2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman - CNET News
The new Mini continues its automotive archeology by bringing back the Clubman version. The 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman shares the same powertrain and cabin gadget options with the Mini Cooper S, yet the Clubman gets a bit more cargo space and easier access to the back seats. With its extra length and weight, we expected it to lose that fun Mini driving character, but it maintains its sprightliness. But the only significant cabin tech option on our Clubman was Mini's premium sound system, which didn't impress us nearly as much as we thought it would. We had the opportunity to take this 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman on an autocross course, a short track defined by cones featuring many sharp turns and a slalom. Other Minis competing on this course included a Mini Cooper and a Mini Cooper Clubman with an automatic transmission. Unfortunately, we didn't have a Mini Cooper S to compare, so our main point of comparison was whether the turbo on the Cooper S Clubman would make up for the 300 extra pounds it carried over the Mini Cooper. The wheelbase of the Mini Cooper is also 3 inches shorter than that of the Clubman. Source: www.cnet.com
