Another Vote for the Clubman over the Countryman
Turns out we aren’t the only ones who prefer the JCW Clubman over the JCW Countryman. In this video Australian CarAdvice.com also likes the lighter, faster Clubman over the Countryman. No surprise to us but it might generate a comment or two.
See the full video above.
<p>I think each of these JCW models have a special core of buyers for the specific usages they look for. And for the reasons they choose either the Clubman or Countryman, the number of sales of the CM over the Clubman always seems to outnumber the latter…at least across the line for each of the 2 models</p>
<p>I believer the overall versatility of the CM, such as higher seating, visibility, and easier entry access are more important to some owners such as us older MINI enthusiasts (like me at 79), as well as easy rear storage access compared to the Clubman, when used as a MINI hauler of ‘stuff’.</p>
<p>Some of the performance stats of the Clubman are very minor compared to the CM…ie 0-60 MPH in 4.7 secs versus 4.9 secs per the 150 lbs less weight of the Clubman. Of course that lower weight and lower overall stance also helps account for the better handling on those winding Tail of the Dragon like roads. For those slightly better performance stats, those advantages for some MINIACS may be just enough to choose the Clubman over the Countryman.</p>
<p>As fo me, I’m still awaiting my 2020 JCW Countryman delivery, which has been stuck at the Brunswick, Ga POE for nearly 2 weeks awaiting processing and trucking to my dealership. I suspect this past Holiday week has something to do with the delay. From my order date back in Oct to present time has already reached over 2.5 months!</p>
you are gonna love your 2020 JCW Countryman!! and yes, totally agree w/you on specific usages. i needed to haul around 4 full sized adults and in turn why i went w/the Countryman vs Clubman. I also like how the CM looks vs the Clubman too (subjective of course) and needed the higher clearance in the MN winters… if i didn’t need any of that, i’d prob be looking at a GP3 or dare i say it an older BMW M1 😉
Although I seldom have more than my wife and I in my current and former MINIs…now on the 5th one, my former S CM and this new JCW CM gives me a lot more versatility re those trips to Lowe’s for bags of mulch, plants, and other materials that need a good amount of space in the hatch. Although the Clubman could have handled most of those Lowe’s trips, I now prefer the easier taller entry and visibility. Don’t get nearly as much snow as you do in Mn, but here in the NC Smokies, we have loads of those hilly windy narrow roads (including the famous Tail of the Dragon US129) where I go each year for the annual MOTD event in early May….only an hr+ from home.
have you hit up the tail of the dragon yet w/yours? i’m curious how it compares to your prev MINIs. 🙂
No not yet on the Dragon with my new JCW CM. Have only had it a bit less than 2 weeks. Probably won’t be until the MOTD gathering this year in late Apr/early May. Have certainly been on it several times with each of my previous MINIS. The one that really stood out was my ‘12 JCW R58 Coupe (2 seater). But despite its 208 HP and 900 lbs lighter than my new 301 HP JCW CM, this CM is still a lot quicker off the line (BMW has it at 0-60 in 4.9 secs). Think the JCW R58 could only do it in just over 6 secs. But handling was great in those tight Dragon turns.