Hello Clubman owners! I have a couple questions for you, if you'd be willing to indulge me. I want to get my mom a new car, and as much as I love my MCS, I think she'll love a Clubbie (just have to get her in one for a test drive to make sure). She likes to keep it simple, and though she can drive circles around me in my own 6sp and loved every minute with her 914 before I was part of the picture, she's kind of over the shifting gears thing. So I'm looking at a Cooper Clubman auto.

#1: I've driven a Cooper, does the added weight of the Clubbie adversely affect performance at all? I've read no, just want to hear that for real it's great to drive.

#2: Actual fuel economy of the automatic Clubman? I need a fuel economy increase to offset the insurance increase when I trade in her Sunfire.

Thanks!

 

I have a just-a-Clubman auto with 3100 miles on it.

#1: I think it's great to drive. I can't make a direct comparison to an R56, though, since I never had one.

#2: I have a cumulative average of 30.1 MPG on 87 Octane. My commute is 11 miles one way. It is a mixture of interstate and secondary roads, and includes traffic jams in the afternoon. So you can speculate, based on mom's driving patterns, whether she'll do better or worse than me.

 

Thanks for the input. For mom, it doesn't need to be a rocket, just cute and fun and get her butt to work and her friends' and the grocery store.

 

I have a Clubbie S with a 6spd.

As for the handling difference because of size - very little, actually maybe a slight bit less bumpy on rough roads.

Test drove a MC, MCS, Clubman, and Clubman S. All were very similar to drive (test drove in Boston) in both city and highway traffic. Yes the S versions are quicker at speed pickup but the MC and Clubman were still very quick an agile.

Love the fact that it has barn doors and has so much more space than a coupe. I can fit a lot more groceries in the back. And not to be stereotypical but when it comes to holding 4 people and their shopping its mush better than a coupe.

If she used to drive a 914 then i am sure she will love the Clubbie even if it is an automatic.

Currently i am getting better than 30 miles to the gallon even with large loads such as kayaks on the roof. The auto Clubbie should be able to get at least as good as my S 6spd. Here is a link to my real world gas mileage.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...t2tiVG-upSF2OA

I suggest you get your mother in one. Just be ware that after she sits in one she WILL be convinced and you will have to go thru with the purchase.

 

I've got an 07 R56 and an 08 R55. Both are 6 speed, non-turbo, base models.

With the stock 15 inch tires, I get 36 MPG doing my commute to work (according to the computer) - mostly freeway. Almost identical to the R56.

The clubbie is a lot of fun to drive, but it's not a crisp as the R55. The 230 or so additional pounds adds to the takeoff time and impacts the nimbleness of the car. Braking seems more direct in the R55 than the clubbie.

In short, the clubbie is a blast to drive. It's just not quite the car that the R55 is, but it's got more room and is more practical. I'd offer the following recommendation ... If you want the ultimate Mini experience, get the MC or MCS. If you need more space and want something more practical, the clubbie is a winner.

hope this helps ...

 

We have a 07 R56, and a GP along with the ClubmanS. The Clubman is deffinatly heavier, but it handle the weigth well.. Its ride less choppier. Each one is fun in its own way.. she will not regret it..

 

I'm not sure I would worry about much of an insurance increase. The Clubman is a "wagon." My 99 Civic driving 22K a year was $1020/yr. My Clubman is $1050/yr for the same miles. (Male, Married, no Points, driving for 21 yrs) I was a little surprised.

 

I owned a 06 convertible before the Clubman and the handling is different. Not bad, just different. It is a bit more refined or less twitchy and I can feel the weight transfer around the turns a lot more. I hope to take care of that with some H&R springs being put on tomorrow and am going to try and dial out the inherent understeer with a larger sway sometime shortly thereafter. The ride is smoother too due to the longer wheelbase. I don't fear the potholes like I do in my classic. Can't tell you about the automatic since I don't drive them if I don't have to. Trying to sell my Dad on one as well. He likes em but they are too far away fron the nearest dealer to make it sensible for them.

 

Thanks guys. Luckily a dealer is opening soon just up the road from her, so I'll actually be coming back home to get my MINI serviced and she wouldn't have any problems. Good to hear that the Clubman takes the bumps a little better than my coupe. I suppose that makes sense. The ride is the one thing I'm sure she'd tire of - I know I have. Great when I want to really drive it, but not so much when I'm just trying to get to work through a million potholes.

 

Sorry to hear that you have tired of the ride.

Maybe you should just try avoiding the pot holes and make it a FUN ride to work. Other drivers might think you are crazy but that is what a good handling Mini is for .

 

Love my MCCa w/o runflats (though I hear the new runflats are better than the old). Read through this thread for Auto driver's views: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=131859 within that thread I posted a mini review of my first MINI run w/ this version MINI - and you'll note it's my third. It's a super car and it's way too easy to go too fast in the auto non S, too.

Let us know what your Mom ends up with.

 

Totally agree. I love driving both of my MINIs, though I tend to be aggressive in the 04, and I think it has everything to do with its size.

 

I invite you to motor through metro Detroit at rush hour and avoid all the potholes on my commute. I do try to best, but when the road is just a mess of filled holes from one side to the other, there's only so much you can do.

I'm sure most of the people on the highways around here do think I'm crazy - my car looks like an RC MINI and I'm all over my lane trying to not hit the biggest of the bumps in the road (wheels are expensive, so are shock tower repairs!). FUN isn't always the word I'd use for dodging potholes, SUVs, and tire snakes. Keeps me on my toes, though.

 

I can understand your point. I don't think they even bother to fill the hole in Boston. I just try to avoid rush hour by going to work early and leaving early so that there is not as much traffic and that way i can dodge the pot holes with out a big SUV in the next lane.

 

I look forward to the day that my employers enact a more flexible flex time policy. For now, I have to be here by 8 (but earlier is fine) and have to stay until 5 (but later is fine). So my motivation to get here before 7:45 (which gets me away from the worst traffic) is little to none.

 

#1: I've driven an R56, and find the Clubman, and the Clubman S to be equally, if not more fun than the R56. The longer wheelbase provides a slightly smoother ride, while still retaining that "stuck to the road" feel that I'm sure you're familiar with in your R56. As far as power goes, it's all there. The Clubman only adds around 150 (?) pounds to the regular cooper, so there isn't much of a performance hit at all, at least not that I could notice.

#2: I have a Clubman S, and I'm a spirited driver at times, so my fuel economy is obviously a little lower than it could be. My average over the entire time I've been driving the car (about 2300 miles) is 31.5 mpg. However, on my 35 mile commute (mostly freeway), I can get as high as 40-45mpg. I've literally saved hundreds of dollars on my gas bill by driving this car instead of my Subaru Outback Turbo (20 mpg on a good day). Getting 450+ miles per tank in the MINI is a common thing for me, and I absolutely love it.