Well today I threw in the towel and traded the Mini. After the horrible scare of a $4,000 clutch repair, noisy cam chain and the lack of Mini USA acknowledging problems I lost my love for my Mini. I went from Love to Hate over night. The thought of a break down after my warranty expires (3 months) was to much to bear mentally and financially.

I traded my Mini for it's close cousin the GTI. I picked up a used 2011 with 7,000 miles loaded with every option except for leather seats for $23,000.00 out the door with my Mini as a trade. I owed $15,000.00 on the Mini. I must admitt it was bitter sweet. Oh yeah it a DSG, no more clutch worries.....

I want to thank everyone here for friendship, advice and experience while owning my Mini. Out of all the Mini forums, I always gravitated to this one. I will hanging out here everyday. I wish everyone the best of luck and Happy Holidays.

AXO

 

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics, but here is my new baby.

 

Xenons

 

18s with NoN Run Flats!!!!

 

I haven't gotten used to the plaid yet. But I hear it grows on you after awhile....

 

Sorry to hear your MINI didn't work out for you, but congrats on the GTI! if I had to ditch my R50 I'd probably be looking at those as well. Nice ride! Good luck, hope the VW gives you better treatment!

 

I LOVE the plaid!! Good luck, nice looking car.

 

Funny that you ended up throwing in the towel after getting your clutch and fly wheel replaced. I would have felt reassured for at least another round after replacing the most common wearable parts after all. Usually you hear about the clutch being an issue and really that's about all I am currently worried about on my 2007 MCS (and by worried, I mean I'm planning on saving a little bit for when that happens, and I dont expect it to happen for a while).

While I wouldn't get a GTI or an automatic...best of luck and hope you enjoy your ride. There are quite a few VW forums that are excellent so you won't be without help that's for sure.

I'm sure soon we'll see someone on NAM soon with a 2008 Pure Silver MCS that will be in love! The cycle continues after all

 

Good luck with the GTI but remember there are two clutches in that DSG...

 

Drove a GTI before getting my Mini......the paddles are awesome and the GTI is fast and fun - enjoy!!

 

my wife has a 2010 4 door with the DSG. it's awesome (although we had a xenon go out with 200 miles remaining on the 36k warrantee... at least it was covered!)

some quick advice...
automatic car washes will scratch the 18" wheels. My wife's are all banged up. (from the little track, there is no rubber outside the rim of the wheel so they get scuffed very easily)
i had better luck in the snow here in Kansas City last year with my continental DWS all seasions then she did with her p-zero neros but it was only once where she was stuck and i drove past her but it was during a blizzard and she's not the best driver
it has a great sound system - way, way better than the Mini
and last but not least - launch control!!! you will absolutely love launch control.

it's fun to drive, we poke fun at each other's cars all the time. Have fun with it!

 

Enjoy the vee dub! I was trying to make the same choice before going MINI.

 

you seem to be missing a medal on the far left.......... YA you have more clutches now then you did in the mini all cars have at least one clutch, yours has two. But i understand your frustration my car is still in the shop it has been over 3 weeks. This is carmax fault though not MINI, they broke the CPU and now the MINI dealership is installing it and programing it for them because they don't know how. Hopefully i will get it back tomorrow or tuesday, then it goes into the body shop to take car of what the carmax truck did to the front end. On the plus side i have no front license plate which i hate, even though it is law to have one in Ohio, i move to florida later this month and you don't have too hurray! I like your GTI though, if i had to pick new car though i think id go with a new kia forte coupe, they are cheap, fast and apparently really fun to drive, or some classic car. Run on sentences, hell ya!

 

Don't forget to do the tranny fluid flushes every 40k or so on the DSG. Get the cable and software for the car and save the $400/flush the dealership charges. The fluid has to be up to a certain temp and all to change it. I would still get one though with all that being said. Nice car.

 

VERY nice choice. Im trying to get back into a GTI in the next few months.