Mini Hatch vs Countryman vs clubman

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Ive been toying with a car change and whilst i was planning to get a TTRS as I love the TT (always been a coupe fan which is why I have one now) with WFH and probably only 2-3 days of the week in the office I just wont do decent mileage, probably down to 5k a year

It just feels that the depreciation will kind of feel oppressive on a best part of £60k motor.

I used to love my previous mini, it was perfect for throwing around the lanes that my commute is over.

So I am struggling a little, I want 4WD/AWD again as when I do get issues on snow etc its properly dodgy down those lanes. This was partly why I was leaning to the TTRS.

But with the hankering of a mini again a JCW hatch is really good value, but cant get the AWD. Which is the real point of my question, has anyone owned the three above and how do the bigger/longer versions feel in comparison to the hatch as nimble and darty?

My list is basically narrowed down to :
Yaris GR, not really taken on the interior
TT S/RS, I was going RS but I could consider the S due to lower mileage it just feels "wrong" to be thinking S
Focus RS, but I find the interior horrible, feels so dated compared to the TT and fairly bad even to the others
Golf R, I probably wouldnt as simply I may as well get the TTS in this case, I prefer the looks both inside and out of the TT over the golf
Plus the AWd minis above

 

[Dis86]

You get snow maybe 3-4 days a year if (un)lucky. Why would less than 1% of the year be a driver for your car choice? Winter tyres will do far more for you than 4wd/awd so if you are that worried, for some reason, get a set of them.

 

[Deleted member 87287]

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[Spleen Sauce]

If you’re set on a Mini, then the JCW Clubman is excellent to drive. I went with the new M135i instead personally, far better interior cabin and infotainment system, otherwise same running gear (though the clubman has a bit more drama and does actually feel a bit quicker, even if it isn’t).

Just as the others have said though, winter tyres will do you far better than 4WD.

I’d keep the TT for now if it were me and get a spare set of wheels with winters on them ready to go.

 

[Conanius]

We had a Mini Clubman and my in-laws have a Mini Countryman.

Both great cars - but you’ve got quite a wide set of cars in your OP.

Id suggest you go and do test drives and work out what’s important to you….

 

[wingman]

If you’re set on a Mini, then the JCW Clubman is excellent to drive. I went with the new M135i instead personally, far better interior cabin and infotainment system, otherwise same running gear (though the clubman has a bit more drama and does actually feel a bit quicker, even if it isn’t).

Just as the others have said though, winter tyres will do you far better than 4WD.

I’d keep the TT for now if it were me and get a spare set of wheels with winters on them ready to go.

How are you getting on with the new M135i?

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

You get snow maybe 3-4 days a year if (un)lucky. Why would less than 1% of the year be a driver for your car choice? Winter tyres will do far more for you than 4wd/awd so if you are that worried, for some reason, get a set of them.

I know, I said etc, the most common hazard is actually mud as farmers are constantly driving tractors on and off the fields.

I know what I want/need thanks

4WD doesn’t help you stop on snow.

I know, as I pointed out I have had AWD before. Although actually with the transmission losses on AWD they do actually retard better from engine braking, and its more balanced than a 2WD.
The limit is the grip for sure however.
But as per above its not really snow thats the hazard most of the time its generally mud, normally from farmers but also as the roads can flood quite easily which is field water and that also leaves mud etc on the roads.

 

[Dis86]

I know, I said etc, the most common hazard is actually mud as farmers are constantly driving tractors on and off the fields.

I know what I want/need thanks



I know, as I pointed out I have had AWD before. Although actually with the transmission losses on AWD they do actually retard better from engine braking, and its more balanced than a 2WD.
The limit is the grip for sure however.
But as per above its not really snow thats the hazard most of the time its generally mud, normally from farmers but also as the roads can flood quite easily which is field water and that also leaves mud etc on the roads.

So if the most common hazard is mud, why call out snow?

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

We had a Mini Clubman and my in-laws have a Mini Countryman.

Both great cars - but you’ve got quite a wide set of cars in your OP.

Id suggest you go and do test drives and work out what’s important to you….

Thanks, there isnt that many options really that meet my targeted AWD. To be honest I had excluded the minis but im coming back round to them, I have had 2 minis (a gen 1 and a 2) and actually really enjoyed both of them.
Its only rarely more than me in the car so space isnt an issue.

Ive had a poke around in them but not driven all yet.

Im trying to get over the interior thing, after the TT they all seem really meh. That minimalist virtually no buttons thing I really like even before you consider the quality of materials.

The TTRS is the one really, but its that depreciation thing, when I was doing 10k per year commuting then it was fine, but now its feels a bit oppressive. Its not the cars fault of course.

I suspect the Yaris would be the best on my route, bad visibility corners etc but better performance than the mini. But Im also lazy I want an easy drive most of time for my commute. Last time Toyota lent me a GT86 I was sure that was the one, but when I drove it on my commute route it went well down in my estimation it just needed that much more effort mentally, which was great if its a weekend car, but 7am on winter mornings, or coming home at 6pm when its dark and raining and no street lights on narrow lanes I dont think it would be enjoyable most of the time

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

So if the most common hazard is mud, why call out snow?

Because my question wasnt asking the know it alls about what I need, I already have thought about what I want/need I dont need anyone with no basic information about my route to give me the benefit of their uninformed "wisdom"

There are lots of hazards FWIW, deer, idiotic wildfowl, mud, snow, some areas that flood (even in summer due to local authority unable to fix some leaks that have happened for 6+ years), wet leaves on some wooded sections are the ones that spring to mind

Having had AWD before, having used summers and winters I know how they drive in comparison and that thats what I want again. Hence my shortlist of likely candidates.

There are other considerations as well, but this wasnt a spec me thread with a full list was it?

 

[Dis86]

Because my question wasnt asking the know it alls about what I need, I already have thought about what I want/need I dont need anyone with no basic information about my route to give me the benefit of their uninformed "wisdom"

There are lots of hazards FWIW, deer, idiotic wildfowl, mud, snow, some areas that flood (even in summer due to local authority unable to fix some leaks that have happened for 6+ years), wet leaves on some wooded sections are the ones that spring to mind

Having had AWD before, having used summers and winters I know how they drive in comparison and that thats what I want again. Hence my shortlist of likely candidates.

There are other considerations as well, but this wasnt a spec me thread with a full list was it?

No but that's why you list the highest priority and not something way down the list.

Mkw: I need a car to carry the shopping

Normal humans: what about a golf?

Mkw: well that's no good for towing my twin axle caravan is it?! God, don't you even know what I want?!?!?

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

No but that's why you list the highest priority and not something way down the list.

Mkw: I need a car to carry the shopping

Normal humans: what about a golf?

Mkw: well that's no good for towing my twin axle caravan is it?! God, don't you even know what I want?!?!?

Seriously untwist your knickers.

Go look at the original post again.

I asked about minis specifically, maybe you struggle to understand what a question is.

There was 1 single question mark, which was in a sentence that didn't mention snow, AWD, or anything else you posted about.
So I take it your dont have anything to actually add in regards my actual question. No? (<-- thats a question)

Just in case pulling the actual question out of my original post is difficult ... "Which is the real point of my question, has anyone owned the three above and how do the bigger/longer versions feel in comparison to the hatch as nimble and darty?"

 

[Dis86]

Seriously untwist your knickers.

Go look at the original post again.

I asked about minis specifically, maybe you struggle to understand what a question is.

There was 1 single question mark, which was in a sentence that didn't mention snow, AWD, or anything else you posted about.
So I take it your dont have anything to actually add in regards my actual question. No? (<-- thats a question)

Just in case pulling the actual question out of my original post is difficult ... "Which is the real point of my question, has anyone owned the three above and how do the bigger/longer versions feel in comparison to the hatch as nimble and darty?"

I used to love my previous mini, it was perfect for throwing around the lanes that my commute is over.

So I am struggling a little, I want 4WD/AWD again as when I do get issues on snow etc its properly dodgy down those lanes. This was partly why I was leaning to the TTRS.

But with the hankering of a mini again a JCW hatch is really good value, but cant get the AWD.

Read you own chuffing post again. It's a mess.

You call out snow, but it's not about snow, its about mud.

You need AWD but your previous mini was perfect.

You want a mini and want peoples opinions but that's daft cos mud. Mud that you don't mention.

Do you speaky the engly?

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Read you own chuffing post again. It's a mess.

You call out snow, but it's not about snow, its about mud.

You need AWD but your previous mini was perfect.

You want a mini and want peoples opinions but that's daft cos mud. Mud that you don't mention.

Do you speaky the engly?

Yes but it seems you dont.

I'm not sure why you find it so hard to find the question.

Anyway it seems you have nothing to add so thanks for your "help"

If I need someone to help me assess my requirements I will let you know. ta

 

[Dis86]

Yes but it seems you dont.

I'm not sure why you find it so hard to find the question.

Anyway it seems you have nothing to add so thanks for your "help"

If I need someone to help me assess my requirements I will let you know. ta

Well considering you've posted useless info (snow when you apparently meant mud), your old 2wd car was perfect but you need 4wd (do you know what perfect means?) I think it's you with the comprehension/delivery issue.

You sure you mean car and not helicopter?

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Well considering you've posted useless info (snow when you apparently meant mud), your old 2wd car was perfect but you need 4wd (do you know what perfect means?) I think it's you with the comprehension/delivery issue.

You sure you mean car and not helicopter?

Whatever, if you cant sort a question out from some added info thats your problem.

I did mean snow, as well as other things, the snow is worst but as I have said over and over I wasn't asking a question about whether I should take AWD or not. Thats already decided, sorry I didn't consult you before, but having already had AWD and used winter tyres I already know about this and thats already "ticked" on the shortlist requirements. I am sorry if that is not the decision you would make, but its the one I have made.

Its funny when taking exams they always say to make sure you answer the question asked not what you think they asked. You may want to take this advice

I did ask about how the various mini models were in comparison. Its literally the point of my post, I was trying to get some of my logic down to avoid other "experts" saying no buy a Yaris or a 340i etc
And that was because in the good conditions the mini was really good fun, they are very pointy and short wheelbase etc, but in the worse conditions far less so, hence I came to the conclusion I wanted AWD.
If I could get a mini hatch AWD I wouldn't be considering the other models.
As I said I have already been over all this, I don't need a clueless about my commute person to offer "advice" when they are as I said clueless about what I need to contend with.

I am sorry if snow etc triggered you to only read snow and nothing but snow full stop, but that was not part of my question.

Your "advice" so far has been about as useful as buy a skateboard. Thanks, but irrelevant. Cheers.

Anyway I have stuff to do.

Can a mod please lock this if you see the message a couple of posters have helped and I am going to go try the clubman.
I fear there is nothing useful to come just more Dis irrelevance.

 

[Dis86]

Did anyone see that dummy fly past there? If you catch it feel free to send it back down south in a "perfect mini" that isn't actually perfect...

 

[Deleted member 87287]

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[Dis86]

Yeah but mud, snow, and excess water are much better handled by a M+S marked tyre.

Stop being an expert and know it all

 

[Deleted member 87287]

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