Does the Clubman have enough clearance under the front bumper to avoid damage if one parks head first into a curb or parking block?

 

Why would you pull that far into a parking spot to begin with Stop a few inches before the parking block and you'll have nothing to worry about.

You should have enough clearance for any average height block. There is a lip that is a soft rubber that hangs down that might be too low but it's soft and unimportant so rubbing it won't matter.

I still advise that one should just hit the brakes a little earlier and park properly....then you have no worries about scraping your bumper

 

I measured 6", and thats about it. The clearance is quite minimal. Not enough for most any parking blocks or curbs.

 

Luckyme,

Thanks for the information!

 

Also have you not read the Courtesy Manual. Never park the rear bumper in farther than the rear bumper of the vehicles that are/will park next to you.

If you follow that simple rule you will be about 2-3 feet from the parking block.

This is a courtesy because then as other drivers come down the isle they do not think that there is a free parking space and then find that someone in a MINI pulled in to far.

 

I measured under the front rubber lip and get 4" at its lowest point. Great advice about parking the rear of your car equal to the one next to you, as I have learned with motorcycles in the past. That way no one will drive over you as they think the spot is empty.

 

no

 

One thing I hate is that front lip behind the bumper. I pulled into my front driveway at what I felt was a slow enough speed. A HORRIBLE scraping sound echoed through the cabin. I slammed on the brakes and backed up. The lip was pretty badly scuffed. At least I didn't hit my bumper. Any time you approach an incline, sloooow down. Never go faster than 10 mph or you'll scuff that front lip. What is the purpose of that stupid thing anyway? It's straight and vertical so it sure isn't to improve airflow under the engine bay. I also think it looks tacky. My old Intrepid had one too and it also saw its share of run-ins with curbs and speed bumps. When I traded the car in, it looked pretty hideous.

BTW, the Clubbie isn't a huge car, I sometimes park exactly in the middle of the space so that people with zero patience won't come charging into the parking spot if I'm unfortunate to park next to a Suburban or van. The others are right, you don't need to pull all the way up to the parking bumper.

 

I'm pretty picky about how I park my car. Usually at least a good 1-1.5 feet from the parking block or curb, and always dead center in the spot, unless the people next to me are parked in a way that warrants anything else. In general though, I tend to park as far away from everybody as I can

The MINI, while is pretty low, has very little overhang over the front, so it's a lot easier to not scrape in the MINI than it is in a lot of other low cars. Take it slow, and hopefully you shouldn't scrape (and if you do, it'll be the rubber part, not the actual bottom lip)

To answer your question, I think the bottom lip of the bumper is about equal to the average parking block. So essentially, you could pull up on it and it will JUST clear it, but you absolutely shouldn't do so. You will hit the rubber piece eventually and it will make a terrible noise.

 

It's a MINI...Back in for the love of Pete!!

 

I thought for sure someone would answer..."For a pull in parking stall just park your mini sideways!" slimjimtell...you came close!