http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..2.*

 

They are very different cars.

For all purpose utility and fun to drive the Clubman S is much better.

128i
3200 lbs
22.4 mpg
$28,600 MSRP

Clubman S
28.5 mpg
$24,100 MSRP
$2400 less as tested
5 Doors
Less to insure and operate

 

I just find it a compliment that the two would be legitimately compared head to head. I test drove a 128 immediately after I drove my first Mini. It is clearly a more refined car, but I didn't find it as fun. I also thought the rear seat access and leg room were poor on the BMW.

If I had money to blow and could get the 4 door 1 series hatch available in Europe, I could have been swayed more, but I left the BMW test drive longing for the Clubman.

For the majority of the population, the BMW is a better fit, but for those of us looking for a fun, unique, and practical ride the Mini is the car of choice.

I think the comparison in the article was fair and so were most of the complaints about the Mini (it's not perfect), but for me the Mini wins.

 

I find those prices surprising. Mine was a whole lot more, but then, I wanted all the goodies! Worth every penny.

 

Maybe its just me, since my last few cars have been BMWs, but I find the MINI interior and electronics to be far more eye-catching. I think the teutonic simplicity of the BMW is just not for me. I like eye-catching. It makes the BMW seem cheap in my eyes. Just my $.02.

The Clubman is also light years easier to access the rear seats.

 

I preferred the Clubman over the 128. I felt the BMW felt really cramped in the back, and once you add on a few things to the 128 the price really jumps up.

 

These guys are really reaching to pit these 2 cars against each other. Seems to me that the main premises are "fun to drive" and price. They then try to justify the comparo by telling us how easy it is to option out a MINI to $32k. How about optioning the BMW to the same extent - it would cost a bloody fortune! In almost every respect they are apples and oranges.

Straight six vs 1.6 turbo
RWD vs FWD
2 door coupe vs wagon/unquantifiable
Bangled mangled styling vs retro icon styling


ridiculous...

 

lets see the design and value hold up. the mini is going to withstand the way it looks thru time and if its lie the classics and the 1st gen modern mini we are in better shoes while there is going to be plenty of 1 series and time will tell.

 

I think the test is flawed as the concentrated on performance.

For utility and economy, it seems the clubman wins. For driving fun...128, by far. Not even close in my eyes (and I own a 2007 Cooper S). Sadly I need a rear seat for an infant so the Clubman is more likely for me in the short term.