I was pretty dead set on a Countryman, but humored the husband in looking at a Golf sportwagon. Total bore. ON our way back into the showroom, however, I popped the trunk on a Golf and was shocked at what I saw.

It was bigger than the Countryman.

We quickly located a manual GTI and took it around. Now I'm having a hard time justifying a Countryman. The GTI has more cargo space, more standard features, more power, and is less expensive. I'm not meaning this as a bash post, because I never thought I'd like a GTI, but I wondered if anyone looked at both and opted for a Countryman.

 

GTI is a better overall car to be honest, but everyone and their grandma's has one. A couple of the areas the countryman is better, ground clearance and AWD... and subjectively looks. Do you like to drive what everyone else drives or be a bit different?

Personally, i hate being at a stop light and being surrounded by the same car i'm driving.

 

For me, I'm looking for a practical fun car. I have a dog and a baby, things like stroller fitment are suddenly important to me and that space behind the rear seats is way better in the GTI.

I hear you on the personality factor totally. That is absolutely the one arena the MINI wins.

 

FWIW, i used to own a 2009 rabbit (similar size to current golf's\gti's), and there isnt a HUGE difference in the trunk, you get aprox almost a foot of depth and about the same width larger in the vw. I have two kids and a dog (boston terrier) so i know how important space is, once we saw we could fit a stroller + diaper bag + two baby seats in the back it was a done deal. Its obvious that we cant fit a whole lot back there, but for 99% of the time it fits the bill.

 

I'm having a great day, posted a longish answer here and the website crashed with a DB error. And that was the best part of the day.

Long story short - Wifes 13 TDI is overall a better car than my 11 CM/all4S. Starting to see lots of CM's now so it isn't so unique here anymore.

 

Countryman looks kinda like a mini, has a bigger back seat and AWD. GTI is in every other way a better vehicle.

Buying a mini is basically an emotional decision, not a logical one. If everyone shopped based on logic, everyone would be driving a japanese car.

 

I have two close friends that drive identical GTIs, down to the wheels, colors, manual transmission, and options (they are from different circles of friends, and haven't even met each other).

They are really nice cars, but both have had an unacceptable number of engine issues. Brian's has been in the shop >5x and they eventually replaced the entire top of the engine. He's been stranded on the side of the road multiple times, and the car has gone into limp mode at least a half dozen times. Greg has had significant issues with his as well.

I know Minis aren't exactly shining examples of reliability, but my friends experiences are what made me consider the Mini. Plus, to be a little different. I still don't see that many R60s in my neck of the woods. GTIs blend in.

 

I guess you wouldn't get a MINI if you lived in San Francisco.

 

The devil is in the details, mini's are so customizable (spelling) that i've yet to see two identical ones.

Truth be told, ever since i bought it i've seen a lot more countrymans driving around, but its still a negligible amount.

 

ditto, gti is amazing

 

i came from 08 GTI and I miss it everyday of my life....

 

I came from a MKV GTI (2006). I loved the car. I had the DSG. If I'd done anything differently, I would have gotten the stick. The DSG is a great tranny, but it ain't a manual. My CMS is not as quick as my old GTI, but it is quick enough, and the drive is more engaging in the CM. I also like the fact that the CM sits a bit higher, is easy to get in and out of, and the fact that it can look totally unique. However, I still watch the GTI MKV commercials, as I think they are some of the best commercials ever made. Unpimp your auto! Bottom line - I don't think you can go wrong with either car.

 

I like both cars. FYI the EPA does not agree that the Golf boot is bigger than the CM boot. The passenger compartment is slightly larger for the Golf. Comparison from http://www.fueleconomy.gov:

Luggage volume, cu. ft: 16 MCS CM, 16 Golf GTI
Passenger volume: 87 MCS CM, 93 Golf GTI
Fuel economy MPG: 29 MCS CM, 28 Golf GTI
(the Golf GTI does have better highway MPG, while the CM has better city MPG).

 

Well...just went down this road...
Sold my r53...
Bought a vw...got a Jetta TDI...price was just too good...
The GTI was a very good deal...but being first year for the MQB platform is still selling for very close to list, and IMO, overpriced for a vw...wait a year...and the $$ should drop.
Even the guys on the podcast "white roof radio" like the gti...2 of them have driven them..and it sounds like they are slightly embarrassed they like the gti/r so much....after all, they host the main mini podcast...
Yes it is that good...
But both are different....just depends...
All about priorities....
My suggestion...
Be open minded, drive them both. Then make the choice based upon your unique situation...
I never planned on the TDI...but with the deal...figured I would try one for a bit...the tq is awesome!!
Oh yeah...did I mention I'm getting 48.5 mpg?! And driving "fun".....

 

I just went back to MINI after my 2012 Golf TDI. It was a dsg that drove me crazy. I had a Cooper S before the Golf and loved and missed it. Albeit the TDI is not a GTI in performance and handling, I did appreciate the space. But the CM All4 handling along with the options for the price sold me on going back to MINI. I had considered the 4 door GTI.

Tim

 

I'm of the opinion that the GTI is all the car ANYONE ever "needs", and then some. It does everything well. Roomy, big trunk, power, nice interior, and mine were very reliable. But that doesn't mean you WANT one...

It's sort of a grown up version of the mini, less fun, but roomier and super capable, when you need 4 doors. The mini to me makes sense only in 2 door versions, the smaller the better (mini!!) as a go kart, something that makes you smile while driving. Dunno about how prevalent they are for you, but in the SF bay area, I see 3 minis for every GTI - must be related to parking ! Never seen so many minis in my life.

For fun I'd get an early Cooper S. Pretty cars, tossable. But between the latest gen mini ( which look overinflated and IMO lost their cute look) I'd get a GTI honestly. It looks sharper and has tons of torque. Stay away from DSG, it gets $$$ when it breaks, but other than that it's a reliable car and very tuneable as well. My ex-GTI made 280 lb-ft of torque.