As in: Talk me off or push me off...

Background: I came to my Clubman after years of driving VW diesels. I adjusted to the self-inflicted wound that VW ownership is, enjoying the MPGs and the overall driving experience. Then diesel prices went nuts in 2008, and I got out. The Clubman gave me great economy and a genuinely practical, fun car. BTW, lifetime average is 37.2 MPG (IIRC).

So, 105K later, I'm eyeballing a Countryman. And a CTM-S. EPA numbers not withstanding, it appears that precious few folks get anywhere close to the expected mileage of 35 for the CTM and 32 for the CTM-S. But it's a cool vehicle with more room, decent ride, and (in the ones I'm looking at) some nice equipment.

There's really nothing wrong with my Clubman. Eventually, it'll need some things, but right now there's nothing on the horizon other than normal maintenance. It's also paid for. Going to the CTM would cost me between $400-600 more a year in fuel, depending on which one I went with. And that's not counting payments and the increased insurance on a newer car.

Winter can be expensive.

 

Your choice, but me I'd stay with the clubman that is paid for.

 

After many vw's and now having a clubman, also... Keep the clubman. I've had a countryman as a loaner, and the driving dynamics are way too soft. I'd rather buy a CRV to just get the job done versus any typed of driving excitement.

 

I recently had a '14 Countryman loaner for a few days. To put it politely, I was underwhelmed. Granted, it was an automatic, but still an S. Just never felt right. To me it felt too big, kinda like a crossover between my Suburban and my Mini. Nice enough car, but not for me. I didn't buy a Mini for it's practicality anyway. Was glad when I got my car back.

 

Wife has a 13 Countryman S. Definitely a softer more pedestrian ride than my Clubbie S.

 

Keep the Clubbie. Or, if itching for something new, get a newer lightly used Clubbie with more upgrades... or even a JCW model.

Either way the Clubbie retains the soul of the MINI while being practical and economical at the same time. The Countryman is nice........ but not a MINI, sorry. My $0.02.

 

I went from the Countryman to a Clubbie, for all the reasons stated above.

 

Not really what I expected to hear. 17" on the Clubman S? On the CTM-S too? The S I drove with 18s was pretty taut.

I'd actually loosely considered a newer Clubman. Not an S, really, as I went to a MINI in the first place for MPGs. Too big a dropoff to the S; if I'm going that far...well, that's how I came to consider the CTM. Trading MPGs for space. Not that I need more-80% of the time, it's just me, only maybe 10% with it loaded, and I can stuff the Clubbie full.

Got the "B" name thing goin', eh?

 

Wife's Countryman S has 17" Continental runflats. My Clubman S has 16" with the Turanza runflats.