I just posted this on my old Subaru forum. Thought it might be nice reading for you all as well.

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Hey everyone. Two months later, and would like to offer my initial thoughts on the car switch.

For background, I let go of a 2006 STI with 90k miles for a 2010 Mini JCW Convertible with 27k miles.

I'd like to keep my thoughts in the frame of reference of bone stock cars, which is pretty much how I had my STI and still have the Mini. Actually, the STI had a kartboy short-shifter, but that's it.

Looks:
STI certainly looks more aggressive, stands out in a crowd with the dual spoilers. Mini looks much more reserved, and doesn't stand out so much. The STI was Aspen white, Mini is Chili Red. The red does give some visual pop. However, the Mini is near invisible to cops, street racers, and the like.
Winner: Mini

Space:
Not really a competition here. STI is a 4 door sedan with a proper trunk, Mini loses a lot in convertible form. Front seat space is comparable if not a bit more comfy in the Mini, but rear seats and trunk are hands down to STI. Carrying stuff isn't a big deal to me, so this was a moot point. Still...
Winner: STI

Interior:
My Mini came spec'ed with full leather, heated seats, all the goodies. Both cars have auto-climate control. The Mini has some odd design choices, such as the dinner-plate speedo and a curiously placed volume ****. The STI is a standard double-din where the Mini is clearly more integrated. However, overall quality, comfort, ergonomics, gadgets, go to...
Winner: Mini

Undesirable noises:
Let's face it, Subaru's have lots of little rattles and strange noises, and the Mini convertible has some audible creaks as well. My STI had a funny rattle on partial throttle going uphill, but I could never trace the source. The Mini I sometimes wish didn't creak so much when I accidentally hit a pothole, where the STI was largely quiet.
Winner: Draw

Desirable noises:
Keep in mind here we are talking stock parts. No aftermarket exhausts, intakes, BOVs, etc and so forth. In stock form, the Mini sounds so much better than the STI did. The STI exhaust was always a bit quiet, wasn't very audible in the cabin, and I always felt that such a car should be a bit more vocal when you mash the gas. The Mini JCW exhaust is awesome. Super quiet when cruising, but barks loudly when the gas gets stepped on. The car is tuned to snap/crackle/pop/burble when you lift off the gas, and it gives it so much character. For OEM sound...
Winner: Mini

Handling:
I sadly never autocrossed the STI, never had the time. So I will compare them both on spirited road driving. Again, two wildly different platforms. 1 diff vs 3, FWD vs AWD. The STI was much more stable and composed, the Mini needs some attention. In the Mini, on the gas in a turn, hitting an expansion joint or a road imperfection will cause the car to jump, and you need to be ready to catch it. The STI just kept going where you wanted being steered with one hand. However, that led it to being a bit boring, in my opinion. The Mini is a much more involved experience. The STI biased toward understeer with the all-seasons I had on it, the Mini behaves similarly with the runflats that are still on it. Both turn very nicely, rotating predictably. I have not had the Mini in snow yet, and I'd bet the STI would win there. But, for nice weather on tarmac...
Winner: Mini

Braking:
On stock pads, brake feel is by far better in the Mini. Front brakes are only .3" smaller, and stopping considerably less weight.
Winner: Mini

Speed:
The Mini gives up some ground in pure HP/torque as well as power to weight. STI had 300hp/300lbft and the mini has 208hp/207lbft. STI had a curb weight of 3,351 pounds, the convertible mini is 2,877. For the street, the Mini is much easier to play with without risking losing your license. Turbo lag is much shorter in the Mini. The STI is still quicker off the line and faster in a straight line.
Winner: STI

Street-cred:
Let's face it, more people can identify an STI than they can a JCW Mini. The racing and rally heritage of the Subaru is much more well known. However, where the STI got lots of thumbs up from drivers in modded cars or other cars in class (Evo's, etc), the Mini gets it from people all over. People randomly walking by as I'm washing the car complement the Mini, where the STI received no such feedback. I haven't quite picked out why that is yet. The JCW badge is really one of the only ways to reliably pick out that the Mini isn't your standard Mini, where the STI was much easier to pick out from a distance. Both cars get complements, but from very different groups of people.
Winner:
Draw

So that brings my tally to 5 for the mini, 2 for the STI, and two draws. I think that accurately describes my feelings as well, where I am much happier with the Mini. If I missed a crucial area for comparison, let me know.

 

I agree 100% on this thread. Although if it were a 2010 JCW R57 vs. a 2010 Impreza WRX STI, I think Subaru would have won.

 

Any particular reason you say that? I have a 2008 STI that I thought about replacing with a JCW R56 but am going to wait to see what the JCW F56 has in store.

 

Looks:
The 2010 STI is definitely aggressive looking while still being able to pass off as a 4 door family sedan/wagon. It gets more attention from law enforcement.
The MINI has a look of its own. It is aggressive while still being "cute." It doesn't get as much attention from police.

Overall I like the look of the 2010 STI better.

Space:
There is no comparison here. The MINI can hold 4 people that have the squeeze in through two doors vs the STI that can hold 5 people comfortably through 4 doors. Both can hold the same amount of people, but I find myself (6'2") only driving with one other person in the car usually if there is a passenger.

STI definitely wins here.

Interior:
German vs Japanese interior. Germans got this one right. The interior for the MINI is awesome. I prefer the WRX interior over the STI interior, honestly.

MINI wins hands down.

Undesirable/Desirable noises:
I have never owned a 2010 STI, only an R56. I can't do a fair comparison of these.


Handling:
I've driven both. My R56 handles great. FWD has its drawbacks.
The STI has AWD which makes it more useable for snow, wet, etc.
I've never found FWD to be too limiting, but I miss having AWD.

Tie. Both are so different and both have their goods and bads.


Braking:
I have the R56 S, so I have the JCW R53 brakes. (Ceramic pads) They are phenomenal. I've never driven any car with brakes as good as these are.

MINI definitely wins.

Speed:
The STI has AWD and more power. It can launch faster and go faster. The MINI is fast, but around corners and bends. Overall I would have to say the STI throws me back more.
There could be a whole thread about comparing these two cars to see which is faster, but in my opinion the STI is faster because of the HP difference and AWD.

STI wins, but this could be debated.

Street-cred:
MINIs get compliments from older people more than younger people.
The STI will get compliments every time you take it out from "tuners" and anybody who knows anything about Subarus.

I'd have to say the STI will get more street cred where I live. (Charlotte, NC)
They both are unique and get lots of compliments, but I feel like I would get more compliments from driving around in an STI for an hour than an R57 JCW for an hour.

That brings me to STI: 4, MINI: 2 with a tie and undecided category for noises.

They're both awesome cars and I would love to own one of each, but the 2010 style STI just draws my eye more than any other car.

 

I was just curious as to why you felt the STI would've won if the OP was comparing the '08+ STI. So it just boils down to a preference on looks for you since it looks like your conclusions are similar to the OP's. I was just wondering because aside from hatch vs sedan, the previous generation and current generation STIs are largely the same, with the older ones being a bit more rough around the edges.

 

I was just comparing the third gen STIs (2010 as an example to be fair with the model year of the MINI) to the second gen MINIs. If it came down to a second gen STI vs a second gen MINI JCW, MINI wins. If it is a third gen STI vs a second gen JCW, the STI will win.
The current generation of STI has a bigger top mount, aluminum frame, fancier parts, wider body, etc. They're little upgrades that make a big difference.