I'm the relatively happy owner of a 2006 Forester XT (excellent car, I really have to say), but after very little use since purchase and no real offroad application I have to say that the Clubman has grabbed my attention.

With gas prices climbing and me living with San Francisco parking, I was getting tired of dealing with the XT. The wife and I do go camping (the original reason we got the Fozzie) but find ourselves enjoying the road-trip type explorations as well if not a little more. The extra room on the Fozzie along with the all-wheel drive make for a nice package, but not necessarily the most valuable combo for city-living.

I test-drove a Clubman S a couple of weeks ago, and I fear my fate was sealed. I have never experienced handling like that before. While merging onto the freeway, a garbage bag flew off of the back of a truck in front of us and I had to swerve hard. I had an "Automan" flashback, I swear - it felt like I slipstreamed right and left in the blink of an eye! That combined with the promise of easier parking and better gas mileage is creating as irresistible pull

I worry I'll miss the big ol' cargo space and AWD, but my limited use of both doesn't seem to outweigh the benefits of a Clubman S. I don't have to deal with snow out here and the trails I use aren't puddle-infested hellroads.

I figured I'd sign up here and get some additional choruses to the Siren's Song

 

Give in to your impulse. I did. I didn't get the S, but it should still be fun. You'll have plenty of others encouraging you to take the plunge.

 

I looked at the Forrester and just about every other car that would fit my dogs and stuff. But after all of the looking I was very glad I waited the two years for my Clubby Otto. I signed up for a CLubman long before they were announced and I had Subaru salespeople telling me that a Subaru drove better than a MINI. No way! I know that none of them ever drove a Mini to say that.
I love the Clubman more than any of the 14 cars I've had over the years. I want another one!!
Go for it, you will not regret it.

 

The XT was a compromise - enough muscle to satisfy my needs while firmly placing me behind the wheel of something I wouldn't get in trouble with

I had a GTI before the Fozzie and I, um, tended to be a wee bit heavy-footed. I've promised the wife I'll be better behaved in a Clubman, but I do demand that my car has the ability to get up and move when someone else does something stupid. I don't have a lot of patience for sluggish cars - I need to know that it's going to respond when and how I need it to.

So I think it's going to have to be the S for me. I still dream of that test drive...

 

I love my S. I took a road trip to Southern Arizona with my mom who is 85 now and she loved the pickup I had when I wanted to get by something. It surprised me how she smiled and commented on its performance. Now it has to really be some car to get her to notice that. Great mileage too--around 35 mpg going 75+ and my daily 8-mile 30 mph drive to my shop gets close to 30 mpg.

 

It's good to hear from others with stuff to haul, so to speak. Most of our friends have smaller cars so the Fozzy's been a bit of a Dadmobile - driven out whenever someone needs some extra room. I'm always glad to help, but it's just not as practical as a Clubman would be for the city.

Plus, that whole "fun to drive" thing. Gas crunch or no, I do like to take road trips. California's a great state to travel around in and the Fozzy, believe it or not, is not the most comfortable car to drive.

 

That's impressive! The new engines in the MINIs are really something else. That kinda punch while still getting that kinda MPG - tantalizing

 

So tantalizing that I have my BMW 330 Ci convertible up for sale so I can get a MINI Cabrio next year. The 2009 will have the same turbo as the Clubman. I fell in love with the handling of the MINI the first day and I never thought I would sell the BMW. Of course it only has 5700 miles on it after 6 years as I take really good care of my cars.

I test drove a 2008 Cabrio non-S and the pickup difference vs. the S was most noticeable at stop lights. I don't do jackrabbit starts, but still the Clubby is always 4-5 car lengths ahead when the light turns green. (That is including the hesitation I have to make sure no one is running a red before I accelerate.)
When I tried the non-S I was in the back of the pack upon acceleration.

One thing my dad taught me was that you want a car that has the power and handling when you need it. He's been gone over 27 years, but I remember his advice.

 

Sage advice. I'm not *quite* the speed demon I was in my "yoof", but I Cali drivers are cah-razy. I need to surge and swerve often enough to appreciate power.

OH! And the braking power! Dime, nothing - the MINI stopped on a penny!

 

+1 on the brakes. I have to remember that when I take my husband to his doctors in the Suburban (he has muscular dystrophy and can no longer drive). I am so used to the Mini brakes that I realized I had to start stopping earlier with the Sub and his Titan. Plus my shoulder always hurts after driving his truck. I guess it has power steering but I haven't found it. Plus with its 11.5 mpg it only goes out for shopping or loading up dirt for the garden.

If it wasn't his I would sell the truck in a minute. He's had to sell his Miata and M3 so I can't insist he sell the truck. He can't go anywhere in it now, but he needs it psychologically. Gives him hope that he might drive again, even though he knows he won't.

 

I've had several members of my family have to do the same thing - it's not always a comfortable reminder but we always found it necessary for the person to take their time in their path to acceptance. Hope comes in many forms. I hope for the best for the both of you

 

Thanks!! I'm used to most of this by now. I've been a lifelong asthmatic (Arizona is my Godsend), plus diabetes from stress. My dad got Alzheimers when I was 14, he was 49. I had a brain tumor for 21 years before anyone listened but all is ok now. My sister who is 3 years older (58) has new hips and fibromyalgia and more. And then Rich with Pompes disease.
I'm not complaining as things could always be worse. All it made me do is enjoy what I have and drive the car I like which is the MINI.
No matter how bad a day may be my Clubman always makes me smile.

I hope you decide to get one. This forum is the best place to meet the nicest people.

Well, the backmatter pages are almost done printing (I'm a tech. proofreader/editor) so I guess I better get some sleep. Most of my work arrives after midnight, but my bear shop opens at 10 a.m. Too many jobs...

 

We're in the same boat. My wife drives an 03 Forester XT that's paid for, but she desperately wants a Clubman. Too bad we can't do an even trade.

 

I think I have found a buyer for the XT, so the Clubman is getting closer and closer. The only thing that continues to concern me is the ground clearance for the times we go camping.