First, they said "ugliest." Second, it depends what you mean by "so much"....I don't think it has changed "so much." When I see a Clubman coming down the street, it reads as a MINI...and I happen to like MINIs. If I were tasked to create a Clubman version of the new MINI, I can't imagine doing any better than the designers at MINI did.

If someone doesn't like it, fine......but ugliest????? Makes no sense.

 

Of course it reads as a MINI, it shares the same front end. That doesn't mean that all the other changes don't completely change the aesthetic design of the car. So might not be as attuned to reading the design change aspects....but besides sharing the same face, the clubman was a pretty massive change when you look at it closely.

Besides the front 25% of the car what didn't they change on the exterior? The length is longer. The proportions are greatly changed. The design balance is far more rear-biased with the majority of the styling resting in the rear rather than the front. The roof line has completely changed and become taller. Rather than sloping off at a decreasing angle the car ends in a cliff-like spoiler. The side profile is totally different with an even longer wheel bas. The car no longer features the 'floating roof' design that was so prominate on the Coupe. The car became assymetrical. The beltline is no longer complete. The rear end is now 5 times busier in design due to the addition of pillars, 2 wipers, and 2 handles. The liscense plate has been moved way lower which alters the balance and brings the eye lower on the car...........there's plenty of more changes. Yah, of course you can still tell if it was made by the same company.....but just because you like the company doesn't mean that people can't argue that the car is ugly. It has been changed enough that people are able to like the coupe and dislike the look of the clubman.

Again, I'm not saying they're right....I'm just saying that it isn't illogical to discuss that the clubman is a noticable design change from 90% of the angles you look at it.

 

I know there are lots of changes, although I consider most of the ones you mention to be relatively minor overall given that a Clubman has to be longer and so it naturally will be different looking. Maybe TG doesn't like the classic version either.

Either way, I refuse to accept (based on TG's ranking) that the coupe is fine (apparently) and now all of a sudden, as if my magic, the Clubman is ranked as the #1 ugliest car on the road. If they don't like it fine, but "ugliest"???? I guess they don't have the Prius over there.

btw, some of those exotics they drive are also pretty hideous....the only thing they have going for them is that they are stupidly fast.

 

never really tuned in to this change, but you're right..
maybe this is why the rear of the Clubman "looks" lower than the R56?!

 

Has anyone seen the latest issue of Modern Mini? There's an article about the clubman and a photo of one where the owner painted the lower part of the rear pillars to match the body color and WOW does it look better!

 

I've often wondered what a Clubman would look like with the rear pillars painted body color. If I were to do it, I think I'd consider painting the upper half (adjacent to glass) black, and the lower half body color. I wonder how that would look?

 

can you post a picture it does not seem to be online at the magzines web site (at least with out a subscription that is)

 

Alas, I don't have one handy. I will try to remember to take a pic of the page and figure out how to post it tonight.

 

Have a look through this thread (specifically the page I linked you to). It's a collection of clubman pictures from all over the world that had cool modifications that I found noteworthy including the paintjob people are talking about. Lots of cool stuff to see

http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...n+post&page=14

this page too

http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...n+post&page=21

 

It is all a personal choice. I prefer the look of the clubman, but mainly because the increased proportions make sense for me. I could never justify getting a coupe - too small with kids. The clubman just fits about right, and I hope to place an order for mine in 2009,

There are a lot of other cars out there that IMO are far uglier. The Honda Element, most of the Scion line, the failed Pontiac Aztek for starters. Top Gear is known for their opinions, regardless.

In the end the only opinion that really counts is yours.

 

The Top Gear boys are mad they didn't get to drive a Lambro!
They're entertainment only.
Sure, the show will give background, yet they drive cars like we never will.

 

its only half r56....from the top of the windsheild back its a monster, roof fins and pillars. its a misshaped automobile. Maybe with other color matching pillars and a badass engine like 250 hp would soothe me over. I feel the same way about the clubman as the original MINI owners feels about the r53-56. Its just not a MINI and owners dont wave dont wave either......Why, clubman owners act snobby then again, if you what to be a snob you might not deserve a MINI.

 

How is the clubman less of a mini than the r53/56 MINI?

 

wow... feel the love

 

how is the new mini less of a mini than the old...we can ask for generations!.....most would point out the size. Of course this is just one item, but my true mini fiends let me in the group provided I call him (fast freddie) a BMW and not a mini. Im hoping the new crossover will end the clubman auto. It will bring more to the table I think most clubman owners will trade-in the 5 door for 6 The clubman is just a premature concept, a good concept that needs a bit more time to grow and evolve into something better.

 

Gee, well now I now how it feels to be stereotyped by a small mind.

matty125, when and if you and I meet, then you have the right to call me names - until then....

 

I wouldn't sweat the Top Gear review very much. I love the show, but they're much more about entertainment than giving objective reviews.

If I remember correctly, the Mini hatchback made it into the "Super Cool" region of the Cool Wall, and they liked the Honda Element, yet they panned the looks of the Clubman. It's all in good fun.

 

The PA crackles to life:
SECURITY! SECURITY!
INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!
We have an Intruder in Clubman Talk
CODE RED, I repeat CODE RED in the '"Top Gear" thread.
Removal and Ejection of the offending miscreant is authorized.
THAT IS ALL.

Boy, oh boy, you did it now, Mattie!

 

Maybe matty125 is Jeremy Clarkson trolling the forum...nah...he would be on about third world toilets.

 

the less important the subject, the more intense the fighting!

It never ceases to amaze me how people get so heated over SUBJECTIVE stuff....

Matt

 

Well firstly, you'd make it look like this, the original clubman:



Personally, I reckon it would have been even cooler if they kept the same R56 proportions but made a 'snub-nose' front end like the original clubman....the R55 is more of an 'estate' car...

Ironically, the original clubman wasn't well recieved by some either...

 

Think we're getting the misdirected aggression that our new friend feels towards his Classic-owner buddies?

Me, too.

 

It may be a case of "Club-S Envy". Very common these days....

 

They obviously can't "ZUG"!

 

And we can Zig and Zag, too. Some of my favorite motoring is zigging and zagging. As far as I'm concerned, I'm always zugging.

Multi-tasking has never been so much fun.