Mini Clubman JCW v Mercedes-AMG A35 | Hill climb fun

[@waynec2186]

To disable the mini tc, Hold the tc button in for 10 seconds to disable the traction control and stability control. If you just push it once, you just loosen it up a little for safe fun on the road.

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks Wayne - great feedback!

[@حسنشعبانی-ض6ط]

@@Drivecomau ااالددددذ

[@emlix1]

I had one of the 'old' new minis, a 125KW Cooper S cabrio (with the supercharged Chrysler engine)- now this Clubman has more power than my Evo X had stock. Nuts.

[@Evangelus6]

Would have been interesting to see the two side by side off the line. Lots of reviewers of the JCW are getting "unofficial" 0-100 times as low as 4.6s. it's almost though BMW told Mini their car wasn't allowed to be faster than the M135i, so the figures are fudged to be SLOWER than it is. Having owned one for a few months, highly recommend the clubman. Just a pity the luxury spec forces you to lose the adaptive suspension and 18's, to get 19's... But it's got WAY more actually usable room than a lot of other cars, no matter what the stats say, because of the squared off boot area and easy access.

[@Drivecomau]

The track isn't wide/safe enough for side by side racing - there's been plenty of good feedback for doing a bit more to measure the performance of these (and other) hot hatches - so we'll get onto planning something for later in the year.

[@MatthewGaither]

I’m guessing the 18” tires on the Mini were All Seasons while the Merc was running summer tires. At least that’s the default tire option for these wheel sizes. I have a 2021 JCW Countryman and it’s a blast and very practical.

[@orion8012]

I ordered a JWC Clubman just the other day, or picked one in the dealerships pipeline, looking forward to driving and living with it! The dealbreaker was when the salesman ”straightened” the back seats with the help of a pair of built in metal latches so the dog bed could fit and the dog got good space height wise 👌🏻🐶 Most other hatches had a way to much lean on the rear window 🙁

[@theredjackrabbit9352]

Would have been more helpful to see a head to head track time comparison. The way this played out in the video didn't really seem to determine much of anything.🤷‍♂️

[@Drivecomau]

We'll be doing a more scientific comparison later in the year. Any other contenders you'd like to see take part?

[@theredjackrabbit9352]

Turbo 4cyl AWD hot hatches or compacts around 300hp ... likely contenders would be Clubman JCW, AMG A35, S3, Golf R, WRX STi. The Clubman is the only real newcomer so it should be interesting to see where it enters this group of peers. The new M135i is there too now but same drivetrain as the JCW so sort of a duplicate (suppose something similar could be said of S3/Golf R). Anyway I'll look forward to what you ultimately put together. Thanks 👍

[@andresfresa123]

That mini give a couple of laughs and that what is about, fun and funky car. I love mine

[@Drivecomau]

Great fun little car!

[@andthen0170]

Thanks for the content. During cat and mouse, don’t cut in stock footage. Defeats the purpose. MCM do it better- we would prefer to follow the lap corner by corner.

[@noname-JS]

Australians look good. I bought the Mini. They're very one-of-a-kind inside out. Mercedes disappoint often and are always way overpriced.

[@muhammadosama127]

I'll buy the mini Cooper jcw 3 door instead 😍. Thank you 👌

[@Drivecomau]

We'll be testing the Mini GP later in the year too.

[@muhammadosama127]

@@Drivecomau can't wait 😭

[@classicscustomsandhotrodso600]

The reliability of the Mini is pathetic and I heard no mention of the French engine.

[@ekimandersom4478]

@@classicscustomsandhotrodso600 Mini does not have a French engine

[@classicscustomsandhotrodso600]

@@ekimandersom4478 You tell me what it has then?

[@I_am_Monty]

It would be good to see a comparison between m135i, a35, golf R and s3

[@Drivecomau]

We've done a written comparison with M135i / A35 and S3 - we'll see what we can do once the world gets back to normal :) www.caradvice.com.au/819227/2020-bmw-m135i-xdrive-v-mercedes-amg-a35-v-audi-s3-comparison/

[@I_am_Monty]

@@Drivecomau cheers.. I'll have a read

[@JacobHall1601]

Great vid always a fan of wards work

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks! James

[@super_slav91]

If it's a hot hatch it needs to have a manual otherwise its just a boring small GT car. Current kings are Focus RS, 308 GTI, i30n.

[@Drivecomau]

Sadly not too many manuals left!

[@quadcoreQ]

Isn't the Mini pretty much similar to BMW m135i?

[@Drivecomau]

Yes - essentially the same, although you need to option the M-Performance Package to downsize the wheels to 18" and score the adaptive dampers.

[@zulubuzz8516]

Same engine and power

[@BobbyDazzler888]

Whats the gp 2020 worth? Is it coming to oz?

[@Drivecomau]

Yes - the Mini GP will be here later in the year. It runs the same engine - but will be lighter. Is there something you'd like to see it go up against?

[@BobbyDazzler888]

CarAdvice.com megane rs ...

[@Drivecomau]

Consider it done!

[@gopikrishnasai1025]

Do a video on Golf R 2020!!

[@Drivecomau]

Like it! Would you like to see it on its own or in a comparison?

[@gopikrishnasai1025]

@@Drivecomau Just on Golf R not a comparision

[@Drivecomau]

@@gopikrishnasai1025 We'll line it up!

[@oooining]

You mean that boring family car?

[@benjiiswaycool]

Get the mini GP 2020 it will clean up the AMG

[@waynepayne9875]

Dang it Bobby

[@PJWalmsley]

I drive a 11 year old honda. No repairs but poor headlight, shakes, tons of body roll, and meh awd. Honda's current lineup is underwealming - hrv does 0 to 60 in 9.5ish? :( The Subarus seem decent but so chinsey. Been saving for an a35/a45. Just too much money. I settled for the a220. Then they stopped making them. Pushed my wife to look at the xc40. too much carpet and a bit bug. We preferred the Volvo V60. Wife pushed me to look at a BMW. Ended up downstairs at the Mini dealer figuring I could justify a 23k Oxford edition. Drove a Clubman JCW and fell in love. Drove the S and was underwealmed. Wanted to also look at a Golf R and Corolla GR. None to test drive. So we pulled the trigger on the Countryman JCW. I felt the Clubman was a bit more settled but it seemed like splitting hairs. The Countryman JCW drives incredible! Fast, turboey, and stiff! Feels glued to the road. It's automatic but it holds gears then releases them at stops. Didn't expect to love the exhaust burples and arcade lighting - but i do! Infotainment is intuitive and there are practical physical controls. Toggle switches are great but need to control something more practical. Very pretty in person; lots of little details and I love the black roof liner and chrome details! BMW platform concerned me but it certainly feels well built! I worry about the felt wheel wells collecting salt. Brakes are a bit touchey but I will adjust and they will wear down. Lots of room in front of the driver / roof really overhangs to get used to. I miss the rearview camera being in the rear view mirror like my old car. Interior could be slightly better. I liked the interior minimalism of the a35. Volvo had nicer volume knob and leather but I disliked all the hair magnet carpet in the XC40 and the excessive size. Seats hug the body and are better back support than my '06 Volvo but are tiring on long drives. Obnoxious auto engine off at stoplights resets every time you shut off. Dislike all the gloss plastic and rubber volume knob (never use it anyways). Sound system stinks. Runflats are fine and all but a bit loud and slippery - bummer there is no spare. Kinda wish I splurged on the electronic trunk, better sound, and adaptive suspension. Anyhow, it's a great car and we have no regrets! Will update in 10 years. :)

[@tommclean9995]

Love seeing Troy Candy’s skid marks 😂

[@andrewomotosho3417]

Can’t wait for the GP review, this one was great and very useful. Cheers

[@mighty1907]

😂😂😂 and to think the a35 is the baby benz, wait till the a45, in saying that I'm impressed with that Mini

[@adamdixon2251]

Its a pity the reliability is up there with the Chinese cars but treatment of clients on warranty claims is worse

[@nothximgoodnosubpls9222]

A weaponised trolley in yellow

[@NS-ur5ss]

So @ 11 K difference where's the bargain? On resale alone you would lose that advantage straight up.

[@markhiggins8537]

What track is this?

[@nevillegreg1]

So the Merc was not stock, it has the optional areo kit and performance wheels. Typical of Merc (and the likes of BMW) when they are to be put or are to go head to head with a competitor, they upgrade the vehicle. So $80K+ up against $58K. If performance is your main goal, is the difference really going to be noticeable when it comes to common sense spirited driving on public streets? (rhetorical question because if you have the money to spend, you buy the Merc because it's damn nice). Of course, based on your finding, the Mini will be better when it comes to practicality on the road - better overtaking trucks and caravans and slower vehicles as its accelerates quicker in a straight line.

[@GeneralKato]

They are not in the same class…Mini’s are comparable to the VW Polo in size and weight. The Mini in this class is the BMW 1 Series. Thus the comparo should be BMW M135i. Otherwise it would be the BMW 1M to the Mercedes AMG A45.

[@irekfilms]

Mini clubman IS NOT A WAGEN !!! It’s a hatch with barn doors !!!

[@robbiebonetti4164]

Does either come in a manual though?

[@chiquicat1]

Manual is dead, move on. Paddle shifters are way more efficient and fun - give them a go and you’ll see. You will love the quick shifts, like race cars sequential transmissions.

[@ralphtoivonen2071]

Why would i buy cars with poor reliability and the worst customer support?

[@grecoconduris6716]

FFS Gary we are at a track!

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@quocphu01]

Love the auto on the mini, should make more auto hot hatch

[@marca907]

They're all fucking autos 😂

[@classicscustomsandhotrodso600]

The auto on these Mini's are one of the let downs of these potential garden ornaments

[@Mark70609]

BMW take note. The gearbox lets it down.

[@andrewread154]

Damn! I thought it was a test between an Austin A35 and a Morris Cooper S...

[@Michael_Mears]

That was fun.

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks Michael! The cat-and-mouse sequence was great fun to shoot - anything else you'd like to see done in this format?

[@carquizx2597]

Mercedes is always the best

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@ky1e8888]

@Knowledge X Gotta Disagree with you the driving fun of a mini is off the charts!

[@ky1e8888]

If you want a little race car for the road go get a merc

[@ekimandersom4478]

Everyone knows Toyota/Lexus is the best.

[@shogunshogun4322]

Talk...Talk....Talk.... still the best is AMG

[@Drivecomau]

That's pretty much what James' scripts look like! :)

[@marca907]

All these "fast cars" hitting the market with no manual options. I'd prefer a manual stock 1.3 starlet tbh, not that I would but it would be so much more fun to drive than one of those overpriced pieces of shit

[@ssisakl]

Car makers has got to know that yellow and green colours are not good looking at alll!!

[@cindybull7193]

1

[@ekimandersom4478]

Boring grey is better too you?

[@supul123]

King of the garage

[@imtheonetosayit3657]

Mercedes like all european car only have that prestige look people get hooked on paying way too much just for a certain look. Then after just 2 years things start to go terribly wrong with these cars and they are horribly expensive to fix then these people cant afford to fix them so they get rid of them cheap. I recently seen a used bmw 2015 model for only 8 000 original priced over hundred thousand. Nothing wrong at the time with it but the owner traded it in for a toyota camry of the same year.

[@glennbrown7241]

Good review, however you mention the "early days of hot hatch legends" and make reference to a MK1 GTI. You mention power didn't dip into triple digits, then make reference to a 300hp A35 Mercedes. Now the MK1 GTI made 108hp if you want to "yardstick" them both against each other using Horse Power as that yard stick. But as this is an Australian review, you should be making reference to Kilowatts, not Horse Power. That being the case, yes the MK1 GTI only made 81kw (so did not dip into triple figures as you say). But if you are using the same reference (Horse Power), well then they are both in triple digits (as you say)...

[@Drivecomau]

Very good point Glenn - the triple-digit output was in reference to kW (both these being 225kW) - but the 300hp notation sounded better on the day. You'll note the stats are all in kW and the written comparison is also in kW - www.caradvice.com.au/837391/2020-mini-clubman-jcw-v-mercedes-amg-a35-comparison/ 😀

[@glennbrown7241]

@@Drivecomau thanks for your reply...

[@RJCoAustralia]

Its not a real AMG

[@catherinefien6326]

Hi

[@ZaibJ]

Rip Caradvice relying on KZbin ads to get views. Comon guys you gotta changed your your brand and the way you do videos

[@stevep9041]

Calling it a Mini is like calling a 120 kg front row forward ‘Jnr’.

[@ben01387]

Mini is the name of the brand just like mercedes. It not a word to describe the car. It started out as austin mini and thn as new owners took over they dropped the first name. Since when has the brand name ever described the size of the car

[@cthorno2991]

Gawd!! When did minis start weighing over a ton and a half!!?? Not a mini.

[@marysatti7660]

vs

[@jonnydebono5460]

Hey ioii

[@troytuckwell3610]

Nice editing to make it look like the mini was faster

[@mattblair2224]

that's yellow

[@Drivecomau]

So yellow. FWIW - the colour is 'sun yellow' and its a no-cost option (non-metallic paint). We have a review of the A45 S coming up which is in the same colour! It certainly makes sorting through images a challenge.

[@mattblair2224]

@@Drivecomau the 45 would be very nice

[@henkstols9326]

Get a Megane rather, the previous shape and actually look cool. Merc is ugly and mini looks like a ladies rep vehicle.

[@Drivecomau]

We've had a request to pair up the new Megane with the Mini GP when it lands - thoughts?

[@demetriusjohan5899]

Romans chapter 10 verse nine if you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead the Bible says you will be saved Jesus loves uAny prayer request put on commons

[@classicscustomsandhotrodso600]

Not sure why this popped up in my feed but I certainly know enough enough about the Mini to warn people to not even go there.

[@TheRichieboy86]

You don't though.

[@classicscustomsandhotrodso600]

@@TheRichieboy86 unfortunately I do

[@TheRichieboy86]

You commented earlier about all Minis having Peugeot engines those haven't been in Minis for over 6 years. That was the only problematic engine, the older MK1 new minis generally fail due to age or high mileage.

[@classicscustomsandhotrodso600]

@@TheRichieboy86 I haven’t been with the company now for almost 4. The earlier new Minis were nothing more than a garden ornament. If the later ones run a BMW motor, they will be much the same.

[@hazza-sg5vy]

082008hd

[@chitratilakasiri4493]

M bhg

[@Livi_Da_Queen]

Uutp

[@shantalpadayachee3748]

I Et

[@philipjosephcruz6878]

If i have d money I rather buy i30N I'm alright..

[@Drivecomau]

We'll put the i30N to the test against a performance competitor too - what would you like to see?

[@BatikBoy]

CarAdvice.com Newly released Focus ST and Megane RS 280 (non cup) please

[@svenr5235]

Useless cars for Australia. The noobs drive 70 in the middle lane on the freeway. 50 hp would be enough for them to learn driving.