Mini Cooper D Clubvan: PH Fleet

Ex-Mini owner Garlick tries the van. It's good, but there are faults...

I don’t think I’ve written about the PH Mini since it arrived so rather than tell you what I’ve been doing with it (do you really want to hear about my commute?) or what I feel about the way it looks (pictures here for your perusal) I will concentrate on driving the thing, and whether I think it works as a proposition.

Vans aren't meant to be clean, right?

The Mini has been knocking around for a while now, but sometimes I leave it in favour of other cars; while the PH graphics are eye catching, you don’t exactly blend into the background. Making, ahem, progress has never been so visible. And that progress can be quite swift believe it or not thanks to the van enjoying, perhaps unsurprisingly, the same superb handling characteristics of Mini hatch. Not driven one yet? You should, even if only to surprise yourself.

A few years ago I ran a Mini Cooper S (turbo) with the aftermarket JCW tuning kit fitted. As some of you may remember I shunned the expected wheel upgrade from 17-inch to 18-inch, choosing instead to go for some Cooper (non S) 16-inch wheels on non-runflats instead.

It made for a fast little hatch with handling that outclassed cars costing much, much more. On tracks like Bedford Autodrome West I’d be hustling cars like 911 Turbos through the bends wishing I could get by (and bear in mind I am no hero driver) only for them to blast away on the straight and hold me up again at the next corner. Mini know how to make a good chassis and if you choose to base your opinions of its prowess based on looks you are depriving yourself of a fun car.

Garlick liked the S; he's a fan of this too

Digression aside my point is that the van is as much fun to drive as the hatch, even when fitted with the diesel engine. The torque it offers is enough to go with the flow (or beyond) and the steering and gearbox is as good as any hot hatch you care to name.

The interior is high-quality with all the kit you’d expect and not a creak or rattle from anywhere despite the open luggage compartment behind your head. Impressive, impressive enough for me to contemplate long motorway runs without issue.

But, none of this is a surprise as its more car than van. If I had to load boxes into it daily I’d want a higher load bay to save me ruining my back, I’d want a wider load bay, I’d want an interior that I could get dirty without guilt and I’d certainly want to pay less than £19,500 for the privilege of owning a fancy van.

Not subtle, even in the shade!

It’s a good car, no, it’s a great car but you’d be better off with the increased visibility of a Clubman and dropping the seats occasionally should you wish to carry a load of any bulk. Or a (proper) van, if that is what you need.

I’ll stand up on a soapbox and sing the praises of the Mini range to anyone who will listen. I like driving the PH van too, but I can’t help but feel it’s flawed as a van unless loads are light, infrequent and clean. If you can run it as a tax break, specced to the hilt, that may be a different matter… especially if a turbo JCW became available. Now there’s a thought.

Fact sheet:
Car: Mini Cooper D Clubvan
Run by: Everyone!
On fleet since: June 2013
Mileage: 6,908
List price new: £19,575.50 (Basic list of £14,275 +VAT plus £400 for Midnight Black paint, £1,700 for Media Pack, £55 for Storage Pack, £50 for space saver spare, £105 for leather two-spoke steering wheel, £60 for velour floor mats, £45 for warning triangle and first aid kit and £30 for front passenger airbag deactivation switch. All options prices inclusive of VAT.)
Last month at a glance: Garlick tries the Mini and returns singing its praises (mostly)

Previous reports:
It's a diesel van not a supercar but it has been hanging out with a few
Daily commuting duties reveal the Clubvan is still a Mini at heart
The PH Mini Clubvan is here and straight into the heart of our Le Mans field ops

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drthomp82

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157 months