Anyone know if there was a good reason not to put a club door on the driver side as well? Just curious, as it doesn't seem like it would affect the overall design of the car, but it might come in handy for loading from the left side.

Cheers.

 

Because it would not be cool and quirky....

 

It's on the drivers side in Britain....

I've read that either the new clubman, or maybe just the base hatchback will have five doors. Not that that helps people with club mans now, but it's at least been addressed.

 

Bingo! Remember the platform was designed originally for RHD orientation.

- Erik

 

If it's the family car in the UK, it means the kids get out into incoming traffic, not the curb. It's also difficult for the driver to have to move forward to let passengers in and out.

I like my club door for passenger use, but I don't like to load groceries into the back seat with the club door open. The cart can't get as close to the car as when the club door is closed.

 

OK...but my question was more "Why not put a club door on BOTH sides"?

And, the club door is still on the right in the UK? I guess I just assumed it would be on the left for RHD (i.e., everything reversed).

 

The club door is on the side which the sidewalk is usually on.

Personally, I wouldn't want my seat to fold every time a passenger sits behind me.

 

I wouldn’t want a door on both sides for the reason Tata Steva stated.

And if it had a club door on both sides it would look like my Ford Ranger, which is OK as a utility vehicle, but blah for the coolness factor.

 

If I remember correctly, it has to do with production costs in that the Gas tank would have to then be redone or relocated, thus causing a new design in that area and increased production costs.

 

DING-DING-DING

They would also have to redo the crash/saftey standards due to the redesign and found the cost prohibitive.

But hopefully the 5 door / Double Club Door Clubman will be released soon.

 

In the UK the club door is not on the sidewalk side, as it is behind the driver.
I would not want the club door behind me for the inconvenience of having to move my seat for passengers as you state.
If the new F55 has 5 doors, as many have said it will, I hope that both passenger doors will be club doors.

 

I also like having just one door. I don't want passengers in and out of my side.

 

For what it's worth, I, too, like the character of the single club door. But, curiosity got the best of me.

Cheers.

 

At least the R55 door is semi normal, the veloster is weird with the 1+2 door setup it has.

To those complaining about folding your seat to let passengers in, the seat has a mechanical memory and it goes back to where it came from...no biggie.

 

I think that MINI was testing the waters of introducing a larger car by introducing the one clubdoor, before going all the way with the Countryman.

 

True, but I had a couple of years of teenage boys, bigger than me, getting in and out. They don't care how hard they press on the seat back or how it affects someone sitting in that seat. I liked that I didn't get squished when loading and unloading.
Moot now, no longer running Mom's Taxi Service.

 

Structural integirty - the car would not have much torsional stiffness.
You remove the remaining B-pillar, and all are left is a pair of A- and C-pillars that would allow for more body flex.

The clubdoor is still on the right side, allowing the RHD version to have the drive access the rear via the clubdoor on the same side.



- Erik

 

The extra door on the Veloster is pretty sweet. It's a hidden full size door really. One of my friends has a new Veloster and it really impresses me. Until you step on the gas pedal. He regrets not waiting for the turbo version...

 

How about a three door Countryman Coupe?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mini-co...as-2013-model/

 

And not a FJ Cruiser? eh...

- Erik