I've just rolled over 100,000 on my 2005 S. Sadly, there might not be many MINI miles left.

My wife and I had another addition to the family in July and things are getting tight with two kids in the back. I've seen some people get by okay with two kids but the cards are stacked against me.

I'm 6'5 so I ride with the seat pretty far back for my legs. Expectedly, both my kids are pretty long - both off the charts for their age. The 4 year old is still "only a 4 year old" but he's got Shaq feet. The other problem is, although my wife has an Accord, she works at least one day on the weekend and gets home after me on weekdays so I get stuck doing a lot of kiddie hauling.

What's that you say? Let her take the MINI to work and I take the Accord when she works weekends. I considered that but then it sort of takes the fun out of MY driving. I love the Accord. No really. For what it is, there's consistently no better car. But I need to motor. Clubman? It's never really done it for me.

In a perfect world, I keep the MINI and get the Mazda. But there's that whole living-within-your-means thing, dammit! In any case, it's been a helluva ride the last 4+ years.

 

Go for a Clubman to replace youre MCS. I'm 5'11'' and during a recent trip from NJ to Fla, I spent two 2.5 hour sessions in the back seat with no problem. If I can survive it, I'm sure your children should be OK. You'll also get some additional cargo carying space. Another benefit - the insurance industry lists the Clubman as a "wagon", so the rates will be lower.

 

MazdaSpeed 3 is a good car. No MINI but you do what you have to.
Have fun and remember there are always more MINIs out there when you need another car.

 

It's a life-stage thing, my brother.

I've been buying "compromise cars" for 20 years.

By grace and persuasion, I've avoided the Mini Van for mom. But there'll be a period when you have to buy more space btwn the seatback and the kid's (first feet) then knees.

Then, they'll get cars of their own and you'll finish paying for their college, and You can start to have fun again. I guess that explains the five cars & one motorcycle @ my house...

It'll be OK, maybe even better than OK.

Bon Voyage

 

The previous gen Mazda 3, including the MazdaSpeed 3 have dismal side impact ratings. If you get one, make sure to get it with side curtain airbags.

 

You should try the Clubman S man. My 2 year old boy is also a very big kid....off the charts. He has the height of a 4 year old. We motor happily on my R53 and on the weekends we also take the Clubman S. Granted, I only have one kid, but I don't see a problem the Clubman handling 2 kids when the time comes.

The MazdaSpeed 3 is a terrific car. But maybe you are just looking to "Compromise" and spend money on a new car. Big ticket purchases demand a lot of consideration given our current economic climate.

If anything, let the wife drive the MINI on the weekends and you get the Accord for hauling duty. Think of it this way.... You get to enjoy the MINI all week long. The wife will park it safely at work during the weekend. Let the Accord take the beating.

If you are still not sold on the idea of swapping cars on the weekend, saving a substantial amount of money in the process, I would encourage you to take a closer look at the Clubman. You get to keep the best of both worlds.

 

I can sympathize. I've got a 2 year old and one on the way. The MINI gets smaller and smaller inside every time I put my son into his car seat. I just paid the MINI off, too. I am hoping to keep the MINI, but just get a small wagon of some kind for a winter beater/family car. Something like a used Subaru outback or WRX...

I have put so much into my MINI to truly make it my own, and lots of money in performance mods... It'd be a sin for me to sell it. I fear that I'd never forgive myself.

 

Too much junk in the car?

Funny, I have never felt cramped in my R53 will all of us three aboard.

 

I have a Mazda 3 GT and 2 kids. We are buying a Mini in the comming weeks (We have a Mini Van as another vehicle)

When I put both kids (4 1/2 years old and 10 Months old) in the Mazda let me tell you that there is not that much room back there either.

Im only 5 foot 4 so i drive pretty close to the wheel and my son when he is in his car seat pushes with his feet on the back of my car seat when he is sitting down.

If i were you, I would do what ClubmanS has been suggesting, Trade cars with your wife OR go for the Clubman.

 

Funny. I was looking long and hard at a couple of used Outbacks, too.

But then it becomes a matter of shelling out up front cash, even if only a few grand, for a second car plus ongoing extra insurance costs.

That said, it ain't over til it's over.

The one advantage of buying new is the warranty coverage. And with the MINI getting on in years/miles, new gives a certain comfort level. And new cars smell so nice.

Admittedly, I have not even sat in a Clubman. Maybe I'll give it a chance before pulling the plug.

 

Has your 2005 been well cared for? The argument of buying a new car based solely on warranty coverage is a pretty weak argument at best. At 100K miles you still have a new car by today's quality/durability standards. Now, if you are craving the "new car smell" that is mostly a want vs need argument. Hey there is nothing wrong about keeping a good quality car like the MINI for 5-10 years. In this recession/depression economy more people will hang on to their existing cars for a longer period of time. The days of switching cars like changing shirts are over.

It is cheaper to maintain and repair your 2005 than buying a new car. The math/numbers don't lie. And this is true if the car has been paid for.

But if you must part with your R53, You should plan in spending some quality time aboard Clubman S. I can tell you right off the bat that you'll miss some of the visceral feeling that you enjoy in your current MINI. But it is still a very nice car, the ride quality is better and it is generally a more family friendly car. The Missus will like it.

The Clubman S is more expensive than the Mazda Speed3. The Mazda is a good car, but its structural rigidity fails to impress me. The new Mazda 3 generation appears to be a more solid car but the front end is ugly.

Carefully look at your options. Do the math to see if it is truly better for you to incur the expense of buying a new car, paying interest on a loan, higher insurance, versus keeping your current car and projecting upcoming maintenance and repair item costs.

 

While the Clubman is a cool ride and, in my mind, the better-looking option when it comes to 2nd generation MINIs, I don't know that it packs that much more versatility than the hatchback. A couple extra inches in the wheelbase does not a minivan make. Ultimately, you've still got 2.5 usable passenger doors. For kids, the extra doors in the Mazdaspeed would probably make your life easier.

Have you looked at a 4-door GTI? Or a WRX wagon? Those seem like comparable options as well.

 

Let me tell you this... From a safety standpoint, I like the fact that the Clubman doesn't have 4 regular doors. The kid setting behind the driver has no door/window to swing open. The kid behind the front passenger has the club door but it can not be opened without the front passenger door opened first.

When the front passenger door and club doors are opened, you have a huge opening cavity....Almost comparable to that of a Minivan.

The Clubman has 3 inches more legroom, about an inch more shoulder room and the trunk is about double the size of the hatchback. One advantage of the Clubman is that it has a deep trunk with 2 false floors. You don't have that in the hardtops.

Seems to me the OP wants to have a fun to drive family car. The Mazda Speed3, Clubman S, VW GTI 5 door, Subbies all fit the bill.

 

The argument of a kid being able to open a car door by themselves from the inside has long been addressed by child safety locks, so that is a false argument.

I would say though, before you go and dismiss anything give it a test drive. When my dad was car searching he dismissed Honda's because he thought they would be too boring. Then we went and test drove one and found them to be quite amusing and thus bought one. Check out the Clubman, but also look at the WRX hatch and other things in the "hot hatch" segment (if that is what you are looking for). A car isnt something that you should just go out and by, we spent over a month just test driving different cars every weekend until we found what we wanted.

 

False argument? Perhaps but kids and car doors have never been a good combination.

 

Yep, you've got plenty of good (and different) cars to choose from in the turbo economy/sport 4 door segment if you want a new car (WRX, MS3, GTI, ClubmanS, CobaltSS, Caliber SRT4, Lancer Ralliart...). They've all got their pros and cons, so be sure to test drive a bunch before making your decision. You may be willing to exchange some performance for a nicer interior or so on, so only you can decide what will be best.

Leftover new 2008 MS3's are being advertised at $19.5 right now at a Chicago dealer, so there are some good deals to be had...

 

That's why I'm gonna stick my kids in the trunk...

 

I have

 

I'd also look into a VW R32 (if you could deal with anohter 2 door and no manual), you can get a CPO model for under $25k or a new one if your local dealers have one for about $5k off sticker. I recently picked one up, simply because it was much cheaper than the JCW, GTI or WRX alternatives I was considering. By the way, I replaced my Mazda3 hatch which was a poorly built rattle trap with numerous electrical gemblins.

 

I wouldnt get a clubman, they are ugly, and getting it a bigger mini isnt really a mini so dont get it for the sake of staying in the family. Im a r53 fan myself as far as budy style goes. In all honesty i would get a Subaru Wrx, speed 3s are ok, especially if u get one cheap but my gfs brother has one and it doesnt really impress me to much. TEST DRIVE EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

 

Granted the R53 is a great looking machine, but the Clubman ain't ugly my friend

Ugly?

How about Scion xB, Nissan Cube, Honda Fit, yada, yada, yada

 

If the regular Mini didn't exist or the Clubman came first, then the Clubman would probably look fine to me. However, it's stretched lines just don't gel with my sense of proportion.

I test drove a new 09 WRX a few weeks ago and enjoyed it far too much (I used to have a modded 02 WRX). Anyway, they can be had for about $23k (under MSRP) and the leftover 2008's (softer suspension, 40 less hp) can be had for about $20k. Don't pay MSRP for anything other than a Mini nowadays.

 

How bizarre! We just traded my 2005 MINI in on a Mazdaspeed 3 today. We don't have kids, so what it came down to was that Mazda was willing to deal, and give us both more in trade for my MCS and $2k off the MSRP of the car. It is a sad day for me though, to be sure.

 

Why did you trade?...Just curious

 

Mini was out of warranty, and we wanted to get a little $$ out of it before we got to 100,000 miles. Plus, we just felt like a new car.