Hey All,

It has been 3 years since I sold my 2012 R56 for a BMW M235i and I honestly have to say that I have never ever enjoyed driving a car as much as I enjoyed driving a mini cooper.

I decided to get back into a mini cooper, but unfortunately the 2 door would be too inconvenient for a baby seat. So I have a few questions for you:

1) Would you choose the 4Door Hardtop or the Clubman?
2) Would you opt for the S or base version?

Ofcourse my goal would be a fun factor plus comfortable enough for 3 people sitting in the back for long trips.

Finally could anyone recommend a solid dealer in Florida I could get in contact with?

Can't wait to get back into the mini lifestyle.

 

3 people in back of 4 dr HT is not a reality.

Either engine configuration would be fine with me, some people need to have the S for the extra power but the base engine is fun in a different way. Like them both and own both.

So I'd probably go with S Clubman.

 

I definitely second the Cooper S Clubman. If you definitely want to fit 3 people in the rear seats, Clubman or Countryman is the best way to go. The F54, while much larger than the R55, rides smoothly, runs well, and has a lot of room in the back seat, and quite a bit of storage space with the rear seats folded flat. For long trips, a Clubman would definitely be the perfect vehicle compared to the Hardtop 4door. As far as the engine, it all just depends on personal preference. The B38 (three-cylinder) is a pretty torquey engine in its own right. It doesn't have the top end of the S model's 4-cyl, but it is still very peppy. With a Clubman being somewhat larger and heavier though, I would definitely recommend an S.

 

Deep down in my heart I knew the clubman was a better choice, but I hoped the 4 door would be better.

Is the clubman S as fun to drive as the 2 door S?

 

Fun, yes. As fun, no. The extra size and weight is noticeable. There is a big difference from my R56 to the F54, and I had a base 2 door F56 loaner and is was much more enjoyable. Now that the wife has a Countryman I plan on getting a 2 door next year. So yes you should enjoy a clubman, it is a fun 4 door and is unique

 

I bought at Mini of Fort Myers -- wouldn't do business with them again. Certainly wouldn't allow them to work on my car. A colleague at work has good things to say about Mini of Wesley Chapel.

 

The F54 Clubman drives similarly to the VW Golf. The F54 has a slightly longer wheel base (103.8" vs 105.1"), is an inch longer, and half an inch shorter than the Golf. And they weigh about the same.

I live with the 4-door hardtop. Child seats are a pain in the *** to put in and take out; much easier with the longer rear doors of my wife's R60 Countryman. The F54's doors are closer to the Countryman's than the F55's, so if putting a baby or toddler into a car seat is going to be a regular thing, you'll be doing yourself a favor by getting the Clubman.

 

I left the MINI community around the same time when I sold my '09 Clubman S to purchase a pickup truck for moving and towing. We (the Mrs. and I) decided we missed our MINI so we started our search. We initially focused on the 4D HT and Clubman S. If it were just the 2 of us, the 4D HT would've been the choice, but we occasionally like to take our grandkids (we have 3) or their parents along, so that was out. The Clubman has sufficient backseat room but I quickly grew tired of banging my head on the roof getting in and out, so I begrudgingly tried a Countryman S ALL4- I was hooked. I found it great fun to drive, ingress and egress are much better for me, and plenty of cargo and people capacity for us. I couldn't be happier.

 

Clubman S and try to find one with the cool leather options. Some are hard to find.

 

I recommend you go to the dealer and give each one a good test drive... and take the baby car seat with you and do the install and remove on each to see if there are unexpected complications.

Best of luck.

Motor On!