I was planning on getting a clubman as a daily driver to be used in the heavy daily traffic of los angeles. Do you guys think its a good car to live in traffic everyday? It is a cozy cabin to come into after a long/hard day of work? Its it stress free to drive in stop and go traffic?

Thanks!!

 

Non S model.
Automatic.
Non Sport Suspension. ( A waste of $ IMO, better off w/JCW Suspension )
Leather seats.
Auto Climate Control

Yes. Had a loaner for a week and it was spectacular.

 

Although I don't use mine in that capacity, I'd say it absolutely would make a good daily driver: excellent gas mileage, fun to drive, and good cargo capacity for the class of vehicle.

Not sure if you're considering the base or turbocharged model, but one thing I'd think long and hard about if you anticipate being in heavy stop-and-go traffic on a daily basis is the transmission: while the manual provides the most enjoyable driving experience (particularly in the base model, which can be a bit anemic with the automatic), the automatic would certainly be more convenient for the application you indicated.

The good news is that most of the MINI automatics came with paddle shifters that complimented MINI's version of the BMW "Steptronic" transmission -- so you can still have some fun on the twisties.

 

I commute in my Clubman, 36 miles one way in Atlanta traffic; first commute I’ve had in over ten years. I’m in the service business and may have to take a few calls a day. More than once I’ve driven to work, taken a few calls and put an additional 50-150 miles on the MINI and I’m not a small guy. I never felt the cabin was small.

I don’t think of any traffic as stress free, but being in the Clubman helps. I did, however (after many, many years) give up the stick and go with an automatic, which I love.

 

I have had my 2009 Clubman S since new and have loved every minute of it!

I am one of those who believe that the automatic transmission was invented for a reason. Heavy traffic is one good reason.

I drive it everyday here in the Twin Cities and have had no problems. It's fun to drive, and the smiles that I get when people see it just put a bigger smile on MY face.
I was mostly concerned with how it would get around in the winter here. A set of snows on it, and I have not been stopped by winter weather yet.

The cabin is nice. I'm 6'4'' and have no issues with leg room or head room. I did not get the sun roof for two reasons. One, they had a reputation of being noisy and maybe leak. And two, there was not a good way to cover it from the inside to block the sun if needed.

You should enjoy the Clubman a lot out there.

 

I drive in LA traffic all the time and the car is fine. Even with the manual transmission.

 

I don’t think of any traffic as stress free, but being in the Clubman helps

 

I live in Dallas and traffic jams are a daily ritual for me. The Clubman will do you fine with an automatic. I recommend sport seats and tinting the sunroof if you get one. As for the tranny, if you drive a base Clubman, I swear it was built for a manual. I cope fine in Dallas rush hour traffic and never did I feel like it was a gigantic mistake to ditch an automatic. The car feels faster when you switch on the Sport button. Besides, a manual will free up your wallet for over $1,200(!) worth of accessories, which is exactly what I did. In my opinion, I think a Clubman with T-tops would be friggin awesome. I wish MINI would make one. They could just store the top in the trunk.

 

My Clubbie is a daily driver here in LA..

I love it...

the car can surprisingly swallow a lot of stuff and can haul around 4 adults comfortably...

Can also park it comfortably around all the massive SUVs and trucks that are roaming the streets..

I am amazed at how small in nimble this car is most of the time.

Be prepared for many question about how the gas mileage is if you do get one..

~Steven

 

I love my Clubman! It is my daily driver. I am a private behavior therapist & I work in my clients' homes so I am always driving all over town. I get great gas mileage, it is fun to drive, and I love, love, love it.

I probably put 100+ miles a day on it and it runs great. Not to mention I have made many new friends in the MINI club here on the Gulf Coast.

 

I daily drive my Clubbie and it's absolutely perfect. Only car I've EVER owned that I liked better were my 07 Si and my 04 Passat wagon. The Clubbie is a perfect blend of both of them.

 

I have a clubbie. It is a good daily commuter. I have the 16" rims and NO sport suspension. If you do a search on this forum, people say that 17" rims + sport suspension is not a good daily commuter car. But I haven't sat in one myself with 17" rims + sport suspension to experience it.

 

I have sport suspension, 17" wheels and manual transmission (all the no-no's according to the posts ) on my car which I decided to be my daily commute in Chicago (great traffic.... mess but better than LA or DC). The clubman is the best car I owned to handle this kind of mess (tight parking spaces, small windows between cars to change lines, etc) and the mileage is fantastic compared to my old ride (Murano SE).

The automatic transmission will help but in my opinion, you can survive without it but if you decide to go for it, expend the extra bucks for the S version. Good luck deciding!

 

I forgot to mention: also running with summer run flats which many people hate but I don't

Still a great daily ride

 

My commute isn't long enough, only 10 min from the front door to work. I too have the 6 speed, sport suspension, 17" black star bullets on the summer run flats. I have a lot of fun with it.

wingnut

 

Fantastic daily. I think it would be all-around great for LA as a commuter car.

 

My clubbie IS my daily driver - 36 miles each way. The Xterra only comes out on the weekends for dogs, hiking, biking, beach, etc. On a few occassions I have given the clubbie a day off and driven the Xterra to work - I have hated every inch of the ride...prior to having my Clubbie, I loved my Xterra.... now it feels like work to drive it :\

 

I had an '08 Cooper S Clubman with 17" wheels and sports suspension and it was an awesome commuter and daily driver. I threw dedicated winter tires on it and drove it 12 months of the year.

Great car!

 

I drive 55 miles one way to work through downtown traffic. I love my Clubman. Could probably do without the run flats, but they're not THAT bad.

 

I bought mine as a daily driver and love it so far, my commute is about 30 miles each way from OC to Downtown LA and with 26 MPG, you know I drive this thing pretty hard. It drove really nice in today's rainy commute.

 

I drive from home in South Pasadena to work in W. LA and the car's been great. Fast and fun on the Pasadena Freeway twisties. Easy to park.
It passed the Hollywood Bowl test: 4 adults, comfortably, with food & wine baskets.
Replaced the run-flats and then added KONI FSD shocks for a more comfortable ride. I've got an S with an automatic transmission.

 

Our 08 Clubman S (purchased new) has 62000 + miles on it, most of it in the Phoenix area. My wife drives it 46 miles round trip 5 days per week. Got rid of the awful run flats many miles ago, what a difference. Also went from 16 to 17" rims. Get this we are in our 60's the Mini has a manual transmission and my wife loves it, even it traffic. And she could drive her Lexus RX350 but since we bought the mini 3 1/2 years ago we have put approx 2500 miles total on it. Your never to old..... When we tested an automatic we both hated it, to us it was like driving just another car.

 

Hello All,

Just got my 2009 Clubman S (CPO) this past weekend after a few long years of curiosity and lurking then I felt in love with it right after I test drove several models. Coming from a BMW family the interior comfort and feel made it much easier to be in it.

Anyway, the car came with brand new run flat tires and I have not driven on run flat before as it seems noisy and than normal. I noticed a few threads here mentioned about switching out of Run Flat and I'm would like to know if it is really worth it. What do you notice after you switched and is it more about comfort.

In the case of switching over to non run flat what are you doing about spare? Also, what brand and type of tire did you ended up with.

Thank you in advance for your recommendation.

BL

 

I'm going to wear my run flats out and replace them with standard tires, not because of the ride, but because new run flats cost too much.

As to running without a spare, just get a slime kit.

http://www.slime.com/shop/safety-spair-70005/

Slime won't kill the Tire Pressure Monitoring System, like Fix-A-Flat will.

Dave

 

Thanks Dave - not a bad idea to consider and pay for itself to have the compressor anyway. Knock on wood I really have never had to use the spare in all the car I had over the years. If it has a punch or flat then the TPM provide ample time to get to the repair with the exception if the car seat in the lot overnight, etc. The other kit I saw is the ContiComfortKit any thoughts on that kit.

BL