i just bought my clubby. i was debating between the hardtop and clubman, but the lack of space in the rear was the deciding factor for me. i agree that the mods for the clubman aren't really there, but i'm okay with that as it's one less car to spend too much money on lol

 

What kinds of mods aren't available for the Clubman?

Dave

 

Off the top of my head: Any aftermarket wing(although we now have a Challenge wing available), underbody panels and specific spring rates on coilovers. I believe alot are running R56 spring rates on their coilovers(as per designed) but I don't see too many options for the R55 SPECIFICALLY.

 

I have a jcw clubman and I LOVE IT! dont think I could lose the space and i love the funky styling.

 

In short..no way man!! Space, looks and character and exclusivity...no way would I go hard top. Clubbie all the way

 

Factory underbody panels are available.

--Matt

 

We loved the Clubman when it first came out and finally got one in 2012. The extra room is useful when grocery getting or hauling things around. I also leave the back seats down. Don't like the headrests sticking up. Ours is a "S" with automatic. We live in the Sierra foothills and when it's in sport mode it's fun to push it through the twisty bits. Next one will probably be a Clubman S too.

 

Er that would be the first I heard. I know that's true for R56 but the R55 as well? I'll have to check with dealer, got part numbers by any chance?

 

Under panels would be pretty easy to fabricate and you can have custom springs wound for less than it would cost to order special rate springs. Wings aren't a functional performance item on a MINI anyway, they are purely cosmetic.

Dave

 

I've always loved MINI's in general, but could never own one due to the space. When the clubman came out, i knew i had to have one. When it was time to seriously look into buying one, i didn't even bother looking at the hardtops. I went straight for the Clubman.

While i had mine in for service, the dealership gave me a loaner R56S to drive around for a week. 6MT vs Auto is very much night and day, like everyone else says. It was still fun to drive, but when i had to put someone in the back of the hardtop along with a large box in trunk, i immediately missed having the extra room of the clubbie. My passengers complained of the lack of leg room.

My wife is due in a few months so we started baby shopping. Ended up buying a combo carrier/base/stroller. While i was able to fit the base + carseat with the passenger seat pushed forward, i couldn't get the bulky stroller into the back. I do have a roof rack and plan to get a roof box to fix that issue. Not a big deal though since my wife drives a Prius V and will be the baby-mobile

All that said, yah, i would never get a hardtop.

 

I had the Clubman on a 4 post lift at a body shop and we were discussing fabricating it and it definitely didn't seem a straight forward job. It's not just a flat piece, there's changes in angles/elevations.

As far as mods on a performance basis, there's quite a few mods that we do that has nothing to do with performance. Heck, even some performance mods are questionable. Don't mean they're less wanted. I would argue that other than getting exterior parts painted, the new Clubbie Challenge wing has been the most significant exterior mod I've done. -shrugs- Guess to each his own.

 

Yes,
I was oscillating between the Clubman and Hardtop from the get-go and ultimately bought a factory JCW Clubman and will be trading it in for the new GP. My R55 was/is top of the line with suede Recaro seats and every possible option minus the rear spoiler (came with roof rails). I tastefully modified the aestetics of the car-put it on a high carbon fiber diet, adjustible coilovers and new wheels/tires. While I like the extra space in the Clubby, it is not a necessity for me as I also have an SUV. I always loved the R56 Challenge car and love what my GP is going to be. Every piece of Carbon Fiber will directly bolt into the GP so money wasnt wasted. the catalyst for my jumping ship is purly for handling/performance purposes. I do not plan to go completley overboard with upgrades but I do, however, plan of putting in a 4 point roll cage in Chili Red my aftermarket wheels and possibly a few other things down the road. While I was/am very happy with my Clubman, I did find myself torn and liking the JCW hardtops and when news of the upcoming GP broke out, I began contimplating getting one. I have nothing bad to say about the Clubby.. it really is a fun, neat, peppy little car with luxurious appointments inside. I just want more of a trackable daily driver and feel that the GP is a better platform for that since space is not an issue for me. I know I will miss the GPS and steering wheel controls but looking forward to adding even more carbon fiber...
good luck with whichever decision you make...

 

GP is a different animal

 

Yup. They're in this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...install-2.html

--Matt

 

Just bought a 2012 Hardtop. Now I have one of each! Best of Both Worlds!

 

Excellent problem solving skills. But -- now tell us your thoughts about the comparison?

 

My Wife just traded in her beloved 2011 Hot Chocolate Mini Cooper:



For this 2013 Clubman S:



No need to talk about power the Cooper vs. "S" speaks for it self...

Storage space again... The back seats in the Clubman fold flat whereas the Cooper back seats when folded are the width of the seats taller than the boot floor. Barn doors make access to the Clubman much easer and when you use your key fob to unlock, the rear right door opens automatically.

Ride comfort, now this is where there is a huge difference. Not sure why but the Clubman has a much softer, less harsh ride. The longer wheel base also contributes to what we feel is a better handling car.

Andy

 

The short answer is NO.

I need the extra space and the Hardtop just doesn't have it. I don't plan on trading my JCW Clubman any time soon...

 

Just get both. If I had to have only one though ill take a JCW Clubman.

 

Honestly, the Clubman was my first choice because of the capacity. I needed a car that I could still haul my video gear with me (large pelican cases, stands etc) but was still a Mini. The Clubman fit the bill perfectly. The rear folds flat, there's no lip on the back. While sometimes I think the look of the HT is better, the Clubman is still was more functional and still just as fun.

 

I love the look of the first generation hard tops, and keep an eye on the local user car market looking for one. I know when push comes to shove I can't see myself trading the clubman for the hardtop though as I love the versatility and the space in the back.

There is no way that I can fit our chariot stroller along with my daughter in the back and my bike on the roof if I own a hardtop. That would be a serious problem.