Wanna win without trying? Ask him how it feels to have spent slightly used C5 territory money on a VW. And, one thats not even all time AWD. Haldex for the lose!

 

The Haldex system isn't full time AWD, its AWD when you need AWD. You can also download other parameters for the Haldex system making it fulltime AWD with a 20/80 front to rear split. Also with the Haldex, you can dump the clutch, the fronts will spin slightly, allowing the motor not to bog, before the rears kick in for some traction. As far as a drag race goes, probably driver dependant but looking at raw numbers, R32 has the power and torque, MINI has the power/weight ratio, should be a good race pretty much down to driver. From a rolling start, R32 hands down. The torque available all through the power band of the R32 is amazing, that car will pull from 1000 RPM right to redline. Through the twisties, all I can say is that the R32 handles amazing. I have yet to wring a MINI out in the corners, but again like the rolling start run, the R32 has torque available where ever it is in the rev range meaning you dont have to shift as much. Advantage goes to MINI for weight, but again down to the driver.

As far as purchase price, they are slightly below the cost of the Corvette but resale on the R32 is much better than the Corvette. When the MKV was introduced, the MKIV R32 was selling over new MSRP for used cars. Not to mention you also get a year round car, a back seat, a limited production car, and (in my opinion) much better fit and finish than a Corvette. And I wouldn't talk about the car being constantly broken, I have yet to hear of an R32 go through multiple clutches, flywheels and transmissions like I have heard MINI's doing.

 

I just want to caution everyone that discussion of street racing are strictly forbidden on NAM, per the NAM Site Guidelines:This thread has skirted that guideline very closely, both originally and now that it has been resurrected.

Discuss the technical merits of the cars, sure... but take the dangerous boy racer talk somewhere else please.

 

don't listen to anyone.. I owned both cars..previous car was an R32 and I miss it dearly...Funnest car Ive ever owned..It will smoke the Mini..badly im afraid and all you will hear is the beautiful exhaust note from the R32 leaving you behind...It is an amazing car...in another league.

 

Too bad it's still a VW in the end. There's your decision, IMO. And before anyone flips out, remember, thats my opinion. I have to sell parts to all kinds of people and VW people in my eyes are just as bad as Mustang people and the SRT-4 kids. "Derrr, my 120hp 8 valve 93 Jetta GT is the best car evar!"

 

Hey, get your facts right...its 115 HP 8 Valve

Please don't take my post as a flip out or a personal attack. And please, I beg you, don't take me as one of those VW kids. That's the reason I want to get out of the VW scene, it's become too much of an elitest group. Don't get me wrong on my post, I love all cars and feel in the price range, VW's are one of the best cars for the money...to an extent. I will admit, the R32 is pricey and yes Corvette's are faster and around the same price and a V8 with straight pipes sounds but the VR6 sounds the same. And the only reason I feel the need to defend the R32 is because it is a truely amazing car to drive but like stated before, it is a completely different animal. A 1.8t GTI would be much closer match for the Cooper S.

And to the Moderator, from being on other forums I should have thought about the post. I will edit it for illegal content

 

I don't see you in that light at all. I also give you major credit for wanting to get out of the scene for it has become. And as far as the 8 valve Jetta, thats just as bad as a kid I knew in high school who thought his 1.8t Jetta was hella bad ***. No, its more like its a high 16 second car. Get used to it.

 

The 1.8t and the new 2.0t motors are very stout building blocks. they can be built like crazy and some insane numbers can be made...but it's big $$$. When I entered the scene, it was a great place to be, very friendly, very helpful, very NAM. Now, it has become very much like the Honda scene. I still love my car and VW's but I need somthing new and a new scene to run with. Do yourself a favor, go to VWVortex and spend some time in the MK3 and MK4 forums, mention Honda and see what happens .

 

I'll do that if you go to a RX7 forum and mention burning oil, roataries sucking or an LS1 swap. All Hell breaks loose. Or, visit a Mustang forum and say you own a Camaro. Visit a Camaro forum and mention you own a Mustang. These kinds of forums go nuts over this crap. I used to hang out in a WRX forum when I really wanted one, which I still kinda do, and those dudes were hella cool. There were people who owned Beemers, Mustangs, GM products, everything. There were even people with EVO's on there and everyone got along great.

 

1.8T is in similar range with mcs (been thru with one so many times...) however, r32 isn't TOO far.. its not in different league...

 

not in a different league, but a different beast all around. power delivery, feel, driving style. they are the same basic idea, high power+little car=good times but the .:R32 is just different. its difficult to explain, the only way i really can explain it is the R32 is like a muscle car, little car, big motor, straight line. the MINI is brittish, light, quick, and can handle the twisties like a ****. either way, both cars are amazing and i would love to own either one.

 

So did this alleged "legal" race ever take place?

Ditto the above inferences on NAM being a great supportive forum and quite "accepting" as compared to others.

 

i am amazed at how civilized this discussion has been and the fact that facts were used and not "the R32 sucks because it's made by VW" argument. even if i dont buy a MINI i will be sticking around for a while. its a nice change of pace from what i am used to

 

I'm moving this thread to Off Topic: Autos as it really isn't a MINI-centric thread.

 

I have appreciated reading through this thread, as my closest friend has an R32 & loves it. Heck, when he let me drive it, I loved it! Then again, I like so many different cars, each for their own unique qualities.

To each his own, my passion is my MCS. I would love to invite my friend w/ the R32 along on mini club outings (the Dragon!) just to share the experiences. Perhaps we can trade off driving each others cars for a true evaluation in every aspect , regardless of who's can beat who.

Mini5280 held their annual Yalla Yalla ride yesterday & a frequent guest joined in w/ his WRX. We always welcome him (or others).

MG

 

The MkV R32 is really sick. Me want. Unfortunately, it is only available with the paddle-shifting DSG gearbox. While I certainly admire the technological advancements that VW has pioneered with that tranny, it is sad that there is no option for a manual.

With that being said, if I had the money, and was car shopping right now, the R32 would be my new car!

 

gp>r32 trust haha

 

i agree with you here but i have heard amazing things about the DSG tranny. from what i have been told, you dont miss the clutch pedal, its smooth as hell and lightyears ahead of their or tiptronic system. again, this is what i have heard, i have yet to experience it. and until then, i will keep my clutch pedal thank you very much

 

You do realize that this is a manual tranny?

 

Like it has been quoted in oh so many war movies, Welcome to the NAM.

 

DSG isnt a true manual. it has an automatic mode, its just like all the other paddle shift gear boxes, 2 pedals, gas and brake. the difference is in the dual clutch set up that delivers power seemlessly. when you pull the paddle to up shift, one clutch stays in the lower gear while the other engages the next gear, no interruption in power delivery.

 

I beg to differ.....it is by any definition a "true" manual. It has actual gears, 2 clutches and no torque convertor. It may be able to switch gears by itself but it is still a manual. Check http://cars.about.com/od/thingsyoune...owDSGworks.htm for more details.

 

well i'll be damned. i guess it is technically a manual but not traditionally a manual. i still would stick with my clutch pedal

 

Man.....don't knock it till you've tried it. Had the chance and it was a real thrill. I could see this becoming the replacement for the "slush-box" we all love to hate....LOL

 

i have heard amazing things about the DSG gear box and i wont knock it until i have tried it. i may be young but i am a traditionalist, corvettes should always be fiberglass and have flip up headlights, porsche's should be aircooled, and manual trannys should have a clutch. i have tried other "manumatics" and thought they were fun but i could never live with one. once i get back home i am going to pull some strings at the local VW dealer and get a test drive on an .:R32.