I've spent almost a year lurking on this forum trying to gather as much info as I can about Clubbies. I'm needing to replace my current VW and I'm seeking a car I will want to love and keep for another 10-15 years. It's just been a rough year for us with illnesses in the wife's family and we haven't even visited a dealer yet, with them all long distance from us...until today.

So, we had a little road trip to Houston, which was a nightmare, but it was for the Mini! Well worth it. They were pretty receptive there and even had an S in stock with a manual transmission to play with. This is the one:

http://www.momentummini.com/VehicleD...-TX/2988733193

Of course, this isn't one I want but it's representative of one I'd want to order being a manual S.

So, how did it go? Interesting is all I can say. Never had a test drive quite like this before. The sales guy brought it up front and pretty much outlined the procedure. He was to drive it with me riding shotgun a couple miles, then park it and hand it over to me for the return trip. Odd, but I played along.

As a passenger I noticed how solid, quiet and comfortable the car is. I felt a moderate amount of acceleration, but noticed how he really wrung out 1st gear. He hammered pretty good in first and second and I made a note to not purchase this one, even at that great price they're asking for it. I'm suspicious about this one with the options it has..
My time behind the wheel: My favorite thing was the transmission. This is how I remember BMW transmissions from years ago. With new test drives, it's normal for me to almost stall it at least once until I get a feel for it, but not this one. It was my perfect soul mate transmission.

Then, the not-so-impressive happened. It had no guts. I don't wring out first gear in a car at dealerships that's not broken in. I usually shower down on 2nd and third to see how it spools up, but usually not past about 4000 rpm. I felt next to nothing in acceleration. Considering this is turbocharged, it's rated torque and power band, I'd expect it to be reminiscent of my GLI when new, 12 years and 140,000 miles ago, with a new, clean intake and virginal purity. I told him I needed to drive it more and he obliged. Now what I found interesting is I remember pulling out from a stop with moderate power, shifting into 2nd at about 2500-3000 rpm and nailing it. Result: no mojo, but I watched as my speedometer swept past 40 mph pretty quick. That's really weird.

My question is: is this normal for some of you? Is there something going on in the suspension that causes no feeling of boost but the speed obviously is there? I know it sounds weird but the sensation or lack of sensation is baffling to me. It has me thinking my worn out VW would beat this thing in a straight line, but it's only 1/4 the car it used to be. Oh, FYI: we were 3 adults in it and outside temp was 94 F. A/C was also on, and new cars usually feel better.

I found the car well built, solid, great quality materials for the price, wonderful to look at and comfortable as well as a seemingly great suspension.

However, it's just a bit difficult to see out of the back (small barn door Windows) and the vision seems restricted in the side mirrors and Windows. It felt a little claustrophobic. The windshield size and shape seems to echo the design theme going on with the rest of the car, inside and out which are a series of ovals and circles. I've never experienced something like this before. Sitting in it almost made me feel like someone TRYING to make a statement of, I don't know what. I honestly don't know if I could love this vehicle long term which is very sad. I want to love it...Ive been bugging the wife for almost a year about these. I giggle like a girl whenever I see one. I love them! But I feel like a mixed-up millennial sitting in it! Sorry guys, no offense intended... I'm just 51 years old and want to grow up and think I'd be backsliding in this.

But I love it! But...I just don't know if I'd love my own one. Does this make any sense? I'm mostly concerned about its lack of power or lack of FEELING of power. Maybe they just have a sick S? Maybe that's why it's so cheap? They offer the Dinan install there, but would it even be worth it? It's a sad point in my life when I'm asking perfect strangers on a forum what I should do. I could use advice, but is there any advice for my OCD condition?

Thanks for listening and more thanks for any comments.

 

Visibility is rough, but you get used to it. I keep the rear seat headrests folded down, but even then, yeah.

Power-wise -- depends what you're coming from I guess. I knew it was going to be slower than the 300hp+ cars I've been driving over the past few years. It has been kind of fun getting into a slower 4-cyl again, where you can run through the gears without getting into ridiculously stupid speeds. We're the same age, and this car brings me back 20 years because I had moved into faster cars for a long time.

I think the fact that it was hot out, A/C working hard, 3 people, all contributed to your feelings about lack of acceleration, but yeah, it's definitely not the fastest car on the market.

 

I was in a similar situation here -- 53 years old and in search of something to replace an aging G37S coupe (330hp, decent stock suspension and a nice 6-speed manual). Frustratingly, the wife and I weren't finding anything of interest until we started researching the F54 and went for a test drive.

MINI of Austin and our sales rep were great. The dealership had a Clubman outfitted with the mechanicals we were interested in, so we had the chance to test drive it -- S All4 with the 8-speed auto (I know, I know...we'd never had an auto in any of our cars before, just trucks, but the daily Austin crawl to work and back was taking its toll).

My test drive was quite a different experience from yours. I drove the Clubman gingerly off the lot until it had a chance to warm up (which the salesman said he appreciated), and then got into the gas moderately. Even with that, there was satisfying acceleration -- good, solid pull. There was no confusing it with anything with almost twice the horsepower, but it never felt lacking and was in line with what I was expecting. Maybe it was related to the 8-speed auto and torque converter; I can't say, as we didn't test drive a manual since it wasn't on our radar.

We placed an order and have had our Clubman for several weeks. Even now I find it deceptively quick at times and haven't felt disappointed.

Visibility is definitely limited out the back. I quickly adapted and don't find it troublesome (headrests in down position for sure, and I've considered just removing and stowing them). I've not had any issues with visibility out the front or sides, or with the mirrors. No issues with a claustrophobic feeling, either, although I did make sure we kept a light-colored interior above the belt-line, in part for that reason.

Regarding the interior design, I guess I find it "light-hearted" in many ways, but still quite functional and not the least bit clownish, even with the light ring etc. I can't tell you what to do, of course, but since you asked for advice, in that regard I'd say enjoy it for what it is (if indeed you like it in the first place) while not letting it define you.

We're quite happy with ours. Not sure where your long drive to Houston is from, but if Austin works, I'm sure the folks at MINI of Austin would be good to deal with if you want more test drives. I can even put you in touch with my salesman.

Good luck!

 

I suspect that the weight and temperature affected your driving impressions. Was the car in Sport mode or Mid-mode or even Green? To get the full power, it would have needed to be in Sport. I came from a classic Civic Si that did not hit the power band until 4500 rpm and pulled like a mule to 8500 rpm. It's taken me some time to get used to the different range of the power band. I added the Dinan and that has also make a big difference to the power. I do find the power to be deceptive sometimes, but find the flexibility to be great. Coming from a car with no torque to one that pulls hard at any rpm was also a learning experience. I would schedule another test drive and make sure it's in Sport mode.

You will adjust to the visibility. I actually pulled the middle head rest out and folded down the others. That seemed to help a great deal.

I have the manual transmission and find it to be excellent. I did add a short shifter that improved the feel. One thing about the transmission, its a Aisan unit, not the Getrag in the other models. This is the same unit Lotus uses in their latest models.

Here's a good article on options that applies to the S also... http://www.motoringfile.com/2017/06/...ions-mini-jcw/

Good Luck and hope you find what you want.

 

Had our ordered Clubman S All4 since October 2016. NEVER had a car like this.

I'm an old guy. I love my MINI. But if you build one, don't scrimp. And if you get one, more power is better than less and the 8 speed with paddles plus the sport driving mode with dynamic dampers adds a whole other dimension. And, of course, a sport tuning box is a must if you want to feel the extra kick.

Came out of a Range Rover Evoque, so the visibility, especially out the rear, is improved in my case. Prior to the Evoque my daily driver was a V-8 Jaguar XK with crazy acceleration and tire-smoking torque and that seamless V-8 pull.

So why would a Jag/Range Rover guy get a Clubman?

Well, first of all, I got a $42,000 Clubman, with bells and whistles and yuppified to the max, so it eases the transition -- not at all a nuts and bolts MINI.

Also, think about how you use the car. Do you normally drive with three adults? 400+ pounds of humans in a small 4 cylinder car with a full tank of gas is not at all like solo driving in a Clubman.

There are faster small cars. There are Audis and VW's and even Fords that are of much different design and feel.

FWIW, MINI wasn't even on our list. We even test drove a small Lincoln SUV before considering the MINI. I thought, well, maybe BMW X1 or X3, and saw a Clubman. Can't explain it but I got 'that feeling.'

Went and got my wife. She was sure we were not getting a MINI. The dealer handed us the keys -- just me and the little missus -- off we went. I did a few blocks and asked her if she'd like to take a turn behind the wheel. Once she started driving I do not believe she ever touched the brakes until we came to the final stop -- she whipped around a few corners and said, "I think this is our next car."

Right after break-in we added the Dinan sport tuning box, which takes the car to another level of quickness and fun.

I agree with the OP's observation about how fast the car doesn't seem -- but it is a quick car and has, thus far, satisfied my need for speed.

MINI is an off-beat brand, even as they try to go more mainstream. they are splitting a fine line -- risking alienating hardcore old school MINI fanatics and risking missing the mark with stodgies. But, I'm telling you, I get more smiles, thumbs ups, and approving nods than I ever did in my hot rod, big swinging Jag XK, which was a fantastic, stunning car.

You want something that is quirky, different from the masses, and will make you smile, then keep MINI on your short list.

 

Folks, thanks for the input. The wife and I have been talking about it quite a bit today. The claustrophobic feeling I had is very unusual for me, in fact it surprised me as all my previous interiors, save maybe two, have been black. I prefer that dismal Teutonic feel and small, dark cockpits have always been my thing. I'd definitely save some $ and stay with the lighter headliner. I also feel I'd suffer "Prude's Remorse" (opposite of Buyer's Remorse?) If I held back, especially since every time I see one I get all squirrelly feeling inside and start that darn, involuntary cackling and giggling. Maybe it's like the girl you've been chasing just to finally discover you two don't get along. I did play with a new GTI today for a while and had a great time with 3 of us in it. It was a DSG gearbox and I can only imagine the fun it would be with proper setup. Are you listening Mini? JCW would compete with that, but at a much higher price. But... two different animals. That's all I'm saying about it as I don't want to be a forum troll. That's not my mission. I like Schweinebraten and Beef Wellington....Fish and Chips versus Bratwurst. A Sunday Curry or Sauerbraten? A Kilkenny or a Heffeweizen? The naughty nurse or the frustrated Librarian?

I'll sleep on it.

 

I drive two cars that are significantly more powerful than the Mini, yet the Mini does not feel slow nor under-powered. My Boxster has 125 more bhp and weighs about 500 lbs less than the F54, yet the Mini is still an exceedingly fun car to drive even when stepping right out of the Porsche (which is by far the most amazing car I've ever owned) and into the Mini. The 435 weighs about 350 lbs more than the F54, but has about 105 more bhp. Again, the Mini is still a blast to drive. I also think that a more refined car is going to handle more power without drama and therefore, not feel as fast. When I just "poke along" in the Boxster, I notice that cars that were right next to me at the last stop light suddenly look like dots. It just goes fast without drama, and I think the F54 "suffers" from the same sort of refinement.