Mini Cooper test drive since 2006 hatchback

Balled teenager

What happens if you add a couple of doors and 244 mm to a mini-vacuop S, Anatoly Fomin found out. Photo: Konstantin Yakubov.
 
Mini Coopers Clubman
The BMW concern revived the legendary mini in 2001. In 2004, a light restyling followed, in 2007-more solid, and at the end of the year the family was replenished with an elongated version of Clabman.
Engines: gasoline 1.6 liters (120 hp); with turbocharged 1.6 liters (175 hp). The turbodiesel 1.6 liters (110 hp) are not supplied to Russia.
Gearboxes: 6-speed mechanical and hydromechanical automatic machine.
Configurations: mini cooper clubman; Mini Coopers Clubman.
Prices in Russia: 787 500 - 1,490,000 rubles. ($ 32,000 - 60 500).
The price of a test car: 1,414,000 rubles. ($ 57 700)
Clabman mini -cumper is a five -door hatchback with an unusual door location: on the left - one, two on the right, and two more behind. In all other respects, a car with 80 mm wheelbase is familiar to the mini. The last time we met recently (ZR, 2007, No. 10).
The size does not matter
Even in the time of John Cooper, the letter S, who created sports versions of the first mini, designated the most powerful of them. This 175-horsepower engine 1.6 liters with direct injection and turbocharged. Among its advantages are high power and torque, good economy and low mass. Previously, the most powerful engine was equipped with a drive supercharger -only a six -speed manual gearbox relied on that motor. After the 2007 restyling, the car with Litera S is also available with automatic transmission, since the place of the variator limited in terms of the transmitted torque took the German ZF hydromechanical machine.
Its tuning, like refinementing the chassis, was engaged in BMW specialists, and they know a lot about high -speed turns. So the hydromechanics is not viscous, it is smooth, but very energetic. The sharp movement with the right pedal each time responds with the rattle of studded tires on asphalt. The anti -wings system is configured not to allow only intensive slipping, but throw the syringe of finely prone ice - please! The engine power is enough to crank the winter tires on dry asphalt, even in third gear. This adds excitement, but the skipkin on the Copper S Clabman hardly stretches more than one winter.
The expectations of a brisk start are quite justified, but there is no extraordinary dynamics in the second hundred. To do this, you need the strength 250. However, from the mini you expect more liveliness than speeds, and more than enough! Fears that more effective, but inert turbocharging will badly affect the character, did not materialize. The problem of delay has been resolved for a long time, and the gearbox can simply not notice a microscopic turbo play. The fuel consumption in the city is entirely dependent on your temperament and skill. I have reached a unique range of the range: from 7 to 1 6 l/100 km! If you want to be the first and use all power - get ready to refuel every 300 km. The city is a 50-liter tank (by the way, 10 liters more than a regular mini) is easy to stretch 800 km.
Maybe this is the mini and you need to ride quietly and calmly, as on the utilitarian universal shows that were his ancestors Morris-Minor Treveler and the mini-clabman instock in the 1960s? But for such a style for the same money, you can choose a car much more comfortable!
The Clabman mini-cumper copes well only with minor coating defects. Potholes that most drivers do not pay attention to, he voices unexpectedly loudly. Behind the breakdown on the suspensions on the asphalt waves, you can not be afraid, but the car profile is repeats the car pusher of the camshaft cam. The extra 80 mm base did not make the car noticeably smoother. Despite the short overhangs, the low lip of the front bumper will rake up more or less noticeable snow.
The enlarged base and length made the reactions of the mini a little less sharp, however, to say that the Clabman has settled down is a great exaggeration. He is still ready for the most unexpected maneuvers.
Mal spool
Salon of the mini-Cooper S Clabman is officially for five: behind belts and head restraints for three. But limousine comfort can not be seen even by two if the driver is higher than average height. He will have to lower the seat - at least so as not to support the ceiling dropped due to two hatches in the roof. The back became tangible, but the layout of the driver's place comes from a low landing.
Review is worse than the usual mini. A double -leaf back door with a narrow glass is not a gift, but the gaps that clean the wipers, except that they add light in the cabin with a gloomy winter day. The luggage compartment is more spacious, but do not hope that at least a couple of large suitcases will fit if you do not fold the backs of the rear seats.
And for this, lay out a million, or even one and a half! Expensive? And how! What do you want from a car that has become an icon during your life? They pray or collect on the icons - their size does not matter
Mini Cooper S Clubman is the same mini, which grew into the length of the spread fingers. A little calmer, a little more practical.
+ An excellent chassis, a painful and responsive motor, a fast hydromechanical automatic, acute steering, excellent stability on the trajectory.
- A hard suspension, a small road clearance, a small trunk, an uncomfortable landing in the back seat.
For the same money
BMW 135i
1,309,000 rubles (37,400 euros)
A compact compact with an elegant appearance and a breathtaking engine: prohibitive dynamics at acceptable costs. The practicality, however, is a little. ZR, 2008, No. 1.
Mercedes-Benz C180K
1 328 400 rubles (37 950 euros)
Graceful and practical station wagon with a powerful engine. A prestigious brand, a sufficient internal volume for a family with luggles. A 1.8-liter gasoline engine with a drive supercharger develops 156 hp. ZR, 2007, No. 11.
 

 

Source: The magazine "Driving"