2008 MINI Cooper Clubman

Retail Price as tested: $24,450.00

MINI Cooper sales have risen along with the price of fuel. At the end of the summer only a few dealers had inventory. BMW has owned and controlled MINI since 1999 and have done a great job of creating a “cult” following. Let me caution you - a MINI is NOT a BMW. Its a great little car that is fun to drive but that’s where the comparison to BMW ends. The MINI Cooper Clubman is an extended version of the MINI. It comes with a suicide door on the passenger side to allow easier access to the rear seat. The MINI is a fun car to drive and you get tons of looks while driving it especially from other MINI owners.

1.6-litre 118-hp 4-Cylinder Engine

The inline engine is mounted transversely in the chassis. It has variable valve timing. It has 11:1 compression and needs it to keep the larger MINI propelled. This model really needs the turbo charged option.

Engine and Transmission

The 1.6 Liter engine is under powered for our elevation. With only 118 hp at sea level we see only 75% of that at our elevation and it only gets worse the higher you drive in altitude. My recommendation is to buy the optional turbo engine and get the extra 60 hp. I would also buy the MINI with a standard transmission as the automatic takes some of the fun out of driving it. The suspension works great and it corners like a real champ. The ride is a little choppy but that’s expected with this small of a car.

Interior

John Rush - Host

Gearhead Radio & Drive Radio

For a audio version of my review - please visit www.gearheadradio.com.

For more details on other features and options on the MINI Clubman click here.

Steptronic Automatic Transmission with Paddle Shifters on Steering Wheel

The MINI optional Automatic Transmission has 6 speeds and the Sport mode changes the way the transmission shifts. The sport mode also gives tighter steering and faster acceleration. The drive shafts are equal to eliminate torque steer

The interior on the Clubman is larger than the standard MINI. The rear seats fold down  and make a nice cargo area. The back doors swing open like cargo doors which makes loading and unloading a breeze. The dash layout is unique. The speedometer is in the center of the dash and the tach is where the speedometer should be. I think the passengers enjoy it more than the driver as they can see the speed at any time. The radio is also in the speedometer. This also takes some getting used to. I do not like the toggle switches and where they are located. To roll the windows down you will have to remove your drink from the cup-holder as there is not enough room behind the cup to get to the switches. I guess they don’t want you to “drink and drive”. My biggest complaint with European cars is the cup holders. Americans like their drinks and we like to take them with us! The MINI has a great sunroof as its large for such a small car. It either pops up or slides back to open up. It has a nice sun shade built in so you don’t get hot sitting under it.

The MINI is a fun car to drive that gets great MPG. Its a car that you either love or hate. I found most people liked the styling of the car and everyone asked questions about it. It handles well and the turbo model would have plenty of power. This is not a car for everyone. It has some great features but honestly you can get more car for the money in other brands. The thing the MINI has going for it is its style. It’s in a class all by itself. There is no other car that looks like it. If you want a unique style with good mpg and lots of creature comforts than the MINI is for you.

Closing Comments