New jalopy

[Modena Scotland]

Used to live in Croydon. Sold my transporter to Caterham....

[AJT]

Snap

[Jeremy]

Congratulations Campbell.

A lot of apparent hate around SE for the Clubman and whilst it's not a car I could ever see fitting into my own life I can see a very long list of virtues. Plus it's quirky and unique - how many cars can you say that about these days ? In a world of motoring its a car that grabs ones attention and I think that should be celebrated.

Out of interest why didn't you choose the Clubvan if you're using it for business purposes and already have a 5 seater in the garage ? Far more tax efficient

Regards,

Jeremy

[campbell]

The 2 door connection referred only to the barn doors folks...sorry for the artistic licence there

Jeremy, Clubvan is a funky idea but also has only 2 seats. We do need all 4

Plus we have a van idea on the runway for next year...

Thank you for identifying many of the reasons we chose to go with a Clubman. We enjoyed our Cooper hatch more than we could ever have imagined, so it was logical to try out the stretch limo version when the kids started to need the room.

Otherwise it was heading down Audi A3 or S3 territory - one a bit safe, one a bit thirsty.

To the question of was it a good enough deal to go to Gatwick for - yes, for sure. Have been on duty with the search for 2 months and very few local options emerged in our budget range. Vines MINI have been great to deal with, and final bonus was to land a piece of work in London which meant collecting and driving it home became more feasible than ever. I was already half way there at the start of the week due to commitments in Liverpool

Tie all that together with std MINI Cherished features like 12 mths warranty etc and it all made sense.

And still have the run home from South East to play with all the toys - auto everything, cruise, Bluetooth, iPod connection, mood lighting, you name it

[flyingscot68]

Ahhh, I was nearly right, out by one letter

Never been a fan of the new Mini myself, or the old one come to think about it. However I do see what your talking about regarding running costs / practicality / equipment.

I've got a test drive arranged tomorrow afternoon of a Clubvan D. Never driven a new Mini so looking forward to seeing what it's like.
We don't need the rear seats so the van is a good option for us.

[mikeyb13]

Nice one Campbell. Not quite an F40 but a bit more out the box than the new to us golf tdi we are picking later today.

[Stevoraith]

Nice one Campbell, Kenny and I were just saying the other day that we both really like the Clubman these days. In the right colour (which Chili red definitely is) they look great. Still ugly, but all the cooler for that I think!

My mum has just picked up a brand new Countryman Cooper SD this week and it's a great thing. Styling is personal opinion of course but I like it (again very colour sensitive- I persuaded her to go for True blue with black wheels and roof).

And I'm loving Minis so much just now I've just done a deal with Kenny to buy his Mrs' Cooper S- they've moved to Paris so don't need the Mini and Exige back here and it's too good a spec (and too well looked after) to let them sell it to a stranger.
How did you get on with the kids in the back of your hatch? We've only got the one 3yr old and also have the Octavia for family trips but it would be good to know that the three of us could go somewhere in the Mini if needed. Is the Clubman much bigger?

[campbell]

Our MINI hatchback was originally a "1 year project" while the kids were just the right size etc etc.

But loved it so much and it cost so little to own (inc depreciation) that it earned a 1 year extension! And only missed out on a third year with us because James finally was too big to sit comfortably behind the driver's seat. Ironically, in another couple of years, his legs will be that bit longer and will fit better instead of sticking straight out into the driver's seat back...but that's a long time to sit all folded up, so Clubman it had to be

However, if we only had one nipper to accommodate, we could have continued. Eilidh sat quite happily behind the pax seat - despite being a little bigger, she had the benefit that the pax seat can be set further forward than driver's of course.

So in your case, a MINI hatch is a fine proposition. And yes that includes going away with some luggage etc. We had a few (non-camping!) weekend breaks with ours. If you apply the skills of an Elise / VX220 packer, you will fit a lot more in than you expect.

And it's well documented that with the rear seats flat, running the MINI as a 2-seater with "large boot" is also perfectly sensible. Jen and Alan used to this to advantage on Campaganzas, as did we...albeit we had the Elise for 2 of us too of course

So to the Clubman...it essentially uses its stretched wheelbase (approx 15cm) to extend the rear seat legroom. A couple of cm might be devoted to taking the boot capacity up (160 litres for hatch, 260 for Clubman) but it's the rear space we needed. Tried the kids out in one at Eastern MINI showroom in Edinburgh much to the sales team's anxiety (!) and James declared it "just great...and we get a cupholder EACH!". Sold...

Family haven't had the chance to trial it yet though, they've all been a way on Easter hols while I slog my way around the country working but they are home tonight and looking forward to getting into the Gangsta Wagon for the first time

I have been laughing at the amount of stick I got over the Clubman on here. Almost as much as for buying a Skoda But given we really enjoyed our "MINI adventure" with the R53, and that it's broadly the same car when you sit in the front seats and look forwards, what's not to like? Drives much like the shorter wheelbase hatch yet has significantly better motorway refinement (important for business use for me). A 6spd box helps there. Claimed 50mpg combined average. I saw 49mpg average on the m-ways en route home with it on Friday without trying very hard so I am convinced on that front too. Insurance cost is broadly identical to the outgoing older car as well.

Classic "Cooper" characteristics, of excellent chassis (boo to those who say the modern MINI is not a good steer...) which rewards minimal braking...which is the style required given it's a "modest" 120bhp motor. Albeit far more refined than the old Chrysler-based unit in the former model.

One problem. This one is again a "1-year project". Oh dear...!

So who's moved to Paris then?!

[Stevoraith]

Cheers for the info Campbell, glad to hear we should all manage to squeeze in.

It’s my brother who is KennyT on here (bought Mike Scib's 135 Sport then sold it to Dom, now has an S2 Exige S) that has moved to Paris. Not the 'other' Kenny!

I think there would be less 'haterz' of the new Mini if people could just think of the word Mini as a brand rather than take it as a literal comment on it's size, and stop comparing it to a car which was designed 50 years ago!

No one moans about how the Golf isn't a proper Golf anymore because it’s much bigger than the mk1. Cars are bigger these days- the Mini is still a small car compared to most. And what is wrong with producing bigger models to expand the range? I wonder if Mini has the same problem in non-English speaking countries where they don’t automatically associate the word Mini with something small.

And anyone who says a new Mini isn’t a good steer surely hasn’t driven one (or is comparing it to an Elise!).

[smee]

Just had a sneaky peek at Clubvans, hmmmm interesting.

[Corranga]

I think there would be less 'haterz' of the new Mini if people could just think of the word Mini as a brand rather than take it as a literal comment on it's size, and stop comparing it to a car which was designed 50 years ago!

No one moans about how the Golf isn't a proper Golf anymore because it’s much bigger than the mk1. Cars are bigger these days- the Mini is still a small car compared to most. And what is wrong with producing bigger models to expand the range? I wonder if Mini has the same problem in non-English speaking countries where they don’t automatically associate the word Mini with something small.

I don't think it's much to do with the size to be honest, more to do with it simply not being an old Mini, combined with the BMW philosophy of disguising the shortcomings of the car by simply releasing a new model.
Not long enough / need more boot space..
Too small..
Need a van..
Want to do some off roading..
Not sporty enough..
Want a convertible..

As for the comparisons with a car from 50 years ago, isn't that the whole point in the brand?!

I'm still a big fan of the classics, but am happy that the original legacy is continuing, and in a popular way that certainly is far from bringing the original down, and completely get why the Clubman suits, congrats

[Stevoraith]

I don't think it's much to do with the size to be honest, more to do with it simply not being an old Mini, combined with the BMW philosophy of disguising the shortcomings of the car by simply releasing a new model.
Not long enough / need more boot space..
Too small..
Need a van..
Want to do some off roading..
Not sporty enough..
Want a convertible..

See, I really don't get this argument. Does anyone criticise VW (or any other marque) for releasing new models?
So the Golf doesn't fit your needs? Ok;
Bigger boot?- Golf Estate
Sportier Golf- Scirrocco
Taller Golf- Golf Plus
More seats in a Golf- Touran
Off-road Golf- Tiguan
Convertable Golf- Eos, or errr Golf Cabrio
Saloon Golf- Jetta
Smaller Golf- Polo
Bigger Golf- Passat

Mini is a Marque, so why shouldn't they release more models to suit different needs? Every other marque does it.

Sorry for the thread hijack Campbell!

[BiggestNizzy]

You forgot cheaper golf - skoda

[flyingscot68]

It's the whole styling/image thing that puts me off, I find them a bit twee tbh.

That said, I'm fairly sure I'll be running around in the Clubvan before the year is out.
Can't find anything close in terms of overall package.





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[Stevoraith]

You forgot cheaper golf - skoda

You mean 'thinking mans Golf' surely?