well i sat in the brown colored clubman at the auto show.
the interior is beautiful... but it has an ugly butt for sure

 

Seems quite similar to the Traveller concept car to me.

 

I will reserve final judgement for seeing one in person, absolutely. But with that C-pillar-bumper design looking as ridiculous as it does in photos, I highly doubt my mind will be changed.

As for cringe-worthy, I don't think it's extreme. That's exactly what I did when I saw the Clubman on the updated MINI website—cringe. I believe I also made a noise that started somewhere deep in my stomach... it's difficult to convey the sound in text, but it was something on the order of "Euughhh," I think.

But enough of beating a dead horse, I think; point is, I agree with Jeremy Clarkson on this one, much as it pains me to say. And of course everyone has a right to their opinions! I just hope that Clubman drivers don't expect me to wave back at them on the road.

 

I'll agree that the rear is a bit on the Ugly side, however i'm reserving final judgement on that until the JCW Aero Kit is released for it! (apparently it's gonna be around September time) then i can say or sure whether or not the rear is truly ugly!

 

It's certainly better looking than the classic version.

 

Late to the party...

BUT - at least they are holding true to the tradition that is MINI. There WAS a Mini Clubman.

Just wait until a crossover SUV comes out, and they call it the MINI Moke.

 

Akchilly, it will be called the Crossman.... Not sure if that's religious or sexually inspired....

 

isn't the Crossman the countryman reinvented?

 

It's supposed to be an AWD, 4 door version of the Clubfoot.....

 

WOW! There's alot of anger in here.

I have to admit that I don't like the looks of the Clubman. It's definately not the ugliest car in England though. I personally don't like it because you can't get the rear trim in body color (even if you order a black car), the roofline looks funny, and the thought of there being a pilar blocking my rear vision bothers me a bit. This is only my opinion, and who knows, maybe its just one of those things that looks better in person.

Having said that, I really like the hot chocolate color and the idea of a clubdoor! I would still buy a clubman over most every car in it's pricerange.

I like my wife's Element. It's a really unique vehicle which, as MINI lovers, is something that we all seem to prefer. If we didn't like unique vehicles, we would all be driving something really ugly like a Chevy Monte Carlo.

Oh, and if you're driving a Clubman in Florida, expect a wave from me. A MINI is a MINI!

 

And as long as there's a single Aztec on the road, it won't be the ugliest car in the US either. ;-)

 

That's the spirit!

 

Last week I was driving my Clubman and was sitting at a red light beside a Escalade. Outside my window I had a perfect view of the running boards.

Yesterday, I was sitting in my Honda Element and was beside an 18 wheeler. From my window I had a good look at the lower cab door.

"Mini" is relative. My Clubman was more "mini" vs. the Escalade than my Element was vs. an 18 wheeler. Anyone that thinks a Clubman is not "mini" is delusional. It is still a tiny vehicle vs. almost everything else out there.

 

clubman has ugly proportions

 

Ugly or just different than what you are used to? How else would you propose to do the wheelbase stretch? If you want to rear legroom, you have to add length between the wheels. Bigger cargo area? Stretch out the back. Presto, Clubman. You have to expect different proportions, it's a different model.

Honestly, as a Mini noob, I really didn't expect this hostility towards a different model, here on the forum. I thought this was a tight-knit community but narrow-minded might be a better discription. Why would someone (anyone) be so strongly opposed to an additional model? They aren't replacing your model. Sure the Clubman looks different, is has too, it serves a different purpose. It's a micro-wagon with additional legroom and cargo space. Different.

Regards,
Terry

 

You may find the odd negative opinion here or there...and I think you hit it right...people are used to what they've grown accustomed to seeing (and can be a bit laggardish about the whole thing). However, I've been surprised, given all the drama that came with the introduction of R56, that the Clubman has been so widely acccepted and embraced in the MINI community.

Increasingly, there is no right or wrong MINI...just the MINI that is best for you. Overall, I think BMW/MINI has done a bang-up job w/ the marque and in many ways have been more true to MINI hertitage and the range of owners out there than anyone could have dreamed possible.

 

the clubman is ugly because it is not so different, all they did (with respect to proportionality) was lengthen the cooper

 

I got to admit, when I first heard about the Clubman and saw the pictures, I thought it was one of the stupidest and poorly thought-out ideas any car company had had in decades - and I own 2 Studebakers. A little background - I had to sell my beloved R53 because the kids no longer fit in the back. I have always planned on getting another one when they are out of the house as long as BMW doesn't screw it up too much in the years that pass, and the Clubman was not a good start, as far as I was concerned. Then, I saw one in person, on the road. And it is completely different in real life than in the pictures. Black with silver roof/halo, and it all works perfectly. Now I am starting to get the fever again - MINI fever. Our next car (probably early '09 build) will be a Clubman. Now I just have to pick a color - I'm kinda partial to nightfire red with black .... but Dark Silver with silver looks quite sophistocated too .... LB and black maybe, kind of like my first ... see, its starting. I'm gonna have to take a cold shower now.

 

I agree... it's hideous, .

 

I like the Clubman...it looks pretty cool, but I think it's pointless. The boot isn't much bigger and there isn't any more extra leg room in the back.

 

Wow! 5 whole pages with almost no content!

This one is subjective and has no right or wrong....

Matt

 

Personally I prefer the looks of the Clubman - the rear especially has better proportions than the coupe and is much more in keeping w/the original's tight design.

 

does anyone remember the howl that went up in the classic mini community when the new MINI first hit the pages of a few magazines and later when it actually emerged as a concept car?

And not wave at a Clubman? preposterous. I agree with Matt on this one:
ONE MAN'S MEAT IS ANOTHER'S POISON. Chill out people, it's only a car.