[davyk31]

My wife is tempted by a Clubman. We had a 2001 Cooper and a 2003 Cooper S and think she fancies getting back to that Mini thing. However, we now have a daughter almost 3 years old and a son of 10 months both needing access to the back seats. They are both still in full car seats although my daughter may soon move to a booster type seat / cushion.

A few questions. Firstly how much can the kids see out the window in the rear. In our current car we had to buy a higher seat for my daughter to see out as the window line was high. Then more importantly how practical is it to get two kinds into the seats. We are used to a 4 door car which must be immensely easier but just wondering from those of you who have kids how you cope. Is it constant sore back time or does the club door make at least putting one child in easier. Any comments appreciated.

Final question, from my past Mini ownership I know zero discount was the norm. Is this still the case for a Clubman. My dealer seem to have a Cooper S Clubman in stock more or less to my spec, should I expect a bit of cash off this if they have not got it sold. Thanks

[Andyblizz]

My wife has got a Cooper Clubman, and we have a 23mth old.

She loves the car and has no problems put him in and taking him out of the back. Seat is by the clubman door.

And our little one appears to have no problems seeing out of the window (Britax Isofix Duo seat) as he always recongises places we are going to.

We didnt get any discount but our was a December delivery and was made to order.

Regards

Andy

[Shaun]

Only got one to fit in the Clubman and as hes 7month old I didnt get much sense out of him when I asked about visibility in the back. There are some pictures here http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-club...y-clubman.html
Of the Clubdoor in full effect.

[davyk31]

Shaun, is your seat a MAxi-Cosi Isofix, looks like it in the pic. Is there room across the backseat for two of these or would the kids be very close to eachother........sometimes a bit of distance could be a good thing

[Shaun]

Quote: Originally Posted by davyk31 (original)

Shaun, is your seat a MAxi-Cosi Isofix, looks like it in the pic. Is there room across the backseat for two of these or would the kids be very close to eachother........sometimes a bit of distance could be a good thing

Its not the isofix its just the priori model the priorifix is the isofix one with the extra leg at the front this one just has seatbelt mounts and is £100 cheaper. I will have a look at the width but two should be no problem though.

[davyk31]

If you could give me an idea of how much distance there would be between two seats it would be great. Loading all that stuff into a car in a Mini showroom would be a big hassle.

Also when putting your child into their seat via the club door is it just as easy as it would be in a conventional 4 door car or do you have to kinda reach them in and then set them back into the seat. Can you stay outside the car or do you need to step in to fasten them in?

[Gemini4321]

Davyk31,

The clubman has a 3 seater option in the back, not sure there is much more space but you have the extra belt in the back.
I dont have any little ones so can't help sorry.

Sue

[KenL]

Davyk.

Does it not bother you that if you park by the side of the road, you'll be using the clubdoor, which is on the same side of the traffic?

[Gemini4321]

Ken depends which side of the road you park on.


Sue

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gemini4321 (original)

Ken depends which side of the road you park on.

True, but parking on the "wrong" side increases your risk of an accident, and is illegal in some countries

[Shaun]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

Davyk.

Does it not bother you that if you park by the side of the road, you'll be using the clubdoor, which is on the same side of the traffic?

Give it a rest we all know which side the door is on by now.

[zyo]

I think some people forget that there is still the passenger door and a front seat that slides forward to let people in and out. The clubdoor makes it a bit easier when you can use it, but I manage to let people in and out of my hatchback which only has two doors.

[Tubby]

Quote: Originally Posted by zyo (original)

I think some people forget that there is still the passenger door and a front seat that slides forward to let people in and out. The clubdoor makes it a bit easier when you can use it, but I manage to let people in and out of my hatchback which only has two doors.

Indeed Zyo...I already have my Maxi-cosi Cabrio-fix behind the drivers seat anyway in my hatch, so the Clubdoor can only make things safer IMHO .

In fact, DavyK, we took a Clubman on 24 hr test drive, and found the Cluvdoor to make getting little daughter in and out of the seat fixings (Isofix) an absolute doddle, without having to step into the rear of the car. Can't say about two seats, but I can't guess that there'll be any more than 10-15 cm between seats having looked at the space our one seat took up...so much so in fact that we've opted for two-rear seat option.

I think there's a poll in there somewhere - think I'll post one

M

[davyk31]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

Davyk.

Does it not bother you that if you park by the side of the road, you'll be using the clubdoor, which is on the same side of the traffic?

At the moment we have a 5 door car with 2 child seats in the rear. Therefore one child has to exit on the traffic side anyway so your point is a bit null and void.

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by davyk31 (original)

At the moment we have a 5 door car with 2 child seats in the rear. Therefore one child has to exit on the traffic side anyway so your point is a bit null and void.

As long as you are aware of the issue and happy with it

[Cooper D Badger]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

True, but parking on the "wrong" side increases your risk of an accident, and is illegal in some countries

Surely in these "some countries" the club door would now be on the "correct side".

[Cooper D Badger]

Quote: Originally Posted by davyk31 (original)

Firstly how much can the kids see out the window in the rear. In our current car we had to buy a higher seat for my daughter to see out as the window line was high. Then more importantly how practical is it to get two kinds into the seats. We are used to a 4 door car which must be immensely easier but just wondering from those of you who have kids how you cope. Is it constant sore back time or does the club door make at least putting one child in easier. Any comments appreciated.

Final question, from my past Mini ownership I know zero discount was the norm. Is this still the case for a Clubman. My dealer seem to have a Cooper S Clubman in stock more or less to my spec, should I expect a bit of cash off this if they have not got it sold. Thanks

Our 1 year old daughter's seat is on the passenger side & we put her in through the passenger door, find it easier that way as then adults can get in the back using the club door (when I say adults, obviously I mean 1 at a time!). It's not as easy as a 4 door but definitely easier than our old One (we used to put her in through the hatchback when she was in a rear facing seat.

If the dealer has one in stock to the spec you want, let them think it is to a higher spec than you wanted & they should offer some discount- especially if it's their launch model.

[Shaun]

Quote: Originally Posted by davyk31 (original)

If you could give me an idea of how much distance there would be between two seats it would be great. Loading all that stuff into a car in a Mini showroom would be a big hassle.

Also when putting your child into their seat via the club door is it just as easy as it would be in a conventional 4 door car or do you have to kinda reach them in and then set them back into the seat. Can you stay outside the car or do you need to step in to fasten them in?

Had a look at the seat and think two would be virtualy touching the one seat is right on the middle now.Got a ropey pic will attatch later.

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cooper D Badger (original)

Surely in these "some countries" the club door would now be on the "correct side".

Yes, true.

The single rear door is more sensible in "these countries", that is ones where you drive on the right.

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by davyk31 (original)

My wife is tempted by a Clubman. We had a 2001 Cooper and a 2003 Cooper S and think she fancies getting back to that Mini thing. However, we now have a daughter almost 3 years old and a son of 10 months both needing access to the back seats. They are both still in full car seats although my daughter may soon move to a booster type seat / cushion.

A few questions. Firstly how much can the kids see out the window in the rear. In our current car we had to buy a higher seat for my daughter to see out as the window line was high. Then more importantly how practical is it to get two kinds into the seats. We are used to a 4 door car which must be immensely easier but just wondering from those of you who have kids how you cope. Is it constant sore back time or does the club door make at least putting one child in easier. Any comments appreciated.

Final question, from my past Mini ownership I know zero discount was the norm. Is this still the case for a Clubman. My dealer seem to have a Cooper S Clubman in stock more or less to my spec, should I expect a bit of cash off this if they have not got it sold. Thanks

Our children are young, and of a similar age. I think the club door issue doesn't really matter for one child, but I think if you have two that are young it's a whole another thing.

If you're on your own, how do you get them out? Firstly you would put the young one on the right, as the better access would be more usefull getting the young one in. So, you're in a public place by a main road. What do you do? We'll use an example of my family.

Getting in.
Open the passenger door, push the seat slide (while holding young one). Encourage young one to get in. Keep encouraging. Then spend some time talking about this or that with her while encouraging her to get in. When she does get in close the front door. Go around to the drivers side (traffic) slide seat forward and put the young one in and strap him in. Close doors. Go back around to the drivers side and slide seat forward and lean in (back breaker) and strap girl in.

Getting out.
Open door and club door. Slide seat forward and reach over and un-buckle older girl. unbucle child. Remove and close clubdoor and main door. Go around to passenger side and open door and slide seat forward (with infant in arms). Encourage daughter out. She may eventually come out Close door.

To be honest given the age that our children are, we believe not having two real doors allowing good access makes this whole thing much harder. Remember that you often have to do this several times a day (our MINI would be the main city car) and my wife would be doing that on her own most of the time.

IMHO it depends on the ages of the kids. When they are young it is most difficult. If you have one it would be fine. If you have two and travel with both parents all the time it would be fine. If you have two youngsters and travel on your own a lot I think it would wear thin very very quickly. We are in this situation and chose to shop elsewhere. If the car had two club doors we probably would have bought it.