R55 New Clubman - initial impressions
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
New Clubman - initial impressions
Cross post from Week 32 thread:
We picked up our new Clubman Saturday morning, and headed out of town for a weekend road trip. Got home last night with just under 900 miles on the car.
After countess hours reading on NAM, here are some general observations (after 3 days ownership)and comments on aspects of the car that are popular topics of discussion. Note, these are MY opinions and YMMV! :-)
Fun Factor - off the charts! I've never had so much fun driving a car. Absolutely love the feel and drivability, makes me want to find excuses to drive just to get some more time in the seat.
Comfort - I found the car stiff (17" 5 star wheels w/all season runflats), but comfortable. 7 and 9 year old kids in the back, 6 hour trip. No problems and plenty of rear leg room for the kids.
Materials - Punch leather is very nice. Have had leather in a few other vehicles, and this seems comparable, comfortable. Anthracite headliner - glad I made this choice, think it makes the interior look top notch when mostly everything else is black. Fit and finish seems good, no rattles or things that didn't seem to fit together well.
Hi-Fi - OK, so the reports about a lack of deep bass are accurate. At higher volumes and with the bass EQ set anything above 0, you do get distortion. But at 'normal' listening levels, I think the system sounds above average. Probably good enough for my tastes.
Armrest - I found the armrest to be fine and 'comfortable'. I have not had any problems with it sliding open while my arm is resting on it.
MPG - For this first roadtrip, I averaged 32mpg, avg speed (OBC) 60mph (no use of cruise control during break-in period), 90% highway, 10% city. Not bad IMHO!
Sunroof - Debated on this one quite a bit. Have had a number of cars with and without. After a weekend with, it's fun to have with the weather starting to cool down some. As fall approaches, I anticipate using it frequently and am glad I got it as an option.
I'm sure I'll have more to report after more time, and will post some pictures after sport stripes and windiw tinting are finished tomorrow!
08 PW/B MCCSa
We picked up our new Clubman Saturday morning, and headed out of town for a weekend road trip. Got home last night with just under 900 miles on the car.
After countess hours reading on NAM, here are some general observations (after 3 days ownership)and comments on aspects of the car that are popular topics of discussion. Note, these are MY opinions and YMMV! :-)
Fun Factor - off the charts! I've never had so much fun driving a car. Absolutely love the feel and drivability, makes me want to find excuses to drive just to get some more time in the seat.
Comfort - I found the car stiff (17" 5 star wheels w/all season runflats), but comfortable. 7 and 9 year old kids in the back, 6 hour trip. No problems and plenty of rear leg room for the kids.
Materials - Punch leather is very nice. Have had leather in a few other vehicles, and this seems comparable, comfortable. Anthracite headliner - glad I made this choice, think it makes the interior look top notch when mostly everything else is black. Fit and finish seems good, no rattles or things that didn't seem to fit together well.
Hi-Fi - OK, so the reports about a lack of deep bass are accurate. At higher volumes and with the bass EQ set anything above 0, you do get distortion. But at 'normal' listening levels, I think the system sounds above average. Probably good enough for my tastes.
Armrest - I found the armrest to be fine and 'comfortable'. I have not had any problems with it sliding open while my arm is resting on it.
MPG - For this first roadtrip, I averaged 32mpg, avg speed (OBC) 60mph (no use of cruise control during break-in period), 90% highway, 10% city. Not bad IMHO!
Sunroof - Debated on this one quite a bit. Have had a number of cars with and without. After a weekend with, it's fun to have with the weather starting to cool down some. As fall approaches, I anticipate using it frequently and am glad I got it as an option.
I'm sure I'll have more to report after more time, and will post some pictures after sport stripes and windiw tinting are finished tomorrow!
08 PW/B MCCSa
Congrats twieland!
Glad to hear you are enjoying your Clubman. I agree that the fun factor is off the charts. Never thought I'd say that I actually look forward to driving to the grocery store!
Glad to hear you are enjoying your Clubman. I agree that the fun factor is off the charts. Never thought I'd say that I actually look forward to driving to the grocery store!
Sand Dollar Collector
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,249
Likes: 2
From: Moved from Leesburg, VA to Oceanside, CA Nov. 2003
Great report! I think if you get rid of the run flats, the ride might even be better. Some like the run flats, and some don't. We've had both - our 2 cents is ditch them...
Donna
Donna
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
From: Sedona, AZ, USA
That was wonderful to read My wife has been driving the MC the last couple of weeks, part of the deal for me getting a new MCC, and l come up with some great resaons to drive her car. Hey honey how about l go get us some ice cream. Or you sleep in and l'll take the kid to school. And my favorite is you've worked hard tonight how about me taking us out...........then drop it into sport mode and go, go, go 
My wife has been driving the MC the last couple of weeks, part of the deal for me getting a new MCC, and l come up with some great resaons to drive her car. Hey honey how about l go get us some ice cream. Or you sleep in and l'll take the kid to school. And my favorite is you've worked hard tonight how about me taking us out...........then drop it into sport mode and go, go, go
Trending Topics
Guest
Posts: n/a
Your gallery is still empty! 
I agree on the HiFi stereo..I'm a HUGE music buff, and don't find the stereo lacking in reproducing full, rich sound. I use Ety4RP in-ear monitors, and these train you over time to enjoy the true sound of music unmuddied by thumping, obnoxious bass, and the HiFi in my Mini sounds quite similar...bass is there (in sufficient amount), lows to mids VERY well represented, as well as the mid-hi and highs..can hear detail and imaging/fore-background quite well even at highway speeds. It's not audiophile quality, but we're talking a few cubic feet of cabinspace dedicated to a superior driving experience...not a sound studio. No sound complaints from me! (there's always the Ety's if I just gotta go full-force!)
I agree on the HiFi stereo..I'm a HUGE music buff, and don't find the stereo lacking in reproducing full, rich sound. I use Ety4RP in-ear monitors, and these train you over time to enjoy the true sound of music unmuddied by thumping, obnoxious bass, and the HiFi in my Mini sounds quite similar...bass is there (in sufficient amount), lows to mids VERY well represented, as well as the mid-hi and highs..can hear detail and imaging/fore-background quite well even at highway speeds. It's not audiophile quality, but we're talking a few cubic feet of cabinspace dedicated to a superior driving experience...not a sound studio. No sound complaints from me!
(there's always the Ety's if I just gotta go full-force!)
Your gallery is still empty!
I agree on the HiFi stereo..I'm a HUGE music buff, and don't find the stereo lacking in reproducing full, rich sound. I use Ety4RP in-ear monitors, and these train you over time to enjoy the true sound of music unmuddied by thumping, obnoxious bass, and the HiFi in my Mini sounds quite similar...bass is there (in sufficient amount), lows to mids VERY well represented, as well as the mid-hi and highs..can hear detail and imaging/fore-background quite well even at highway speeds. It's not audiophile quality, but we're talking a few cubic feet of cabinspace dedicated to a superior driving experience...not a sound studio. No sound complaints from me! (there's always the Ety's if I just gotta go full-force!)
I agree on the HiFi stereo..I'm a HUGE music buff, and don't find the stereo lacking in reproducing full, rich sound. I use Ety4RP in-ear monitors, and these train you over time to enjoy the true sound of music unmuddied by thumping, obnoxious bass, and the HiFi in my Mini sounds quite similar...bass is there (in sufficient amount), lows to mids VERY well represented, as well as the mid-hi and highs..can hear detail and imaging/fore-background quite well even at highway speeds. It's not audiophile quality, but we're talking a few cubic feet of cabinspace dedicated to a superior driving experience...not a sound studio. No sound complaints from me!
(there's always the Ety's if I just gotta go full-force!) 
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
[...]
Hi-Fi - OK, so the reports about a lack of deep bass are accurate. At higher volumes and with the bass EQ set anything above 0, you do get distortion. But at 'normal' listening levels, I think the system sounds above average. Probably good enough for my tastes.
[...]
Hi-Fi - OK, so the reports about a lack of deep bass are accurate. At higher volumes and with the bass EQ set anything above 0, you do get distortion. But at 'normal' listening levels, I think the system sounds above average. Probably good enough for my tastes.
[...]
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=151132
Tom
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Pacific NW
Thanks for the report Twieland. It's nice to hear of actual first hand experience after much anticipation (meaning that is lives up to your hopes). It would be great to hear about your thoughts and experience from time to time after having the car for different intervals of time.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ECSTuning
Tires, Wheels & Brakes
0
Sep 16, 2015 06:45 AM
OutMotoring
Drivetrain (Cooper S)
5
Sep 8, 2015 06:27 AM
TrueEddie
MINI Parts for Sale
2
Sep 2, 2015 11:43 AM