Buying a Clubman Cooper D or SD

Buying a Clubman Cooper D or SD

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Alfa Pete

Original Poster:

436 posts

233 months

Monday 9th September 2019
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Currently considering a Clubman Cooper D or SD to replace my Golf GTD .
Looking at approved used cars on Mini website I think I’m looking at cars in the £15-18k price range 1 - 2 years old with no more than 10k miles.
A couple of questions if i may?
What are the essential options?
Is the S D worth the extra over the Cooper D? Is there a noticeable difference in performance?
My Golf GTD is pretty well specified as standard with Dual zone climate control,Xenon lights, Bluetooth, DAB, heated seats,electric folding mirrors, adaptive cruise, keyless, 18” wheels,etc so I’d like to get as near to that spec wise as I can.

Edited by Alfa Pete on Tuesday 10th September 18:53

whatstevedid

6 posts

62 months

Monday 23rd September 2019
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Just out of curiosity, why are you looking at changing the GTD? When I was looking at the Clubman I'd strongly considered a GTD myself.

I test drove both the D and the SD Clubman (2017 model). Coming from an Audi S4 (long story) I decided that the SD was the best blend of performance vs economy. It pulls well, and can deliver 60 mpg if you're very light footed on a long run. Shorter runs get my anywhere between 40-50mpg.

As you're used to the GTD's power, I suspect you'll enjoy the SD more.

Zetec-S

6,272 posts

100 months

Wednesday 25th September 2019
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My wife currently has a 3 door Cooper SD hatch. Before we bought it we also drove a Cooper D hatch, and although the power was perfectly adequate, the SD has a much bigger punch. Picks up speed much quicker and smoother, and as above still returns a good 50-60mpg. If you’re used to the GTD then you definitely need the SD or be prepared to take a big drop in performance.

With regards to spec, the upgraded stereo is a must as is headlights. Ours has the standard of both, lights are not great and standard audio is underwhelming. Likewise the standard stereo doesn’t have voice activated Bluetooth so check that too. We have a Clubman Cooper S on order and have made sure we specced it properly this time smile

Alfa Pete

Original Poster:

436 posts

233 months

Thursday 26th September 2019
quotequote all
whatstevedid said:
Just out of curiosity, why are you looking at changing the GTD? When I was looking at the Clubman I'd strongly considered a GTD myself.

I test drove both the D and the SD Clubman (2017 model). Coming from an Audi S4 (long story) I decided that the SD was the best blend of performance vs economy. It pulls well, and can deliver 60 mpg if you're very light footed on a long run. Shorter runs get my anywhere between 40-50mpg.

As you're used to the GTD's power, I suspect you'll enjoy the SD more.
Simply because I have done 80k miles and 3 years on the Golf and I fancy something a bit different
.
I also considered the Octavia VRS and Leon FR 184 but they will be too similar to the Golf.

I have a Cooper Clubman next weekend for the 48hr test drive to see how we get on.
Criteria is something diesel yet still decent to drive and 50mpg .
I do 30k miles a year.

Alfa Pete

Original Poster:

436 posts

233 months

Thursday 26th September 2019
quotequote all
Zetec-S said:
My wife currently has a 3 door Cooper SD hatch. Before we bought it we also drove a Cooper D hatch, and although the power was perfectly adequate, the SD has a much bigger punch. Picks up speed much quicker and smoother, and as above still returns a good 50-60mpg. If you’re used to the GTD then you definitely need the SD or be prepared to take a big drop in performance.

With regards to spec, the upgraded stereo is a must as is headlights. Ours has the standard of both, lights are not great and standard audio is underwhelming. Likewise the standard stereo doesn’t have voice activated Bluetooth so check that too. We have a Clubman Cooper S on order and have made sure we specced it properly this time smile
Useful thanks. I think I’ll need the SD........😉
Chilli pack will get me the lights.
Do I also need the HK sound system?
Fortunaty most of the Clubman SDs on the mini approved site are fairly decently specified.

Zetec-S

6,272 posts

100 months

Thursday 26th September 2019
quotequote all
Alfa Pete said:
Useful thanks. I think I’ll need the SD........??
Chilli pack will get me the lights.
Do I also need the HK sound system?
Fortunaty most of the Clubman SDs on the mini approved site are fairly decently specified.
Obviously it comes down to personal preference, but I’d strongly recommend the HK system over the standard.

whatstevedid

6 posts

62 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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Agreed, when I was looking HK was a must-have and I'd point-blank reject a car without it. It's much, much better than the standard system. Two other must-haves for me were the larger screen with NBT EVO (the touchscreen, upgraded variant so it supports Apple Carplay) and the heads up display.

Alfa Pete

Original Poster:

436 posts

233 months

Saturday 28th September 2019
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Not many ones in approved mini listings appear to have HK.
Is the standard set up really poor?

whatstevedid

6 posts

62 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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Sounds systems are always very subjective, but coming from an Audi with the Bang & Olfsen 3D sounds system i had grown accustomed to decent audio fidelity. In my opinion the Harmon Kardon system is a huge step up from the standard system. It may be worth you trying the standard system though - it’s not utterly terrible.

Alfa Pete

Original Poster:

436 posts

233 months

Thursday 3rd October 2019
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Thanks. Any other options that you’d consider essential?