The Clubman is bigger than the 5 door, I can get myself plus 3 adults in my clubman without any issues. It's definitely wider too, and as quirky as they seem, those barn doors are very practical.

However, the F55 (5 door hatch) is cheaper and looks OK in the right colours.

Both are OK in the 3 pot, but you'll notice the difference in the Clubby with a Cooper S.

I would suggest you drop into your local dealer and try and sort out a test drive. 48 hour tests are quite common now, and they'll be happy to trade your R56.

Oh, and welcome.....

 

Personally, Clubbie every time - and it's no longer than a current Golf so it's not big.


Kids don't stop growing.... I've got a 16yr old and a 13 yr old.... they're now at the point of arguing over who gets to go in the front on Tommy, my F56 Cooper.


When I see an F55 I can't get past the Austin 1300/ Maxi profile.... they missed a trick on the naming there.


Something to bear in mind with the Clubbie, the LCI will be out next year I guess, so there should be some good deals to be done as they run out the old models. And if you're looking
at used models they're at the point of coming to the end of agreements so should be plenty on the go.


Like Jelster says go to the dealers and try them.

 

Thanks Both. That's really helpful.

To be honest, the Clubman is the one that appeals more - but I wonder whether the 5-door's smaller size and handbrake might be more practical as we live on a hill. The two R56's we've had have been so good for urban tootling / parking that I am reluctant to effectively upsize two steps (a Clubman would be very similar to our old Golf R32)... but the point about kids growing is a good one. I do just need to get myself to a dealer!

Carwow quotes do suggest a facelift is nearing for the Clubman: dealers are offering -15% and -9% discounts for PCP and cash respectively, for what I presume to be pre-LCI orders. The lease rates are, however, even more attractive - which is actually a shame, as I quite fancy buying one outright as a long term purchase.

 

No issues with the electronic handbrake, as my drive is on a slope and it's never been a problem. I once had 4 work colleagues (2 of them over 6ft) in the car, with overnight bags in the back without issue. In fact they kept remarking about the amount of space in the car...

I bought one of the first JCW's, picked it up in Jan 2017, on a 4 year PCP deal. About now I would usually be looking to replace it, but love it so much, I'm going to pay off the finance and keep it. This was my 4th car on PCP, and it's always worked for me as I get bored after a couple of years (although not with the clubby).

Mini still offer their old 50/50 deal, which if you have the cash, is really worth it. Have a look at the link below under Mini Divide.

https://offers.mini.co.uk/finance-options

 

Welcome along

My pick would be the Clubman, bigger but still compact if that makes sense.

But to be honest the 5 door just doesn't look right in my views.

 

we recently got a clubman cooper s and when in the dealership, we looked at a 5 door and the wife immediately said it felt cramped, (so that was that!!) The clubby has a decent amount of room inside and isnt a big car so happy with my (wifes!!) choice

 

Let me put the other view here! I drove both the Clubby and the 5 door and settled for the 5 door. It's smaller, more efficient, faster and lighter... To my eye neither of them look as pure as the 3 door, but they're both good looking in their way. You don't get a huge amount more space in the clubby and it's harder to park. I also think, personally, the 5 door looks more like a mini - from the front there's no difference, whereas the clubman looks too "square" to me.

They're both nice cars though. Go with what suits you.

 

I have to agree Though that depends on your priorities ?? The 5 door has smaller rear doors, better for tight parking, nimbler handling, faster, more fuel effecient (slightly) but is still handily bigger than the 3 door. It does look a bit awkward, but if specced in the right colour it looks good. For comfort I would get the Adjustable suspension though

The clubman is obviously bigger, comfier, looks better, has larger rear doors(easier access) has more space, though is a fair chunk of money more for the bit of extra room. Those rear barn doors can be a pain in tight spaces.

As always, looking at and driving both will make your decision for you. Welcome Along and Happy Hunting !!

 

I wondered about the rear doors being a pain, but I find that if I can stand behind the car the doors are fine. The only issue is in the odd car park that may have a post behind the space.

What I did find awkward was having to open the right hand door all the time, even if I wanted to put something in the left of the boot, but that wears off quite quickly.

With the 5 door, you need to get it in the right colour, I saw one in dark blue and it was awful, but I've seen a Cooper S in traditional red/black and it looked fine. I did think the Clubby looked rather bulky until I put some decals down the sides, but having seen one in all black, debadged and no decals, it too looked good. So I think with both of them it's about the colours.

 

I have the 5 door. I affectionately call it my posh Lada it’s ugy from the side. Those door frames are poorly designed. Great drive though and I love it.
It’s not really practical for adults in the rear but legroom is okay, the small door entry is the issue.
The Clubby looks less mini but is far more practical.
I myself will be moving (not by choice) to the even uglier Countryman.
Btw I have some Countryman related questions is there a dedicated forum?

 

What are these "better colours" for the 5-door? I'm pretty sure I'd go for Burgundy or Thunder Grey on the Clubman.

Our current R56 is in Highclass Grey, which is a moody Mini Yours purpley-grey from the BMW palate. I guess Thunder Grey is the closest.

There's quite a gap in pricing between the 5-door and Clubman. For a purchase with the options I want, it would be £21k for a 5-door and close to £26k for a Clubman. The gap is more like £1k over 3 years if I go with a lease.

5-door Pro & Con:

- Slightly awkward looks
- Smaller and has a proper handbrake
- Fair bit cheaper
- Recent LCI, includes LED lights as standard

Clubman Pro & Con:

- Looks better to my eye
- Larger, presumably more refined - but parking and door opening a potential issue on our steep, terraced street
- More luxurious interior, but LED lights an expensive option
- Upcoming LCI

Edited to add that I see that "2 in the family" is from Bristol. Did you buy from Dick Lovett and, if so, how were they in terms of discount on your 5-door? I've bought 2 used Minis from them and been happy.

 

Welcome to the forum. The Clubby in Burgundy looks classy. After 2 F56 I wanted a bigger car the F55 was high on my list but after driving the F54 the choice was clear the F54 now sits in my driveway and I have no regrets. The handbrake I would not worry about it after the typical habit try to pull the hb up I don,t miss it at all. As far as color choice if I would order a new one

1 Burgundy / Silver Roof

2 BRG / Silver Roof

3 WS/ Black Roof


4 Thunder Grey /white Roof

 

+1 with Karl on the ebrake - it applies far more securely than a manual brake - i.e. it's either fully off or fully on. It's also worth mentioning that it auto releases - i.e. you don't have to touch the applicator when you move off (unless you prefer to).

With regard to colour, make sure that you see a burgundy example in the metal if that Clubman colour is on your shortlist. I'm being very subjective here (for a change!) but I don't believe I'm alone in thinking that it looks a bit dull and brownish in some lights here in the UK.

The Clubman is everything that other contributors have said it is and it is a very practical MINI. That said, I don't think it is as rounded a family car as other more mainsteam motors are. Ours is a second car and we love it to bits for it's individuality, but it's got it's compromises. However, if you love your 3 door R series you'll "get" what the F series Clubman is about.

Oh and don't worry about the forthcoming "facelift" - cosmetic changes only, no new sheet metal. It's likely that you'll be able to retrospectively fit most if not all the changed components (front and rear light design etc.) just like you can on the hatch.

Good luck with whatever you end up buying

 

I'm being very subjective here (for a change!) but I don't believe I'm alone in thinking that it looks a bit dull and brownish in some lights here in the UK.

The color looks great here in Arizona.

Too bad Mini did not offer a more purple(ish) from the factory.

 

Hahaha - yep, that's burgundy going on mahogany alright

That's one fine looking classic Min. Purple perfection

 

BRG with a white roof....

If mine wasn't a JCW (I HAVE to have a red roof on any JCW) I would have gone down the BRG/white route. Mini's BRG is a great colour, my wife has it on her 2011 R56 and it still looks great today.

 

My five door was purchased 4 years ago on their release. My wife had, a week before bought her first mini 3 door and had no discount as she bought it herself.
I was pissed off and got her at least some free mats and lots gifts on her collection.
So I wanted more discount on mine and achieved more than was quoted on the emerging discount sites.
What that was is lost on me now but around 6 to 8%.
Discount is always down to the car and what finance that can drag you into.
I don’t like the game of purchase as they think it’s the monthly value that counts.
Well it does but the overall discount is what drives this.
That tend to say, when asked ‘how much a month do you want to spend’ and I answer as cheap as it can be with the discount you are prepared to offer.
The they screwed up once but overall I am pleased with them.
Night and day compared to the French/Italian and Ford/Vaux and Jap dealers. VAG are similar.

I’m never sure what a good deal is really but try to get what car wow offers are.
It’s never as high as that but the service trade off is worth it.

I could give you a name if you wish, he’s a bit smooth but nothing has been too much trouble and I’ve messed him about a little, but he’s got the deal.

For the CM deal 1K trade in on 5door and 8.4% off this seems to be a max figure from them for me. But I’m not that good at negotiating and he knew I needed a car, as my other purchase fell through.

Current apr on CM is good and it makes a difference (obviously!?).

Similar deal on the wife’s latest mini JCW bought in a hurry as that were short of stock. He knew she wanted one and that’s not a position of strength when buying.
But the flowers were a nice touch.

Not sure the CM will ever grow on me it’s quite hideous in my eyes, no offence.

If you have no children the 5 door is okay but I would have bought a Clubby over the CM if it weren’t for my back.

Cost of CM over 5dr mini is high though.

If you want to meet to talk and go out in my five door from DL we can but they will obviously let you test drive it anyway.

The only fault in four years was a rear light cluster failed and replaced under guarantee.
Pads (and discs?) and tyres during 4 years did add up.
Try to get a tank of fuel out of them FOC if they take it off the invoice (with oil £75).

Love my mini though. Love the wife’s JCW more.

 

I’m never sure what a good deal is

A good deal too me is.... you can make the payment while holding a cold beer in your hand while admiring the car in the drive way.:laugh::laugh:

 

Well I can certainly do that, as I’m getting some ‘pin money’ from the wife to make the payments easier. Yes she doesn’t let me anywhere near her money!?

 

I also went for a 5 door in preference to the clubman. I don't think the clubman looks any better or any worse than the 5 door, both look a tad awkward in comparison to the 3 door. I find the 5 door mini to be quite compact and whilst the rear doors are a compromise, they are very useful. I can comfortably sit behind myself in the back as could my father, both of us being a hair over 6 feet. The centre seat is pointless as there is no leg room due to the cup holder.

My 5 door is in deep blue, which I think looks pretty good, though I'd have preferred green. Colour is always personal preference, I really don't like monochrome cars, so I'd go for anything with a decent amount of colour.

 

We went from the 3 door to f54 and never considered the 5 door . I was blown away by the more stable nature the better ride/ handling compromise and the feeling of quality over my f56 that the f54 gives me. Drive both before you decide as they are all great cars!

 

If it wasn’t for my bad back and the need for a taller door the Clubman would be my choice. My wife’s JCW hatch 3 door is such a great drive especially with the adaptive suspension absolutely f ing love it. Except for not being able to turn off the engine noise through the speakers, drives me crazy. This should be adjustable.

 

Sorry removed my post to the correct thread!

 

I think you may have have jumped threads on this topic Jeremy but fully concur.

 

By way of an update, I am in the process of ordering a Clubman.

We've just come back from a weekend away with the 4 of us. My wife doesn't like driving the van much, so we were in our current R56. (I joined my wife and kids a few days later at our destination, as it was half term.)

To say that it was a squeeze is a serious understatement and, after that, clearance to order a new car was given! That said, the R56 was a blast to drive on country roads - and I will miss it at lot when the time comes. So, keeping some credibility as a driving machine is high on the replacement's priority list.

Having looked more at the F55 and F54 and prices for both, I've decided to go with a Clubman. There are upsides and downsides to both, but I found the Clubman's extra space and spec could be had for close to 5-door money in the end. I was also considering new and used Golf GTI / R models, which I've had a few of before. The Mini's spec, cost and personalisation options win out for me, though.

The spec I've settled on is:

- Clubman Cooper S in Exclusive trim
- 18" Star Spoke wheels (not runflat)
- Thunder Grey, with Silver roof and mirror caps
- Leather: Chester Indigo Blue
- Mini Yours Piano Black illuminated inlays
- Comfort Pack
- Anthracite headlining
- Harman Kardon HiFi
- LED headlights inc. cornering lights

Once I've posted more, I'll be able to put some configurator pics up!

I submitted a bespoke quote to a lease company on the back of a competitive quote for a base car - and they came back with a really very competitive price. It's about £4k cheaper over the 4 year term I'm happy to sign up to than the closest PCP. £306 per month on a 3 + 47 basis.

Although it wasn't clear in the blurb, I have been asked to prove that I drive for work (which I do, albeit not much in the last 12 months). I don't mind the extra paperwork at this price, though.

I've submitted an application and various bits and bobs, so will hopefully confirm a positive outcome soon.

 

Congratulations on your choice Cardinal!

Impressed too by the tactical use of "squeeze" tactics to obtain the green light to order

I have the 18" star spokes, black in my case. To my eyes they look great and are very easy to keep clean. Going non-runflats is a sound idea too imho.

Enjoy!!

 

Awesome! Glad you found something you like at a good price...

 

Good choice! You know it makes sense

Colour scheme sounds interesting too.

 

After a bit of faff associated with proving that I drive for business purposes, the order has been placed. Hopefully it will arrive within the next 12 weeks or so.

Thanks to everyone for all their advice - and I'll start a new thread for the car itself.