CD Article: 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


While offering more cargo space than the hatchback model, the Cooper S Clubman "is still a small car", says Contributing Editor, Chris Chase.  The barn-door style rear doors look great, but are less convenient than a hatch, he says.
 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All the Test Drives

[Honda Owner]

As much as I try to like the Mini, it always strikes me as a silly car. A silly, over priced car.

[ovr50]

Come the Spring of '09, this car, along with likely the Rabbit GTI and 2.5, and the new Mazda 3 Sport will be on the list of candidates to replace the HL as wife want's something smaller, and cheaper to run.

As long as Drake fits behind the seats, we're good to go.

[wing]

The clubman is pretty small back there for a dog, it isn't very high and it is rather narrow.

[Bullet Blue]

We sat in a Clubman when we were car shopping and I couldn't see out the back. The pillars where the two doors meet really obstructs your view. That combined with only one extra door instead of two like the RX8 and questionable styling made it pretty easy to scratch it off the list.

[2hondas]

Anyway, the Clubman looks too awkward for me. If I needed "practicality", I wouldn't be shopping for a Mini in the first place.

The regular Mini however...I like!!  

The thing I hate about Minis is that...they DON'T DEPRECIATE! 

[Snowman]

I would have a hard time with the low ride height to be a practical vehicle as entry and egress would be a challenge.

[Bullet Blue]

I would have a hard time with the low ride height to be a practical vehicle as entry and egress would be a challenge.

I'm 5"10 and I had a a bit of a hard time exiting the vehicle in a dignified way, so you could be right.

I applaud BMW for trying to address the versatility and space issues with the Mini Cooper, but I think they need to go back to the drawing board. The regular mini is way more appealing to me.

[Honda Owner]

The Mini cars I see around here are usually festooned with smurf dolls and air fresheners. But then again, so is the MB C36 the neighbour's seventeen year old drives. Only in BC could a seventeen year old drive at $140,000 car (ICBC) that will do 250 km/h. Even pays the same base premium as I do.  He has only smashed it up twice, too.

[ovr50]

The clubman is pretty small back there for a dog, it isn't very high and it is rather narrow.

Yes, I suspect you are correct in that we have not "test-fit" our hound in a Clubman yet. He may not fit, and that will eliminate that one.

If I were guessing, I think wife will end up either the Rabbit 2 door GTI, or more likely the 2 door 2.5 Rabbit. We know the Mz3 is a great car, but wife doesn't like the idea of seeing yourself 3 thimes in every block. There are a ton of them out there.

[davidm]

Been pretty happy with my Cooper S.

Two big issues I have with the clubman - the rear viability like everyone else, but also the single third door.  Its very small and I find makes a design mess of the passenger side of the car for little improvement in ingress.

I'm 5'10" and have no problems getting in and out of my Cooper S with sports pkg - you guys must just have old knees and backs    You should try and dropped Miata ...

Also, don't let anyone fool you, this car torque-steers pretty good (short of a Saab Viggen, but up there) unless you get a manual with the LSD (no LSD for us auto-dweebs  ).  Not fun when you are jumping around in traffic and hit the overboost while turning.  The car is a good reminder that I am a RWD fan.

Also, I hope the brakes on a clubman are bigger than on my cooper S as I found them to be on the small side at my one track event.  I was having trouble pulling the car down at the end of the big straight.  Perhaps time for non-OEM pads.

Overall, fabulous handling, good looks, and remarkably useful - I'm enjoying mine alot (although I think I'd like a 135i better ...)

Cheers,
Dave

[wing]

The torque is pretty severe actually.

[TopGun]

As much as I try to like the Mini, it always strikes me as a silly car. A silly, over priced car.

A little late to the party here...sorry 'bout that!  I drove one with the thought that this could replace my P5.

Vs. the supercharged Mini, I thought this new one had been neutered in the personality department...but I do recall how little torque steer I found...from the manual...with the LSD as DavidM commented.

In the end, I too found this to be a silly over priced car given it really didn't add much to the practicality equation vs. the regular Mini.

[Jaeger]

My wife wants one.  REALLY wants one.  She's been in love with the regular mini for a while, but her practical side couldn't get past being forced to choose between a small back seat OR a small rear storage area, but not both at the same time.  Now that she can have both, the odds of one of these things gracing our driveway just went up significantly.  Can't say I'd mind.  This car is fun to drive and has personality - two elements rapidly disappearing from the automotive landscape.

Jaeger

[huota]

I have to agree with the review about the dashboard toggles, especially the fan and temperature control wheels. That said, they are easily forgiven once you hit the first corner.

If there's anything that bothers me in the car it is the comfort and support provided by the seats. I find them somewhat uncomfortable and lacking in terms of lateral support.

The Cooper seems to return around 6.8 l/100km in mixed driving (roughly 90% highway/10% city) with the AC off and just over 7 l/100km with the AC on. This may not seem as low as one would hope for, but compared to the S60 2.4 that I used to drive, it is roughly 2.7 l/100km less, so I am fairly content.

I am curious, do the Canadian models come with the engine start/stop management? I am not sure what they call it, but it is a system that shuts the engine off when stopped and automatically starts it again at the press of the clutch pedal.

[safristi]

C'mon folks itsa Sunday DRIVER...FUN KAR.....not a substitute fer a COR' ROLLER type COMUTTAAAH...nor a RUGGED!!! SUV/Mini-MAN!!! (sic) type thingie.....a hot lil runabout ta show ya have arrived and know how to have FUN.....

[stickshift]

I am curious, do the Canadian models come with the engine start/stop management? I am not sure what they call it, but it is a system that shuts the engine off when stopped and automatically starts it again at the press of the clutch pedal.

Nope. Haven't heard that Mini plans to bring it here, either. I suspect it's a nod to Euroland's more expensive gas/tighter emissions regs.