Comments on: The New MINI Clubman

By: corey

corey — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:42:33 +0000

I used to live minis! but with this new car addes to the cute little group It messes it up! i mean c’mon it looks like a station wagon and is in no was a mini but most definatley a “maxi” to quote chris! wow

By: bean machine

bean machine — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:31:08 +0000

IT AINT A CLUBMAN WHERE IS THE SQUARE FRONT AND THE EXTRA UNDER BONNET SPACE FRANKLY I THINK YOU BMW SHOUDL JUST LEAVE IT ALONE

By: Miniman

Miniman — Tue, 23 May 2006 01:57:44 +0000

Minis aren’t supposed to have 4 doors. If they were making a new mini clubman wouldnt they redesign the front – not lengthen the existing design.

By: MotoringFile » Archive » The New MINI Keeps the Clamshell Hood

MotoringFile » Archive » The New MINI Keeps the Clamshell Hood — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 22:48:44 +0000

[...] Sometimes a polite “I told you so” is in order. It would seem that recent photos published in AutoExpress have verified something we mentioned last March on MotoringFile; MINI will indeed be keeping the clamshell style hood. When we first mentioned that the clamshell hood was staying it caused a bit of ruckus among readers since it had already been established as a sacrificial lamb in the name of cost cutting by the English automotive press. Here’s what we had to say in the “Next Generation Revealed” story we ran last March: [...]

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 16:42:22 +0000

Please, that is not a mini!!! for that people who want a big car for trips or vacations with the family itÃ‚Â´s nice. But, always a but, the magic of a mini itÃ‚Â´s the size. My 70Ã‚Â´s clubman fit in this 2005 car. Sorry for my English.

Long life for the original minis.

Ricardo/Portugal

By: Oli from the UK

Oli from the UK — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 14:51:25 +0000

Hi,

I own a classic mini clubman estate from 1978. It's beautiful.

Although I would never buy a BMW Mini, I do think that BMW are doing a good job with introducing the estate version.

BMW will never be able to replicate the driving sensation of a classic mini but I think by introducing the models that were once classics, they ARE keeping with the heritage of the classic minis.

I've heard a few people say that minis should only be short cars....trust me when I say that the clubman estate is one of THE most fun minis to drive.

If you don't like the look of it, that's one thing. But I personally wouldn't blame BMW for producing what can only be seen as a modern day version of a classic mini estate.

-Oli

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 14:44:27 +0000

I love the idea and don’t see the problem with a few extra inchs. if u wanna get technical the new mini is bigger then the old one in the first place….. anyway i just want them the complete the mini line up with a pickup, same wheel base as the clubman. ore possibly a delivery style clubman with no rear seats ore windows. a lil pickup would be awesome!!!!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 06:26:21 +0000

i dont like it it it looks too much like the new mini(gross). a mini is meant to be small(like the old classic minis) the old clubman they changeed the front it was a success why not try it again and have like the old style grill that looks different.

By: Impetuous One

Impetuous One — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:07:48 +0000

Chris, you made the comment that an incresed line up would dilute the concept on owneing a sporty MINI.

Did the Cayenne wash away the heritage of the Carrera GT...... ...... and what about the Porsche sedan in delevopment?

BMW was smart enough to bring back the MINI, I'll trust them to do justice to the Traveller heritage, and when it's available I'll order one with a JCW package, pit my COMP SSR's on it and haul butt to the grocery store and the autocross track.

By: christopher Orbach

christopher Orbach — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 02:01:53 +0000

I think, if it's handled right, and the performance and the interior are in keeping with MINI's current design asthetic, the Clubman will be a great car.

I've been wanting to get a MINI for months, but have been hesitant, because, as a musician, I often have to lug a lot of gear around. The Clubman would be the perfect vehicle for me. It retains the flair and vibe of the Mini, but with just a wee bit more space. I would happily wait for one of these cars.

By: r

Tue, 07 Jun 2005 03:39:47 +0000

it is cool

By: willigenburg

willigenburg — Fri, 27 May 2005 11:31:19 +0000

I have a mini one now for 3 years with about 66000 k on it , trouble free i mightg add , wondefull little machine very loyal and always ready to go.

The clubman is trully amazing i am about 2 meters tall and i would love to be able to sit in the back of my own car for a chance hahahaha.

But offcourse the in the front it is better :-)).

Mini sign me up for one , i want to be the first official buyer of the clubman.

Mini will be my car for live and ill keep driving it till i go grey and decrapped :-))

Greets from holland

By: Gabe

Gabe — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 14:33:42 +0000

Rob - are you talking about this: A world of parts. Just to clarify, the only thing that comes from Brazil is the engine and that will be changing to the UK in 2007.

By: Mini142612

Mini142612 — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 14:15:16 +0000

Hi all from Australia. Just adding my colonial 2 cents worth to the debate. I admit I didnt like the new mini at all when it came ouot however I have warmed to it and I am actually getting waves from the drivers now(I drive a 1977 Clubman). People are getting used to them and after driving one I quite enjoyed the poke it had.

The one thing that concerns me is the banter and the marketing on the car. For those who read National Geographic there was an interesting article in there displaying who made what in the new Mini. No less than 28 manufacturers involved in the manufacture of the car - only 2 component groups are actually manufactured in the EU. The majority comes from Brazil!! Now that worries me a little however I didnt let that get in the way of the experience of the drive and as I said I liked it a lot.

The new Clubby - take it or leave it - put it this way - if someone gave me one I would proudly drive it!!

Hooroo for now

Rob Forsyth Orstrayliah

By: Al

Al — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 21:44:41 +0000

Photoshop anyone?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 09 Apr 2005 23:55:57 +0000

Well it is definitely a mini estate. But the clubman was a square nosed mini made in the 70’s I think they should call it a MINI Estate or a Mini Countryman…. Not a MINI Clubman.

By: john

john — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 16:21:10 +0000

this seems like an interesting variation.

all you anti-Clubman people, have you ever tried taking a long trip with the MINI? it's a TIGHT squeeze if you bring any amount of equipment, outdoor gear, etc on top of clothes with you.

i'm willing to entertain any new, larger MINI varieties. calm down, i'm sure it won't be as large as a 7 series, yet.

By: Gareth

Gareth — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:35:30 +0000

I found this site this morning because every so often I search for news about the forecoming clubman. I felt certain a clubman was in the cards as soon as I bought my Cooper S several years ago. It’s simply logical; one of the advantages of reviving the brand is its range. I love my Cooper S. I am a city dweller and a commuter and don’t want a car any larger than it needs to be. Right now, with my nine-month-old the size of an average sixteen-month-old, and growing like Topsy, I foresee needing a car a little larger than what we now have. I want that car also to be a MINI.

I don’t want a car much larger. I for sure don’t want an SUV. I want something I can still turn around in a small space, something that still zips in and out of rotaries, something I can still park in a small space, something that gets reasonable gas mileage.

So what shall I do? Shall I abandon the MINI for a station wagon made by someone else? I hope I won’t have to. I hope MINI will expand its range as the original Mini did, and give me an option to stay within the brand with a car that gives that little extra one needs to put kids in carseats in the back. (Really, it’s the carseats that are the problem, not the kids).

I love my MINI. It is my dream car. I loved driving an original Mini when I was at university in Wales, and I was thrilled when the new MINI came out. But the truth is that either my MINI or my New Beetle TDI will have to go in a few years, and we’re getting 45 MPG in the Beetle.

I agree with Victoria: the dream would be a MINI Clubman Estate with a diesel/hybrid engine. I wish MINI would come up with a diesel engine that has some power, and a wagon is the logical place to put it. For options, I think this car needs a fixed luggage rack, and wood trim. I’d like to see this model take more clues from the Austin Seven Countryman or Morris Mini Minor Traveller than the Mini Clubman.

Look at the original and tell me it’s not a beauty. This is where MINI needs to go.

http://www.minireg.com/disp_auto.asp?autoid=82

http://www.autoarch.com/sherwoodforest.html

By: Stuart

Stuart — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 13:56:29 +0000

I’ve just read every post, and as usual love the light and shade , but as a MINI owner and a Mini owner of Clubman estates or station wagons, I’d just like to say that an ‘S’ version will be on my shopping list. Its what the BRAND is crying out for, something a little larger that will tempt those in who currently shy away because its a tad too small here and there. Might be somewhere to put a Spare wheel , so you can all ditch those runflats too :)

By: Rocketboy

Rocketboy — Sun, 20 Mar 2005 17:49:17 +0000

Wow, Far be it from me to engage in personal attacks, but wow, is your relation with your MINI so fragile that the introduction of a more station-wagon type MINI will shatter your world view? Imagine the horror if they re-introduce the MINI Van? Or the MINI Pickup? Or, horror of all horrors, a 4WD MINI Moke!!!! Da DUMMMMM!!! I don’t get how it looks like a Saturn, or how it will somehow make your Cooper slower and less agile. Nor how you expect MINI to survive as a brand if they only offer 1 body style. (Ok, 1.5, if you consider the convertable). I say bring on the new MINI models. Sometime down the road, I might want another MINI to add to my collection. I would love to have a choice of what MINI will be my 2nd MINI. Or maybe someone wants a MINI, but they either have kids, or plan on having kids, but wants more room than the current Cooper has. Sorry, being anti-anything but Cooper is just stupid.