Thanks Thrifty. After 7 weeks  abroad, I booked a 5 door hatch to take all the bags - so when I got the keys with MINI on I was expecting a Countryman or Clubman.

Oh but no, it's a 3 door Cooper hatch Se7en edition.. Since the queue at the desk is enormous I juggle the seats and baggage, get all our kit inside and decide to accept it.

Inside it has comfy seats, but a surfeit of gimmick-laden design over function is everywhere. The switch layout is crazy for the sake of it - headlight switch somewhere near my knee - 2 separate hidden switches for fogs as well. And the media/nav switches are all on the floor by the handbrake. And, a pet hate especially in rentals, no cruise control. Thanks BMW.

This model starts at 19k with no cruise - unbelievable.  Regardless, it's got a refined 3 cylinder motor that doesn't feel like 136bhp at all, and only managed 42mpg versus the official 72 extra urban claim.  The ride on runflats is jiggly and the road noise shocking on poor surfaces. After 200 miles in 3 hours I'm happy with the drivers seat comfort and...that's about it.  The next thing I type will be the complaint to Thrifty rentals.

That's harking back to the Austin Seven the first Mini Mk1. 

1 hour ago, edbostan said:

That's harking back to the Austin Seven the first Mini Mk1. 

Holy Threadcomancy Batfink!!

On 23/09/2019 at 13:27, edbostan said:

That's harking back to the Austin Seven the first Mini Mk1. 

 

Nice lift from the BMW press release.

 

I suspect the Se7en logo is probably owned by the Mini Se7en Racing Club (since 1966) though.

The main problem I have with the current crop of 'minis' is that they are just as big as any other car. The new clubman is massive like an Octavia estate.

I quite like my older clubman, I know even it isn't a small car but it's tiny compared to the new one (which I got as a BMW curtesy car once).

I've no runflats but have a wheel well and it's quite quiet on non-runflats.

 

The button layout, aye well you get used to it mostly. If you are used to the German layout in a VAG the mini will seem like the switchgear was laid out by a chimp on crack. I still switch on the fogs when I'm trying to put the  window down/up (yep they're next to each other).

On 25/09/2019 at 16:05, Aspman said:

The main problem I have with the current crop of 'minis' is that they are just as big as any other car. The new clubman is massive like an Octavia estate.

I quite like my older clubman, I know even it isn't a small car but it's tiny compared to the new one (which I got as a BMW curtesy car once).

I've no runflats but have a wheel well and it's quite quiet on non-runflats.

 

The button layout, aye well you get used to it mostly. If you are used to the German layout in a VAG the mini will seem like the switchgear was laid out by a chimp on crack. I still switch on the fogs when I'm trying to put the  window down/up (yep they're next to each other).

The new clubman is big and very well screwed together (Mrs has a 67 plate Cooper S Clubman) it is big - but not as long as my O3 hatch and no where as big a boot - I do like it and enjoy driving it - the HK HiFi is miles better than my Canton the Heads Up display is brilliant too.  She also had the previous BMW Clubman and the first thing we did was swap it off of runflats - but I must say the newer Runflats on her 67 are a lot better - they have a bit more compliance.

After my slight rant above we tested a new Mini Clubman JCW 4x4 yesterday.

I have to admit was a very nice car. Probably not as big as I remembered but still much larger than the previous Clubman.

Goes like a rocket and feels very planted indeed.

 

But the question we are having ask.. Does it feel like a £35k car?

I'm not sure I'm seeing the value there. A year old it might feel like better value.