Comments on: Clubman 3rd Door Revisited http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/ MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: GregW http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173443 GregW Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:05:32 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173443 <p>Hey BobS - here is the wikipedia interpretation; "The result of the door being hit by another vehicle would likely be more catastrophic, since the door would be slammed shut onto the passenger, even if merely nicked on the outside edge. In contrast, a door hinged at the front would be pushed away from the passenger and possibly torn off entirely." Check out the full story on "suicide doors" at; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_door</p> Hey BobS – here is the wikipedia interpretation; “The result of the door being hit by another vehicle would likely be more catastrophic, since the door would be slammed shut onto the passenger, even if merely nicked on the outside edge. In contrast, a door hinged at the front would be pushed away from the passenger and possibly torn off entirely.” Check out the full story on “suicide doors” at; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_door

]]> By: ValparaisoExpress http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173408 ValparaisoExpress Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:55:13 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173408 <p>Time will tell whether BMW's decision to add only one clubdoor on the right side of the vehicle will either prove to be a success or a flop. I have a feeling the one sided clubdoor will be short lived.</p> Time will tell whether BMW’s decision to add only one clubdoor on the right side of the vehicle will either prove to be a success or a flop. I have a feeling the one sided clubdoor will be short lived.

]]> By: BobS http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173345 BobS Tue, 30 Oct 2007 03:52:48 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173345 <p>Of course it opens on the traffic side. Why else would it be called a <em>suicide door</em>?</p> Of course it opens on the traffic side. Why else would it be called a suicide door?

]]> By: GregW http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173288 GregW Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:25:49 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173288 <p>Thanks for that wikipedia reference Revhed. Very interesting history of why we drive on our sides of the road. Bill Bryson should write another book on the influence of transportation.</p> Thanks for that wikipedia reference Revhed. Very interesting history of why we drive on our sides of the road. Bill Bryson should write another book on the influence of transportation.

]]> By: GregW http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173286 GregW Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:15:30 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173286 <p>Well said Craig. This brings things into perspective.</p> Well said Craig. This brings things into perspective.

]]> By: Craig http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173281 Craig Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:48:58 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173281 <blockquote>BMW has sold more MINIs than in USA, vs. the UK since at least 2005.</blockquote> <p>I don't see why this is so surprising to so many people. The UK is not a very large county compared to the USA in terms of population (60.5 mil vs. 302.7 mil). The main two reasons MINI was sold in larger volumes in the UK vs. USA is, firstly, brand history and secondly, population density (246/sq km vs. 31/sq km). The USA is also nominally a wealthier country, so can most definitely support a new vehicle brand that fills an empty niche (nominal GDP per capita is $43,444 in the USA vs. $35,051 in the UK). The MINI has next to no direct competition in the USA but has some extremely strong competition in the UK and most of Europe. I don't have any hard data to back it up but intuitively I can see MINI selling 100,000 units per year in the USA within the next 6 years. I doubt MINI will see that much growth in any of their other markets.</p> <p>That being said, of course MINI will cater to the US market! They would be suicidal not to. I just hope they will cater to the ACTUAL market not what they BELIEVE the market is based on what has sold here in the past. Times are changing and Americans don't seem to want to be fed the same old pap.</p> BMW has sold more MINIs than in USA, vs. the UK since at least 2005.

I don’t see why this is so surprising to so many people. The UK is not a very large county compared to the USA in terms of population (60.5 mil vs. 302.7 mil). The main two reasons MINI was sold in larger volumes in the UK vs. USA is, firstly, brand history and secondly, population density (246/sq km vs. 31/sq km). The USA is also nominally a wealthier country, so can most definitely support a new vehicle brand that fills an empty niche (nominal GDP per capita is $43,444 in the USA vs. $35,051 in the UK). The MINI has next to no direct competition in the USA but has some extremely strong competition in the UK and most of Europe. I don’t have any hard data to back it up but intuitively I can see MINI selling 100,000 units per year in the USA within the next 6 years. I doubt MINI will see that much growth in any of their other markets.

That being said, of course MINI will cater to the US market! They would be suicidal not to. I just hope they will cater to the ACTUAL market not what they BELIEVE the market is based on what has sold here in the past. Times are changing and Americans don’t seem to want to be fed the same old pap.

]]> By: Mark (Texas) http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173270 Mark (Texas) Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:37:41 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173270 <blockquote>Are there real numbers to support this statement? I’m skeptical…</blockquote> <p>BMW has sold more MINIs than in USA, vs. the UK since at least 2005.</p> <p>USA 2005 - 40,820 sold<br /> UK 2005 - 36,969 sold, which was a "record" year not yet matched again in the UK.</p> <p>USA 2006 - 40, 820 sold USA 2007 - 31, 936 sold through Sept</p> Are there real numbers to support this statement? I’m skeptical…

BMW has sold more MINIs than in USA, vs. the UK since at least 2005.

USA 2005 – 40,820 sold
UK 2005 – 36,969 sold, which was a “record” year not yet matched again in the UK.

USA 2006 – 40, 820 sold USA 2007 – 31, 936 sold through Sept

]]> By: Bumblebee http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173269 Bumblebee Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:24:58 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173269 <p>Remember the Saturn SC2? The last couple years it was made, it had a door just like the Clubman's on the driver's side onlt. No idea why.</p> Remember the Saturn SC2? The last couple years it was made, it had a door just like the Clubman’s on the driver’s side onlt. No idea why.

]]> By: PaulGraz http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173244 PaulGraz Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:59:57 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173244 <blockquote>I am 99.9% sure the United States is now MINIs largest market, with the United Kingdom dropping to #2. </blockquote> <p>Are there real numbers to support this statement? I'm skeptical...</p> I am 99.9% sure the United States is now MINIs largest market, with the United Kingdom dropping to #2.

Are there real numbers to support this statement? I’m skeptical…

]]> By: rhawth99 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173230 rhawth99 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:28:39 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173230 <p>I can't recall the last time that I parked curb side with passengers in the car.</p> I can’t recall the last time that I parked curb side with passengers in the car.

]]> By: jbfromoz http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173226 jbfromoz Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:40:52 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173226 <p>main reason i can see for people objecting to it in RHD land is it opening into traffic. My door presently opens up in traffic side so its no less safe for me, and any brats (read babies, young children) caught by moving cars in the same side just helps to keep the MINI in a DINK or DILDO family</p> main reason i can see for people objecting to it in RHD land is it opening into traffic. My door presently opens up in traffic side so its no less safe for me, and any brats (read babies, young children) caught by moving cars in the same side just helps to keep the MINI in a DINK or DILDO family

]]> By: robble http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173195 robble Mon, 29 Oct 2007 03:16:51 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173195 <p>oh yea, as far as it opening into the traffic side: What do your passengers do now? Crawl across the center console? That little side door isn't going to open nearly as wide as the regular door.</p> oh yea, as far as it opening into the traffic side: What do your passengers do now? Crawl across the center console? That little side door isn’t going to open nearly as wide as the regular door.

]]> By: robble http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173194 robble Mon, 29 Oct 2007 03:14:13 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173194 <blockquote>how about the uk, mini’s home and biggest market? it’s kinda ridiculous that the suicide door intended for passengers to get in and out easy opens into the traffic side. should’ve left it off</blockquote> <p>UK is not the biggest market as previously noted.</p> <p>leave the door off? That's even more ridiculous.</p> <blockquote>Had the door been on the LH side then I am sure the complaints would have been thick and fast</blockquote> <p>sure would have considering the market for the door on it's current side is bigger than it is for the other side.</p> <p>It's not exactly a win for the RH market either since the driver has to go around the MINI to open it.</p> how about the uk, mini’s home and biggest market? it’s kinda ridiculous that the suicide door intended for passengers to get in and out easy opens into the traffic side. should’ve left it off

UK is not the biggest market as previously noted.

leave the door off? That’s even more ridiculous.

Had the door been on the LH side then I am sure the complaints would have been thick and fast

sure would have considering the market for the door on it’s current side is bigger than it is for the other side.

It’s not exactly a win for the RH market either since the driver has to go around the MINI to open it.

]]> By: nuvolari http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173193 nuvolari Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:42:34 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173193 <p>I would gladly order a Clubman without that novelty door to save lbs and $$.</p> I would gladly order a Clubman without that novelty door to save lbs and $$.

]]> By: Revhed http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173142 Revhed Sun, 28 Oct 2007 22:36:15 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173142 <p>Interesting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia item</a> about which countries drive on what side</p> Interesting Wikipedia item about which countries drive on what side

]]> By: Motoring Advisor http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173128 Motoring Advisor Sun, 28 Oct 2007 21:33:48 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173128 <p>My saying that the design 'makes sense' is not biased. It's simply my opinion. My other comments are fact based.</p> <p>I love the MINI not matter what side the clubdoor is on. I would wager ANY amount of money that it is not going to make a difference in any country. That is what makes the MINI what it is.</p> My saying that the design ‘makes sense’ is not biased. It’s simply my opinion. My other comments are fact based.

I love the MINI not matter what side the clubdoor is on. I would wager ANY amount of money that it is not going to make a difference in any country. That is what makes the MINI what it is.

]]> By: AN http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173123 AN Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:26:36 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173123 <p>Most people in the US dont know that BMW owns MINI.</p> Most people in the US dont know that BMW owns MINI.

]]> By: GregW http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173120 GregW Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:01:58 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173120 <p>The opinion by Motoring Advisor is somewhat biased considering that nobody in the LHD drive market is complaining. Had the door been on the LH side then I am sure the complaints would have been thick and fast. Someone has previously given a list of countries that have RHD and although the market size is not as big, there are numerous big and small markets affected. This raises another question - how come the Japanese car companies can come up with a cheap solution to problems like these? I have to concede that MINI is no longer a "British" car, so why MINI marketing continues to sell and promote them as such is beyond me.</p> The opinion by Motoring Advisor is somewhat biased considering that nobody in the LHD drive market is complaining. Had the door been on the LH side then I am sure the complaints would have been thick and fast. Someone has previously given a list of countries that have RHD and although the market size is not as big, there are numerous big and small markets affected. This raises another question – how come the Japanese car companies can come up with a cheap solution to problems like these? I have to concede that MINI is no longer a “British” car, so why MINI marketing continues to sell and promote them as such is beyond me.

]]> By: Motoring Advisor http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173117 Motoring Advisor Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:40:49 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173117 <p>On another note, I think fewer than 25% of the worlds population motor in the left hand lane.</p> <p>I think the design makes perfect sense.</p> On another note, I think fewer than 25% of the worlds population motor in the left hand lane.

I think the design makes perfect sense.

]]> By: Gabe http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/comment-page-1/#comment-173116 Gabe Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:40:21 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/10/28/clubman-3rd-door-revisited/#comment-173116 <p>The article looks to be no longer free. But don't worry - there was no other relevant info.</p> The article looks to be no longer free. But don’t worry – there was no other relevant info.

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