[Matt FT]

Went for a Clubman D and S testdrive yesterday and ended up ordering an S

Really liked the D. It wasn't as noisy as I was expecting and did have impressive midrange pull. It would definitely get my vote if I was looking for a London commuter car.

But the S was very impressive. Compared to my R50 MCS, it was much more refined with the power and torque coming much lower down the rev range. Ride was also in another league. Goes to show what happens when you design suspension with runflats in mind from the start!


So, the spec;

Pepper White S
Chilli pack with pace wheels and half/half black seats
MFSW
LSD
Visibility
Sunroof
Darkened rear glass
Anthracite roof
Piano Black Trim
PDC
DAB

Stealer Fit;
Black vipers on bonnet and boot
Driving lamps
Seal and protect

So, mini gurus - a few questions for you:

Colour - I was sold on the pepper. Until I saw a chilli red and black. The misses likes the pepper, and I think that the pepper gives you a better rear look. But the chilli from a 3/4 angle looks really sweet. More agressive and a little less <whispers> hairdressers car </whisper>. What do the masses think?

We liked the black lounge leather, but is it worth the extra £850 cash? I think it would set off the dark interior well, mind.

Anything missing from the spec?

Going to post a few questions in exterior about the extortionate price of the driving lamps and vipers as well.

One happy camper!

[Matt FT]

just thought of another question - has anyone got or used the DAB? Impressions? I really want 6Music in my car, but debating whether it's worth £300...

[clubmanlover]

Nice spec, you'll see my thread about a similar dilemma i had between cooper and cooper s where the s won for the same reasons you've discovered.

As for other bits (apart from jealously at the amount of toys you're slapping on it)....

I think the chilli red with either silver or black is a great colour -- drove a pepper white in test drive and it is great -- but maybe (say it quitely)...you'd feel a bit more ...erm, blokey in the chilli...(prepared to be slagged off on that one)

Im not a bit fan of full leather seats personally in general -- and looking at the spec you have already gone very dark on the interior so i think half/half will look best.

You could hardly add much more to your spec -- but im a big fan of heated seats...would never have ordered them before but bought a cherished with them on and now cant live without...

SO. ...as to stupid prices, since you're obviously not putting stripes across the roof, my dealer told me, when i was thinking about them, that if i waited to order post delivery, i could talk to the sign-writer personally about working out a deal between us for front and back vipers (which does seem sensible since you're not getting the longest bits of stripe!!!!!) You could try that to try to ditch some of the 200 quid they want!!

But otherwise -- great car, great spec -- and look forward to seeing the pics.,..congrats.

Forgot DAB thing -- have read on here that's it not worth doing -- can anyone else confirm that?

[pertyb]

Full on lounge leather is lovely-I have a PW white clubman, bonnet stripes and extra dealer fit headlight (didn't think that was girly until someone here said so), with anthracite roof lining and hot chco lounge leather interior, and it goes really well with the white-less gloomy than all black.

[The Red Baron]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matt FT (original)

Going to post a few questions in exterior about the extortionate price of the driving lamps and vipers as well.

I'd give Phil a call at Mini Pirate before splashing out on the over priced BMW vipers!

MINI PIRATE || 2007 || Mini Decals & Graphics

[Matt FT]

Thanks all - Phil's already been contacted

[Jon Robson]

Personally I think the DAB is way overpriced, and left it out of my spec. The HiFi is worth the money though, or you can go aftermarket with Mikey as the standard speakers are not that good.

[mella yella fella]

Chrome line interior adds a touch of class,instead of the dull silver that comes as standard(on our D).
also we specced the colour line for the interior which compliments the exterior colour nicely

[Matt FT]

does anyone know if there is a pdf version of the clubman owners manual around? I don't think I can wait till March to discover all the little things it can do

[Tubby]

Sounds like a nice specc'd car - congrats! Colour wise - I'm a little biased as I take delivery of my Chilli/Silver Clubman Dooper on Friday this week, and have had a CR/W Cooper for last 3.5 years... My thought would be go for CR/S combo, and then lose the dark rear windows, but it's all personal taste in the end .

Wouldn't like to comment on viper prices or exterior lights, but as for DAB, I too have chosen not to add it to my list becuase of price and forthcoming DAB+ reportedly rendering all existing DAB kit next to useless .

Have however gone for the Hi-Fi upgrade. I aim to try a portable pocket-DAB plugged into the Aux In socket via a good quailty jack lead and hope that this works well enough for things such as 6Music, BBC 7 et al. Not sure it'll give great performance reception-wise, but where we are has pretty good coverage, and other than that I spend most of my time pounding the A34/M40/M6/M54 so might not be an issue...

Enjoy the car when it comes!

M

[Matt FT]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tubby (original)

Sounds like a nice specc'd car - congrats! Colour wise - I'm a little biased as I take delivery of my Chilli/Silver Clubman Dooper on Friday this week, and have had a CR/W Cooper for last 3.5 years... My thought would be go for CR/S combo, and then lose the dark rear windows, but it's all personal taste in the end .

Wouldn't like to comment on viper prices or exterior lights, but as for DAB, I too have chosen not to add it to my list becuase of price and forthcoming DAB+ reportedly rendering all existing DAB kit next to useless .

Have however gone for the Hi-Fi upgrade. I aim to try a portable pocket-DAB plugged into the Aux In socket via a good quailty jack lead and hope that this works well enough for things such as 6Music, BBC 7 et al. Not sure it'll give great performance reception-wise, but where we are has pretty good coverage, and other than that I spend most of my time pounding the A34/M40/M6/M54 so might not be an issue...

Enjoy the car when it comes!

M

What's the DAB+ thing?

[Tubby]

DAB+ is (hopefully) going to achieve what DAB was supposed to - give a properly better sound quality than FM/MP3/CD - that is before broadcasters decided to put out more channels and less quality .

At the moment the official line OfCom are putting out is that DAB+ won't 'replace' DAB immediately, but there seems little or no option for existing DAB kit to be upgraded (although new stuff will probably be upgradeable - at cost?! ), meaning that [i}if[/i] the new DAB+ protocol becomes the standard, then DAB in scenarios such as the MINI DAB head unit (probably 'old' and hence non-upgradeable technology) becomes less and less desirable.

As you can see from this Which report there is no major push yet , but for me at least the quality of DAB is not good enough to justify the expense of a fixed head unit... But then I have been described as an audio snob!

Rgds,

M

[Matt FT]

ah, I see. Interesting. So DAB+ will be a higher bitrate? Puts an interesting slant on it.

[CC07ERS]

Leave the leather its way overpriced , i had it in my r56 s waste of money. As for the DAB i would have liked that. Get the LSD

[The Overrun]

Do you have sportsuspension?

I heard it ruins the balance of the car quite a bit

DAB is great but it's too expensive for what it is. I use my ipod and usb stick in my car

[Matt FT]

I'm leaving the suspension as standard as I hear it kills the ride on 17" wheels.

[Mini_Flower]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matt FT (original)

We liked the black lounge leather, but is it worth the extra £850 cash? I think it would set off the dark interior well, mind.

just thought of another question - has anyone got or used the DAB? Impressions? I really want 6Music in my car, but debating whether it's worth £300...!

Good choice. I have a PW/B S and love, love, love it.

To begin with I wasn't overly bothered for the black lounge leather but the Mister wanted it (not that he drives my car) and I'm glad I went with it. When I picked the car up for the first time the lounge leather was the first thing I noticed - it is really striking. It is more wearable that I expected (very large black dog with muddy body/paws). At the moment I stick blankets on the back seat for her as I can't find any seat covers that fit. I only have two seats in the back too to give it more of a sporty look. I definitely think it was worth it.

DAB - I ordered the DAB as I wanted the factory fit. You still get the FM/AM radio too. To be honest I haven't really had a lot of time to sit down and play with the car audio and set it up properly but noticed that in my area I only get certain stations and no BBC ones which is a bit irritating but that may be more of a RTFM from me (I live in North Herts and DAB in the house is brilliant). I must do this at the weekend.

Also, if you have gone for the 6xCD option - you still get the single CD option too. I assumed that was down to MINI not having thought of what else to put in the gap. OK if you have a full 6xcd and want a change!

Please don't say PW/B is a hairdressers car lmao

[Matt FT]

Thanks Mini_Flower. I might drop the DAB and get a little portable unit to plug into the AUX port, especially if reception isn't great compared to a house-bound unit. Just don't know if I can justify the lounge leather - it does look good, but damn, it's expensive!

[Mini_Flower]

Matt - now you are dropping the DAB you now have £300 towards the lounge leather!!!!! Seriously, it looks fab! I just wish I could find my camera cables so I can show pics!

[Matt FT]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini_Flower (original)

Matt - now you are dropping the DAB you now have £300 towards the lounge leather!!!!! Seriously, it looks fab! I just wish I could find my camera cables so I can show pics!

You've got 24 hours! Need to finalise the spec tomorrow at 10am!