The GMC is on its third engine and transmission and second rear end. It has also been repainted and reupholstered. There is no rust problem where I live, so I haven't had to replace any body parts.

Like I said, I maintain and rebuild things as necessary.

Dave

 

I have to keep mine now. It has the new "high roof" modification...

 

Don't know how anyone lives up there. 80 today in Houston.

 

Sure, rub it in ....

 

Roll it over on its back so it can make Snow Angels.....

 

I didn't have plans to keep it longer than a 5 yrs but a few things about the car that stands out.

1. End of F55 long wheel base.
2. Practicality with its extra cargo space
3. Gets great gas mileage
4. Unique styling (none look exactly the same)
5. Its rarity (hardly see other Clubmans vs other Mini models)
6. Handles extremely well when you want to drive it quick (turbo version)
7. Lots of aftermarket goodies to liven things up and make it even better
8. Cult like following (huge diversity of ownership)
9. Lots more parking availability because of its size
10. It's a damn fun car to own... PERIOD !

 

Well put hamptup. I agree in all 10 of your comments.

 

I don't know how long I'll keep mine but I'll say this: no more MINIs. I'm mad that they killed the Clubman off so quickly and released the ugly Countryman and Paceman models instead. If they're so concerned about releasing two or three new models, why can't they keep the Clubman running? If they don't bring it back by 2016 (and with the swingout Clubdoor), I'll ditch MINI completely. I find their cars are getting uglier AND fatter every year. The Paceman looks like it came out of a chop shop because the back clashes with the front when you look at it from the side. The Countryman, yech, one of the ugliest SUVs I've ever seen since the Toyota RAV4.

 

We held out for a 2011 when we went shopping new.


Love the car, and change the oil every 5K.


I would not hold onto an older Mini, I tell everyone
who asks about the car to get a 2010 or newer.


If you like the Clubman and have a older year, I would look around for a low mileage 2011-2013 and switch now.

 

Mr2U,
I'm glad you have a good Clubman to keep on running. I'd question the 2010 or newer timeline in regards to the straight Cooper with the N12 engine, which is essentially sound. Yes, I'd trade it for an N16 if I could, but my 2008 has a few things I couldn't get with later models, the main one being paddle shifters on the Aisin auto 6, which I use regularly, in conjunction with the shift *** manual mode. Mine also came with all options, short of the nav screen, that would be hard to find elsewhere. So, I'm good with 2008 models, but relieved not to have the turbo issues stalking my future (although I love driving them.)

Hamptup: Nice list of R55 advantages. That's my take on the car exactly.

 

They made the Clubman for 7 years. How is that a quick kill off?

I love my Clubbie but they weren't for everyone. Which would be fine, but their sales dropped every single year, starting "high" in 2007 and steadily dropping through 2013.

I'm surprised MINI didn't kill it off in 2011; I guess bringing over the LCI updates from the R56 was inexpensive.

 

bratling,
Good points all.
Note that February 2008 was the first American Clubman, and any Clubman is 2008 through 2014.
Yes, I don't blame Mini for phasing it out, especially with the 5 door hatch coming. I'm slightly glad to have a limited edition now, although I'll miss configuring one on the web site.

 

I'm confused, my 2012 Clubman is an auto, with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. It's an S model, wasn't that standard for S auto equipped cars?
Or, are you saying it was hard to impossible to get the paddle shifters on a Non-Turbo car[ which is what I think you're saying ]

 

Right, the only years you could get paddle shifters on the straight Cooper, non turbo, was 2008 and 2009. Maybe just 2008...?

Turbo (Cooper S) always has them.
The engine for the straight Cooper is the N12 followed by the N16, both 'naturally aspirated' (read no carbon buildup), whereas the S models had the N14 and N18 engines.

 

Pretty much my position also.

Affairs started with a 1275-S Austin Cooper back about 1996, sold that when in college for a new Triumph GT6....

When I heard BMW was re-introducing the name to the US market in 2001 I knew I'd have to eat my "no more new cars" resolution. Bought a Cooper off the dealers lot to get away from the Grande Voyager (I put 78,000 miles on it, had 98,000 when I found it in 1997) I'd been hauling myself around in for five years.

Then had an '03 S built, drove that for 135,000 miles (original clutch!) but the cost to rebuild suspension, clutch & flywheel, other 'expendables' pushed me into a 2007 S. Wanted a Clubman but they wouldn't go on sale here for another eight, nine months.

SO when THAT S blew oil thru the valve cover / crankcase breather into the engine wiring harness (among other long-standing issues) at 96,000 miles I let a dealer trade me in for another off-the-lot Cooper, this time the Clubman I'd wanted.

After 37,000 miles I've had no issues. Love the extra space, seldom miss the turbo boost. Appalled BMW won't be producing this model again it seems.

I'd test driven a Ford C-MAX when I was "in the mood" for a change back in late 2012 & enjoyed the brief ride. 'First-year' syndrom'd bit me before though & my dealer was very generous with the trade.

May just give Ford another look in a couple of years were I to decide my Clubman's getting a bit too tedious for me.

 

Just sold my wife's '09 Clubman S. Just in time, at 40,000 miles I was wondering when the next big maintenance bill would hit. Such a relief not having to deal with "mini problems"

 

I'm suspecting that the N12 and N16 engine Clubmans will be here the longest, although I'm hoping some of you Clubman S folks will keep on carrying on.

One item that will really help in the long run is to replace your front struts and rear shocks at some mid-life point. My OEM struts began to rattle and clatter this winter. I replaced them with the Koni FSD struts and have been most pleased with the ride ever since. The car is smoother and a bit more like a normal car over bumps and pot holes. As of yet I see no trade-off in handling, although that may change when my summer tires go back on.

For me as I approach age 70, the smoother gentler Clubman may help me keep my enthusiasm for the car going even longer. Makes me glad the original shocks failed-

 

I tend to keep my cars for a while, having driven a Mazda MPV for 6 years (totaled by daughter's boyfriend) and a PT Cruiser for 8 years (still in the family).

My 2010 S Clubbie will be paid off in two months and with 78K on the odometer, I just invested $3,600 in repairs. It started out as a clutch replacement, but ballooned with various other things found along the way to the clutch.

I still love my Clubman S.

 

Hoping too.

 

Well, at the risk of appearing manic, just two weeks after stating I was committed, the Clubbie is gone/traded, and NOT on another MINI. Less then two weeks after investing $3600, it began leaking oil from another spot reportedly NOT touched by the prior work. Another $760 quickly spent. Then the mechanic also identified a leaking vacuum pump which would likely soon need replacing, $800, and the brakes, pads and rotors, needed full maintenance, at $1200. AND I've never experienced the infamous timing chain tensioner problem. Not every S has this problem, but my luck was obviously not holding. And then Consumer Reports publishes their rating of the manufacturers by service record and MINI is third from the bottom.

I designed my MINI, followed it's progress across the pond, and kept all the maintenance up (6K oil changes specifically). I loved it and had intended it to be the car to take me into retirement, I'm 64, but the car didn't cooperate. $6000 of repairs/maintenance at only 71K miles is simply too much, and could be much more if the timing belt tensioner goes.

 

We plan on keeping a Clubman S in the family for as long as possible. We just upgraded from an '08 to an '11. Our son is 11 and he wants one as his first car. Now if I could find a mechanic in Central GA that I trust all would be good.

BigDaddy0128

 

Kymummer,
That's a rather melancholy tale of your fine Mini Clubman. I'm sorry it all unfolded like that.
I wonder if mine is next, but I try to believe it will make it.
You did everything right, but that engine just did not :-(
Retirement, I hear you. One needs the right car for that...

 

I've owned about 10 different cars in my life. 6 months ago I bought my 09 clubman and it is by far the best car I've ever owned...I plan on keeping this car forever

 

We'll see. We tend to keep cars in the family for almost forever ... Still have a 1985 BMW 528e running around on its 3rd member of the family to own it. Bought that one in 1997 for $4000.
Just got rid of our 1992 BMW 525i in Jan. to get the Countryman, we bought that 5 in Feb. 2000.
Time will tell.........:gri n:
I don't know if MINI supports older parts like BMW does on their corporate side of the aisle, but for the two older BMW's, it was probably the only way we stuck with them over the years, esp the 1985, since I just bought a new mid-door moulding/rub strip for it last month and it was still available all these years later. We waited for a factory rear heated glass for 3 weeks last year in Dec. to show up from Germany, but it showed up and was easily installed by my favorite glass guy.

Hopefully my Clubman won't eat money and time as it gets older...

 

I plan on keeping my current Clubman forever, got it about 4 months ago with 105k miles on the clock, currently at 110k miles and have done a bunch of "before they fail" repairs on the car, replaced the Turbo Oil Pipe, Serpentine Belt, Oxygen Sensor, Thermostat, 2 oil changes so far, flushed brake fluid, changed oil filter housing gaskets because they started leaking and have done 2 coolant flushes (a second one because I had to change the gaskets), unlike my first Clubbie which was identical to my current one, I plan on keeping this one forever! Upcoming Maintenance/Mods are a
-JCW Aero Kit (all ready got, just waiting to get it painted)
-Full respray of the car
-ECU Tune
-Intercooler
-JCW Turbo
-JCW Exhaust
-Koni Sport shocks/JCW Springs
-Akrapovic Catless D
-Carbon Cleaning
-Replace Clutch
-Replace Spark Plugs
-Converting the interior to Gotham Grey (halfway done)
The car runs very strong, my local MINI mechanic said he's never seen an N14 with so many miles that's never had a carbon cleaning and had 20k mile Oil Changes without any problems.