I'm contemplating the purchase of a Clubman. I live in Colorado and tend to travel into the mountains often. Does anyone have thoughts on the turbo vs. non-turbo Clubmans and their ability to make it up the high mountains.

If you're in Colorado, how does the non-turbo go on I-70 from Denver to the tunnels? Can you pass cars? Or are you the slow boat blocking others?

Thanks,

Conrad

 

no experience with the Clbuman in the mountains, but I would think because of the thinner air, the turbo would be prefered since it essentially gives denser air to the engine so you get more power.

 

I've taken my Justa Clubman over several 7000+ ft summits, including climbs of 2500+ ft, and in the upper elevations the fastest I can go is around 55 in 4th. I'd prefer a turbo if I took my Clubman into higher elevations more often.

 

You want the turbo......


A Justa will get up the mountains, but the turbo engine cars do it effortlessly. I also found that my Clubman S gets better mileage at the higher elevations!


Get the turbo, you'll appreciate it once you have it.

 

^^^ At altitude you want a turbo.

 

I have a 09 clubman and I also live in colorado. Get the S its worth the money and you have more giddy up and go even at elevation.

 

While I've only taken my '09 S through the Appalachians, don't believe it struggled even once.

 

We make annual trips to Colorado in my wife's 2011 Clubman S auto. We have traveled on the very roads you talk about. I can say without hesitation that the turbo pulls every grade without even shifting down. We're always fully loaded with luggage and the dog. I traded in a 05 Mercedes ML 500 for my 2013 JCW R56. We drove the Merc over those same roads and it had to shift down going up to the tunnel from either direction. I can honestly say I will never own another naturally aspirated car again after driving our 2 MINI's. The turbos compensate for the altitude thru the ECU making the engine think it's still at sea level. Also we averaged 35 MPG on our last trip from Cali to Colorado and back.

Have also taken the Clubman to Montana last fall with equal results. The turbo cars just don't know what a mountain is.

 

We have my R56 S and Pat's Countryman, both are great in the mountains around here. I have friends who own the Cooper and they do have to shift more to keep up with the other MINIs in the mountains.

It is doable but the S makes a better mountain MINI.

Don

 

The one with the turbos are definitely more powerful but goes a little less on the mileage compared to the non-turbo ones.

 

This. I averaged 45 MPG+ going through the Rockies the last few times I've been out that. Not exactly following the posted limits either.

 

I just drove my Clubman S from Seattle to Montana through a lot of mountain passes and no problem. I have snow tires and it was even unstopable when the roads had a good amount of snow on them. No problem passing in the mountains.

 

If you are not used to down shifting and revving the engine, get the S.