To make a long story shorter, I sold a couple of motorcycles and bought a 2008 Mazda MX-5 roadster last November. I've really been enjoying the car. Then, our fortunes turned favorable recently so my wife and I decide to upgrade her car from a 2000 VW Beetle. She wanted a MINI but I said no because of their lack of space. She came back with, "I'll compromise on a Clubman - they have about the same interior space as the Beetle." I couldn't argue with that logic so we sold off the Beetle and ordered up a Clubman with dark grey paint, black roof, black wheels and stripes. We've had it exactly 1 week and have put about 400 miles on it. We both love the car. The only problem now is the wife is being selfish and trying to keep the MINI to herself. I still like the Mazda but I really like the ride in the Clubman. The Mazda is more raw in how it feels and the MINI is more refined. I can't really complain and when the weather is consistently warm dropping the top in the MX-5 will be nice but getting a chance to drive the MINI more often would be cool too. What to do?

 

If you like the "raw" feeling, sell the Miata and get an R53!

 

Deal with it, she's gonna win!!!!!

 

do as we did, she has hers and I have mine

 

I maybe tempted into the new coupe but one car payment is enough for me at this time.

 

Well, your first problem is you compromised and bought an NC Miata, when what you REALLY needed was an NA!

I recently sold my 97 Miata M-Edition in favor of a Jeep Wrangler. Although I have a life-long love affair with Jeeps, I found myself missing my small car. I would step out of the house and look at my 3 driving options- the Jeep, a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab, and a 2008 Cadillac SRX, and just sigh. This past Friday, I fixed that problem with a shiny new (to me) 2009 Mini Clubman S. It is a fantastic little car- I love just about everything about it (a bit noisy on the highway, but judicious use of the stereo's volume **** takes care of that).

Having said that, when the weather finally starts turning sunny and warm, I just know I'm going to miss dropping the top on the NA and enjoying a nice spirited drive. I kinda envy you- you have the opportunity to enjoy both.

 

I too got rid of my 2000 VW Turbo S Beetle for a 2009 Cooper S Clubman because of the space with the seats down. Only thing better about the beetle was the material in the trunk. It never got scratched up. I'd suggest a twin mattress fitted sheet over the back when the seats are down. Tuck excess sheet under the secret compartment. Keeps it clean.

 

Yeah, I have the same problem. I got my Focus (which is an awesome car, and the bigger of our two), and the next day, the wife trades her Malibu in on a 12 Clubman. My Focus wins in technology, but her car is just so ungodly fun to drive...

 

If it were me, I'd divorce my wife and argue for full custody of the Mini!

 

well Jo get used to it. I sold MY JEEP wrangler and bought the wife a clubman. Now I have to get a permision slip to drive it. I get my 1999 work truck. But then again if I want to go fast I can fire my 1933 coupe up, which is running close to 500 hp just gas milage sucks.

 

I had an R52 and my wife liked it so much that she bought her own.

 

I have thr ClubnanS, wife a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata. Both are great cars and fun to drive, but Clubman better for my long commute.