It's personal preference. Take both out for a test drive back to back and see what you like you better.

In my experience, I knew right away the S wasn't for me. Some might prefer the torque, but I think the non S has more than enough.

 

Pleeeeeze can we make this a sticky?

 

Make it a sticky and shut down the thread.

 

Like the OP, I couldn't afford the Clubman S with the options I wanted so I settled for the non-turbo version. The engine is okay. Fortunately, it's JUST at the minimum that I'd accept. Seriously, does anyone know why they put so little HP in it? Would fuel economy be that much worse if it had 135 hp instead? Of all the cars I've owned, my MINI has the weakest engine. My previous car had 230!

 

I think MINI should have upped the HP in the standard engine from 118 to at least 125-130 for the Clubman. The base engine is adequate in the hardtop version but overmatched for the extra laden weight of the Clubman.

I much prefer a basic Clubman S over a fully loaded Clubman My Clubbie S has 3 or 4 options and that is it. To me, what makes the car valuable to me, is a good powerful engine, good steering, brakes. The rest I can do without. I hate sunroofs, leather seats, fancy NAVs and things that only add price and complexity not performance.

I drove a Clubman MCa several months ago and found the car struggling in highway passing situations. And with 2-3 more people in the car, you have to plan ahead your moves.

The Turbo simply makes the car accelerate quickly, smoothly with minimal loss of MPG .

A friend of mine has a Clubman MCa (Wife didn't like the S so he settled for the MCa) but he is unhappy with the highway performance. he is planning on bolting a turbocharger. That will be interesting.

 

I just placed an order for a well-optioned Clubman with no regrets about passing on the S. (but my current vehicle is a 115 hp Jetta wagon that weighs a couple hundred pounds more than the Clubman)

 

Just take a look at the top sticky on the 'Stock Problems/Issues' thread which is about the cold start issue on an S. I wish I would have read that before I had ordered my S.

After 1700 miles mine has developed the problem and I dont live in a 'cold' environment which is just north of Austin TX and each time it appeared (4 times now) around 70 degrees F. If you have the opportunity to hear it in person you will realize there is a major issue with the engine with metal striking metal and this is not normal. I spoke to the dealer and they know about it yet claim this is 'normal'. Sorry, not buying it as they could NOT provide a reason as to what is causing it and have NO solution to resolve it. Please take the time to read the thread under stock problems and listen to the videos! Try driving one under this state and it is a dog. I am not the 1 in a million who got a lemon.

Last BMW product I will own. Don't get me wrong, my wife and I love every other aspect about the car so far, just not good to hear the engine sound like it is coming apart when started. Again, this car now only has 2100 miles on it!

I bought this car as I wanted something different than a Honda or Toyota and save putting miles on my 1997 Ford Diesel with over 290,000 on it and .01% trouble free miles. Well, I am back to old reliable.

Good luck with your S!

George

 

Hi George - I'm sorry that you are encountering the cold start issue. For clarification "cold" here refers to the engine temp (operating range is probably between 150-200F). From motoringfile: "owners experiencing this rattle note that the “cold start” aspect has less to do with the ambient temperature as it does with the inactivity of the engine. Usually this rattle occurs during the first start of the day when the engine itself is “cold” and oil has drained into the sump."

Is it confirmed that this noise only happens on S models?

 

Timubik,

Well, there are 86 posts on this top sticky I mentioned as a reference and they all appear to be an S model. Also, the car mentioned in the motoringfile article is an S. Every video clip I have seen with the issue is an S as well as other posts on the subject.

Let me know if you come across a non S with the issue as I have not found one.

George

That is 99.9901% trouble free miles on the Ford to date I posted earlier (num lock key turned off!)

 

Regardless of wether you own an S or non S your still making a great choice. As reliable as my Honda Accord is it's a boring car you never fully get what you want because you have to buy different packages which include or exclude certain things and also I'm getting tired of driving down the street seeing 20 of the exact same Honda Accord every time I drive to the store. I'm not knocking Honda or Toyota or any other car because they are good cars but they are just booooriiiinggg!! no personality IMO

 

Dear dcmoore,

I Definitely agree you should test drive both. For me [for what it's worth] I test drove both [for a number of miles and road conditions] and "weighed" the power difference between both versus their cost. Since cost for me was a primary factor, I didn't feel that the standard Clubman was without power or pick-up needed; in fact the total opposite. Coming from a life without a MINI, I was surprised from the pick-up; which is fantastic along with the go-kart feel. I ended up putting what $$ I had into other features I wanted.

Good luck!

 

It's simple. If owning the S even enters your mind for a second, buy it. Otherwise you will always regret it. I know several people that didn't pull the trigger on an S because of the extra cost and used the dollars to trick out the options. They loved their justacoopers but with much should-a, could-a, would-a in the rearview mirror. And, to a man, their second MINI was an S.

The folks who went with the non-S are a happy lot, but most, if not all, never considered the S a good fit for themselves.

 

why we chose the S

our twice daily "drive" goes from the summit at 3000 feet down to the lake at 300 feet in 6 miles of twisites in the santa cruz mts. going home back up the mt is a blast

 

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

I hope everyone who choses the S will get one without the cold start issue.

When it does run as is should it is a great car to drive. When cold start issue does start to happen for the predispositioned ones (the videos with sound do not do justice to how the car performs, feels and sounds) and Mini states that is is normal please post back on how you feel about dropping a good chunk of change and there is no fix at this time. Since the melting hood scoop is an issue with at least 2008's and dealer confirmed no changes made for 2009, won't hold my breath for a fix for cold start issue.

I want to be clear that I do enjoy everything else about this car as far the driving experience. Although, with this issue my 'BWM' experience will not last long and will end long before warranty is up. This cold start issue has been around for over a year an no changes made or fix offered. I hope you do not have to experience the performance/sounds of a car with this issue.

Roll the dice, good luck.

George

 

george

I live at 3000' on a ridgetop. We have put 7500 miles on our S in the past few months. Most mornings the temps have ranged from 28* to 38* when we leave for work. We have noticed zero issues with cold starting or lack of power, what can I say?

now you want to talk cold start noise and no power try my diesel Pickup Truck, shake rattle and roll, louder than a garbage truck and until it hits operating temperature a kid on a skateboard is faster.

 

BuzzCut1,

You must be one of the fortunate ones who has an S that is not predispostioned to have the cold start issue. Excellant!

For those who do wind up with one and experience the performance issues and sound issues they will know what I am talking about.

Yes, I do have a diesel as well, a 1997 Ford F250 powerstroke diesel pickup and there is a noise issue/performance issue with the exhaust backpressure valve in cold temps but it does not compare to the Mini. Never heard a difference between a cold engine and warm in my truck that it sounds like it wants to come apart.

Again, good luck to those who take a chance on the S.

George

 

I haven't had problems with either.

 

STOP with the OPTIONS! I've bought 3 of the last 4 MINIS off the floor and I stick with the low or no-optioned models. Clubman S for 25.5K. None of the crap is worth it and when you add it on you lose BIG time at trade-in time. I made 5K when my first 2005 MINI S got totaled by a bus, but I only had 22K in it. RESIST the options and get a good car for a good value, instead of a overpriced small car!

 

Trade in value? what the heck is that......

I drive my cars until the wheels fall off.... last one I replaced had 300k on an 86 4 runner. currently have a 01 Volvo XC70 with 131K , 03 F350 with 78K and an 09 Clubman S with 7600 all are paid off and will go until they blow, then I will think about a replacement