When I first read about the Clubman I scoffed. I saw one at the autoshow last year and again thought it was a mistake.

Well, times change, circumstances dictate adaptability and I drove a Clubman S today. Visually from the driver's seat it doesn't seem that off until you:

1. Glance in the mirror and it seems the back goes on forever
2. Turn and your peripheral vision catches the side windows but not the C pillar
3. Notice in the mirror a little line dividing rear visibility.

Now the drive felt different. But in a good way. This thing felt smooth. Really smooth. My wife hates my Cooper S' rough ride and busy nature. I'm not sure how this little adjustment can make such a difference. The test car and my car both have the sport suspension and 17s, so definitely wasn't a different suspension (unless something changed for 08?).

In corners the car felt...more predictable? Huh? The slightly longer wheelbase and extra weight instilled me with a feeling that the back would not flip-around but rather I could more smoothly control the body roll and weight transfers. It's not as flingable in corners but it is more driver and passenger friendly in corners.

Yes, the turbo feels a bit underpowered compared to the normal Mini Cooper S but then again I don't even like how my Cooper S feels with a passenger. I'm picky. So the power feels a bit down with the Clubman's added weight but still it wasn't bad.

And the backseat, wow. I love the added door (mostly because this would make tossing an infant seat back there a snap!). Ingress and egress from the back is great now

Overall, I think I like it more than my Cooper S. Weird, eh? Still torn given the price mine comes out to with options I desire:

LSD
Sport suspension
Xenons
CW
Convenience Package
Brushed alloy
Anthracite
Dark Silver
Mats

Logic says leasing the GTI 4 door or Jetta Sportwagen TDI would be better in the short-term as I plan to switch to a 1 series once the kid is big enough for a booster seat. Desire says go Mini again.

 

I'm coming out of an Audi TT and what forced me out of that was the small back seat (yes it has one.) The Mini Clubman is working great for me as a family car. I was able to put a double stroller in the back (with not much else mind you) and have 2 car seats permanetly in the back seats. I have a 1 and 3 year old.

I loved the VW/Audi cars. My TT was great (interior fit and finish above the Mini), and friends have had previous generation Jetta wagons that were nice cars. I went with the Mini becuase of their fun-to-drive factor and the fact that these things just don't seem to depreciate. The VWs don't hold their value real well, and I wasn't sure how long I was going to have this. I kept my Audi for 7.5 years, but the car before that I only had for 2. Plus, with the exception of the TDIs, the gas mileage doesn't compare with the Mini.

The Clubbie gets a lot of looks, kinda like the first 6 months of my TT. People are naturally attracted to the car. Its fun.

Jon W.

 

Yes the clubman is surprisingly not too different than the regular models, at least handling wise. At MTTS 08 on the Miami leg they had every type of cooper at our disposal to try on the auto cross track...the clubman really can handle and takes turns basically just as tight as any other model...couldn't tell too much about power cuz the track didn't allow for getting out of 2nd in any of the models, but the handling could sure be felt

 

My Clubman is a way better family car than my wife's 328xiT. She insists on AWD for the nasty winters here in the NE tho. I keep insisting that FWD is adequate for snow. Now if they were planning an AWD Clubman...

 

Using the rear view mirrors MORE and alot of defensive driving took a couple of weeks to get used to.

 

Maybe others don't use their mirrors often? I keep reading complaints about the back doors but I thought it wasn't a big deal at all. Then again, I use my mirrors constantly - all of them - for fear of smokey sneaking up on me.

 

Life is too short...drive what you love. If you are having fun, so will your little one and sharing good times like that is the great stuff of life. No monetary value can be placed on such things!!!

 

that means your driving too slow if he is coming up from behind you...

 

Bgdc, before the Clubman, I was looking through a BMW conv rear window.

Like any car, the change means some short term re-learning.
Hey, it's 13' long, so no biggie.

 

Well said.

 

I was at MTTS 08 in Miami and I had the oppty to drive (and be the passenger with a crazy/seasoned auto-Xer at the helm) the Clubman to the limit and the car is simply amazing! The automatic Clubman S is fantastic in the auto X course. You have no idea how good is the AISIN automatic until you get down and dirty with the car. I also drove a 6-speed manual Clubman S but the ultra light clutch feel and ultra smooth shifter put me off a little. I am used to the heavier clutch and race car type feedback from the Getrag in my 2005 Cooper S.

Anyway, its been 4 months since I took delivery of my Clubman S (almost 3K miles) and the car has been in one word SPLENDID!

The Clubman rides better because it has a longer wheelbase = more supple and less choppy ride quality. And the Clubby is an excellent family car (I have a 20 month old toddler).

I love my R53 S because it retains the "classic Mini" feel. but for a nice, fast, economical and extremely fun set of family wheels, the Clubman S can't be beat.

I am lucky to own both. Very different cars but each manage to put a huge grin on my face.