Mini Clubman Synopsis

[VtwinVince]

Back from Pitt Meadows today and my session on the fresh pavement, with the weather providing lots of grip (for a change). Test vehicles were the Clubman, Clubman S, GTI, Volvo C30 and Mazda3. I have to say, after being a little disappointed last year with the regular Mini, I was surprised at how sorted the Clubman is: it blew away the other cars. I found the Volvo horrible, with muted feedback, iffy suspension and bad brakes. The Mazda had awful body roll, was overboosted but had decent brakes, while the GTI was way too heavy and suffered from awful brakes. All in all a good day, great weather and a chance to wring out other people's cars. Still, I wouldn't trade my E30 for any of these cars at the end of the day. And no griping about lack of pictures, all I took were analog shots.

[rhogg]

I have a 2004 MCS and think it is fantastic: economical, reliable, idiosyncratic, and a blast to drive. Ironically it was the MINI that took me to the E30. While the MINI is more capable in almost everyway, except room, they shere the same wonderfull feeling of being "tossable" quick cars.