GIGANTIC MINI IS GIGANTIC

[rmd]

So, I've been having some car trouble, lately. I scheduled a visit with the folks up at the dealership, today. Turns out it's going to require a part they don't have handy, so my car will be there over the weekend and then for a day or two more. In the interim, I have a loaner vehicle - a mini clubman s. it's like a mini, but GIGANTIC.

new key style: weird. new blinker operation: fracking annoying. strange radio UI: strange. cargo space: GIGANTIC. sport button: sport button? this requires investigation. (it apparently changes the engine timing programming for more aggressive driving response, i guess)

the reduction in visibility via the rear view mirror is noticeable, but not bad.

Comments

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

The sport button on automatics usually causes the car to shift later.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

The Sport button also changes to profile for wastegate operation on the turbocharger.

Strange radio UI generally pisses me off. It's difficult to tune, so I found two stations that I like to bounce back and forth between and otherwise use the aux input on long drives.

Key style makes me pretty happy in its weirdness. and I've gotten used to blinker operation. Can't speak to cargo space. My mini is mini. (though probably 40% larger than the old classic, which makes me sad.)

[rmd.livejournal.com]

much of the difference in size between the new mini and the classic is safety gear -- the old ones were kinda deathtrap levels of construction.

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

I thought the Cooper S version was supercharged, not turbocharged?

[spazzkat.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the club! GET IT CLUB!

HA HA HA HA HAHA

i kill me


still nothing but love for my Clubman. The blinkers were for me the thing that took the longest to get used to. If you have the iPod hook up the radio UI for iPod navigation is just about useless. If you want to listen to an artist or album that starts with a letter after g I recommend selecting it on the iPod _before_ plugging it in. Otherwise you can damage your wrist cranking and cranking and cranking through the album/songlists.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

yeah, from what i've heard, i'd probably stick with just the aux input rather than full-on ipod interfacing, if i were getting a new mini.

oh, what i WANT the blinkers to do (among other things) is to be able to turn off my left blinker by either tapping the right blinker control (as it does now) OR by triggering the left blinker again, so it works like a pushbutton.

[penk.livejournal.com]

I test-sat in a clubman when I was replacing my van. I liked it a lot - I wasn't able to compare with a regular-mini, having never driven one, but I ws suprirsed my 6'6" frame fit into the clubman without any problems.

I ended up buying a used 2007 Passat wagon - the clubman cargo capacity just wasn't enough - and I've used all the space in the passat a number of times already.

But boy they look like fun.

[diagonti.livejournal.com]

Huh. I've been curious about the clubman. How does it feel pickup and handling wise to the normal? Is there a noticeable difference in turning radius?

[rmd.livejournal.com]

I'll let you know. I haven't had much of a chance to play with it, but I'll probably take it out to a parking lot some time over the weekend and put it through its paces.

[diagonti.livejournal.com]

So what was your conclusion? As good as the regular size mini?

[rmd.livejournal.com]

i gather the newer engines are more aggressive than my '04, and this one certainly was - it had even sharper pickup when zooming up the rt 2 hill. much better pickup in general. i'm not sure how much of the smooth ride was the longer wheelbase and how much was that it didn't have a tight sport suspension.

wider turning radius, but about what i expected. less visibility out the rear view mirror, but i got used to it.

i would totally consider getting one if i had to regularly transport more than one full-sized passenger.