Clubman much better?

[Grenadiers]

Will the Clubman serve a small much better than a regular MINI?

We got our MINI Cooper just a couple of months ago, and now it turns out we will be parents by the end of the year!

Fantastic news, of course, but now I have to make some tough decisions. Will we keep the MINI, or will we move up?

From what others write, it looks like it is possible but not ideal having a baby and a pram in a Mini. I'm also a bit worried about the lack of deformation-zone in the back, due to the short length of the car.

We would like to continue driving a MINI, though, so now we're thinking about the Clubman. But will the longer car really mean that much difference? 260 ltrs. luggage space is of course bigger than the smaller MINI, but compared to a (boring) Golf or A3, it's still small...

So the question is: Is there any logic in moving up from a MINI to a MINI Clubman for familiy life? Or would the difference not be that great?

Thanks!

[dlpruk]

I think you'll find a Clubman is much better for family life. Why not try one for yourself?

Your dealer will be delighted to see you again so soon!

[Grenadiers]

Yes, I guess the dealer will clap his hands when we come back....

I understand a Clubman will be better than the MINI we have, but the question is really if the Clubman is a sensible choice as a small family-car?

Will the Clubman have space for a regular pram, for example, without putting down the rear seats?

[billy.batson]

I think you will be much better off with the Clubman. In fact, having owned one, I would never buy a hatchback. The Clubman is a full four seater with lots of space for all your baggage.

We have successfully carried our grandchild's pram (collapsed of course) plus all the other gear. And with the rear doors it is so easy to load and unload. Order the flat floor option though.

[minimummy]

Don't sell you Mini for a Audi etc. When I had my little girl we sold our mini and bought an Astra. We hated it and sold it six months later for another mini. We have a mini cooper and you just need to be careful how you pack , pushchair you buy etc. There are posts in this forum which give you ideas on pushchairs which fit.

[Paul]

We went from birth to four with the hatch, no problem at all, ever.

So a Clubman will make life even easier (if you're after a really easy life, get a Volvo estate or something! )

[RooniusMaximus]

I had the chance to poke around a Clubman at the weekend and while I'm sure it's a little more practical, I can't see that it would be SO much more practical than the hatch.

The only additional feature that I liked was the sucide door as I reckon it would make putting a baby (especially newborn) in a lot easier.

Aside from that, I guess it would be a much more comfortable place to travel with the extra room.

However, and I'm sorry to those with Clubmans, I really don't like the shape. Maybe they'll grow on me.

[Electric Blue]

Boots bigger on the Clubman, the rear access is waaaaaay better (thanks to the extra door) the split fold boot floor means you can put bags etc under the floor, then the pram/buggy ontop. I have been looking really closely at the Clubby the past few weeks....
We sold our S for a "practical" car and have lamented doing so ever since, I really wish the Clubman had been out when our little one came along, it would have meant we would have bought a car we wanted to own, not one we bought "for the baby".

[ViscountCharles]

From birth to 6 yrs old with the Hatch, here - and the last 8 months has been with a second baby in the back.

Granted, with two children it's far, far from ideal - bordering on the insanely impractical, TBH - but with just one child I wouldn't rush to swap the Hatch. Swap if you have a second (or twins), or swap when it would normally be time to swap.

That said, I have no doubt that the Clubman is more practical, and I'm *still* annoyed that I can't buy the Clubman I want for another 9 months yet (MINI UK - grrrr).

[TimCS]

If you're not too fussed about getting an exact spec then I'd take advantage of the tumbling prices of the Clubman demo cars out there..... particularly the Ss. I've been watching them fall over the last month by, in one case a grand in 4 weeks. Now £15895 for a car that in November was just shy of 21 grand with tiny mileage. Only reason I'm not jumping is cos there's no sunroof..... must have a sunroof!!!! Oh and anthracite headlining, and chrome mirror caps..... see DOH!

[ItsNumptyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by ViscountCharles (original)

That said, I have no doubt that the Clubman is more practical, and I'm *still* annoyed that I can't buy the Clubman I want for another 9 months yet (MINI UK - grrrr).

What Clubbie is it you want/are waiting for...... .just out of interest??

[ViscountCharles]

The John Cooper Works Clubman. Available everywhere in the world from July '08 onwards (as they're being built alongside the Hatches), but if you live in the UK, you have to wait until Easter '09. And before my detractors tell me to "change the record" again, I've had a thousand pounds on deposit for one since March, earning me no interest - I think that gives me the right to point out my frustration with MINI UK at every possible opportunity.

[Shaun]

Were particularly enjoying the Clubman with James our One year old son. We managed with the hatch for a while and the Clubman came around at just the right time as we switched to forward facing seats. The extra space is so usefull. I have a quinny zzap in the boot full time and can fit Mum, Mum in law, James, a full size pram and a boot full of shopping int he back too.

[quentinberg007]

Luckily, when my wife and I decide to have children, we'll simply use the MINI for whoever doesn't have the little one. My golf GTI (4 door) can handle the little one w/ no trouble, so we don't really have to sacrifice the MINI.

Now, I'll just have to get the Recaro baby seat to match the Recaros in my GTI. Sadly, it doesn't come in plaid.

~~Quentin

[lespurgeon]

Mini + 1 kid = No problem.

We are at a year and half. Would not trade for a clubman. Did notice, if you order one, you probably want the 2-person back seat, not the three.