I'm coming back to the MINI if I can soon. I've developed a degenerative nerve disease (similar to MS) since I had my convertible a couple of years ago. I'm wondering if the extra room in the Clubman would help me out a lot with things like my walker and maybe a small wheelchair. Thoughts?

my wife's SUV has a lift on the back for my mobility scooter - I haven't look at the specs but I doubt any MINI has enough umph to handle it. Mentioning it in case I'm wrong for some reason.

 

I don't know how much your scooter weighs but I have loaded 150lbs of wheel/tire on the rack of a trailer hitch on an r50, no problems driving around at all.

 

Looked it up: scooter = 172 lbs. and current lift: 88 lbs.

 

The extra room will definitely help. While still constrained, the Clubman is dramatically more useful than a hardtop or a convertible.

Where in Texas (I presume) are you? I could bring my Clubman by for inspection.

 

Sorry to hear about your condition. Front seats are the same but there is much more room in the rear for storage of any aids like a walker or wheel chair. I doubt you could hang that much weight off of the aftermarket hitches. Some say 150lb and some say 200lb for tongue weight, but that is really pushing it.

If you are looking new I have heard that MINI USA has some sort of "mobility credit" or assistance. To help outfit customers and adapt to their new vehicle better. IIRC it could be upwards of $1500 or something. I could be totally wrong but look into it.

 

Right now we're living at Fort Riley, KS but when I retire out of the Army in the fall we hope to go home to Lubbock. Actually, we're at my in-laws outside of Lubbock now to go land and builder hunting this week.

I'm looking used but I'll look into the credit from MINI yetti96

 

Lubbock is a bit far from San Marcos, unfortunately. Welcome back (soon)!

This thread might be some help in seeing what can fit into a Clubman.

If MINI has a plan, you might also look into the ClubVAN. No backseat, more/easier/better storage.

 

Kids might object to not having a backseat I mean they didn't like it when I put up the windblocker in my '05 'vert - sheesh lol

 

So... do you have a fondness for 12th century Benedictine monks?

 

Only if they were once Knights and solve murders Think that narrows it down a might

It appears you have a fondness for canons from Cincinnati in the hands of Texians

 

Why yes, although the cannon in the badge probably came from Spain. But the Cincinnati 'Twin Sisters' certainly ruined an army's siesta once!

 

Sorry if I got those combined in my head - must be the TBI lol. Cool badge BTW.

 

Thanks!

BTW, I've never tried to load a cannon into the back. ;-)

Seriously though, one of the Clubbie's neat tricks is the ability to lock the rear seat-backs vertically, giving you more room to load gear.

 

With a 10 year old, 5 year old, a 1 year old bulldog, and my 'disability gear' more room sounds very appealing. My wife is warming to the idea of a manual which brings a JCW clubby I found back into the picture

 

Check with MINI FINI and see if he makes a lift. He puts and designs custom hitchs for all MINIs . He's great to work with and can give you a lot of info..on the clubman.
We put a continental kit on our clubman.

 

I seriously doubt you will have enough room in the back of a Clubbie with the rear seats up for a walker and manual wheelchair. You might have space for one or the other, but I would think it would be tight, especially for the wheelchair.

Here is another cool albeit more costly option. Could you get a custom enclosed trailer for your scooter? With the short length of the MINI, you might be able to trailer your scooter and still be able to fit into a handicap space????

 

Got to look at a Clubby S at a local lot today (forgot the year). It was pepper white with a black top. Had convenience and bluetooth on it. Pretty sharp. Was hoping the wife would like it and she really did.

So all things seem to be thumbs up for joining the Clubby Club in the months too come.

 

Woot woot.

Remember, pics or it didn't happen.

 

Not to dissuade you from joining the "Clubby Club", but I find it interesting that you're still going with it despite your need for rear cargo space. While there is more space in the back compared to a hardtop/vert, it's not THAT much more. I doubt your family of 4 + dog will fit comfortably with a walker and/or wheelchair. Putting the rear seats in the vertical position offers only a few more inches of space. Folding them flat gives you tons more space, but then you lose the rear seats all together (obviously).

I could see a hitch working in your favor. Even a roof basket may help your situation tremendously.