Mini Clubman Purchase - What would you do?
Discussion
Thought I'd update this for anyone interested.
We've had 4/5 months now with the Mini and its done everything we want of it. Trips 4-up to Edinburgh for a wedding but mostly just pootling about as it was bought for. Its now wearing a set of genuine Mini floor mats inside and Mini roof bars coupled up with a pair of Thule 591 bike carriers for when I fancy riding my bike further afield.
One criticism I had was that in auto, if I flicked a gear down on the paddles, it was flicking back into auto far too quickly for my liking. Just discovered that if you flick the stick over into manual it doesn't drop back into auto unless it really needs to. Should have really read the instructions but never bothered as thought it was just a feature of the box - the DSG in the old Golf would drop out of auto for a lot longer.
What else? The sat nav is crap but I knew that already but it is MUCH nicer to look at and have all the options on a big screen vs the non-Nav version. The pano roof is great. The heated screen is something I'd missed massively from my old Mondeo ST so it was brilliant to have that again over the winter.
Its just a really, really nice little thing to drive and its very rare I miss the pace of the old GTI (although I do sometimes see a Cooper S and think "ah bugger...").
Overall, couldn't be more pleased with the purchase. I'm a serial modifier of cars so to say nothings been touched in 5 months of ownership is testiment to how pleased we are with it. Thats not to say I haven't been looking at coilovers and big brakes to fill the spaces behind the 17s...
We've had 4/5 months now with the Mini and its done everything we want of it. Trips 4-up to Edinburgh for a wedding but mostly just pootling about as it was bought for. Its now wearing a set of genuine Mini floor mats inside and Mini roof bars coupled up with a pair of Thule 591 bike carriers for when I fancy riding my bike further afield.
One criticism I had was that in auto, if I flicked a gear down on the paddles, it was flicking back into auto far too quickly for my liking. Just discovered that if you flick the stick over into manual it doesn't drop back into auto unless it really needs to. Should have really read the instructions but never bothered as thought it was just a feature of the box - the DSG in the old Golf would drop out of auto for a lot longer.
What else? The sat nav is crap but I knew that already but it is MUCH nicer to look at and have all the options on a big screen vs the non-Nav version. The pano roof is great. The heated screen is something I'd missed massively from my old Mondeo ST so it was brilliant to have that again over the winter.
Its just a really, really nice little thing to drive and its very rare I miss the pace of the old GTI (although I do sometimes see a Cooper S and think "ah bugger...").
Overall, couldn't be more pleased with the purchase. I'm a serial modifier of cars so to say nothings been touched in 5 months of ownership is testiment to how pleased we are with it. Thats not to say I haven't been looking at coilovers and big brakes to fill the spaces behind the 17s...
Driver101 said:
They are good cars. Very versatile as you say. They are good for loading the bikes on top too.
The S is the one to have. There is only 6 or 7 N18 engined cars on Autotrader. Getting a nice one with the pan roof, sat nav is really really hard.
Mines got that .... as well as the heated screen and folding dimming mirrors, black roof lining .. The S is the one to have. There is only 6 or 7 N18 engined cars on Autotrader. Getting a nice one with the pan roof, sat nav is really really hard.
Driver101 said:
They are good cars. Very versatile as you say. They are good for loading the bikes on top too.
The S is the one to have. There is only 6 or 7 N18 engined cars on Autotrader. Getting a nice one with the pan roof, sat nav is really really hard.
Yeh we wanted auto as well which further reduces the options. Part of the reason why we plumped for something slower but with a loaded spec and a decent mileage. I wasn't going to risk an N14. The S is the one to have. There is only 6 or 7 N18 engined cars on Autotrader. Getting a nice one with the pan roof, sat nav is really really hard.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Yeh we wanted auto as well which further reduces the options. Part of the reason why we plumped for something slower but with a loaded spec and a decent mileage. I wasn't going to risk an N14.
I hope I'm not jinxing stuff but 7 months in and my N14 has been (generally) OKA further update for anyone whose bothered (its not a build thread so won't bother with Reader's Cars!).
Continues to do everything we need it to do. Just had a full service done on it and its improved the response of the gearbox which was my one criticism of the car really. Still find myself knocking down a gear when going up hills where it'll struggle unless you put your foot down a bit more or manually drop it but thats it really.
Few days after its service I heard a clunk and a lovely array of warning lights on the dash. Was only going a couple of miles into town so took heed of the messages telling me to drive slowly etc. One look at the rear end confirmed my suspicion - snapped spring on the rear so took the opportunity to save myself a bit of money and instead of the garage putting 2 OEM springs on the rear, I bought a full set of H&R -30mm springs and did them on the driveway over a couple of nights last week.
Minibeast by DaveyBoyWonder, on Flickr
As a bit of a self confessed VW weirdo, I'm seriously taken by this little car, so much so I'm looking at getting an R53 Cooper S as a bit of a toy/occasional post-lockdown commuter.
Continues to do everything we need it to do. Just had a full service done on it and its improved the response of the gearbox which was my one criticism of the car really. Still find myself knocking down a gear when going up hills where it'll struggle unless you put your foot down a bit more or manually drop it but thats it really.
Few days after its service I heard a clunk and a lovely array of warning lights on the dash. Was only going a couple of miles into town so took heed of the messages telling me to drive slowly etc. One look at the rear end confirmed my suspicion - snapped spring on the rear so took the opportunity to save myself a bit of money and instead of the garage putting 2 OEM springs on the rear, I bought a full set of H&R -30mm springs and did them on the driveway over a couple of nights last week.
Minibeast by DaveyBoyWonder, on FlickrAs a bit of a self confessed VW weirdo, I'm seriously taken by this little car, so much so I'm looking at getting an R53 Cooper S as a bit of a toy/occasional post-lockdown commuter.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
A further update for anyone whose bothered (its not a build thread so won't bother with Reader's Cars!).
Continues to do everything we need it to do. Just had a full service done on it and its improved the response of the gearbox which was my one criticism of the car really. Still find myself knocking down a gear when going up hills where it'll struggle unless you put your foot down a bit more or manually drop it but thats it really.
Few days after its service I heard a clunk and a lovely array of warning lights on the dash. Was only going a couple of miles into town so took heed of the messages telling me to drive slowly etc. One look at the rear end confirmed my suspicion - snapped spring on the rear so took the opportunity to save myself a bit of money and instead of the garage putting 2 OEM springs on the rear, I bought a full set of H&R -30mm springs and did them on the driveway over a couple of nights last week.
Minibeast by DaveyBoyWonder, on Flickr
As a bit of a self confessed VW weirdo, I'm seriously taken by this little car, so much so I'm looking at getting an R53 Cooper S as a bit of a toy/occasional post-lockdown commuter.
These look so much better slightly lowered, compared to standard. Continues to do everything we need it to do. Just had a full service done on it and its improved the response of the gearbox which was my one criticism of the car really. Still find myself knocking down a gear when going up hills where it'll struggle unless you put your foot down a bit more or manually drop it but thats it really.
Few days after its service I heard a clunk and a lovely array of warning lights on the dash. Was only going a couple of miles into town so took heed of the messages telling me to drive slowly etc. One look at the rear end confirmed my suspicion - snapped spring on the rear so took the opportunity to save myself a bit of money and instead of the garage putting 2 OEM springs on the rear, I bought a full set of H&R -30mm springs and did them on the driveway over a couple of nights last week.
Minibeast by DaveyBoyWonder, on FlickrAs a bit of a self confessed VW weirdo, I'm seriously taken by this little car, so much so I'm looking at getting an R53 Cooper S as a bit of a toy/occasional post-lockdown commuter.
They really do. Was surprised at how high they are standard.
Changed the tyres at the end of last week too before it sailed through an MOT. Didn't realise but I had run flats on it which would explain why the ride has always been a bit rubbish. Normal tyres fitted and it feels like a different car. Quiet and comfy...
Changed the tyres at the end of last week too before it sailed through an MOT. Didn't realise but I had run flats on it which would explain why the ride has always been a bit rubbish. Normal tyres fitted and it feels like a different car. Quiet and comfy...
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