Hi All,

I've been lurking for about one month as my obsession for a new Mini Clubman (base) has taken over a great deal of my free time (and some work time as well!). I first got a good look at the Clubman during an auto show and that was about it, I was hooked. I had been planning on purchasing a Honda Fit Sport before that.

Went to the dealer did a test drive, went back again looked over the quirky controls and brought my mountain bike along to see if it would fit inside the car. It does... actually need to fit two back there as the roof will be occupied with kayaks. That is where the Fit may have an advantage.

My main issue is the overall reliability of the car and the cost to repair the car after warranty or outside of warranty issues. I've read enough on this site to concern me about the Mini especially balanced against the overall reliability of Hondas. Not thrilled that it has been three years and they cannot resolve the cold start issue, especially considering that I live in Wisconsin.

For me the practical choice is the Honda. It's less expensive, great utility, fun to drive and reliable. My passion is for the Mini, good utility, fun to drive.

Thanks for reading (if you made it this far!) and would appreciate input.

 

My major consideration, and the reason why I drive a mini, is the handling. These cars are glued to the road, you can go through curves at incredibly fast speeds, the build, suspension, sterring and sense of road feel is second to none in the price range. Honda Fit, tsk, tsk, tsk...I would not go there!

 

MINI...

 

Heh, asking Mini or Fit on a Mini board - I think he wants the Mini

Out of curiosity, have you looked to see if the Fit has any of its own gremlins? I noticed you said "balanced against the overall reliability" in regards to Honda, so if you haven't looked to see what the Fit's maintenance 'quirks' are then that'd be my suggestion. After all, it's a pretty new model and may have its own growing pains.

I recently made a similar decision, going from extremely practical (Hyundai Accent) to a very fun MCS. I'm definitely sacrificing cost, max # of passengers (over any appreciable distance) and cargo room. For me, though, there was no question.

 

You're only likely to get one answer here.

If the MINI didn't exist, I'd probably be driving a Fit, but I've never driven one, never even bothered to get a test drive.

 

My Mom really seems to like the Fit, that's reason enough to avoid it!

To improve the practicality of your MINI I'd suggest looking into a rear mounted Bike Rack, I don't like putting dirty bikes inside my car so that would be the option I'd go with.
The cold start issue is worrisome. You said you were getting a base model, I could be mistaken but it seems most of the cold start-issues I've read pertained to the S model. You might want to double check that.

 

We have both a MINI and a Fit.

My wife's car is the Fit. She got it for the flexibility of the interior space, lower price, and the Honda reputation for reliability. She takes no particular joy in driving, and can't see any advantage in a MINI.

While the Fit's interior space is very flexible, the hatch opening isn't -- being rounded for strength, as I assume. Same for the rear doors. The Fit's seats do not give me the back support I need on long drives, and the clutch feels toy-like. The manual transmission is well-matched to the engine, which is adequate.

The Clubman's rear opening is, well, more open, but the interior space is more box-like, and not as flexible. The MINI is more stable on the road, an advantage in wind, with kayaks on top. There are aftermarket hitch-bike racks for the Clubman, which would keep the bikes from muddying-up the interior and taking up room.

The MINI's cold weather problems seem to belong to the Cooper S turbo engine, not the base engine, which looks like the one you are aiming for.

Obviously, I prefer the MINI, but you have to measure, try, and see which works better for you.

 

Actually, sounds like you need an Element, although the gas mileage isn't that good. Was actually going to buy one last year, amazing amount of room and features for the price. Went to the auto show and sat in about every car that even interested me in the least and immediately fell in love with the Clubman. Went back to sit in the Mini maybe 6 times and made my decision right there. No regret and no looking back.

 

If you're transporting two kids, and sporting equipment... as much as I love my MINI and would love to see you driving one... I have to tell you that I really think you're looking at the wrong car all together.

I agree that you might want to look at the Honda Element, but if that doesn't float your boat, you should consider the Honda CRV as it gets slightly better gas mileage (mine gets 28 mpg highway) and is perfect for hauling around two teenagers, their stuff and some stuff on the roof. It's actually a really nice ride. Lots of acceleration and great handling for a vehicle of this size.

If you want something that handles similarly to a MINI, (though there are few cars that come close), that has the reliability of a Honda, then you need to look at the Civic Si, not the Fit. The Fit is your Grandma's car IMO. The Civic Si is the car you want, but it won't fit all your gear and if you're going to lean toward the Si, then you might as well go test drive a Clubman.

You'll be hooked on the Clubman from the moment you hit the bends.

 

I'm in the same boat as Oldsbear. We have a 2008 Honda Fit and my JCW is on the way. The Fit is very versatile when it comes to cargo, we took home a 5 ft long dining room table with 6 fully assembled chairs, a full load of Costco groceries, and 3 passengers in one trip. Despite being almost an hour away from where we live, it only took $2.05 CAD in gas to get us home. On the flip side, the Fit will never excite you half as much or make you smile half as wide as the drive in a MINI.

My bottom line to you....GET BOTH!

 

Definitely agree with all of you about driving the Mini. I have test driven the Clubman and it is a hoot, lot's of fun when hitting the curves. And for all you doubters hitting the curves in a manual Fit Sport with stability control is a blast as well... admittedly not as fun but the car is very kart like.

Cameroon -

Heh, asking Mini or Fit on a Mini board - I think he wants the Mini

Out of curiosity, have you looked to see if the Fit has any of its own gremlins?

Yes I have researched the Fit as well. Not much to report other than people getting screwed over by bad dealerships. The biggest complaint I've read is in regard to the paint quality. Apparently it is fairly cheap and scratches easily.

I'm asking the same questions on a Fit board by the way!

Deviant -

To improve the practicality of your MINI I'd suggest looking into a rear mounted Bike Rack, I don't like putting dirty bikes inside my car so that would be the option I'd go with.

The rear mounted bike rack pushes the bikes too high and they would interfere with the kayaks on the roof. Besides I don't think you could mount a rear rack on the Clubman with the barn door opening.

oldsbear -

While the Fit's interior space is very flexible, the hatch opening isn't -- being rounded for strength, as I assume.

The Clubman's rear opening is, well, more open, but the interior space is more box-like, and not as flexible. The MINI is more stable on the road, an advantage in wind, with kayaks on top.

The Honda Fit will hold two adult sized mountain bikes with room to spare. You can even rig them to stand up inside with a homemade clip just inside the hatch. I know for sure one bike will fit in the Clubman, two would be tricky as they would have to lay on top of one another but I think it's possible. What I really like about the Clubman is the flat roof, makes loading and securing our kayaks (16ft. long) so much better/easier.

RandomGemini -

If you're transporting two kids, and sporting equipment...

Now who went and gave me two kids? Just the wife and I.

zug4zig -

IWent to the auto show and sat in about every car that even interested me in the least and immediately fell in love with the Clubman.

That's what happened to me zug!

I still haven't reached a conclusion on which car to purchase. I'm waiting for that auto epiphany!

 

Easy MINI the Fit would be better if it were two door and was turboed. But since it is not you will be extremely disappointed with the Fit it just won't have that oomf that you want when your driving around. But the Fit is cheaper.

 

2 mountain bikes and kayaks?! Whaaaat made you decide to look at such small cars for your large-cargo needs?

(yes i know clubman, but still it's quite a compact car )



..and you're right about the cheap paint quality on the Fit, my friend's little 1 year old kid scuffed the paint on hers with his little rattle toy. Im not sure how hard he was whacking at it, but maybe he was angry with the car?
Now imagine how it'll stand against other car doors or shopping carts.. door ding-a-thon!

From your opinions so far, you look like you're gonna get a clubman! teehee, you just don't know it yet

 

I was all set to get the Fit (Sport) but wanted to wait to see what the '09 was going to be like. While waiting, I discovered the Clubman. I tested both the '08 and '09 Fits and thought that the '08 was zipper but the '09 was roomier.

For me though--compaired to the Clubman--the Fit was very pedestrian, with a cheap economy feel to the interior. It also didn't handle or ride as well as the Clubman.

Before discovering the Clubman, I had thought that if it was just me--without having kids--I would buy and MCS. The Clubman has allowed me to do that. Everyone has their own reasons for choosing the car they drive. I'm so glad that I have a Clubman over a Fit, but the Clubman meets ALL of my requirements. If the Fit met them all better, then I'd likely be happy with that (+ it costs less).


The Clubman puts a huge grin on my face whenever I think about it, get into or out of it; I can't see the Fit doing that to me.

Probably sounds superfical reasoning, but of course you know that the Fit will NEVER be as cool as the Clubman...if that matters to you.


Another thing to condsider is that there may come a time when you do have kids, and fitting bikes or kayaks or skis or whatever becomes a (distant) memory...you'll still have a car you're happy with though, and if it's a Clubman, it'll be a cool car that you're happy with (which can help when you feel you've lost your identity and just become "someone's dad"!)...

 

As has been mentioned in a few posts with great accuracy, I prefer the Clubman over the Fit. For a variety of reasons, the fuel mileage, the cool factor (not what others think but what I like), the utility, the handling, the car just speaks to me. But here is the problem. While the Clubman is almost the perfect car (gotta see if a second bike fits inside) the main reason I'm resistant is cost. Not just initial cost which is a budget buster for me that I'm willing to pay but the maintenance of the car. The stock issues thread is so daunting to read. The cold weather starts are not applicable to the S only, it would seem it affects cars in cold climates that have short commutes. That would be me. Engineering issues like the sticking sunroof, windows that don't reset properly when closing and a whole host of other small issues. Frankly I've driven a reliable and fun Mazda MX-6 for the past 14 years and it is still running like a champ with over 200k miles on it. I just have a real uncomfortable feeling that this car will wind up costing me more than I would like in the long run. That is what is preventing me from placing my order.

 

It sounds like you've already made up your mind to not get the MINI.

That's cool. This is your car and your money. You should get what you want and spend your money the way you feel makes the most sense for your budget and for your needs.

Just to clear up a couple of things though, I've never seen the cold start issue reported on a MINI without the turbo. The standard Cooper (non-S) do not come equipped with the turbo. I don't think the turbo causes the problem, but I haven't seen it reported on a JustaCooper. I live in a very cold climate, in fact, we still have snow on the ground right now, and I have never had this issue with my MINI (she's a 2008 JustACooper w/automatic transmission). In fact... I live for driving this car in the snow with snow tires!

Also.. the sunroof sticking issue is not an engineering problem exactly... the sunroof design is fine, but some sunroofs were not properly greased at the factory and stick when the temperature gets above 90 degrees. There's a TSB for it and MINI is repairing it under warranty. My dealership sent me a letter letting me know my car was affected and will be doing the repair when I take her in for her scheduled warranty service. Some folks on that thread are more than likely being completely mistreated by the service departments they are taking their cars to. So be wary of that when reading the problems threads.

Most people that wind up on forums like this one come here because they are looking to a solution for a problem. You are seeing one small slice of MINI ownership when you look at the stock issues thread. People who never have problems with their cars often don't end up posting in places like this because they have no reason to question anything about their cars.

My husband asked me to point out that he is waiting another four years before he's going to get his MINI because we have teenagers and because he just bought a new car two years ago. He doesn't want to wait and wishes he could go buy one today, but he is biding his time until we're not paying for college tuition. I'm not sure why this is relevant, but for the sake of marital harmony, I'm passing it along. Maybe you'll get it.

 

Quite the opposite. I'm trying to convince myself to get the Mini.

No. According to the thread in the stock issues sticky the problem has affected both base and S versions. Many more S versions have reported the problem however. The good news is it would seem Mini has finally developed a fix to the problem that they are taking care of on a case by case basis. But 3 years to resolve the issue, that is annoying. Especially with all the denials reported by many of the Mini dealers.

Good to know. Haven't read through that entire sticky yet. Of course I could save myself a cool $1k if I opt not to have a sunroof and the climate control system!

I'm aware of that and I agree with you. That is why the random issues I took with a grain of salt but the three others, cold start, window dipper and sunroof had many complaints.

Me either but you read all my postings and I can sure appreciate the enthusiasm!

For the record, here is my bike fitting into the Mini -

First attempt -


It fits but trying to get another in their will be difficult, maybe impossible. Probably ding up the bikes and the interior.


Second attempt -


A MINI epiphany! I lifted the smuggler hatch and dropped the bike's handlebars below the flat floor of the cargo area. The bike lays flatter and would make placing a second bike on top much easier. Will have to visit the dealer again to see if we can jam two in their. The biggest trouble will be getting the pedals past one another. For transport I will lay a blanket between the two of them to prevent the bikes from scratching each other.

 

While the Honda Fit appears to be a fine car for what it is, there are 2 things that bothered me about it:

1) The goofy looks

2) The "tin can" and flimsy paint/sheetmetal

Reliability of Hondas is a bit overcooked in my opinion and their 3 year warranty (And no included maintenance) is absurd when other manufacturers have longer warranties and/or included scheduled service.

Also the snotty attitude of some Honda dealers is something I don't care about.


The Clubman is everything the Fit isn't. To me the Fit wins in the interior packaging as you can seat 5 people, unlike the Clubman.

Other than that, there is no comparison.

We have had ours for 1 year and no problems to speak of.

 

Thanks for clearing that up re: the cold start issue. I looked and looked and did not see any references to someone with a JustACooper having that problem.

They make cargo covers that fit the rear of the clubman with both seats folded down. Have you read through the "will that fit in a clubman" thread yet?

You would be surprised what people have put back there.

As far as the sunroof goes... I LOVE my sunroof and the issue with it sticking comes up so rarely that it's not even worth being concerned over. You will regret not getting the automatic a/c once you've had a car with it... so at least don't skip out on that option. Since the TSB is already out, I suspect you won't have a problem with the sunroof when getting a 2k9 Clubman.

As far as my enthusiasm... I love my MINI. I love talking about my MINI, I love motoring in my MINI... and I even love the fact that my MINI is possessed and only plays Radiohead and My Chemical Romance when I put in a CD jam packed with other music and stick it on random shuffle.

I think everyone should drive a MINI... of course, that's part of my MINI's plot for world domination. Viola intends to see every driver in the world become a motorer and through sheer love of the MINI, plans to take over the world.

 

I test drove an auto Fit a few months back, and within 100ft of hitting the gas pedal I wanted to get out.

As I understand Honda motors in general like to be revved high to get any power (might be a VTEC thing, not sure), so that was probably it, but I can imagine that getting tiresome pretty quickly.

Otherwise I love the idea of the magic seats. I really like the Fit's styling. And Honda reliability can't be beat.

The (auto Fit) just has no cajones. Maybe if I was able to test drive a stick I would have felt differently, but my test drive impression was basically "get me the he** out of this car".

 

Hey everyone, just wanted to give you an update. After researching the cars to end of my limits I finally made a decision last night and purchased a 2009 Mazda 3 touring edition five speed manual. I know it isn't the Fit or the Clubman but I've always had soft spot in my heart for the 3's when they were released years ago. Plus my current car is a Mazda MX6 and I love the handling of their small cars in addition to the reliability I've experienced.

Mazda's model closeout deals were just too good to pass up. Purchased the car $600 over invoice, received zero percent financing, an additional $1000 dollars cash back (I used it as part of the down payment on the car) and first payment isn't due for three months.

The difference in price would have been close to $7k between the Clubman and the 3 and that was just too much money in addition to the great financing to make up the difference with my budget.

I will say this, the Clubman (and Mini's in general) is my favorite car and I hope to someday purchase one. I've also really enjoyed the people in this forum. Very friendly and very helpful. Motor on friends!

 

Coney,

It appears you made a good deal, I hope it is one that you can live with. Sometimes the mini fever subsides for awhile, but then returns. Don't be too much of a stranger now. I've driven my neighbor's Mazda RX6 & it is a hoot to drive, so I'm glad you went Mazda instead of Honda. See ya.

 

In 2006, I caught the MINI bug and nearly bought a Cooper S. Instead, I went and bought a WRX and the fever subsided for a little while. Then it started up again and I sold my WRX in February. I should have my MINI any day now...

Lesson: There's no getting away once you've caught the fever.

 

Great choice Coney, I also have a soft spot in my heart for Mazdas. My last car was a black mica Mazda Protege5, which gave me 80K miles of trouble-free driving. Up to owning my MCS my favorite car was the P5 by a mile.

Plus I love the looks and functionality of a sport wagon. That said I really hope you got the hatch!

 

was just about to say mazda..till i scrolled down!