Just curious... how do you classify the Clubman S?

Mike

 

My opinion is that it is definitely a sports car. Tons of fun to drive and *** kicking acceleration too!
However, and I am not complaining, my insurance company classifies it as a "wagon". That designation gives me a lower premium verses a "sports car".

 

No doubt in my mind...even the Justa with auto! It just so happens it is also very economical, but I wouldn't call it an economy car. It's a MINI!

 

My rear license plate frame came from BMW, "ROADSTER"..like road monster in my book.

 

No, I don't think a Clubman is a sports car. To me, a sports car is something that's lower and shaped more like a bullet, such as a 350z, Audi TT, Tiburon, Crossfire, Corvette, Viper, things like that.

 

you mean a coke bottle. If you take a coke bottle and lay on its side, you will see many cars are shaped lie it..

 

Sports car.

But for insurance purposes definitely being classified as a wagon suits me just fine.

 

A sports car has two doors and isn't front wheel drive.

 

I agree with proximal .Yet the fun factor with mine is just as high as some past sport cars

 

a sporty car, not a sports car.

 

I know a few FWD cars that would run circles around some "true" sports cars around the track.

And a few owners that also think AWD is cheating

Anyways, I go with the consensus here. I think the S is a sports car, but I'm very happy the insurance company doesn't consider it so.

Maybe sporty is a better term?

 

I think sporty is a perfect term, but certainly not sports car.

 

Can have a different meaning for everyone. In my case it is because I grew up in the 60's when a sports car had two seats, was usually lower and lighter than a sedan. Remember too that back then a 'small' car was much larger than it is now (at least in the US).

Cars like the Alfa GT Veloce and Porsche 911 changed things as both had rear seats (and raced in Sedan classes). Then you got the 'pony' cars, BMW 2002, etc, etc. Real sedans (4 real seats) that handled well. So, the idea of a 'sports car' became a bit muddled. To me a sports car is typified by the Miata, Solstice, etc.

I did not consider my WRX (or our Mini) as a sports car. Fun, yes, but not a sports car. I like the reference above as a Sporty car.

charlie

 

It's a station wagon.

 

mini's are sporty, not sports cars. Doesnt mean they are any less fun though :tu:

 

Perhaps a new term is in order for our rides? Sportsycar? Sportsycalia? Aww heck, it's just a lot of fun to drive man! I grips the road and accellerates like crazy so what do you call that? How about a Gracellerator? Gripasauras? Accellagripper? Cluberator?

 

Love Cluberator!!!!

 

Much like my very first car (mom's 1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser with a 455 V8), it's a station wagon that goes fast.

 

1.6l engine....less than 200 horsepower....a 0-60 above 6 seconds....more than 2 doors....extended station wagon trunk

Definitely not a sports car. Not a bad thing. They just don't fit into that category.

 

Hey guys, I traded in my 2006 G35 Coupe M6 with 9000km on the odometer because I thought I bought a sports car. It looks like a sports car but doesn't have the "toss around" feel of a true sports car. So my definintion isn't based on looks, but handling we are know how Minis handle!

 

those were roadsters

 

Of course, roadster from my youth meant just about any 2 door convertible. Just like coupe meant a 2dr hardtop. Then we saw huge 'boats' that had 2doors and that kinda went away too.

FWIW, even in the 'old' days a sports car did not always perform better than high perf sedans.

So, nowdays you can call just about any car whatever you want.

charlie

 

I had 5 miatas and this went on there as well with the Roadster label .
The formal defination is an open automobile having a front seat and a rumble seat

 

Road and Track debated the definition of "sports car" back in the early 50's (no, I'm not that old) and they couldn't come up with a definition that everyone agreed to....it's like trying to define "beauty"....

 

sorry to say the closest description for a mini, cooper-s clubman-s or any mini (baring race built cars) is hot hatch. this is not to say they are not sporty and in many cases amazing handlers, especially with some minor modifications.

but in my opinion, no way is it a sports car. just my 2cents