I won the loaner lottery

[JST]

Originally Posted by Rob

That's awesome. So is your driving impression since the wife wants one.

The one that has my heart is the JCW version, which erases any sense of extra weight entirely and comes with a stupendously rorty exhaust note (and finger tugging torque steer). It's hilarious fun to drive, so much more entertaining than a VW GTI that the cars can hardly be compared. That's true of the garden variety Clubman S, too, but it's so much MORE true of the JCW.

Of course, with decent options it's also 38K, which is spit-take territory. And SARAFIL notes that resale on those isn't exactly stellar. Still...

As for practicality, just for shits and giggles I test fit our standard luggage kit into the rear. It'll fit the two roll-aboards, stroller and large duffle that we typically travel with, though just barely and there isn't much room for anything else. Total trunk space not stacking anything above the rear seat line is a bit less than the E90 (with a spare inside). On the other hand, if you were serious about taking trips in it every now and then you could always get a clamshell for the roof, and it holds a LOT more than the standard Mini (which basically is full once you put the stroller in).

[FC]

I still can't get excited about the clubman. That's a lot of coin for a little car like that. I can see it working for the JST's fo the world - a small family with no dogs that basically lives in the city.

But for us, it would only work as my daily commuter, and it's not fun enough for the money nor does it have real doors.

To me it's the MC for those who say, "Dammit, if I only had a tad more room I could make this work." Not my case.

[rumatt]

If that's winning, I hope you didn't pay much for the ticket.

[John V]

Originally Posted by rumatt

If that's winning, I hope you didn't pay much for the ticket.

[nate]

Originally Posted by ZBB

I got a Z3 3.0 coupe with stick as a loaner once... Just after they went out of production...

I got a stick shift Z3 loaner once too.

Momentum in Houston has quite a few stick shift loaners, Zs, 3s, & 5s.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by JST

The one that has my heart is the JCW version, which erases any sense of extra weight entirely and comes with a stupendously rorty exhaust note (and finger tugging torque steer). It's hilarious fun to drive, so much more entertaining than a VW GTI that the cars can hardly be compared. That's true of the garden variety Clubman S, too, but it's so much MORE true of the JCW.

Of course, with decent options it's also 38K, which is spit-take territory. And SARAFIL notes that resale on those isn't exactly stellar. Still...

As for practicality, just for shits and giggles I test fit our standard luggage kit into the rear. It'll fit the two roll-aboards, stroller and large duffle that we typically travel with, though just barely and there isn't much room for anything else. Total trunk space not stacking anything above the rear seat line is a bit less than the E90 (with a spare inside). On the other hand, if you were serious about taking trips in it every now and then you could always get a clamshell for the roof, and it holds a LOT more than the standard Mini (which basically is full once you put the stroller in).

Go for JCW version. Check.
Buy it used. Check.
Take mini van for longer trips. Duh. I mean check.

[equ]

Originally Posted by Rob

Take mini van for longer trips. Duh. I mean check.

But then, why do you need the ugly clubman in the first place?

Those interiors + fwd + premium pricing: I never expect to have a mini.

[JST]

Originally Posted by Rob

Go for JCW version. Check.
Buy it used. Check.
Take mini van for longer trips. Duh. I mean check.

There's a MINI van now?

[equ]

Cute car for renting though... Quite popular in Germany. Gf rented one when her twin was visiting, she did say the base had oomph issues on the autobahn (but then so did our 118i). She does prefer the 118i to the mini.

[equ]

Originally Posted by JST

There's a MINI van now?

I'm sure there will be soon.