Sorry the MINI didn’t work out for you Danny

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"What a gorgeous day. What effulgent sunshine. It was a day of this sort the McGillicuddy brothers murdered their mother with an axe."

 

Funny, I traded my Jetta in on my MCS because of transmission and window problems, plus the car was not as fun to drive as the MCS (or even a Cooper IMO),
Good luck with it.

 

I think Redleg needs to take his meds, too.

 

Danbo, nice choice.
I was all over a 1.8 real bad in a nice on ramp race on the corners but once he hit the straight he smoked me like there was no tomorrow. That VW was flying! I finally caught up and took him at about 120 but not sure if he gave up at that point....which was the prudent thing for both of us to do! Nice car, I'm sure you'll enjoy it tremendously.
Report back and let us know how you like it.

 

>>I think Redleg needs to take his meds, too.

(gasp)... I am bitterly stung by your clever employment of a juvenile cliche.

 

Good luck with the VW. It's a good thing they now come wtih a 4yr/50k mile warranty. My 2000 VW has had nothing but problems and my warranty was up at 24K. Luckily, I leased it, so I am turning it in this winter and purchasing a MINI. My sister and at least 90% of my customers haven't had 1 problemwith their MINI. So feel confident purchasing one.
Best of luck to you! :smile:

 

>>I think Redleg needs to take his meds, too.

Yeah, once he realizes that VWs are no better quality, if not worse, than MINI, he'll have to change his screen same to RedInTheFace.

 

>>>>I think Redleg needs to take his meds, too.
>>
>>Yeah, once he realizes that VWs are no better quality, if not worse, than MINI, he'll have to change his screen same to RedInTheFace.

It would probably be helpful, if you would read the thread in the future before you leap to some witty pronouncement. Where did I say I liked VW's?! I offered some words in defense of another forum member. I love... hold it, let me make this clear: me like Mini, me no like VW, ok?

 

>>Danbo, nice choice.
>>I was all over a 1.8 real bad in a nice on ramp race on the corners but once he hit the straight he smoked me like there was no tomorrow. That VW was flying! I finally caught up and took him at about 120 but not sure if he gave up at that point..

Must have been a modded Jetta. I frequently drive my sister's 1.8T and the performance is nowhere near my stock MCS. 1.8T Jettas have excellent midrange tourqe so they "feel" fast but that doesn't necessarilly translate to a quicker car in real performance numbers.
As far as handling, it's downright awful... Mushy, unresponsive and Body-roll is so pronounced it's almost scary.
The quality of the engine and interior materials are first rate, but my sister's front bumper has fallen off 3 times already in the first 4 months of ownership, and the service department has yet to fix it properly.
Having driven both cars on a daily basis I am convinced that calling the Jetta "problem free" as compared to a MINI is quite a stretch.

 

OH dear I hope he's not trading in for problems just to get more problems.

I think Mini owners with problems should trade up to an '04 Mini. Chances are extremely good that you'll end up with a problem-free car. Going to another car means you risk having problems with a car you don't like half as much.

 

>>
>>considering how many of them are offered up in the AutoTrader already I'd say a lot of owners miscalculated the inconvenience of too few dealers>>
>>
>>

Bingo!

70 dealers nationwide is not enough coverage to give satisfactory service for a lot of people. San Diego County has only one lousy dealer and their take it or leave it attitude forces me to go to LA. My MCS has had only minor problems but getting them fixed is a major hassle.

 

>>>>
>>>>considering how many of them are offered up in the AutoTrader already I'd say a lot of owners miscalculated the inconvenience of too few dealers>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>Bingo!
>>
>>70 dealers nationwide is not enough coverage to give satisfactory service for a lot of people. San Diego County has only one lousy dealer and their take it or leave it attitude forces me to go to LA. My MCS has had only minor problems but getting them fixed is a major hassle.
>>


Guess we're lucky in Phila to have 2 on this side of the river (one 15 minutes from my place, and one about an hour) ... one on the other side of the river (NJ) and one South in Towson :smile:

 

You are lucky. My closest servicing dealer is a 250 mile round trip and it takes the better part of a long day to get the most minor problem fixed.

_________________
2003 Chili Red/White MCS, sport pack w/white wheels, cold weather pack, black leather w/anthracite dash, DVD-based Navigation w/OBC, HK sound, MFSW, PDC, rain sensing wipers & auto dim mirror.

 

WOW... I don't were to start :evil: well Maybe you shouldn't be driven...

 

WOW... I don't were to start :evil: well Maybe you shouldn't be driven...

_________________
Danny

 

I owned a 2000 Jetta VR6 and put 71000 miles on it before I sold it recently. I now have 34,000 miles on the MINI. Here are my thoughts.

The Jetta:

- Interior: very nice materials, soft plastics, and nice textures, VW has interior design nailed in my opinion. However, interior build quality is a little spotty. Some of the plastic coatings wore easily, and VW interiors can turn into a symphony of rattles after 20,000 miles. The trunk is pretty good sized, but the interior isn't all that different in terms of rear seat passenger legroom, compared to the MINI. Also, while the trunk is nice, the wide hatch opening of the MINI means you can actually carry larger objects with the MINI.

- Exterior: I like VW's design, but the Jetta IV is really common now, and isn't anything special any more (unlike in 2000 when I bought it). It's still nice, just showing the age of the MKIV platform IMO.

- Suspension: my jetta, even with H&R springs, Bilstein Sport Shocks, and a Neuspead 28mm rear swaybar, was a wallowing pig compared to the stock cooper with the sport suspension (not even comparing the sport plus here).

- Engine: I had the VR6 and liked it a lot. My mom has a 1.8T NB and that car is fun in a straight line too (again, not the best in a corner). The 1.8T is a nice value though when it comes to hp/$ with aftermarket tuning.

Issues: VW's quality is far from stellar, there have been large problems with the window regulators, coil-packs, and MAF's. To my knowledge the window reg issue and the coil-packs are now fixed. However, it took VW 3 years to address those issues. MINI has been much better at acknowledging it's problems and instituting changes faster.



MINI:
Interior: I personally would like to see a more subdued interior option for the MINI, but the (over)stylized interior it has is ok. For all the weight the MINI has, I wish some of it would have been spent on a little more sound deadening material. Otherwise, things seem to be wearing well.

Exterior: the design is very recognizeable, and it is still relatively rare (well, compared to the Jetta anyway).

Suspension: recognized numerous times for being on of the best handling cars on the market. VW never earned anything close to that reputation in it's head to head comparos. To the contrary, it's dynamic abilities have been routinely criticized.

Engine: VW gets a nod here for having an easy tuning durable engine, and frankly it remains to be seen what the durability of the 1.6L pulleyed MINIs really is. As far as smooth power delivery though, I prefer the Cooper S to the 1.8T and the VR6. Also, I prefer a little more involvement and like how the supercharger makes the MINI sound a little more ragged out.

Just some thoughts. Either way there are compromises, and either way you wind up with a nice car.

Enjoy your new ride.

Dave

 

Thanks Dave for the insite, But you quoted " Acknowledging the problems and instituting changes faster?" Now I'm not going to start arguing or pointing fingers But Here it is 2003 and They still have alot of "bugs" all most to many to say that they are still dealing with since 2001. Now both cars brands of cars have been around along time BMW mini and Volkswagon/audi. Both great built uropean cars. Now why start saying bad things about the VW when you won't say anything that may happen or already happened to your mini? My 1.8T with sport susspension maybe a few extras does handle pretty good in the turns, and yes my Mini did too as I was pushing it to its limits as I was sliding all 4 wheels in the corner. But remember its also the driver too. So Dan

 

Danbo... Dave made valid points in a side by side comparison of 2 vehicles... and you go off on him??? No wonder so many of the "long timers" are leaving this site or have stopped posting. I for one value Dave's opinion and thoughtful writing style. There, I've said and now can be a human being again.

In all seriousness Danbo, Best of luck with your new ride. I am sure you will enjoy it, this coming from one who is VERY conflicted 'bout whether or not to sell my MCS. :smile:

 

I traded my '99 GTI in for my Cooper. I felt that the GTI did have a better feel buildwise in the interior, and knowing what I know now, is probably more tuneable. BUT - the MINI is a killer handling car. My GTI definitely dipped in hard cornering, to the point where my friends would comment in surprise. Now they no longer speak when cornering occurs. I really liked the dash and interior lighting on the GTI. Believe me, when I saw the 20th anniversary edition, I was intrigued - looks pretty sharp, especially in yellow.

Good luck with the new ride!

 

wow, either the GTI and the 1.8T Beetle GLX have VERY different interiors (material and build quality wise) or we just plain differ in opinions.

As I said earlier, I was very disappointed in the build quality of our last 2 VWs... leather seats becoming unstitched in 20k miles and the PASSENGER SEAT to boot which was unoccupied for most of the 20k? Too many little things broke on the vehicles too.

Now I read that some have had as many problems on the MC/MCS, and if true, that's a shame. But the MCS is a whole lot more fun to drive for me, so I'll probably stick it out.


On the other hand, hey, drive what you wanna drive. If the Jetta or GTI do it for you, have fun! They are still fun cars, though I'm a little partial to the VR6 myself!

 

Cat,
What kind of guitar are ya' hauling? I've got a Martin D28, I just haven't tried it to see if it and my wifes bass will fit.

Love the car though!!!!!!!!!!!
03 cr/w MC

 

I get the feeling I got a really well built VW. Had it for 2 years, no problems. The heated seats were far better than the MINI. When I say the interior build was better, I don't mean to say the MINI is lacking. I have an earlier '02 build - the little hinged cupholder broke, silver on the steering wheel easily nicked. It's funky and cool, and worlds better than the Focus models my sister and mother own. I don't plan on ditching the MINI anytime soon - it handles far too well, and is too much fun to drive.

 

>>Cat,
>>What kind of guitar are ya' hauling? I've got a Martin D28, I just haven't tried it to see if it and my wifes bass will fit.
>>
>>Love the car though!!!!!!!!!!!
>>03 cr/w MC :smile:

 

Danny
I have a link for you.
Charles
VW Jetta

 

>>I get the feeling I got a really well built VW. Had it for 2 years, no problems. The heated seats were far better than the MINI. When I say the interior build was better, I don't mean to say the MINI is lacking. I have an earlier '02 build - the little hinged cupholder broke, silver on the steering wheel easily nicked. It's funky and cool, and worlds better than the Focus models my sister and mother own. I don't plan on ditching the MINI anytime soon - it handles far too well, and is too much fun to drive.>>

I guess a good vs a bad build CAN be luck (I mean, some of our problems could be lazy workers or bad parts), but for the most part, design and materials determine the result.

I agree with the better design and function of the heater elements in the VW seats, the dial and multiple level settings were great. But so far the esthetic properties of the Mini seats are superior (though I'll report back on the stitching after 20k, that will be the test for us).

I got spooked enough by our last 2 VWs that I'm staying away for a while. Love the Mini, Love my Jeep ... next car will likely be a Scoobie-Do so we can enjoy the AWD and put the Mini to bed in the winter.

Have fun guys!!!!