R55 7 Day Review
#1
7 Day Review
Picked our Laser Blue Clubman S (sorry MCCS) last Saturday. Random observations...
1. This car is so much fun to drive!
2. The kids have a lot of space in the back seat
3. There is no way for the kids to get out of the car by themselves (this makes that third door basically worthless and since at our school the kids must get out of the car themselves, the Clubman can not be used for the drop off line). A pro if they are very young, a serious con if they are older.
4. Door stops? Can we get some door stops? Wife and I both had our legs crushed by the doors on day #1. We now know to push the door open all the way cause otherwise, it is coming back at you.
5. While I like the iPod integration feature, the location sucks. The cables come straight out and then you need to bend everything back in order to locate the ipod in a safe spot.
6. The armrest still sucks. Sorry, but I hate that damn thing still.
7. No cable for charging the 3GS iPhone still. Come on BMW get with the program (please no debates about the power issue because the USB cable that comes with the phone seems to work - just that I can't play music off it then).
8. Even 16" run-flats are brutal. I can't imagine how bad 17" run-flats are. But I can imagine what 17" non-run flats will be like
9. I really REALLY miss the limited slip - so wish I could have found a car with it.
10. The engine spins so freely - if you drop down a gear and clutch out, there is none of the lurching forward - very very smooth clutch/shifter/engine combo. Love it.
11. HK stereo sounds nice - glad I just read that there is an adjustment for treble/bass PER input cause I thought my car was haunted. The iPod Integration is brutal. I'm going to need to make a car playlist.
12. Speaking of my car -I forgot it is my wife's car too - I forgot this on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday - the days she took the car.
13. 270 miles and we are at half a tank. Can't do that kind of stuff in the M5 or MDX!!!
14. Car is so narrow it is great to sneak into smaller spots.
15. Love the sunroof. I know everyone here hates it, but here in Chicago it is so nice to have some light in the car.
16. In spite of reminding the wife that with Comfort Access she has to be careful not to put her purse/key in the boot, she did it and locked the keys in the car. Good thing the rear door immediately opened up (took her 5 minutes to figure out why the door would not stay closed). Nice touch.
17. Speaking of CA, why can't the front doors open just by squeezing the door handle? Why do you have to push the button? The button is fine for locking, but why should I have to push it for opening?
18. Headlights suck. Xenons would have been a nice option to have. Time to change the bulbs.
19. Love the seats - have the leatherette and they are the perfect shape and feel - and at $0, how can you go wrong?
20. Trim - had to have a piece of trim replaced during pickup (was all chewed up). Other pieces look so so as well. How does this kind of stuff occur in a modern day car today? WHO let the car out of the factory like that?
Did I mention how much I love driving this car?
1. This car is so much fun to drive!
2. The kids have a lot of space in the back seat
3. There is no way for the kids to get out of the car by themselves (this makes that third door basically worthless and since at our school the kids must get out of the car themselves, the Clubman can not be used for the drop off line). A pro if they are very young, a serious con if they are older.
4. Door stops? Can we get some door stops? Wife and I both had our legs crushed by the doors on day #1. We now know to push the door open all the way cause otherwise, it is coming back at you.
5. While I like the iPod integration feature, the location sucks. The cables come straight out and then you need to bend everything back in order to locate the ipod in a safe spot.
6. The armrest still sucks. Sorry, but I hate that damn thing still.
7. No cable for charging the 3GS iPhone still. Come on BMW get with the program (please no debates about the power issue because the USB cable that comes with the phone seems to work - just that I can't play music off it then).
8. Even 16" run-flats are brutal. I can't imagine how bad 17" run-flats are. But I can imagine what 17" non-run flats will be like
9. I really REALLY miss the limited slip - so wish I could have found a car with it.
10. The engine spins so freely - if you drop down a gear and clutch out, there is none of the lurching forward - very very smooth clutch/shifter/engine combo. Love it.
11. HK stereo sounds nice - glad I just read that there is an adjustment for treble/bass PER input cause I thought my car was haunted. The iPod Integration is brutal. I'm going to need to make a car playlist.
12. Speaking of my car -I forgot it is my wife's car too - I forgot this on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday - the days she took the car.
13. 270 miles and we are at half a tank. Can't do that kind of stuff in the M5 or MDX!!!
14. Car is so narrow it is great to sneak into smaller spots.
15. Love the sunroof. I know everyone here hates it, but here in Chicago it is so nice to have some light in the car.
16. In spite of reminding the wife that with Comfort Access she has to be careful not to put her purse/key in the boot, she did it and locked the keys in the car. Good thing the rear door immediately opened up (took her 5 minutes to figure out why the door would not stay closed). Nice touch.
17. Speaking of CA, why can't the front doors open just by squeezing the door handle? Why do you have to push the button? The button is fine for locking, but why should I have to push it for opening?
18. Headlights suck. Xenons would have been a nice option to have. Time to change the bulbs.
19. Love the seats - have the leatherette and they are the perfect shape and feel - and at $0, how can you go wrong?
20. Trim - had to have a piece of trim replaced during pickup (was all chewed up). Other pieces look so so as well. How does this kind of stuff occur in a modern day car today? WHO let the car out of the factory like that?
Did I mention how much I love driving this car?
#2
#3
Had to laugh at #4. I actually stopped by the dealer one day and asked if there was a bulletin on the doors. The service rep said no bulletin, and yes, they all work like that. He said the guy that trained him at the dealership, told him to meet the cars as they come in and catch the door when the customer opens it, holding it open while the customer gets out.
Some of us have had good luck at using the genre field in iTunes as a navigational aid for the Mini radio. In iTunes, you can set the genre of the song to the letter that corresponds to the artist ("B" for Beatles, etc)...You can get to the genre list from the Mini radio. It's not as good as the iPod interface, but it works.
Nice choice on the color!
Some of us have had good luck at using the genre field in iTunes as a navigational aid for the Mini radio. In iTunes, you can set the genre of the song to the letter that corresponds to the artist ("B" for Beatles, etc)...You can get to the genre list from the Mini radio. It's not as good as the iPod interface, but it works.
Nice choice on the color!
#4
3. There is no way for the kids to get out of the car by themselves (this makes that third door basically worthless and since at our school the kids must get out of the car themselves, the Clubman can not be used for the drop off line). A pro if they are very young, a serious con if they are older.
#5
there are three stop points on the doors. i never have a problem as long as i open the door to one of those three points.
it is impossible to lock the keys in the car with CA, even if you have one in your pocket and one in the trunk or the front seat.
i personally think that squeezing the handle to open the door is more of a PIA then pushing the button, and i wish that the button would acomplish said door opening.
it is impossible to lock the keys in the car with CA, even if you have one in your pocket and one in the trunk or the front seat.
i personally think that squeezing the handle to open the door is more of a PIA then pushing the button, and i wish that the button would acomplish said door opening.
#6
Agree with rexicon and the school drop off. We do the same with our 9 year old who has been getting out of the backseat since she was 7. It's not complicated once you get used to it.
As for the iPOD, I keep it under the hand break and my husband tucks it in the mesh pocket on the passenger side or pops it in one of the cup holders.
As for the iPOD, I keep it under the hand break and my husband tucks it in the mesh pocket on the passenger side or pops it in one of the cup holders.
#7
Funny you mention the trim. Yesterday I was washing my car myself and noticed that some of the bottom window trim moves around/is not glued in properly. And some of the chrome trim is actually plastic, I've found. Cheap, cheap, cheap.
Things like the iPod location: I wonder how this stuff gets approved? Aren't there layers of people that it has to go through before the car goes into production? Didn't ANYone say, "Ah! This is crappy!"?
The only reason why people hate the sunroof is because of all the mechanical/wind problems they seem to develop, and the mesh covers that make the car a literal oven in hot weather. But I couldn't live without them! The added weight ends up being only something like 25 pounds when you figure in what the regular steel roof/lining/etc. would have been in place of the sunroof. The sunroof makes the car so much more enjoyable for me, even when they aren't open.
Fun to drive, yes. Without a single doubt! I agree with most of your assessments, except the door stops -- I've never had it crush my legs.
Things like the iPod location: I wonder how this stuff gets approved? Aren't there layers of people that it has to go through before the car goes into production? Didn't ANYone say, "Ah! This is crappy!"?
The only reason why people hate the sunroof is because of all the mechanical/wind problems they seem to develop, and the mesh covers that make the car a literal oven in hot weather. But I couldn't live without them! The added weight ends up being only something like 25 pounds when you figure in what the regular steel roof/lining/etc. would have been in place of the sunroof. The sunroof makes the car so much more enjoyable for me, even when they aren't open.
Fun to drive, yes. Without a single doubt! I agree with most of your assessments, except the door stops -- I've never had it crush my legs.
Last edited by Headlands; 03-21-2010 at 09:44 AM.
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#9
Call me completly confused.
Having dealt with the doors from a 67 Pontiac (1 ton)
68 Dodge Charger (1.2 tons)
75 Cordoba (1.1 tons) and the door of my 2006 Mustang (.9 tons)
I can't believe this little door is causing so much trouble. Maybe i'm just 'Ol Fashoned, but I use my arm first to open it.
Just sayin.......
Having dealt with the doors from a 67 Pontiac (1 ton)
68 Dodge Charger (1.2 tons)
75 Cordoba (1.1 tons) and the door of my 2006 Mustang (.9 tons)
I can't believe this little door is causing so much trouble. Maybe i'm just 'Ol Fashoned, but I use my arm first to open it.
Just sayin.......
#10
#11
#12
#13
there are three stop points on the doors. i never have a problem as long as i open the door to one of those three points.
it is impossible to lock the keys in the car with CA, even if you have one in your pocket and one in the trunk or the front seat.
i personally think that squeezing the handle to open the door is more of a PIA then pushing the button, and i wish that the button would acomplish said door opening.
it is impossible to lock the keys in the car with CA, even if you have one in your pocket and one in the trunk or the front seat.
i personally think that squeezing the handle to open the door is more of a PIA then pushing the button, and i wish that the button would acomplish said door opening.
#14
#15
I am at 3 months now and my 7 day review sounded a lot like the one above. And yet, I am still enjoying the car, quirks and all. It's a funny little beast of a car, lol. I am not sure how people with big feet drive a cooper though. Those pedals sure are close. I avoid wearing boots. I have also had the door come back on me. Windy day and slam. And yeah, I have caught my pants on the seat adjustment as well. I have also hit my head badly a few times (going in the boot) forgetting how small the car is but that's just because my last car was an SUV and had plenty of clearance Clarence. (RIP Peter Graves) I will also add that my enjoyment has increased since tinting the windows in this little heat box. 5% on the sun roof is a must IMHO.
My biggest complaint is the shocks on this thing SUCK! If I hit an ant I feel it like a pot hole. If I hit a pot hole, I cross my fingers.
My biggest complaint is the shocks on this thing SUCK! If I hit an ant I feel it like a pot hole. If I hit a pot hole, I cross my fingers.
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