Ugh... Don't tease me with A3 Avants. I've lusted after them so long. Only recently realized that my dream configuration of TDI 6MT Quattro doesn't even exist! No wonder I never found one! >.< Still very handsome cars, the last time Audi used any restraint in their designs too.

Though... I've always considered the A3 Avant a tiny wagon rather than a large hatchback. Following Jason Torchinsky's laws of wagon classification I believe it qualifies. There is a dedicated window for the cargo area and the roof extends more than 50% through the cargo area. Therefore it is a wagon. =D

*edit: Though... Depending on your interpretation of these same rules the 2nd gen hardtops could be considered wagons, which is silly. (I say no because the rear windows are shared between cargo and rear seats)

My wife likes to tease me for being so madly in love with the Clubby while simultaneously hating the 4-door Cooper. It's all about the roof. The Clubman gets a full roof all the way back to the barn doors (those don't hurt either =D ) while the 4-dr has the ugly slant hatch weirdness going on. (Sorry 4-dr owners, you bought the wrong MINI.)

 

I live in sunny SoCal, never drive in the snow, and yet, I paid up the extra for the All4 on my Clubman and will probably do so again. It distributes the torque so nicely. The dealer has suggested I consider a 2 door JCW, but there's something about the Clubman that just sorta hooked me and caused me to walk right past the BMW I thought I had gone to the dealer to buy. But then, I thought my 2005 Jaguar AWD Sportwagon was a good idea, which, frankly, it truly was, despite all the bad press it received. I am indeed grateful to MINI every day for keeping me away from that Jaguar/Land Rover showroom, which for too many years was my home away from home.

 

It's not that I want to get away from All4 -- I want to go smaller and more tossable. The CM is great while I need AWD and extra ground clearance but eventually I want a mini MINI.

 

MINI sales keep sinking!!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4486160

 

If brexit crashes, MINI is in big trouble. The entire UK auto industry is in the ICU already.

 

My Mini was built in Holland, although I don’t know the proportion of Dutch/British manufacturing in Mini. My Mini salesperson said that because of Brexit, custom orders are already being pushed way out. He just took an order (July) that has a December delivery date!

I still think Brexit is a Russian plot to destroy Britain’s economy. The policy makes no rational sense at all.

 

Normally I try to stay clear of politics, but… you don't need to look to Russia to find motivation for Brexit. British politicians and corporate oligarchs have truly stunning amounts of money to gain from Brexit: .

I'm eyeing the upcoming 300hp Clubman with considerable interest… but… Between the US's "good and easy to win" trade wars and Brexit profiteers, I don't see it happening. They all drive up costs to the actual purchasers of products.