One of the best articles I have read about the Clubman to date! If this doesn't persuade you nothing will!

http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...,7344945.story

 

The "More fun than a barrel of strippers" really puts the rest of the story's credibility in question. But overall, a nice review. But $35k? OUCH!!! I optioned an S out just north of $25k. As with all BMW products, the options can kill you (or at least your budjet!).

Matt

 

According to the author, the purpose of the Clubman is "to make the car more accessible to people who might have wanted one (a MINI) but couldn't wedge their fat-soft lifestyles into the regular car." That's pretty funny!!! Something else to think about when considering a Clubman?????

Seriously, a great review of the Clubman and interesting for MINIs in general.

 

Now that I have car seats, and a three year old that kicks the back of my driver seat nearly endlessly. I'd bet (but have no knowledge) that this person is probably single, or at least without kids.

Matt

 

I find the phrase somewhat confusing. First, because I wouldn't refer to a Mini as a "regular" car and second because I am under the impression that the front seat, rear seat dimensions were the same. Is that not correct?

 

rear passengers have a few more inches of legroom

 

Nicely worded review. At this point there's not much to add because the Clubman is out there now. The way I see it you get this: 3" legroom in the back, the trick door thing, 6" more boot length (plusses), the barndoors and the colored C pillars (probably negatives). It seems like a cool car to me, I just don't need the space.

 

Definitely!!

 

TheBigNewt - You also get dynamic stability control tossed in for free, a $500 option on any other Mini. To me it seemed like I was getting about 20% more Mini for about 10% more $$$. My choice ended up being between a left over 2007 Yellow S that was drop dead gorgeous for $24K that I could take that day, or a 2008 Clubman at $25.5K (not an S) and wait a few weeks. I opted for the Clubman but really wanted both.

 

I guess I fall into the "fat-soft lifestyle" category:

 

And shoulder room as well About an inch or 2 more. The Clubman is more comfortable in the back, no doubt.

 

Yikes! Careful with the beautiful little guy and all that lose cargo

Is that a Britax Roundabout or a Marathon?

I use a new Britax Boulevard in the Clubman (Forward facing) and it is a very good car seat but it has an annoying tendency for the metal plate (Where the shoulder belts attach to) to get stuck against the plate for the headrest and seat belt height adjuster.

 

He's strapped into a rear-facing Britax Boulevard there in the left rear seat, and he has a couple more months to go until he can face forward. (Which I'm looking forward to ). All in all the carseat has been great. We've had it strapped into a Toyota Camry, clipped into a Toyota Highlander and now clipped into the Clubman.

 

His pricing is a bit off. They said base S pricing is 27100 (its really 24100) and pricing as tested as 35k...That car looks to be a launch S which MSRP'd more around 29k...