Cooper S JCW or Clubman S?

[Raza]

Me too. Go slow enough and you won't crash into the person in front of you anyways. They aren't needed.

Right; and you trust the general public to act responsibly?

[Raza]

No it's not.

Driving at night with your lights off is a bad idea.

Driving at night with your lights on is safe and smart motoring.

Driving everywhere with your foglights on is just paranoia, and it's also rude to other motorists.

In fact it may be a little unsafe, provided there is no fog.

How is it rude or unsafe?  They illuminate the road and are pointed down and to the sides so they don't shine in anyone's eyes.

[Vinsanity]

I use my foglights to supplement the headlights at night because the lowbeams on the CTS, frankly, suck. At least compared to the HID's I had on the TL.

[Tave]

How is it rude or unsafe?  They illuminate the road and are pointed down and to the sides so they don't shine in anyone's eyes.

From Wiki:

Fog lamps
Front fog lamps provide a wide, bar-shaped beam of light with a sharp cutoff at the top, and are generally aimed and mounted low.[11][12][13] They may be either white or selective yellow. They are intended for use at low speed to increase the illumination directed towards the road surface and verges in conditions of poor visibility due to rain, fog, dust or snow. As such, they are often most effectively used in place of dipped-beam headlamps, reducing the glareback from fog or falling snow, although the legality varies by jurisdiction of using front fog lamps without low beam headlamps.

Use of the front fog lamps when visibility is not seriously reduced is often prohibited (for example in the United Kingdom), as they can cause increased glare to other drivers, particularly in wet pavement conditions, as well as harming the driver's own vision due to excessive foreground illumination.[14]

The respective purposes of front fog lamps and driving lamps are often confused, due in part to the misconcepion that fog lamps are necessarily selective yellow, while any auxiliary lamp that makes white light is a driving lamp. Automakers and aftermarket parts and accessories suppliers frequently refer interchangeably to "fog lamps" and "driving lamps" (or "fog/driving lamps"). In most countries, weather conditions rarely necessitate the use of fog lamps, and there is no legal requirement for them, so their primary purpose is frequently cosmetic. They are often available as optional extras or only on higher trim levels of many cars. Studies have shown that in North America more people inappropriately use their fog lamps in dry weather than use them properly in poor weather.[15]

[Tave]

This is pulled directly from the Wyoming Department of Transportation Driver's Manual.

Rear fog lights (red) should only be used in heavy fog
or in similar hazardous weather conditions resulting
in seriously reduced visibility. Switch off your rear fog
lights once visibiltiy improves.

[CJ]

Just got back from test driving a Clubman S!  It was an auto, but that's okay for a test drive.  I'll get a review later.

[MrH]

Build your own Mini S.  We get these insider magazines at work that usually are very technical.  Our company does some work in the automotive industry, so we get some of these automotive design magazines.  I read a pretty lengthy one on the new Mini's engine design.  The new engine alone would be reason enough for me to get a new one.  And the Clubman looks like ass.  Especially the rear wipers.

Just get a new Cooper-S.

[CJ]

Here are the pictures from the visit to the dealer...and the BMW dealer next door.  I took a lot, so  56k be warned.







BMW X6...the only one in the state.





















More of the X6, which looks terrific in person.

























And now for the BMW dealership...



























There you go.

[CJ]

I'm going to upload a lot of these again because I just used the mass upload thing, and the pictures turned out shitty.  I'll do it again in a little while.

[Soup DeVille]

I like the union-jack wing mirrors.

Fine.

But don't send your money to the dealership and get raped. Find a decent striper to paint them.

[Soup DeVille]

Here are the pictures from the visit to the dealer...and the BMW dealer next door.  I took a lot, so  56k be warned.

Is it a sign of senility, psychosis, or just plain irrelevance that that is the car that I'd be most interested in among those photos?

[nickdrinkwater]

I noticed few pictures of the car itself.  Is that because you now realise how shit the Clubman looks? 

[CJ]

I forgot to take a picture of the car.  Just forgot.  I was really excited to go on the test drive, and I just forgot.

[Raza]

This is pulled directly from the Wyoming Department of Transportation Driver's Manual.

Rear fog lights (red) should only be used in heavy fog
or in similar hazardous weather conditions resulting
in seriously reduced visibility. Switch off your rear fog
lights once visibiltiy improves.

Right.  Just like normal lights are to be used when it's dark...

[Raza]

Is that a 348 with a fixed headlight conversion?

[CJ]

Yes.  It also has sliding windows and a rollbar. 

[Raza]

Catflaps?  Is it a racer?

Also, that X6 is hideous.  Worst looking BMW ever.

[Soup DeVille]

Catflaps?  Is it a racer?

Also, that X6 is hideous.  Worst looking BMW ever.

The tow ring on the front and the covers over the foglights make me think it's probably setup for time attacks, rather than all-out racing.

[omicron]

Is it a sign of senility, psychosis, or just plain irrelevance that that is the car that I'd be most interested in among those photos?

It's a sign of good taste, Mr. Ville; a sign of good taste.

[CJ]

I hated the Clubman we drove.  Honestly.  The automatic in that car just saps all of the fun out of it, even as a passenger.  I need to ride in a manual Clubman.

[NomisR]

Right.  Just like normal lights are to be used when it's dark...

Yeah, but using headlights improperly does not hurt anyone.  But using fog lights improperly could blind people.  And with rear fog lights, you don't know if the assholes are riding their brakes when you're approaching those cars with fag lights on constantly.

Fog lights are useless in most parts anyways..

[CALL_911]

I'd take the JCW. I really like the one you posted. Also, a regular R56 S for a close second.

[Vinsanity]

Is it just me or are a lot of the JCW upgrades overpriced?

$2100 for 17 hp? Do not want!

[MX793]

$27k for a used compact car is never a good deal.

Then I guess $27K for a CPO 3-series or A4 is utter folly?

[CALL_911]

Then I guess $27K for a CPO 3-series or A4 is utter folly?

poppycock.

[CJ]

Also, leatherette is utter shit.  The test car had it, and my back was dripping in sweat by the time the fifteen minute testdrive was over.  Leatherette=shit.

[CALL_911]

Also, leatherette is utter shit.  The test car had it, and my back was dripping in sweat by the time the fifteen minute testdrive was over.  Leatherette=shit.

[Vinsanity]

I agree with CJ. BMW's leatherette feels like the same fabric patio furniture is made out of. Plain old cloth would've been much better.

[CALL_911]

I agree with CJ. BMW's leatherette feels like the same fabric patio furniture is made out of. Plain old cloth would've been much better.

I think it feels very HQ, a lot like real leather.

[the Teuton]

Can you convince your dad to get one of those old BMC Minis instead?