Handles Like a Go-Kart? // Mini Clubman

ColdTrackDays staff members are big fans of indoor karting, a great way to test your skills without breaking the bank (or the car) and you can often find a few of us, hot lapping our local karting facility. We are not however, fans of the new Mini Clubman. Having driven the standard Cooper S, I was somewhat impressed. Proper handling, supercharged power (later models came turbocharged) and a worthy effort at a retro look without going overboard. The interior was simple, a little weird, but it did the trick. But the Clubman, come on. I thought the whole idea was to keep things small, adding 9" takes away from the premise, leaving the young and the restless to scratch their heads, wondering what benefit a stretched out Cooper S will have. Having said all that, it was good to see someone put the little, er, medium sized Cooper through its paces, and against a go-kart no less. Enjoy // 07.22.2008