Mini 5-door, Clubman or...?
Discussion
Our 2013 R56 Mini Cooper S is getting too small for our needs... It's a fine balance, though - and there is a potentially conflicting list of requirements.
Background: We have a van as our main wheels (6k miles p/a) and need a new small car to run alongside it (3-5k p/a, but used more often than the van). Our kids are 6 & 9 and have reached the point where it's uncomfortable to travel in the back of the current Mini. We live in a city centre where parking is very tight, but conversely travel to visit parents in the countryside and occasionally on long business trips with my job. We both commute by bike, so only do leisure trips in both vehicles. My parents have reached the stage in life where I have needed to rush over to theirs (110-mile round trip) at the drop of a hat many times in the last year - and I expect this to continue.
Requirements:
- Small: as close to 4m in length as possible
- Room for 4
- High(ish) performance; 200hp ideally
- "Mature" - i.e. not flashy or overtly sporty; probably rules out Fiesta ST, Clio 200
- Xenons or LEDs for night countryside driving (wife's main ask!)
- Generally high spec - leather, pan roof etc would be great
- 0-3 years old at purchase; one of our vehicles needs to be zero-hassle...and it ain't gonna be the van!
Buying notes & budget: The van is paid for and staying indefinitely, but this car will need to be financed somehow [Don't worry: In typical PH powerfully-build company Director-style, I have investments that I don't wish to liquidate to fund this.
] I can access low rate borrowing, in addition to the PCP, HP or lease routes. New or used is fine. I'm happy to pay for top end, but that's not saying a lot in the world of 4m-long hatchbacks I suppose! I'm quite keen to buy a really nice car that we'd keep for a long time, so ideally I'd like a personalised spec.
We've had a good experience of the two R56 Minis we've had. In all honesty, they suit my wife far better than any other of the hatchbacks I've bought in the past (R32, S3, hot Clios etc etc). The F56 5-door is pretty fugly, but otherwise looks to match the above criteria well. The Clubman is a bit bigger than needed, but does look a little nicer to my eye and allows for some lovely colour combinations that you can't get with the hatch... burgundy paint, silver roof and blue leather, mmm...!
The main alternative catching my eye is the new Polo GTI. They're available on very competitive lease deals. But they come with hateful diamond-cut wheels, which my wife would shred forever within a week!
What else have I missed?
Background: We have a van as our main wheels (6k miles p/a) and need a new small car to run alongside it (3-5k p/a, but used more often than the van). Our kids are 6 & 9 and have reached the point where it's uncomfortable to travel in the back of the current Mini. We live in a city centre where parking is very tight, but conversely travel to visit parents in the countryside and occasionally on long business trips with my job. We both commute by bike, so only do leisure trips in both vehicles. My parents have reached the stage in life where I have needed to rush over to theirs (110-mile round trip) at the drop of a hat many times in the last year - and I expect this to continue.
Requirements:
- Small: as close to 4m in length as possible
- Room for 4
- High(ish) performance; 200hp ideally
- "Mature" - i.e. not flashy or overtly sporty; probably rules out Fiesta ST, Clio 200
- Xenons or LEDs for night countryside driving (wife's main ask!)
- Generally high spec - leather, pan roof etc would be great
- 0-3 years old at purchase; one of our vehicles needs to be zero-hassle...and it ain't gonna be the van!
Buying notes & budget: The van is paid for and staying indefinitely, but this car will need to be financed somehow [Don't worry: In typical PH powerfully-build company Director-style, I have investments that I don't wish to liquidate to fund this.
] I can access low rate borrowing, in addition to the PCP, HP or lease routes. New or used is fine. I'm happy to pay for top end, but that's not saying a lot in the world of 4m-long hatchbacks I suppose! I'm quite keen to buy a really nice car that we'd keep for a long time, so ideally I'd like a personalised spec. We've had a good experience of the two R56 Minis we've had. In all honesty, they suit my wife far better than any other of the hatchbacks I've bought in the past (R32, S3, hot Clios etc etc). The F56 5-door is pretty fugly, but otherwise looks to match the above criteria well. The Clubman is a bit bigger than needed, but does look a little nicer to my eye and allows for some lovely colour combinations that you can't get with the hatch... burgundy paint, silver roof and blue leather, mmm...!
The main alternative catching my eye is the new Polo GTI. They're available on very competitive lease deals. But they come with hateful diamond-cut wheels, which my wife would shred forever within a week!
What else have I missed?
Edited by The Cardinal on Sunday 28th October 21:02
The clubman is also wider than the 5dr and has an electric handbrake. Its more of a Focus/Golf sized car. The F series cars are more grown up than ever and closer to feeling like a BMW than a Mini (We have an R5 and F57) although i'm struggling to find a replacement for my R55, so far its a 330i or Jag XE.
I think you will struggle to find anything less than 4 mtrs thats like a Mini other than a Mini, unless you like the look of the A1 ?
Oh and the LED's are worth it, they make the Xenons in the R56 look like halogens.
I think you will struggle to find anything less than 4 mtrs thats like a Mini other than a Mini, unless you like the look of the A1 ?
Oh and the LED's are worth it, they make the Xenons in the R56 look like halogens.
We have a countryman ( new model) it is like a tardis inside and has a sliding rear seat and electric tailgate. The LED headlights which are part of the chilli pack are incredible
It’s wider than the mini 5 door and I think slightly shorter than a clubman ( maybe not ) but because of the conventional tailgate not such a pain in the ass for parking and access
It’s basically the same car as the new BMW X1, and built in the same factory
I’d certainly recommend looking at one
It’s wider than the mini 5 door and I think slightly shorter than a clubman ( maybe not ) but because of the conventional tailgate not such a pain in the ass for parking and access
It’s basically the same car as the new BMW X1, and built in the same factory
I’d certainly recommend looking at one
Edited by Earthdweller on Sunday 28th October 21:46
We're in a similar situation with our 2010 R56 Cooper S.
I agree with your comments about the 5dr F56, but with the right colour combo it can be improved
Other options we've looked at is an M135i (30cm too long for your criteria), or an i3 (won't fit your 'hassle-free' criteria!).
Audi S1 is a good shout.
I agree with your comments about the 5dr F56, but with the right colour combo it can be improved
Other options we've looked at is an M135i (30cm too long for your criteria), or an i3 (won't fit your 'hassle-free' criteria!).
Audi S1 is a good shout.
Just gone through this with SWMBO.
Change to her Fabia vRS that she loved.
Sub 4m with performance is either Mini, A1 or Polo.
As you already have Mini, I'd go for Polo and get a set of £500 wheels for her to kerb.
A1 is overpriced (no surprises there)
We didn't go Polo as she does a lot of small trips and judged the 2 litre engine to be too much.
Got a 5 door Pooper (petrol Cooper) Auto.
Not got anywhere near the performance of the vRS but a better car on the whole - so far
Change to her Fabia vRS that she loved.
Sub 4m with performance is either Mini, A1 or Polo.
As you already have Mini, I'd go for Polo and get a set of £500 wheels for her to kerb.
A1 is overpriced (no surprises there)
We didn't go Polo as she does a lot of small trips and judged the 2 litre engine to be too much.
Got a 5 door Pooper (petrol Cooper) Auto.
Not got anywhere near the performance of the vRS but a better car on the whole - so far
We have very recently got a 17 plate Clubman SD - the light grey that most are (actually metallic, black roof, silver wheels) and a load of options, Was 17k at a dealer and has done less than 10k miles. It's my wifes car but I love it, relatively it is a fast little car and has a lot of space inside. As someone has mentioned, the barn doors can be a faff and it seems to have more back seat space versus boot space but I'd recommend looking at one.
This is all great - thanks.
I've found some very decent lease deals now on both the 5-door and Clubman, to match the Polo GTI. I've never done a personal lease before, although I have had company cars so have a good idea of the process and up/downsides.
For reference, pricing is as follows on a 3 + 36 month basis (all including some selected options):
Polo GTI: £10,769
5-door Cooper S Exclusive: £10,713
Clubman S Exclusive: £11,800
Each of the above is a fair bit cheaper leased than anything else I can seem to put together for a purchase - even most used versions of the above - unless I plan to keep them a fair bit longer than 3 years.
The Minis are better equipped than the Polo, so I'm leaning heavily that way now. I still can't decide between the 5-door and Clubman though.
I've found some very decent lease deals now on both the 5-door and Clubman, to match the Polo GTI. I've never done a personal lease before, although I have had company cars so have a good idea of the process and up/downsides.
For reference, pricing is as follows on a 3 + 36 month basis (all including some selected options):
Polo GTI: £10,769
5-door Cooper S Exclusive: £10,713
Clubman S Exclusive: £11,800
Each of the above is a fair bit cheaper leased than anything else I can seem to put together for a purchase - even most used versions of the above - unless I plan to keep them a fair bit longer than 3 years.
The Minis are better equipped than the Polo, so I'm leaning heavily that way now. I still can't decide between the 5-door and Clubman though.
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