Doing some car shopping. All cars listed meet my requirements. Some better then others. I've listed some quick details about each, including a quick list of 'essential mods' I would do. I am not looking for a 'do this mod, or this car sucks thread. I am posted this on each companies most popular forums in hopes to get some loyal owners to pipe up as to why THEIR brand/model is the best and why I should 'swing that way'.

Short notes:
- daily driver - will never see a track (just lots of spirited street driving)
- must be manual + power windows + power/remote door locks
- would like heated seats + sunroof
- owned both MCS+regular GTI. Would have no problem buy another.
- will spend time with baby seats in back (1 daughter now, practicing making #2)
- subnote: MCS = small, but IS big enough for baby seats, etc
- want something sporty, 'stands out', yet practical/comfortable enough for 40K miles a year (GTI+MCS did fine)

VW GTI (02-06 1.8T)
factory equipped:
5 speed manual; sunroof; heated seats.
Will Add:
chip, turboback exhaust, coilovers and VWR32 body kit to spice up the looks
~225hp crank

VW 20AE (2003 special edition)
factory equipped:
6 speed manual, sunroof, heated seats, factory body kit, rare colours, 18" wheels, recaro interior
Will Add:
chip, turboback exhaust, coilovers.
~225hp crank

MINI CooperS (02-06)
factory equipped:
6 speed manual, sunroof, heated seats, 17" wheels
Will Add:
19% SC pully, intake, header, catback, chip, coilovers, lighter 17's
~210hp crank

Subaru WRX sedan (02-07)
factory equppoed:
5 speed manual, AWD - other then that, unknown.
Will Add:
chip, turboback exhaudt, coilovers, wheels, aftermarket sunroof if i miss it/cant find car with OE unit
~250crank

My take:
GTI/GTI20AE - same car, second is more $, but has 6 speed and some nice factory features + rare

CooperS - best handling car and most fun ive ever had, but most $$ to buy, and least practical for family duties.

WRX - wild card. I've loved them since 02, never known anyone with one. Know very little about them, other then the transmissions
can be weak if abused.

Im not looking for other cars, ive spent a great deal of time, and though getting to this point, and to me, the above are
in my price range, sporty enough for me, standout in a crowd (especially in my small town), get decent mileage, capable of
hauling my small family and have lots of aftermarket support to keep me entertained for a few years.

 

I have an 03 mcs right now, i had and 02 wrx wagon before.
I love both of them. I would say that the wrx was almost as fun to drive as the mcs, but not quite, it did have more power however and if you live in rugh winter area, i would blow by people in the snow, it was freaking sweet in the snow.

I had the wagon, so there was tons of space, and it was still very sporty. Its only a five speed, but i was never like jeez i need a 6th. Its a tuner car so you can always keep adding things. There will be know heated or power seats in them except for the new ones, i think they had a few limited edition ones that may have leather and heated but im not sure. Its turbod so if you like turbos thats cool, and you can hav a blow off valve and thsoe are cool. the back seat isnt huge but its a four door, probably would be easier with car seats. I never had any problems with my tranny, and alot of ppl dont unless they put some high horsepower big turbo stuff. Gas mileage is decent but they all would be because tey are four bangers. I love them, i want an sti, but i dont want to get rid of my cooper.

The MCS is sooooo much fun. Its very classy, its made by bmw, it has leather and heated seats and tons of options, its a six speed. It would get the best mpg out of all of them. Its a tuner, and it is really fun to drive haha. Its front wheel so its decent in the snow not like a subie but still good. I would definately take these over the other vws, although i like the way they look. It has a lot of room for a two door, stereo is very nice, nooo trunk space, especially if you cant fold the seats down. There are lots of other things that are great about it to.

I really just wanted to tell you about the subie, cuz i had one. I love my cooper s to death, wouldnt trade it for anything, but i think the subie is the most practical for you, and you wouldnt be losing anything by going that way. I would get a wagon in the wrblue. The cooper rules, it sounds like i like subies more, but i really like both of them alot

GOOD LUCK! sorry for the rant

 

WRX hands down for the family aspect. Seriously, 4 door car that is fun to drive. Sounds like a winner to me.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Cooper S to death, but my soon to be ex-wife really hates it for the family aspect of it. It's just not practical. I'd suggest the Subaru for it's family/fun factor.

 

With it's 4wd and the mods you are planning for it, that subaru would be a great car.

 

thanks for the input guys...

I'm having a hard time with this one... I know I will end up with one of the 3, as they are the only ones which really appeal to me. Sadly leaning away from the MCS. (maybe ones the kids are both facing forward.. hell, havent even got prego for #2 yet....

My issue with the WRX is fear of the unknown. On the surface, AWD+4doors+Power sounds like a run away winner.. Down side is cheaper feeling interior, a bit 'racerish' looking (im 30 now, wings dont excite me)... I guess ive been too spoiled driving euro cars for so many years.. just hard to get into something asian.

VW have been awesome for me.. Only things killing me is AWD+4 doors. Why oh why is there no 4door R32 in canada Styling wise, i love the 20th anniversary.. It would stand out ALMOST as much as a MINI, and give me the hatch and look I love.. Sadly, the Subaru hatch/wagon to me, doesnt look as good as their sedan..

argh.. I guess its time for several test drives of each.. . .. but considering even the mini community isnt 'recommending' a MINI, i think that speaks volumes.. Thanks guys/gals!

 

I hate to say this, but go with the subie, with the family and all. There are also a handful of of Subie Foresters Sti (with Sti engine and components) out there. Not exactly a looker car (maybe with beer goggles), but its a sleeper. Fits 2 kids, the wife and luggage and gets there fast.

 

I wasn't going to post because you first said the mini is big enough... but i've been there with one kid, then two. The mini is a good second car or a person or couple that travels light. That is not with kid(s)! Stroller, diaper or activity bag, toys, clothes. We couldn't fit in a small sedan after 2 kids. Plus safety and ride comfort, I would go for the 4dr or bigger until you could have the mini as a second car.

 

Well, this is a 'second' welll... technically 3rd car, but my classic VW doesnt count.. My wife has an 06 Jetta 2.0T which does the family hauling no problems.. and by time #2 is concieved/delivered her lease will be up, and she wil be into either an A4 Avant or new Jetta Wagon.. so the primary family hauler is covered. Mine is a daily work driver (not so much commuter, but im on the road from site to site all day).. so i want something fun, modable to fill my car geek needs, yet affordable enough to drive every day 40K+ kms a year. And it also has to be able to haul the wife and eventually 2 kids as well. Maybe only once a week, but still needs to be able to do the job

My head says Subie (as does the MINI/Subie/VW forums!).. however my heart is currently with VW still.. I've pretty much decided a MINI will be in order in about 4-5 years when both kids are forward facing, and will be without a diaperbag/stroller.

Prety bad when you know what your next, NEXt car is, but cant decide on a now next/current car

 

The subie is a quality made car, i never had any problems with it. The interior is not the most luxurious, but u should go drive one before decide against it. IT puts vw to shame, there for girls, thats why ur wife has one. HAHAHA

 

HAHAHAA, so true. My older sister has an '01 Beetle.

 

Yeah, any car with a flower vase as standard equipment......well, you get the idea !!

 

I'll go along with the consensus and say get the WRX. The MINI really only makes sense for hauling two people, at most. I wanted one for years and had to wait until we could be a 3-car family because the MCS just wasn't going to cut it as a family car.

The only thing that bugs me about the WRX is the way it looks ...I just can't get on board with the styling.

 

If you are thinking about the WRX wagon, see if you can find a Saab 9-2X Aero. Subaru drive train, better feeling Saab suspension (both comfort and handling), better looking (in my opinion) and same relative price (or cheaper). It is the result a short but sweet collaboration between Saab and Subaru and gets you the best of both worlds (Subaru reliability, Saab appointments and feel). I think they were only availble for two years (06 and 07). I think the interior is a vast improvement on the WRX but that is just a matter of opinion.
New they cost a good $5K more but on the resale market they have depreciated like all Saabs and are actually cheaper in California on the used car market than Subarus. They also come with a 100k drive train warranty (thanks to GM). For other repairs, your indy that works on Subarus can do most of the work on 9-2X and the Subaru dealer near me will work on it as well.
Of course, most people either love or hate Saabs. I love them for quirkiness but the 9-2X is not as quirky as most (Oh give me a 1994 Saab 900 convertible).

 

Haha, yeah. I'm a girl and I would never get a Beetle.

I 42nd the Subie. The ex had the 03 WRX sedan, and it was a comfortable ride even with rally-ish suspension mods. The interior does leave something to be desired, but, on the bright side, at least it won't be too tragic if Cheerios and juice boxes spill everywhere.

 

Man go with the WRX, Who cares about the cheap looking interior. Have you seen what kids do to interiors???

 

A contrarian point of view here regarding the Subaru WRX. The Subaru was on my shortlist when I bought my MINI so I just had to chime in here as to why I ultimately decided to pass on the WRX.

What I liked about the WRX: lots of power, AWD, decent handling, great driving position and well laid out controls.

What I didn't like: cheap interior materials, especially the seat coverings and door panels, heavy-ish feeling handling (compared to the MINI's). Otherwise, brand new, it was a fine car.

But have owned a Subaru in my lifetime and found there was a reason why I wouldn't want to own one for the long term, like more than 8 or more years. There is a reason why you don't see any really old Subies out there. The engine is expensive to fix. Something as simple as replacing the oil pan gasket is an expensive proposition due to the boxer engine's mounting. When my previous Subaru got old and died, it did not age gracefully. It died "right here...right now" without warning. Fixing it was going to cost as much as getting another car.

But if you only plan on owning it a relatively short time, then yes, the Subaru is a fine choice.

I also like VW's in general. I like the fit n finish and the solid feel (at least when they are new) of the car. But in comparison test drives, I did not feel they handled as well as the MINIs (this is, afterall, a MINI site). I had just finished shopping for a family car and the VW Passat was very high on our final list. But then, so was the Clubman S.

Also, being in Canada, the WRX is more expensive than an MCS. Standard equipment being different between the US and Canada as well as the gouging.

 

I know that you said you didn't want other suggestions but a Clubman S may be exactly what you are looking for...

 

I wouldn't get the subie have worked on a few and they suck to work on. I dont know about canada but the wrx is rated more at the 227bhp here not 250bhp. also the basic 5 spd transmission sucks and wont hold up to more power or launching.

 

I know that some chimed in on a Clubman S but unfortunately I don't think it'll fall within your budget-especially not the turbo version. Unless, you skip all mods and just go with a Clubman S(instead of the listed cars with further modding). After the initial purchase price hit, move on to the mods(after a while).

I have the regular Clubman and had to bring a colleague's toddlers around(5 and 7 year old in booster seats) plus everyone's luggage. It all somehow fit in there until they said there were a ton more-had to crank out the roof rack. :P

 

No offense but if you need to think about whether or not to muy a MINI, then... hmmmm.
My opinion: Get an '05 or later MCS. It's the most fun I've ever had in my 26 years of driving things.
Snakes & Arrows :-)