My garage went under a major overhaul over the last few weeks. We traded my wifes CRV in for a 2011 GTI DSG Autobaun and sold my Silverado and purchased my CM. Loving both cars.

 

Congrats! Beautiful rides...I've been eyeing the GTI's lately. Enjoy the ride(s)!

 

Liked the GTI, liked the CM - buy one of each. Excellent solution!

 

Definitely a fan of the GTI, owned an A3 a couple years ago. Would have considered one if an R20 was available. Refuse to own a car without awd again.

 

Congrats on the new rides!

Everyone talks about how big the Countyman is, but in your pic it looks about the same size as the Rabbit, only a little taller!

 

Very nice!

How would you compare the two now that you actually own both? Both would be on my list.

I have a loaded A3 DSG now in Misano Red with roof rails. When I had my 2004 MCS I always missed the luxury bits from my Audi A4 that i had before then. The Mini interiors just weren't there, especially back then. But of course it's a different breed of car and driving fun was incomparable. I love my A3 though. It has 36k miles and that's a record for me!

http://d2creative.smugmug.com/Other/...85_79tQC-O.jpg

 

It really depends on what you want out of a car. The GTI is a lot more fun to drive and in my opinion is a better value than my CM. I have a hard time finding where the extra $9k went for my CM. The CM is more of a utility vehicle and I ride mountain bikes a lot so it fits my lifestyle better. The CM is MUCH more roomy on the inside. I also like the tech features that you get with connected/nav.

My ultimate car would be to have the DSG transmission and GTI motor in the CM! Please somebody come out with a reflash and other performance mods for the CM!

If the Golf R were out right now I may have just bought one. Dont get me wrong, I love the Mini I just think it needs more HP.

One last thing that suprised me. The GTI is quiter at highway speeds. I atribute that to the run flats on the CM. There is a lot of road noise at 70 mph. I cant wait to replace them.

 

If the motor in the GTI is the 2.0T from the A4, that's pretty hard to beat. My MCCS is a stick because the auto didn't run as good as my A42.0TQ. Drove the Countryman, don't like the "barge" feeling it gave me when trying to play in the snow. Not enough squirt in that little motor to break loose all four when playing in the MINI dealers' lot. You will enjoy trading places in both. Get a MINI DO MORE hitch for the Countryman, I have one for the clubman and mount a bike rack on it, as well as tow an aluminum trailer. You won't miss that Silverado, I sure don't miss $100 fill ups in mine.

 

Waiting for my CMS all 4 to come in i will returning my Silverado at the end of amy so hopefully Panthro will be here, I love love my truck but dont love speanding $100+ in gas a week

 

Speaking of the GTI, just saw the new new beetle, was never a fan of the old new one, but that car looks amazing, and the 2.0T will be essentially a GTI in a different pkg.

 

It's basically the same except horizontal, like the one in the A3 and the TT. That aside it always performed better in the smaller platforms (GTI, A3, TT) over the larger A4.

 

I just came out of an '08 GTI with DSG and now have the MINI. The GTI is far more refined, quicker, and faster, but slightly less roomy. It also feels morr solid and less tinny than the MINI. The taller roofline in the MINI adds to the feeling of roominess.

Regarding the DSG, at this point in my life I prefer a manual transmission. My GTI, being an '08, had some computer-related DSG issues that made it rev oddly at times. The MINI's 6-speed manual is a paragon of smoothness, but not "snick-snick" precise as a Miata's or 911. Very fun to shift though.

But you said it: The CM ALL4 feels underpowered. If I was getting 28 MPG I wouldn't care, but I'm only getting 23 presently. I pimped this ride so much that it was about as expensive as my wife's '09 Highlander Hybrid, and a future JCW version would probably break $50k for me! I don't know if I could rationalize that.

However, I do enjoy the MINI. Like my previous Cooper S, they're fun to drive and just be in. I feel like I'm in something more valuable than a typical car every time I get inside it.

 

nice!

loving the new beetle too...