MF Poll: Help Our Man Todd Choose The Right Car
Friend of MotoringFile and [White Roof Radio](http://www.whiteroofradio.com) co-host [Todd Pearson](http://www.motoringstripes.com) is possibly on the hunt for a new MINI. It took some time to get him there as he was originally seduced by the dark side, and the idea of owning a Range Rover Evoque. While he is coming to his senses, there’s still great hesitation in him in regards to the car or MINI he should buy next. Bear in mind that he owns a GP1 – a car he will most likely keep whatever happens – and that his better-half drives a 2014 F56 Cooper. To help our friend make up his mind, we’ve decided to crowdsource to the MotoringFile audience his choice of vehicle and options (e.g. Todd wonders if H/K is a must). Not that he will strictly follow the final results of this poll, but we believe it is still a fun exercise to go through. With that in mind, let’s get him into the right car!
<p>I voted he should wait at least until the F54 Clubman has made its official introduction. If he’s looking at the Evoque, size-wise this is the closest of the choices given. Besides, if he went with the F56 JCW he’d most likely opt for the manual transmission – and that’s still several months away.</p>
<p>As far as options, I’d go for all listed except the HUD personally.</p>
<p>Waiting for the Clubman, for me it gas two too many doors. If it was like the previous Clubman, with concealed openings, that would be one thing bit four door hand.</p>
<p>I’m leaning towards waiting to see the Clubman in person. Dollars for dollars, I’m talking about the same money for the JCW, the Clubman AND the Evoque. It just seems to me that for ~$40K, the Evoque has more to offer and since I’ll still have a GP to drive whenever I want, best of all worlds.</p>
<p>Todd – If you are serious about buying an Evoque, the good news is that a face-lifted model is due this summer and, more importantly, will be fitted with JLR’s all new Ingenium 2.0litre four cylinder modular engine, boasting cutting-edge technology, which replaces the current, and outdated, 2.2litre four inherited from Ford.</p>
<p>Todd – It will probably be of no interest to you, but at this year’s Geneva Show, JLR confirmed that the Evoque Convertible will go into production next year. It’s reported that it will look very similar to the concept, photos of which I have added below.</p>
<p>Todd – It will probably be of no interest to you, but at this year’s Geneva Show, JLR confirmed that the Evoque Convertible will go into production next year. It’s reported that it will look very similar to the concept, photos of which I have added below.</p>
<p>The Evoque convertible is 20 different kinds of wrong. This is next on the list of cars that should never have been made such as – PT Cruiser convertible, Murano convertible et. al.</p>
<p>Todd – JLR seem to have been blessed with the Midas touch, for everything it has produced in recent years has been a huge success. In particular, the Evoque has been its biggest and fastest selling product ever! JLR spends more on R&D than any other UK company, and that’s clearly evident in its products.</p>
<p>You cite the PT Cruiser and Murano as reasons why the Convertible should never be made, but both of those vehicles were hardly desirable in their original forms. I have to say that the Evoque is top of my wish list, but the Convertible is of no interest to me. Nevertheless, I suspect that there will be a sufficiently large market for it around the world.</p>
<p>The F55 is ugly however I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The back end doesn’t do the overall design any justice in my opinion.</p>
<p>I voted f56 JCW. I used to own a r56 factory jcw with stage 2 cobb tuning, akrapovic downpipe, alta bov, intake, lower springs…I traded that for a BMW z4M roadster…which is an amazing car but I painfully miss owning the MINI and I am considering switching back. I also used to own a yellow R50 before. I guess once you are a MINI guy, always a MINI guy? hope that helps</p>
<p><a href="http://i.imgur.com/XrvWj.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://i.imgur.com/XrvWj.jpg</a></p>
<p>y’all are crazy … the correct answer is definitely to jump on a Roadster.</p>
<p>I recommended the F56 jcw, but if Todd is looking at a Evoque I would recommend a JCW Paceman. Of the options I would get everything but the nav. Get a Garmin it is better, cheaper, and has free updates.</p>
<p>Well it all really depends on what Todd wants and needs. If he needs room/space, including hauling stuff and room for rear seat passengers, it certainly won’t be the JCW or anything smaller.</p>
<p>As for options, if you heard Todd say on a WRR episode two weeks ago, he rarely uses the GPS/Nav he has now. (Gabe is geographically challenged and has difficulty finding his shoe laces , while Todd can find a dark street 300 miles away.) So based on that, GPS/Nav won’t be an option Todd will really need.</p>
<p>On HK system, if you really like listening to music, get it. I did so on the F56 S I ordered. I knew if I didn’t, I’d regret everyday.</p>
<p>If Todd is waiting for (and getting) an F54 or buying an Evoque, a rear view camera is a must.</p>
<p>F54 Clubman!!!</p>
<p>I completely understand Todd’s desire to have a different, luxurious experience. I often have to rent cars for work, and I often choose full-sized sedans because I am really tall and want to make sure I fit. When I get back into my MINI, the noise level can be a bit jarring (along with the ride). I still prefer the MINI for the daily driving experience. I’ve used it on a couple of long-distance trips, and it can get exhausting.</p>
<p>Here are my two cents on the Evoque. I love the way it looks, and I don’t think I would get tired of it. That is rare for me. (And I like both the 5-door and coupe–not sure which one he is leaning towards). I love the interior. My concerns: rearward visibility and rear passenger headroom. I think I could put up with both for a while, but I am quite certain that I would get really, really sick of them. I can’t recall if he would be buying new or used. But I’ve been burned by used luxury vehicles before. Never again.</p>
<p>He’s keeping the GP, and he has stated numerous times that he wants some luxury. To me that removes the roadster and the JCW from consideration. The roadster is tough to rule out, because it such a fun car, and we really can’t be certain that MINI will make anything like it again. I have been tempted to get one myself. But…once again…he’ll have the GP for a fun drive.</p>
<p>I don’t see the harm in waiting for the next Clubman to see what it offers. It will be roomy. I think the passenger headroom and legroom will be better than the Evoque (but we’ll have to see the specs). I do think the rear barn doors would drive me a little nuts. Every time I would look in the rearview mirror it would bug me. But I also see the utility in them. I would still prefer a simple wagon with a hatch, but that is not happening. I would go for the comfort /luxury route with the Clubman. Smallish wheels for the taller sidewall (although all the current 16″ wheels are super ugly–so I would choose one of the 17″ options), adjustable dampers, all-season season tires, lounge leather sport seats). The big unknown is how quiet it will be.</p>
<p>And that leaves me with two more options not listed here, a 3-series wagon (would have to be used or minimally optioned to keep it within budget–so it is probably a no for me), or the Volvo V60 Wagon, which I like quite a bit–but not enough to be 100% sold on the idea.</p>
<p>Our current car combo is my R56 and my wife’s well-equipped 2014 Subaru Forester. It is a very good combo for us–but the fit and finish of the Subaru is just not up to luxury standards. Still…I am never fatigued, not even after a long drive, it is huge inside, easy to park, and I think it is well-engineered. Would I choose it for myself for my daily driver? No. But I happily drive it 400+ miles in a day without incident.</p>
<p>This is tough…but he can wait to see what the Clubman delivers. I’m betting he’ll get the Evoque, and I would never find fault in that. But really…the only ideal solution is to get the Evoque and a JCW roadster and to keep the GP and the JCW roadster forever.</p>