I was at a dealership last weekend and I don't know why, but I decided to sit in a clubman. I don't know why I did, because I've never considered a clubman, or countryman, or any other type of MINI before - they just don't look like MINI coopers to me. So I was really surprised that I liked the Clubman so much: the seats were nicer - they have something that seems to extend the seating area to support your thighs a bit - and there was more legroom, and the boot cargo area was also bigger. But it's made me wonder "gee, is this getting too big?" One of the things I really like about the MINI is the small size: the Clubman is 10 inches longer than the four door Cooper. It seems to me like you could just keep extending the size: Oh, this other brand is just a couple inches bigger than the clubman; it's a slippery slope, and before you know it you are driving a huge behemoth. You know, the slippery slope argument.

So my question for people who have driven or owned both is: how do you feel about the clubman? Does it still look and feel like a MINI cooper to you? Has anyone purchased the Clubman and regretted not getting the "regular" MINI?

By the way, the countryman just didn't feel like a mini to me; it felt like an SUV. A small SUV, but still an SUV. But inside the Clubman, it did still feel like a MINI to me. But I'm hesitant about a) the bigger size - will it seem to big, not be as easy to park, etc., and b) does it really look and feel like a MINI?

Thanks.

 

 

I like the Clubman for the utility, and relatively small size. I like the Cooper hatchback for the lightweight and responsiveness. Decide what your needs and wants are, then find the car that fits.

 

<moved>

 

Did you have to buy new tires then? Did it make a big difference? I used to have an R56 with runflats and I never liked them.

 

As njaremka indicates, weight is the thing.

Original non BMW mini (granted, not much cop in a crash) ~1500lb.
BMW Mini Cooper S, ~2600lbs, The weight surprisingly didnt change much over 3 generations
Clubman, >3100lbs, thats 500lbs or ~20% more weight than a Cooper
Countryman All4 3629!!!lbs (nothing "mini" about that, it weighs more than a Rav4!)

 

I am all about the gen 1 Mini Cooper S models. they are small, they drive raw, like the go-kart they are known for and every time I drive it (daily), I get a smile on my face!
I can not get past this type of fun, so I have no interest in the bloated models, including the Clubman.
I do understand why some need a bigger Mini, but I am not one of them. Nothing beats the feel on a gen 1 MCS in the twisties!
Hi and welcome to NAM, another mini owner!
Keep us posted on what you do and show us some pics, whatever you get!

 

 

All of the UKL2 vehicles have the same 105.1" wheelbase and use the same basic underpinnings. The Clubman is only 1.5" shorter than the Countryman, the differences between the two you feel is the center of gravity because the F60 is almost 5" taller than the F54 and the 184 extra pounds (Cooper S ALL4 6MT weight difference between F54 and F60) that comes along with it. If that difference was enough for you to say the the Countryman didn't even feel like a Mini, than the extra 340 lbs (Cooper S 6MT F54 and F55 weight difference) and the 4" longer wheelbase is going to make just as big a difference in the feel as well.

See if you dealer can let you take each one on an extended test drive to see which one you like better.

 

Well, I didn't make a detailed analysis of the matter; what happened is I sat in a Clubman and was pleasantly surprised: I liked how it felt. So I decided I should try sitting in the Countryman too, but when I sat in there I thought "this doesn't feel like a MINI." I didn't drive either one, but just had a kind of gut/visceral reaction to them.

That's when I started thinking "hmm, would I regret getting the clubman? Would I feel like it was too big? That it wasn't as nice as the mini?" I really love small cars, the smaller the better. And yet I've been thinking: Hmm, should get the four door instead of the two door since it's *really* hard for me to get in and out of the backseat in a 2-door. The slippery slope:
Length:
2 door Cooper: 151.1 inches
2 door Cooper S: 151.9
4 door Cooper: 157.4
Clubman: 168.3

So going from the base to the S isn't too bad: less than 1 inch. Then another 6 inches for the four door. Then another 11 inches for the Clubman. When is it too much? That's what I'm trying to figure out. Of course the answer is personal, but I was just wondering what other people thought about their own cars and choices.

One of the big issues for me is parking in my garage. I can park my current car (Infiniti G37) but it's a bit of a tight squeeze. A mini would be easier, of course, but would getting the Clubman pretty much negate all that?

 

I've always been a fan of the Clubman because they had it in the original Mini line, too.

https://goo.gl/images/FRi5zQ

But there does come a point where things start getting too big, and it see that all across the MINI line in the newer models. I much prefer the older BMW MINIs as they have a bit more retro style and are more true to the original. I also like wagons, so the added utility of the Clubman appeals to me.