just because I want to keep my License. I've been having way to much fun on hwys 280 and 680 in the bay area in my Clubman S. 70mph feels like I'm standing still and there are just so many road boulders out there [folks driving at 60mph in the #1&2 lanes] that I find myself zipping around and cruzing at 75 plus... don't ask what happens when I hit the mountain road up to my house and hit the Sport Button

At least in my Volvo XC70 I'm content to set the cruise at 65 and stay to the right and try and squeeze 25mpg out of it....

 

Understood. 80 just feels right in my MCS.

 

Your MINI is sad.

 

I sold my then new Toyota MR2 for this very reason about 7 years ago. I was driving my 16 year old son to a hockey tournament in San Jose. After he fell asleep, I took it up to about 110, then back down to 75-80. A few minutes later, I got pulled over and was ticketed for 108mph! Lost my license for 30 days. Nice example for my son who just got his drivers license weeks earlier! I would have kept the car, but I just couldn't drive it slow. I traded it along with my Ford truck for my current X5, which I'm hoping to sell soon for a new Mini or Clubman... history about to repeat itself.

 

you guys aren't very good at catching tongue in cheek posts are ya now....

 

I knew you were kidding, but it really did become a problem for me... I'm older and wiser now, so I can handle a Mini

 

lol 52 here going on 19[ per my wife]

 

HA! 2 tickets in first 2 weeks of MINI ownership. BUt, I came from a silver bmw 540 to a chili red clubbie. I attribute the ticket spike to the car color

 

Only one word to describe coming down the mountain this morning...

Wheeeee!!!!

6 miles of twisty two lane with a 3000 foot descent in ten minutes!!

 

Try it on Mt. Hamilton Rd. out of Livermore. Should be fun!

 

I have another visit to family in Southern California coming up. It used to be get there and back as fast as possible (within reason). Now it's, "What back roads can I explore on the trip home?" Who cares if it takes me hours longer to get back. I'll take the twisties over Highway 101 if I can find 'em.

I also know the tendency to use 280 as a speed test course. It really is hard to keep it under 100. I wish there was a place we could go and legally put the car through its paces.

 

Sears point, uh Infineon Raceway, Thunderhill just north of of Sacramento, and Laguna Seca near Monterrey are all close by. Buttonwillow is a little farther south, and Reno/Fernly is a bit farther north...

check out Hooked on Driving, they'll "hook" you up! (as will the Golden Gate Chapter of the BMWCCA).

Matt

 

go through Malibu north on hwy 1 [pch] take topanga east turn left on Fernwood go right on Tuna canyon then go right on Saddle Peak then right on stunt rd go left on Mullholland drive, cross malibu canyon [las virgines] and eat at the rock store. continue north on Mullholland past kanan dume go right on last sycamore left on yerba buena and go back to hwy 1 north thats 60+ miles of twisties

*note a radar detector will be most helpfull on mullholland

 

just my .02

prior to getting the Clubman S I had a Porshe Boxster [blew up the engine at 110k]

last night coming up the mt on black road with no traffic I decided to really get on it just as I had done many times in the boxster. damn I had fun, my thoughts

The Boxster was faster in the turns with less figihting the wheel [rear drive vs front drive] while staying on the gas. The Clubman S was faster out of the turns and up the straights [turbo vs fuel injection. Shifting: Clubman hands down winner with the streptronic paddles vs Boxsters 5 speed manual
fun factor: tie speed up the hill 25 in the hairpins 45-60 for the less radiused turns and short straights

 

You could have gone with a pure silver Clubbie for the camouflage! In my opinion, it's not chili red. It's Arrest me red!

 

Agreed...hard to be subtle in the clubman.

 

dunno depends on the color scheme

 

Buzzcut, I actually sold my Volvo XC90 FOR a Clubman if you can believe that. This was during the height of our gas prices...even with gas prices lower now, I coulndn't be happier. And yes, I'm still able to transport two kids in the Clubman = P

 

my 01 XC70