While there are many reasons to like the Clubman-good on gas considering the horsepower, Mini cred without the Mini lack of space, easy to park, fun-to-drive chassis, and the barn doors -- there are a few, according to Ougarov, that make it unlikable.
"There's torque steer, there's really bad torque steer, and then there's JCW torque steer, which is something along the lines of, 'I'm going to snap your wrist, rip the wheel out of your hand, and put you into that Chevy Beretta in the right lane.' The ride is comparable to that of the Evo IX, so on the beat-up roads of Los Angeles that translates to, 'Ouch.'
And the not-very-Mini pricetag of $32,500? Is Mini cred worth that kind of money up front when STIs can be had for less?"
| 2009 Mini John Cooper Works Clubman |
| Months/miles in service | 9/12,449 |
| Avg econ/CO2 | 25.5 mpg/0.76 lb/miles |
| Unresolved problems | None |
| Maintenance cost | $0 |
| Normal-wear cost | $0 |