MINI CLUBMAN
❝ It’s a real oddity that not everyone gets, and as such it’s good value today ❞
Mini’s rebirth was obviously pure marketing genius, and no one cared too much that the new hatchback was tight in the back and couldn’t take the contents of a retail park. Neither could its Clubman sibling, but at least it tried.
This Mini had five doors: two at the front, a reverse-hinged rear one on the offside and two as the tailgate. It’s longer and higher, so there’s a tad more leg room and almost proper boot space; and you can even squeeze three in the back. It’s a real oddity that not everyone gets, and as such it’s good value today.
As with all Minis, you have to check the specification of any prospective purchase: they vary considerably, chiefly because there were a lot of options.
The One had the usuals: electric windows/mirrors and central locking. The Cooper S had alloy wheels, and although many people ordered air-con, it didn’t become standard until 2009.
The 1.6-litre diesel engine is the same one you find in Citroëns and Peugeots, so there was a bit of burnt-out smoky turbos due to carbon build-up early on.
The 2.0-litre diesel is thumpingly responsive. The timing chain can rattle at you and sometimes a new tensioner is a fix if the service history is a bit sparse.
The One offered a 1.4-litre engine or a 1.6-litre like the other petrols – including the ultra-rare John Cooper Works, which is surely a future collectible.
The clutch might be on its way out in a hard-used car; the stop-start plays up; and it might need an ECU reset. Trim and dashboard rattles are also an issue.
Most buyers will want the 1.6 Cooper S over a tepid One, but it depends on the price, condition and insurance.