After 6 years in the Honda scene and 4 here on HT, I traded in the Accord and got a new MINI Clubman.

The MINI Clubman is an extended version of the base Cooper hatch. The MINI is the same from the B pillar forward, but the wheelbase is stretched by about 3 inches and the overall length 9.5, to roughly the size of a Honda Fit. There's an extra few inches of valuable backseat legroom as well as extended cargo space. There is a 3rd clamshell door (Clubdoor) on the passenger side for better rear seat access, and the rear doors are van style instead of a hatch as a retro nod to older Clubman models.

I ordered the S version, which features a turbo 1.6 putting out 172hp at 5500 rpm and 177 ft/lbs of torque from 1500-5000 rpm ( )

Currently the only mod is the tow hook license plate relocator kit (I can't let the off-center license plate mounting end at the Honda! )

My upcoming plans are:

Window tint
Stubby antenna
black leather shifter and brake boot with red stitching (JDM yo!)

After that, i'm not sure. I'm planning on getting Motegi Traklites in matte black, but can't decide on 16's or 17's. I might also get the M7 carbon hood scoop and perhaps an AC Schnitzer or Hamann aero package. But that's for when I'm OUT of grad school

Here's me saying goodbye to my Honda:



And when I walked into the MINI showroom, I was greeted with this:




Here's me and my baby:



Now, onto the photoshoots:



The passenger side with the Clubdoor:



The unique rear end, with this abandoned train near my house:



Messed with settings:





And here's some closeups of some of the features:

Clubdoor open:


Interior with Fluid Silver option interior trim:




The console:


The key fob and the start button:



Optional anthracite headliner:



Apparently a gift to me; optional door sills I didn't order



The rear van style doors open around the taillights:



The rear seats folded flat open up to 33 cubic feet of cargo room, vs the 24 in the standard R56 hatch:



Interior at night:



Turbo power and 29 mpg on the first tank (!)

 

wow that is one of the most hideous cars ive ever seen

the rear looks disgusting and the inside is even worse

at least its a turbo

 

Mini's

The only thing I don't like on the Clubmans is you don't really have a choice to opt out of the rear accents (black portion on your car).

Oh btw, Medeco locks ftw

 

The clubman versions have really grown on me. They do have a strange look to them, but I think the nice balance of fun and practicality makes them a more attractive package. Gets a thumbs-up from me.

 

that thing is rockin....

 

the only thing i like about these is the MINI logo incorporated into the hvac controls. can't stand the speedos

congrats on the new car though

 

Looks cool. There is nothing like a brand new car eh?

Personally i still cant get over the rear hinges and quarter panels. otherwise it looks awesome

 

Man I would not mind having one of those.

 

Auto?

Boooooo

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ryan. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Auto?

Boooooo</TD></TR></TABLE>


6 speed auto with paddle shifters, if you want to come drive me around, i'll get the manual instead, k?

 

i like the back doors

 

when the back doors are open it reminds me of one of those surgery shows where they're peeling the face away....lol sweet little car though, i was surprised with how much room the back seats have now...I can actually sit in the back seat of one of those things comfortibly

 

wow I dont like anything on it really, the key and start button are cool

 

well at least you like it

 

Not feeling it

The regular Mini Coopers look waaay better.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr.OB*GYN_Rhett &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wow I dont like anything on it really, the key and start button are cool </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah this car sux sorry man

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by delpoop! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yeah this car sux sorry man</TD></TR></TABLE>

Coming from someone who still says ''sux'', I'd take that as a compliment if I were the op.

also to the OP, have you driven the regular mini? if so how does it compare handling wise?

 

Well i'm not here to please Honda-Tech and it's brand new, under warranty, and loaded with some high end features so I'm not really concerned with what Mr. "I have a 99 hatch and I can swap a K in it and smoke your ***" has to say, so I'm doing OK with the negative responses.

I'm surprised more of the "grown ups" haven't said they like it yet.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SuM Honda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Coming from someone who still says ''sux'', I'd take that as a compliment if I were the op.

also to the OP, have you driven the regular mini? if so how does it compare handling wise? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Roffles.

I have a MINI loaner right now while they're taking care of the mounting holes in the front bumper, and I have to say, it's night and day.

The base MINI has about 150 lbs less of weight to carry so it's a bit faster, but at the same time, the Clubman, with more in back, has a better weight balance, 58/42 vs something like 62/38.

The wheelbase is 3" longer on the Clubman and I can feel it. The Clubman feels a lot more solidly planted on rough pavement, driving the R56 hatch today made me feel like I was in my old car, which isn't a compliment because the thing was dropped 2" on adjustable shocks on their firmest setting.

Another thing is the loaner I have has 17" wheels with 45 pro tires while my Clubman has 16" wheels and 55 pro. The ride is more comfortable overall in my Clubman but still definitely together. I have the sport suspension on my Clubman and it is very well controlled but still handles nicely.

On the track, i'd take a base hatch. On daily driving, I'd take the extra wheelbase and few extra mm of sidewall.

 

congrats on the purchase, minis are cool and fun hope you enjoy it, my friends dad has a JCW mini S its awesome!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maximumjohnson420 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wow that is one of the most hideous cars ive ever seen

the rear looks disgusting and the inside is even worse

at least its a turbo</TD></TR></TABLE>


d-bag

awesome car man, congratulations, I just saw one of these in person the other day, I really liked it, I think you are really going to enjoy owning one! Good luck!

 

i really like minis, but the clubman makes me want to vomit

 

Nice car man I wouldn't have gone with the auto, but I like the rest of it. Looks like it has a decent amount of room and gets great gas mileage.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maximumjohnson420 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wow that is one of the most hideous cars ive ever seen

the rear looks disgusting and the inside is even worse

at least its a turbo</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sweet, another bitter Ron Paul fanboy. Why don't you go hump an electrical socket.

 

I hate to admit it, bit I like it. I really like the functionality.

 

i dont get it ... people post their cars on and expect ONLY good reviews? I mean everyone has their own opinions .. and if some people think it looks like turd well do they not have a right to think that?

I for one like the regular mini better. The clubman looks "weird" from teh side and even worse from the rear.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by A08_MThrizzle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont get it ... people post their cars on and expect ONLY good reviews? I mean everyone has their own opinions .. and if some people think it looks like turd well do they not have a right to think that?

I for one like the regular mini better. The clubman looks "weird" from teh side and even worse from the rear.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't care if people don't like it, because the rear is definitely either love it or hate it. I love it and am fine with it, so I don't mind if anyone dislikes it. But the people that find the need to berate the car in entirety without any real explanation are the ones that I can dismiss pretty readily.

It's like politics to me, everyone will disagree, but you have to have reasoning or your opinion doesn't matter. "I don't like the rear end" is better than "OMG UR WHOLE CAR SUCKS AND IT'S AUTO MY 91 HATCH SMOKE THAT ****"


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by -Gary- &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I hate to admit it, bit I like it. I really like the functionality.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's what I'm saying...you can forgive the rear end once you see how much rear room there is, the power, and the gas mileage. I came in a bit skeptical and the test drive put me over the edge.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice car man I wouldn't have gone with the auto, but I like the rest of it. Looks like it has a decent amount of room and gets great gas mileage.

Sweet, another bitter Ron Paul fanboy. Why don't you go hump an electrical socket.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks Dustin I know car guys would give me crap for the auto but I do mostly city driving and my job will have me up at 7am every day, so i'm too lazy. Plus when it becomes the family car it will be a lot less headaches to put in drive and have one less thing to worry about