5th Gear Next Week - Clubman Test

[Jase-the-ace]

Not the best review in the World but luckily for me, I managed to see a PW/B Cooper S clubman straight afterwards when I went out - parked up outside local shops. Glad to finally catch one in the flesh!

[minirog]

I thought Fifth Gear was a bit pants to be honest although I guess the Clubman review was fairly honest - the thing about it is people will either love it or hate it, it's a pretty quirky package.

Having seen the car in the flesh at the factory on Saturday though I was very impressed indeed and it could well be my next MINI so I guess I'm not the standard punter the Fifth Gear piece was aimed at.

Also loved the classics at the end too but I'd have enjoyed more of a look at them rather than their just being props.

[zyo]

He omitted to say in his comments about the clubdoor that the door couldn't be opened unless the drivers door was open. If he kept cutting people up because the car is 24 cm longer then he really doesn't give other cars much room and regarding the stop start system...he said.."i've stalled it" well that's not the same as it stopped on its own..and then he commented that it had started on it's own ...isn't that the point.Some people won't like the stop start facility but personally I've found it works fine. The only thing I found with any BMW car with the start button is that if you do happen to stall it the start proceedure isn't second nature when you are trying to get it started while sat at the lights with a queue of traffic behind.

..and Vicky suggested it was a "shocker" that the clubman name was used when the original 'cluman 'referred to the upmarket mini with the different front ...apart from the fact that they don't own the rights to the Traveller or Countryman names BMW/MINI would have probably picked the Clubman name anyway because it sounds more upmarket.They said it didn't wear a 'Clubman' badge but neither did the original traveller or countyman so at least that's authentic

[minirog]

Quote: Originally Posted by zyo (original)

He omitted to say in his comments about the clubdoor that the door couldn't be opened unless the drivers door was open. If he kept cutting people up because the car is 24 cm longer then he really doesn't give other cars much room and regarding the stop start system...he said.."i've stalled it" well that's not the same as it stopped on its own..and then he commented that it had started on it's own ...isn't that the point.Some people won't like the stop start facility but personally I've found it works fine. The only thing I found with any BMW car with the start button is that if you do happen to stall it the start proceedure isn't second nature when you are trying to get it started while sat at the lights with a queue of traffic behind.

I think he was determined to make some negative points to be honest, I don't think they were particularly justified but the problem is some people might have taken his comments at face value - well I know they did because someone I know from a classic club commented straight after on the 'stop/start' issue suggesting it was more trouble than it's worth!

Quote:

..and Vicky suggested it was a "shocker" that the clubman name was used when the original 'cluman 'referred to the upmarket mini with the different front ...apart from the fact that they don't own the rights to the Traveller or Countryman names BMW/MINI would have probably picked the Clubman name anyway because it sounds more upmarket.They said it didn't wear a 'Clubman' badge but neither did the original traveller or countyman so at least that's authentic

My impression is there's a confusion in as far as some people I've spoken to seem think in the classic Clubman means estate, which it didn't/doesn't, it simply referred to the Mini with the alternative, squared off, nose that was offered on the Mini in the 70s (well 1969 to 1980 to be precise). I just wonder if BMW/MINI were under this impression too and just got it wrong on this one as a result.

One version of the Clubman was, of course, the estate but there was a saloon version too, in classic terms though the use of Clubman to describe an estate version of the MINI which has the standard nose, is strictly speaking highly inaccurate historically. If you are referring back to Mini history (and they are because a significant portion of the Power Point presentation we had last Saturday at the factory was on the 'authentic' history of Mini estates) it's far more accurate, and authentic, to use Traveller, Countryman or even just MINI estate.

However from a marketing point of view I can see their point, it's a far more effective name. There was also the well known practical issue of MINI not owning all the possible names which I guess was an insurmountable issue. Additionally for me both Countryman and Traveller conjure up an image of sedate 1950s/60s travel in tweed suits, an image I guess MINI don't want attached to their new MINI estate!

That aside though we have to accept that Clubman as a name for the car is historically inauthentic despite MINI's claims otherwise.

[Paul]

They say what they want to say, I'm sad to say I think many reviews you read are written not on the real experience, but the attitude and preconceptions of the driver, as well as the "trend" of if the car is "hot or not" in motoring circles.

Fifth Gears review of the Fiat 500 is a classic example and good contrast, look at it here: Fifth Gear new Fiat 500 feature · NF500 and tell me that he REALLY looks like he's got ANY room at all while he waxes lyrical about the surprising amount of space. He also talks of the quality of the plastics and such, which frankly, isn't true. The packaging is clever, but there's loads of cheap feeling hard grey plastic too.

[zyo]

Quote: Originally Posted by minirog (original)

Additionally for me both Countryman and Traveller conjure up an image of sedate 1950s/60s travel in tweed suits, an image I guess MINI don't want attached to their new MINI estate!

That is what I think and thats why I think they would have gone with the clubman moniker even if they could have used the Traveller/Countryman name.It sounds more modern and upmarket....unless your thinking is tied up in images of 70's brown paint and velour seats

[mister.t]

I will make my own opinion when it comes out and I see it for myself. Thats the only opinion that matters to me

[minirog]

Quote: Originally Posted by zyo (original)

unless your thinking is tied up in images of 70's brown paint and velour seats

, now you come to mention it

[Stiggy]

I didn’t think that Fifth Gear could do worse than the Cooper D review – how wrong I was. OK, there will be aspects of the Clubman that you don’t like, but some of the comments were just plain stupid. He obviously didn’t give the stop/start enough time to get used to it. Yes, it will be a bit strange at first, but surely the amazing fuel economy makes up for it? Nah, just switch it off!

I agree with the comment above that he must be a really bad driver if the extra 24cm means he was cutting people up. Maybe it has more to do with Spanish driving techniques perhaps?

At least he tried sitting in the back, albeit with a doll...

[Paul]

YouTube - Mini Clubman review

Firstly, I'm so glad I don't watch fifth gear very often, how annoying is that "I'm so clever and funny" presenter?!

Secondly, he sits in the back and you can clearly see the front drivers seat is so far forward a garden gnome would struggle to sit there.

Thirdly, apparently the MINI is no good for babies and the stuff they need. Not so, we've had MINIs only from birth to four, not a problem at any stage.

But he was REALLY funny with the little dolly.

And you're right, 24cm long and he's cutting people up?!

Quote of the review "Do I look like a mug?!". Does that really need an answer?

The stop/start is EASY and not a problem at all. So I really don't get his issue. Never mind, he cuts people up and cant cope with the stop/start. Very good. Top marks.

At the end "I love old cars, they're the law". Yeah. Innit.

I've only seen a few Fifth Gear reviews and features on YouTube, but so far, they all suck.

[LMB]

Take a deep breath Paul and count to 10.

[Paul]

Seriously though, what a load of crap.

[zyo]

I used to like fifth gear when it wasn't trying to be edgey and 'wiv it' shakey cameras and all. The guy who was doing the clubman road test is useless and I haven't warmed to him since he first appeared. I don't mind the rest of the presenters but you have to wonder how much input they have to the show and it's 'style'. Perhaps they are uncomfortable with it but don't want to loose the mother of all petrol head gigs. I mean the last series with Tim Lovejoy? nice bloke but who thought a chap that obviously doesn't have that much interest in cars and didn't like to travel quickly was the ideal bloke to front a motoring programme..
Presenters will quite often overlook a cars frailties if they really like it i.e Tom Ford and the Fiat 500. 'I know my knees are around my ears but if I say its roomy in the back people will believe me'...and to some extent the MINI, when it first came out there were a lot of problems which non of the journalists seemed to pick up on. I just wish they would go back to the old format with people road testing cars and leave the funny stuff to Top Gear. But you just know there is a Tarquin with a clipboard somewhere telling the fifth gear team how great it will be if they race a Lotus Elise against a Salmon rowing a boat to see who gets up stream first..."we will be as successful as Top Gear"...NO YOU WON'T

[Paul]

Exactly, Fifth Gear has become a cheap knock-off of Top Gear and there doesn't seem to be (from what I've seen) any genuine "car consumers" show left?

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

...there doesn't seem to be (from what I've seen) any genuine "car consumers" show left?

There aren't any

But you're not alone in wishing that there was...

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

Much as I love Top Gear, it's a shame there isn't something on TV any more that's more akin to the old style, that actually do proper reviews of cars that people actually buy without having to do silly stunts all the time