[Spridgets] My test drive of the Mini Clubman and your opinions.

[Macy Larry]

Lin,

I have a 2009 Clubman. The barn doors are great in use and after a while you don't see the post. Mine is an S ;-) with the 6 speed. I have not paid for anything except a tire rotation in just over 2 years. So I can not answer the oil change question. But it was not needed until I hit 18,000 miles (Yes 18,000) Second one was at 30,000 (they are 12,000 apart ofter the first one). And that is in the 6 yr warranty. 

I did have to buy tires at 31,000. One had a nail and could not be repaired and the rest would not make the next inspection, so I went for all 4. Note, there is NO spare for this car. There is a place to put a doughnut, but it is not included. The run-flats are connected to an electronic monitor to warn you if one gets low.  

I managed to get over 40 mpg coming back from Colorado in July 2009 (MG 2009, Breckinridge CO) but I usually get 27 -30 in daily use. Avg all highway is about 37-39 and low when "playing" is 22-24.

Anything specific, just ask.

BTW, I do Love this car!! 

Larry


On Feb 24, 2011, at 06:13 AM, Linda Grunthaner wrote:

> List
> A few weeks ago I began test driving new cars because we are driving my 300K
> mile 1994 Saturn wagon to California via most if not all of old Rt 66 sort
> of like the Grapes of Wrath with Henry Fonda trip ; ) and the thought is if
> she dies on the trip I pull out the title from the glove box and sign it
> over to the nearest taker and rent a car for the remainder of the trip. Then
> when we got back home buy a new car as per all our research. I liked the
> Mini Clubman because of the feel of driving, roominess  full service except
> for tires for 3 years but most importantly because they have a new
> dealership 4 miles away.. The lease was around $289. a month and I forgot
> what the list price was and I am not 100% happy with that stupid post and
> barndoor style opening of the rear but the extra room might cancel that out.
> One more reason to buy any Mini is because my Sister-in-law & her husband
> have a Mini and joined a club in Michigan and go to 4 road rallies a year
> and we want to join them. I estimated an extra 2K on trade in if I exceed
> the mileage allowance of 10K a year for a lease.
> 
> I like how the Mini retains their value if selling down the road but I hear
> repairs are high. A gal at my school has an older one and said the local
> service centers for non-Mini's want $100. to do an oil change which blew me
> away. Of course I would do my own oil change if it was that expensively but
> why so expensive do you have to pull the engine? And does anyone have a
> Clubman? Should I just lease if the repairs down the road are out of
> control?
> 
> Your thoughts,
> Lin
> 
> Pictures of what we will look like heading to CA via Rt 66 : ) hahahaa
> http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_125825-Hudson-Super-Six-1926.html
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-- 
Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
macy at upenn.edu
Senior IT Program Director
Neuropsychiatry Section
Department of Psychiatry
University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce St. - 10 Gates
Philadelphia, PA 19104

In a world without walls or fences, what use do we have for windows or 
gates?