It remains unlocked.

You will hear the locks click when you've held it long enough to actuate the locks. If you hold it for (IIRC) three seconds it will also roll up any windows that are down.

 

I will have to make another thread about this because we JUST got back from the dealership and I will most likely be back there in a few hours.....LOL.....lots of things have changed....we are now STRONGLY considering the Clubman S....

The sheer practicality of the back is what is getting us. The look is unique but there is something about it that is not quite right with us....but everytime we see it (and from the practical standpoint) it grows a bit on us!

 

I got my MCS before the Clubman came out, and although they do look somewhat odd, I gotta say I love those suckers. They are very unique and practical. I also love the barn doors on the boot. I think if I would have got a car later then what I did, it would've been the Clubman S.

 

Ha! I knew it!! Clubbies add the perfect amount of practicality to the standard coupe.

 

The Clubman does grow on you. I prefer the back of the Clubman over the Hatchback.

I also like Run-Flat tires...for the wife. After three flat tires in less than a month...I just buy the ones from a fellow club member or from the NAM marketplace.

My opinion is that if you go over a certain amount for a car...$30K...I start looking at BMW 1 or 3 Series, Mitsubishi EVO, or anything bigger. MINI is still a small economy car and paying over $30K for me doesn't make sense.

 

Yup and it does grow on you. Strangely enough it drives very similar. I could not tell much if any difference. There is only like 3" diff in length from wheel to wheel than the Cooper S Hatchback.

Clubman back is starting to grow on me as well. About the price...man when you factor in all the gee gaw gadgets (what I like) it gets pressed right up at MSRP of around $30K. However, my wife does not need nor want the gee gaw gadgets. She does not own an Ipod (she just doesnt get into technology like I do) and the BT functionality she probably just wouldn't use at all. Its a nice feature but not something she has to have by any means.

Now finding one of these puppies like we want it is the tough thing. Our salesperson and the internet manager asked us to send them the list of things we MUST have and the things we are willing to compromise on so that they can check inventories across the nation. If we end up ordering it will be the full monty.

As for BMW's and such we really aren't into them that much. The "Cute" factor and "being different" is really a bigger factor in what my wife wants than the sake of owning a brand such as BMW.

Does anyone know if you just get the factory standard stereo, can you use an Ipod with it via some sort of an Aux input like some cars have? I realize that you could not use the stereo controls to manipulate the IPOD but it would only be in use when I was driving on long trips.

 

Yes, there should be a standard aux input in the little cubby hole below the toggle switches. I have the standard stereo myself and just use the most basic of Ipods(the Shuffle) to play my music using that aux input.

 

Thanks! That's our plan. $500 for the Ipod interface/BT simply won't get used by us.

I started a new thread in the Clubman Section as we have decided to go that route!

Clubman Build Critique Thread

We really liked the cloth seats. Not like any cloth we have ever seen before! I found myself sweating alot with the leather and leatherette and the feel of the cloth while in shorts for both my wife and I was much nicer!

Question....do any of you have dogs and the cloth interior? How does it hold up with pups? (two border collie mixes! )

Regards,

Mike

 

I have known MINI owners with two big dogs in the R52 Convertibles (backseat w/ dog restraint belts), R56 Coopers (Fold the seat down in back) and Clubmans and they seem to make it work and they said it's fine.

Pooch Styles makes custom cushioned liners for the MINIs.

 

I will check on that site....thanks!

 

Ha ha! I can add something useful to this! Check this out:

This is my 90 pound Labrador Retriever in the back of my R56 coupe:



And here he is laying down in the back seat...



I really don't recommend traveling with your dogs just sort of hanging out in the hatch. If you're in an accident, they can get hurt. I use a ruff rider roadie with my boy when he's in the car, and if a seat isn't available to hook him up to, then I use a cargo clip on a cargo hook in the cargo area of the car with the roadie harness.

Maybe I'll have him pose for some new pics... I dunno how many times I've posted these on the forum for folks.

 

Very nice on the restraint! We haven't had one for a bit as it was lost in the move. Where did you get yours at? Wonder if there is a way to hook it up to something when the seats are down in the clubbie?

 

http://www.ruffrider.com/

To be honest, my old man doesn't find the MINI very comfortable with the seats folded down because blankets and the like slide all over the place and take him with them when I go through the bends. I also don't think the cargo hooks on the MINI are anchored to the frame of the vehicle. They are not as secure as they should be for the safety hooks on dog seat belts, so I would not use them with any hope that they would do the job of a safety restraint.

Your safest bet will be to strap them into the seat belts with the roadie restraints. Then you still have the boot and floorboards for storage and safe travel conditions for your BC's.