical 2nd vehicle, preferably a hatch.

I don't think I can give up the supernatural handling of a small car, and the MINI looks interesting. How much stuff can I put in the back? Do the rear seats fold down?

Maybe if or when I get one, I'll whip up some soft fitted luggage bags for you MINI owners as well

 

The mini has a surprising amount of room. The seats do fold down and allow for tons of room(if you stack). I have moved my brother into his dorm room in one trip.

 

Thanks! How does she handle?

 

Broudie,
I would also recommend that you try out the Clubman as well.
The handling is fantastic and I believe that the storage numbers are ~9 cu.ft with the seats up and ~33 cu.ft with the seats down.

This thread has a number of pictures of the amount of stuff that folks are managing to get inside:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=135170

 

You should definitely check out a Clubman. Although I myself wouldn't choose one, since I don't need the extra space, if space is an issue, then a Clubman would be the way to go. As for handling, all any of us can say is, "Go test drive one." Once you do you'll never ask that question again. Nor will you ever want to test drive any other car again either!

 

Since you have a small business, it makes sense to have a small car. See the pic I posted today in the "pics of your R56" thread. Mine's not a Clubman, and that's with the rear seats still up. With them down, I can load almost as much stuff as I can in our Expedition.

 

i ran an eBay store for a few years and with the seats down the MINI has a surprising amount of space

 

Even with a carseat in the back seat, I got the following into the MINI this weekend, and I could have put a passenger in the front seat:

* small suitcase (one that would fit overhead on an airplane)
* stroller (which is slightly smaller than the suitcase)
* large diaper bag
* large backpack/laptop case
* grocery bag filled with baby food and movies
* box of diapers
* small tote bag
* 5 medium size blankets
* travel booster seat/high chair
* baby in car seat

(Imagine what I could have done without the car seat and putting both seats down...)

And I have to say I LOVE that I am averaging 35 mpg mixed city/hwy 50/50 this trip even adding in some stop and go traffic. We put a roof rack on ours just so we can haul more stuff when hubby and the dog come along.


I second the other responses... Test drive one and you'll be in love. I drove a friend's MINI for about a mile before I realized I had to have one.

 

Here's a couple of links to threads by a guy who's looking to sell his Clubman. You'd have to read both threads to get the gist of why he's looking to sell so quickly, but it might be worth considering.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=137784

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...67#post2190567