Comments on: MINI Releases Official Clubman Info & Specs

By: OutMotoring.com MINI Cooper Product News » Blog Archive » The Clubman is HERE!

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:49:46 +0000

[...] out the latest news regarding the launch of the NEW MINI Cooper/clubman at [...]

By: Michael Nesbett

Michael Nesbett — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:19:11 +0000

I've waited to see what the final product will be: the lack of a body colored rear will cause me to pass on this one. It may have been made of wood in days of yore, but this is today. It looks too funky. I'd rather have a choice the same as I have a choice on the roof color.

No Clubman for me until they can give me choice of the roof/rear in body color

By: James Coblentz

James Coblentz — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:16:12 +0000

I love the look of the new clubman S but I do think u still need to put a small spoiler on the back of the car. over all I like the look it is nice looking for word to be able to test drive it. I hope that u come up with some new colors soon be nice to see some changes in your colors. thank for reading my letter James and Terry Coblentz. PS love my my wifes mini s that she has know it is a 05 and we have a blast out of it {FUN FUN }

By: ibewebe

ibewebe — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:09:54 +0000

You can’t get a body coloured rear because that would make the Clubman look less unique – all original 1960s Mini Travellers and Countrymans had a wooden rear end, and the contrasting pillars on the new Clubman are designed to echo this. It’s all in the history!! It would look daft fully colour co-ordinated! Black is the best colour to go with the light colours, such as Peppr white, and silver with the dark colours such as Lightning blue

By: LEPRACHAUN

LEPRACHAUN — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:48:20 +0000

I feel much better now. The cooper S sells for 29650 Euro in Ireland and $21850 here. This could have the Clubman between $24600 and $25600. Much better price. That will leave me with the extra money to repaint the back C pillars.

By: LEPRACHAUN

LEPRACHAUN — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 01:14:48 +0000

Looking forward to extra room. Already have an ‘04 S and the Clubman will keep me away from minivans. I saw that they go on sale Oct 10 in Ireland. The S will be just over $44,000. If the ‘09 JCW kit can be added it’d be kiiler. ( in price and performance.)

By: Pete Eriksen

Pete Eriksen — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 22:02:20 +0000

2700 pounds is too much to pull with a 1.6 liters. Even if you pump it up. This car needs a normally aspirated 2.5L engine. In general, turbo- or super-charging small-displacement engines is a very expensive way to get torque and HP. So why bother doing it? Corvette and even Mustang just use bigger holes in the engine block. Much simpler and cheaper. Turbo- or super-charging really uses 2 compression devices in series. The first device, the turbo- or super-charger compresses the gas part of the way, and the next device – the engine itself, compresses the gas the rest of the way. This 2 processes result is a higher final compression ratio than you could could have gotten using just the one device – the engine, alone. But who cares? There are no prizes for the maximum HP from the minimum cubes. Why not just use the one device – the engine, and compress a bigger volume of gas once to a lower final pressure? This setup gives the same HP & ft/lbs but with less stress on the moving parts, cheaper, and is not no finicky about rev-range.

By: More Cars that are Hott at jWiltshire.org

More Cars that are Hott at jWiltshire.org — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:52:07 +0000

[...] MINI Clubman – It’s not unknown that I’m a big fan of the MINI Cooper. In fact, I love ‘em, since I was a kid. The classic, the new, even the little Moke has a place in my heart. And now that the Traveller is coming back as the MINI Clubman, I’m super stoked. All the awesomeness of the regular MINI with a longer wheelbase and hot new design. This thing is a sexy beast. I think I’ll just link to Gabe at Motoring File with his post of the official MINI press release. [...]

By: scotteast

scotteast — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:51:54 +0000

Interestingly according to the PDF file you can tow a trailer with a Cooper but not with an S. Anyone have an idea as to why?

My guess would be that the center exhaust on the S doesn't leave a place to attach the hitch.

By: KarK

KarK — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:18:19 +0000

No, that’s what I mean: you CAN’T have silver C-Pillars on a silver car, and therefore I presume you can’t have black ones on a black car.

By: Ade

Ade — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 09:09:27 +0000

Being a Mini clubman estate owner myself (Austin of course!) I’m amused that everyone is argueing over the colour options of the trim (just paint it for Christ’ sake!) when no-one has pointed out the fact that in the UK at least you get to unload your kids into the middle of the road through the abtly named ’suicide door’ on the rear!!! Nice touch Adolf.

By: Crocker

Crocker — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:21:13 +0000

This looks like it is based on a REAL mini estate/traveller.

By: Steve S

Steve S — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:14:00 +0000

So either get a silver or black mini to have it all one color. I hope they change their minds in future years to have body colored C pillars as an option.

By: >KÃ¢rK

>KÃ¢rK — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:49:28 +0000

I can't wait for this to get into the showrooms. I think I'm going to love it :)

I'm strongly considering Astro Black with silver roof, mirrors and C-Pillars, and silver bonnet-stripes (and about time too on the silver stripes!!!! In response to some people's doubts, I have been told by an apparently reliable source that the C-Pillars are ONLY available in silver or black, not in body colour. Pure Silver is only available with black C-Pillars, and the only thing I'm not quite sure about is whether Astro Black can be ordered with black pillars. I hope so, but doubt it.

By: David T

David T — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:59:47 +0000

Gabe,

I don't think I said the Clubman would be faster with professionals driving. I just think it will be easier for me to drive fast so I may go as fast or faster in the Clubman. As many magazine tests have shown, the driver is the most important part of the car with the tire selection being arguably second. I can either get faster by practicing more or by driving a car that is more forgiving/easier. I suspect the speed difference between the two cars with an average weekend driver will be quite small, unless the Clubman suspension is unfairly "Softened".

Please do a back to back test when you get a chance and do one of your great articles about it. Then we will all know if the space vs. weight tradeoff of the Clubman is acceptable. If you do an autoX comparison I suspect there will be a bigger difference (Coupe best).

By: Hoover

Hoover — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:11:37 +0000

Message to andrew: I really don’t understand your compulsion to visit this site and make comments like that. Really, why are you here? Your comments are just…well…fill in the blank with the expletive of your choice.

I admit to not being a fan of this design…yet. Time will tell when I see it in person. The R56 grew on me pretty quickly.

By: Nathaniel Salzman

Nathaniel Salzman — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:19:20 +0000

Gabe, is there any word on when the Clubman will show up in the Configurator? Forgive me if this has already been asked somewhere else.

By: Nigel

Nigel — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:37:13 +0000

My only problem with the dual rear "barn" doors is the visibility constraint they create at the center of the rear glass.

It seems to me that ordering the rear backup sensor radars in in good order for this car.

By: Bur

Bur — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:01:42 +0000

C pillar contrasting paint seems incredibly ugly to me. kind of like a commercial delivery van. Don’t care for the shape of tail lights, and I miss the single lift door as a practical application. I have owned SUV’s with bot double doors and lift gate. The lift gate is immensely superior. Easier to open, protection from the elements. If I chose one, which I doubt will happen I would custom paint the C pillars to match the rest of the body. Perhaps MINI will do that it self in later model years.

By: Nigel

Nigel — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:21:23 +0000

That remains to be seen. The longer wheelbase will definetely improve ride quality, and if the press packs are to be believed, the Clubman will handle as good if not better than the hardtops.

Besides, the R56 is already front bias heavier than the R53 that precedes it. If anything, the R53 was closer to a 50/50 weight distribution pattern than the R56-R55 ever was.

Let's see who is right and who is wrong when we can put all of them side-by-side at the track.