I'm thinking about getting a 2021 Clubman S... the only question left is All4 or FWD? Let me know what you recommend. TIA!

 

I recommend 4WD, and chocolate chip.
Seriously, it depends on what's important to you/priorities. Do you live anywhere near the snow?
4WD gives more "go" traction when it's slippery, but costs $ both initially and in reduced mileage.
If money and efficiency aren't priorities for you, then why not?

 

I like the driving dynamics of All4. I had a 2017 and now drive a 2020, both S, both All4, both with Dinan Sport plugged in for a little extra go.

All4 has been refined by BMW and works well with the 8-speed auto tranny. Virtually zero torque steer.

I live in Southern California. Don't know what snow or ice are, rarely see rain. Just like the way these little cars with front-wheel drive biased, all wheel drive, get up and scoot. Fun cars.

Test drive both the front drive and the All4. You'll know which is right for you.

 

Agreed on the ALL4. Mine is a 2019 S with Dinan Elite and a Big Pair, and the driving dynamics are really good.

 

Thank you for the feedback! I generally prefer AWD and live where we do have snow during the winter. With the new pricing for 2021, I was trying to decide if All4 is worth an extra $3k.

Also, I'm very interested in the Dinan, but concerned about the warranty implications (even with the Dinan coverage).

 

If you're thinking about getting a 6-speed manual then FWD is your only option for a 2021, if getting an Automatic then you have the option of either.. At least put your State in your profile so people know where you live

 

Thanks, all! I'm in Indiana, so we do get some winter. I generally prefer AWD (and an automatic), so my main question is if All4 is worth the money. Sounds like it is!

 

Iowa here (lived in Indianapolis for a few years prior to moving here).

Yeah all4 is good stuff. Of course winter tires work wonders if you do end up going FWD.

Are you in Indianapolis? Roads there are tragically bad (awful pavement, potholes, I'm sure you're familiar if you live there)...I used to have to replace tires there about every other year, because my tires would end up messed up from potholes. I drove FWD at the time and am actually glad I did...If you've had similar issues (frequent alignment and tire issues) you ironically might want to learn towards FWD just to avoid having to replace multiple tires at a time...

 

Nice! I live in the suburbs and the roads are pretty good here. Also, they just re did several of the major highways that go around / through Indianapolis, so the roads are nice except for in the city.

 

I just remember driving from the airport along I70. If you were headed east from the airport, there was a section of partially-collapsed overpass bridge around the I65 split...if you were in the left lane doing 65mph you would literally get air (followed by bottoming out your suspension). And this was on the interstate. I'm surprised nobody died. The highway was like that for over a year, I think it was around 2016-2017. I really hope they redid that section...pretty sure that alone was responsible for one of my alignment jobs =).

Anyway I would add: yeah Indiana gets winters, although there are almost no hills in Indianapolis so AWD is a little less useful around town. I think in 2014 or 2015 we got a 'massive' snowstorm? It was like 2 feet of snow, and the whole city was shut down for a few days. My wife's FWD civic with snow tires was able to zip around on all the unplowed surface streets. I'd only get AWD if you're planning to go down to southern indiana or up to michigan in the winter honestly. Traction control and good snow tires do wonders in a town like Indianapolis. AWD really only shines when there are snowy (or gravel) hills that you need to get up.

 

I like the way ALL4 puts the power down. After test driving a 2017 FWD Clubman S followed by testing the ALL4 Clubman S on the same route, both my wife and I found the ALL4 superior in all aspects of driving dynamics.

On both our 2017, and again on our 2020, we immediately removed the run flats and replaced them with touring rubber that improved ride quality -- we were coming from more lux vehicles so, while we love the zip of our MINI,we were also looking for a bit of ride refinement within the limits of what a MINI is all about. We found what we were seeking in the CLubman S ALL4, twice.

I think it's interesting that the BMW version of the Clubman JCW (the BMW G2 Gran Coupe), is, like the JCW Clubby, only available in ALL4 AWD and 8-speed auto. Clubman ALL4 drivers understand why. Rain, snow, or Southern California Sunshine.

 

What tires for you put on your 20?

 

Whole story is here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...man-tires.html
Post #67 shows my 2020 set up.

 

Very nice, thanks! I would definitely think about immediately swapping the run flats.

 

I made it to 450 miles on my JCW Clubman ALL 4 with the run flats, then swapped them out for Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06's (performance all season regular tires, not run flats). It may have dropped the road noise a bit over the run flats, but in addition to being a little more comfortable, it also seems like there is now actually some steering feel in the car that the runflats didn't have.

JCW or not in the Clubman my vote would be ALL4 over FWD, especially since we already took a weight hit with the F54. That said, I also love the Cooper 3-pot F56. FWD has it's place, but I also enjoy the power delivery of AWD.

 

Dave, how do you like the Contis? I've had good experience with them on other cars.

I'd love to get a JCW, but the whole family will drive this car and I don't think my kids could handle a JCW (or even worse, they could!).

 

I have had really good results with the DWS 06s. We have also run them on our E84 X1. For Northern California they are great plus they still are technically all season tires, so if it gets cold or we wind up somewhere on a road trip when it is cold/slightly more unfavorable then we don't have summer tires installed. On the Clubman I wish I could report more actual experience, but they have only been on the car about a week. Overall though I like them a lot more than the run flats. FWIW, we now have an air compressor in our Clubman. My plan is to also plan to install a spare tire

Also, teenage me would have been way in over my head with a JCW Clubman. As it was my 16 year old self in enough trouble with a first generation Chevy Caviler At the time I really wished my parents had purchased an AMC Eagle station wagon

 

FWD so you can row your own gears!!! I ordered mine yesterday! Stoked!!!

 

Did you order a 20 or 21? How long until delivery? I'm jealous!

 

@MiniZog I grew up Indy, about a 1/2 mile away from where Dreyer & Reinbold MINI is now on 96th street. Is that where you're getting yours from ? I'm back in Indy every year, Northern IN is definitely where I'd want to have an All4 but if you're only in Indy and South of there then the it's completely different, FWD would be fine, but I agree w/ Mitchs 2020 F54 above, a 6-speed Manual is a lot of fun. I ended up getting a 2017 All4 6-speed because a 2019 was very hard to find.

 

Yes, I live on the northside... farther from the MINI dealer than you, though! I'm leaning toward All4... I like the driving dynamics better and the added weather security. I'd love a 6-speed, but my kids don't know how to drive one.

 

Exactly ! That's the reason I convinced my wife we needed a Manual, I have two teenagers, 13 & 15, who will be driving soon and I want them to learn to drive a stick, how cool will it be when she's driving her friends around and they have no idea what a clutch is ? I've offered to teach her friends how to drive it and some of them are excited about it. My wife really wanted a Clubman so I convinced her we should get one as long as it was a 6-speed. She barely knew how to drive one before, getting much better now in the 4 months I've had it, still won't take it out on her own, only with me in it. I have to say it is really fun though.

 

I ordered a 2021, dealership says it'll be produced during the first week of August and delivery will take 8-10 weeks

 

I ordered a 2021, dealership says it'll be produced during the first week of August and delivery will take 8-10 weeks

 

Back when I ordered my 2017 Clubman S All4, a stick was the default and the auto tranny was an additional cost. I thought about how much I missed rowing gears, going all the way back to my 1966 Volvo 122s. In the end, I shelled out for the 8 speed auto with steering wheel shift paddles, having had paddles on several previous cars, including a truly insane 2012 Jag XK. I never imagined I would choose auto over manual -- my wife's first car was an MG Midget, so she's also a rower from waay back when. We both agreed to go with the 8 speed.

These new automatics are amazing pieces of machinery. Far cry from the 2 speed hydro-slush on my mother's 1967,initial production run, 327 Camaro, which I sold in 1971 for $1,400 and thought I'd done well. Don't get me started.