Seems like the facia rattle that made a brief guest appearance while we were on holiday in the Lake District has decided to tour with the Clubman for the season. It’s a real good’un too. Emanating from somewhere behind the O2 Arena-sized speedo, it sounds incredibly cheap and plasticky and, like the metallic blue paint flaking from the foglight cowls, gnaws away at the Mini’s quality image.

To be fair, it’s worst when driving away from cold. As the car warms up, it sort of mellows out and almost disappears. But it only takes a rough section of road – and there’s a shocking variety to choose from in and around Whitstable – for it to return at full volume. Fast and fun as the Clubman is, it doesn’t ride well and its suspension is rather crashy. In a way I’m surprised there’s just the one rattle.