MINI Clubman Chicago test drive

Strange as it sounds, I had never driven a MINI Clubman.  Why should that sound strange?  Because we (By we, I mean my wife.) own a MINI Cooper S.  I love MINIs, but I usually get my fill from driving my wife’s pride and joy fairly frequently and don’t head out to Chicago MINI dealerships all that often.  However, this week I figured, ‘why not spend my test-driving time on the Clubman.’  I’m glad I did, because it was a nice reminder that MINIs do not inherently have five pounds of change in their cup holders and 14 mostly-empty Diet Coke bottles on the passenger-side floorboard.  My wife does not read this blog.

The idea behind the Clubman is a roomier MINI Cooper that gives drivers more storage capability and back-seat passengers the option of being more than six feet tall.  All this, mind you, had to be done while keeping the same MINI charm that makes the brand so appealing and fun.  Mission accomplished.

The best feature of the Clubman is its little door that allows easier access to the back seat.  Once back there, space is drastically improved over the MINI Cooper by an additional 9.5 inches of wheelbase length.

The MINI Clubman has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 120 horsepower.  The S version comes with a turbocharged version of that engine that spits 175 horsepower.  For my MINI Clubman Chicago test drive, I, for no specific reason, elected to test drive the Clubman S.

I loved the ride.  I didn’t notice much slower response than the MINI Cooper S we (my wife) own, and the added space is great news to me.  I’ve already said that I would be pushing for her to get the Crossman when it arrives, but we (she) may be happier with the Clubman.  You can’t possibly be disappointed with this car if you consider its added space.  It handles better than almost any car out there, except the MINI Cooper–and almost as well as that.

My advice: if you need to move some cargo around or will frequently have backseat passengers, this is the MINI to check out.  It loses very little zip compared to the MINI Cooper and retains all of the driving joy.

Used MINI Cooper Chicago – The best resale value around

The MINI Cooper owns the title for best resale value among compact cars, and there are plenty of reasons why.

First and foremost, the MINI’s unique style and driving mirth make it such a desirable car.

Resale values for 2009 MINI Coopers are expected to be more than 80 percent of the MSRP as a two-year-old vehicle.  As a three-year-old car it is anticipated to come in more than 70 percent of the MSRP and as a five-year-old auto just less than 60 percent of the MSRP.

A huge reason for excellent resale value, especially in the recent energy climate, is the incredible fuel economy the range of MINI vehicles achieve.  The current MINI Cooper manages 37 mpg on the highway.

At Patrick MINI, a used MINI Cooper dealer in Chicago, they know the story.  Sales managers there recall that when they began selling MINIs several years ago, they could not keep one on the lot for a full day because Chicago used MINI Coopers were in such high demand.

As one of a few used MINI Cooper Chicago dealers, Patrick MINI still sees incredible demand for these endlessly fun autos.  I can’t argue with buyers looking at a used MINI Cooper dealer in Chicago for their next vehicle.  A MINI is a great thing to own.  MINI offers wonderful service, and getting remarkable fuel economy in a car that fun to drive is a great combo.  I would rate the MINI Cooper in the top five most fun cars I’ve ever driven, and trust me when I say the other four were nowhere near as fuel-efficient or practical.

It’s something to be proud of for any used MINI Cooper dealer in Chicago, selling cars that have such staying power and are so desired by car buyers.  I would say that used MINI Cooper Chicago dealers are the ones that have it made, but I know the real winners are the MINI Cooper owners.