Article Comments - 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman First Drive and Full Test

14 messages, Last post on Mar 20, 2008 at 10:34 AM

You are in the MINI Clubman Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? MINI Clubman, Hatchback

First Drive: 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman - Mini is not really an appropriate name for this car, because plainly it isn't mini at all. It's still small, but its overall length of 155.8 inches represents a stretch of 6.3 inches, enough to push the Clubman into an altogether different class. Aside from the 3.1 inches added within the wheelbase, the front overhang has been extended by 0.6 inch and the rear overhang goes up by 3.5 inches. (more)

Full Test: 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman - Bottom Line: Maybe not the giant-size Mini you expected, but the Clubman brings useful increases in space and comfort without sacrificing a bit of the fun.(more)

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#13 of 14 Re: Clubman is in the Mini tradition [alltorque] by british_rover Mar 20, 2008 (5:51 am)
Replying to: alltorque (Mar 19, 2008 1:38 pm) How did you ever get four people in/on a Lotus 7? I think I would pay money to see that. Replies to this message: alltorque (Mar 20, 2008 10:34 am)
#14 of 14 Re: Clubman is in the Mini tradition [british_rover] by alltorque Mar 20, 2008 (10:34 am)
Replying to: british_rover (Mar 20, 2008 5:51 am) 4 in a Lotus 7 is easy...........ish. Driver, normal passenger, the other 2 sit kinda side-saddle on/in the limited cargo space with their legs hanging over the rear of the car and bodies twisted to try and look to the centre and hang on to each other/anything. Rear suspension was on the bump-stops and steering was a little "light". The Ford 1500cc + twin Webers coped pretty well, from memory. I gues the two most important words for this sort of idiocy, (which I would now call it), are a) Youth and b) Alcohol. If you want a third word then Stupidity would seem appropriate. This was back about 1969/1970 and London, in fact whole U.K., was much more easy-going and fun in those days. Maybe write a book about our late-60's experiences, one day. Problem is that if I hadn't been there I'd have trouble believing they happened. Same Lotus 7, just two of us going to Oulton Park to watch motor racing and it's raining. Take the hood or take food etc ? Hoods are for sissy's on 7's so we took an umbrella instead. Passenger in charge of umbrella. Every time car stopped in traffic - up went the brolly. Car moves off - brolly down and rain goes right over the top of the screen at 20+ mph. Bingo, perfect solution and we made lots of friends on that journey........including one Policeman who said he was sure it was illegal but couldn't think why and it gave him such a laugh he would let us off. Yes, the World was a better place. Recently had a silly 15 minutes and fancied a used Lotus Elise, (old age does that to you). Managed to get into the thing - just, (roof on), but had to crawl out on hands and knees; or try and remove the roof. Not very elegant; just an old guy looking stupid. My Volvo S60 D5 is much more practical. Have a great Easter.

#13 of 14: Re: Clubman is in the Mini tradition [alltorque] by british_rover; Mar 20, 2008 (5:51 am)

Replying to: alltorque (Mar 19, 2008 1:38 pm)

How did you ever get four people in/on a Lotus 7? I think I would pay money to see that.

alltorque (Mar 20, 2008 10:34 am)

#14 of 14: Re: Clubman is in the Mini tradition [british_rover] by alltorque; Mar 20, 2008 (10:34 am)

Replying to: british_rover (Mar 20, 2008 5:51 am)

4 in a Lotus 7 is easy...........ish. Driver, normal passenger, the other 2 sit kinda side-saddle on/in the limited cargo space with their legs hanging over the rear of the car and bodies twisted to try and look to the centre and hang on to each other/anything. Rear suspension was on the bump-stops and steering was a little "light". The Ford 1500cc + twin Webers coped pretty well, from memory. I gues the two most important words for this sort of idiocy, (which I would now call it), are a) Youth and b) Alcohol. If you want a third word then Stupidity would seem appropriate. This was back about 1969/1970 and London, in fact whole U.K., was much more easy-going and fun in those days.

Maybe write a book about our late-60's experiences, one day. Problem is that if I hadn't been there I'd have trouble believing they happened. Same Lotus 7, just two of us going to Oulton Park to watch motor racing and it's raining. Take the hood or take food etc ? Hoods are for sissy's on 7's so we took an umbrella instead. Passenger in charge of umbrella. Every time car stopped in traffic - up went the brolly. Car moves off - brolly down and rain goes right over the top of the screen at 20+ mph. Bingo, perfect solution and we made lots of friends on that journey........including one Policeman who said he was sure it was illegal but couldn't think why and it gave him such a laugh he would let us off.

Yes, the World was a better place.

Recently had a silly 15 minutes and fancied a used Lotus Elise, (old age does that to you). Managed to get into the thing - just, (roof on), but had to crawl out on hands and knees; or try and remove the roof. Not very elegant; just an old guy looking stupid. My Volvo S60 D5 is much more practical.

Have a great Easter.