Motortrend Reviews the ’08 Clubman

Sections: R55 (Clubman) | Reviews Feb 19th, 2008 23 Comments

In what will be another long stream of reviews now that the Clubman is officially in the US, Motortrend gives us their take, starting with some love for the automatic transmission.

Laugh if you want, but I’m also raving about the six-speed automatic transmission. I didn’t ask for it, but turns out it’s probably the only thing keeping me shiny side up, rubber side down.

Oh, wait. Maybe not.

The automatic transmission is good, but not without flaw. On some of the steeper uphill switchbacks, there is delay before it kicks down to first. The wheelspin I can deal with, but what I can’t stand is the drop in momentum — the Empire must be defeated, Middle Earth must be saved.

Finally ending with the words we all want to hear.

Those who feared the Clubman would be less Mini — and therefore less fun — have nothing to fear.

[ First Drive: 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman ] Motortrend.com

Written By: DB

Bilbo Baggins

I see that Motortrend has the Clubman listed as a 5 passanger. Guess they can’t count seatbelts.

Otherwise I think the last paragraphs sums it up.

“I’ve never been all that much of Mini fanboy, but I think I’ve just become a card-carrying member of the Clubman cult.”

If BMW/MINI was trying to entice new owners, I think they have done it. Let’s just hope that it is not at the estrangement of current owners.
http://mcarlo52.themotorcade.com mike c.

Bilbo, it may be too late to worry about the estrangement of current owners. As a R56 owner I can say I’ve heard a lot of comments from the R50 and R53 owners about the fugly R56. I’m sure that any BMW MINI owner in the early days got some grief over the new MINI not being true to the BMC Mini philosophy. In any case, the Clubman should be a good seller for BMW and I would consider it if I didn’t already own one of the “fuglys”.
MeanMrMstrd

What a lame a** reviewer!

What’s with all the Lord of the Rings stuff? Not a “MINI Fanboy?” “Resisted our long term MINI.” Huh??? Isn’t his job to drive and review cars. Why would you resist a MINI? I could see resisting a F150 or a Fiat MultiPla or some other slug, but A MINI, WTF?

Eddie, maybe this is not your best choice as a career? MT are the halls of journalism empty of talent? Maybe this is why I hardly ever read that rag, it’s almost as bad as MC2.

My 2 cents.
c4

My guess is that some of these called “auto journalists” want to try too hard to impress us with their worn out cliches, jargon and wordy reviews.
MeanMrMstrd

There is a intelligent review at MT by Matt Stone:

http://tinyurl.com/3cxdru

I found this link to sometime need a page refresh to see the proper post or just go to “Road Tests” and scroll down.
MeanMrMstrd

Here’s an odd thing, unless you click on the link in DB’s article I couldn’t find Mr Loh’s review, if I just go to MT? I must be missing it somewhere? I clicked on Road Tests, MINI, Wagons nada?
TheBigNewt

Dude, just tell us about driving the car. The ride, the noises, the steering, body roll, the stereo. If I want to read Lord of the Rings I have a copy, OK?
David S.

MMM, I don’t buy your argument. Show me a human being who harbors no disdain or prejudice, and I’ll show you a lobotomy patient.

Critics and reviewers of all stripes should be allowed their prejudices, so long as they spell them out to their fair readers before they face them. In fact some of the best reviews I’ve ever read have come from people who were forced to face down their own dislikes.
Rocketboy_X

I’m sick and tired of this ‘new journalism’ that feels the need to interject life stories or random references.

As a side note, where’s the cold start article? It’s in my RSS feed, but it’s not on the site…
c4

The cold start article was taken down earlier today. According to Gabe it will re-appear tomorrow. It was originally scheduled to go online tomorrow, not today.
Vanwall

Hey, Gabe, were you trading swordstrokes with this hobbit on your test run? Kinda goofy, if you ask me. Positive and loopy at the same time – if his editors bought this, I want his job.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Hey, Gabe, were you trading swordstrokes with this hobbit on your test run? Kinda goofy, if you ask me. Positive and loopy at the same time – if his editors bought this, I want his job.

I didn’t see or talk to anyone from R&T but I can tell you the majority or auto journalists at events like this are a sorry lot. So many of them are just there for the free food and travel that it’s almost comical. They could care less about the review or cars in general. As long as the eventual piece is short on specifics and verbose enough to make them feel superior to the normal reader, they consider it job done.

That said there were a few at the event that I truly enjoyed spending time with and are excellent at what they do.

In some ways I feel bad for BMW to have to put up with it all. If they don’t invite these guys they could conceivable get bad press yet they know their nothing but dead weight. I could give you some specific examples but I think I’d be breaking some unwritten automotive journalistic code.

Hmmm… now I think of it, I’m not sure if I have to follow said code if I’m not technically a journalist…
c4

Gabe, you got that right. You are not an auto journalist by trade (or training) but you are a heck lot better than some of those clowns that can’t even get the basics nailed down in their articles (Like the 5-seater Clubman).

But if BMW gives me free food and travel on their dime, you bet I will be there.
bdr127

Bilbo Baggins said:I see that Motortrend has the Clubman listed as a 5 passanger. Guess they canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t count seatbelts.

The European version is 5 passenger…. They’re probably just confusing the two models.
Chris B.

Gabe,

Would you agree with this journalists opinion on the 6spd Agitronic auto? I know you drove a Clubman S in your review that was equipped with the said transmission, but you didn’t get into too great of detail.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Would you agree with this journalists opinion on the 6spd Agitronic auto? I know you drove a Clubman S in your review that was equipped with the said transmission, but you didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t get into too great of detail.

I get into more detail on the auto in some previous reviews – including one on the track. You can find them under the review section on the right side of the site. Generally speaking I’ve been less then impressed with it. On this particular drive and in this particular car it felt pretty respectable.
Chris B.

Thanks Gabe. Seems like MINI could definitely use a dual-clutch box in the future for those that want to take an auto Cooper/Clubman/S to the track for a pounding.
nuvolari

…for those that want to take an auto Cooper/Clubman/S to the track for a pounding

Not sure that market segment is large enough to merit the investment…
MeanMrMstrd

Right on C4!
Chris B.

Adding a DCT to the MINI lineup wouldn’t be for the sole purpose of appeasing those who want more control with the convenience of a clutch-less operated manual; it’s the future, like it or not. A DCT is more compact, lighter, more fuel efficient, and offers even more stellar performance than a conventional manual transmission.
PhinMak

This guy talks about driving on a 15 mile “Nacimiento Road” that ends in a guardbooth… I tried putting the road name in googlemaps and it comes up with a stub of a road in NV that doesnt have trees, as described in the article. Maybe he was test-driving in Europe somewhere and that’s why he said 5-passenger? Would fit withthe road width… Anyone know where this test-drive was? ‘Cuz if it is near Boston, I would go out and drive it in my R53…
c4

Gabe mentioned the army base guardboot where you have to show your driver’s license during the last woofcast, so I think the other writter’s reference is pretty accurate.

The road doesn’t show up in Google? Hmmmmm
ltq

Phinmak – In all liklihood the Nacimiento Rd mentioned is near Paso Robles, CA. I know someone who lives past the (empty) guardbooth. In any case, it would be a bit more than a casual sidetrip from Boston (I assume you mean MA). c4 – Out further on US101 from Paso Robles, there is the Hunter-Ligget Army base, where they hold live ammo training. This would maybe be the live guardbooth that is mentioned. That would NOT be on Nacimiento Rd.

← White Roof Radio #224 BimmerFile Review: BMW M3 →

Sort by MINI model

Recent BimmerFile Stories

MINI Model Cheat Sheet

1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Hatch
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Hatch
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
R58: Coupe
R59: Roadster
R60: MINI Crossover
R61: MINI Crossover Coupe
3rd Gen MINI
F55: Clubman
F56: Hatch
F57: Convertible
F60: MINI Crossover
F62: Traveller

Advertise with MotoringFile

If you or your company are interested in advertising on the most influential MINI website in the world, please visit our Advertising section. If you have further questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to see our rate sheet please feel free to contact us directly.