Family decision to be made, to buy a 2002 Mini Cooper (115hp) or a VW Golf GTI(180 hp) (my wife's choice).
Any comments appreciated.

 

Well.... It's not a very fair comparo.
If you want to compare the Cooper S vs. the GTI..... then I would have to say it's up to you.
As I'm sure you anticipated..... I as well as I'm sure many more on the site will say go for the MINI!
SW

By the way.... Welcome to the site.

 

My feeling is that the Golf has sneaked up to the next class. There is no comparison, the first Golf GTI was probably in the same mould as the Cooper, but not the current one...

How many Golfs do you see on the road compared to MINIs? Here in the UK the Golf is a dime a dozen car, some Coopers, no Cooper Ss yet (on the road this coming Saturday, 8th June).

My local dealer is getting 3 Ss per month for the next 3 or 4 months so mine (due August) will be very exclusive for a while!

 

I just went through the same problem, took both of them out for test drives, and went on smile factor (how big my smile was when I got back). The Mini won, or I wouldn't be here. The GTI has lots of jam, but it doesn't corner like the Cooper, and it still looks like a regular ol' Golf. The Cooper has lots of guts if you keep the revs up, and shift a lot. I was tearing down this backroad doing 100km/hr and it felt like I was going only 70. The other great thing about the Mini is that there are very few around, and it was $3500.00 cheaper than the GTI.

I take delivery in 10 days, it's British Racing Green, and I can't wait to ditch my SUV.

 

i have a GTI 337. its basically the equal to the cooper s. the regular GTI won't even come close. even then the handling and tranny on the cooper s is far superior.

for arguments sake my car is a 1.8T (180hp), 6 speed, 18's, recaro's, factory body kit, etc...all stock.

after being in both, i think my GTI pulls a bit harder (may just be palceibo effect), but not much. straight line, they are very evenly match with very close P/W (mini in favor) but on the twisties...stock...bye bye gti :smile:

i think if i had to do it again i'd still get my GTI, but i wouldn't mind having a mini too!

 

>>Family decision to be made, to buy a 2002 Mini Cooper (115hp) or a VW Golf GTI(180 hp) (my wife's choice).
>>Any comments appreciated.


I AM TRADING IN MY 2002 VW GOLF/GTI FOR A 2002 COOPER
THE VW IS A BORE THE HARD PART NOW IS THE WAIT

 

>>Family decision to be made, to buy a 2002 Mini Cooper (115hp) or a VW Golf GTI(180 hp) (my wife's choice).
>>Any comments appreciated.


I AM TRADING IN MY 2002 VW GOLF/GTI FOR A 2002 COOPER
THE VW IS A BORE THE HARD PART NOW IS THE WAIT

 

>>>>Family decision to be made, to buy a 2002 Mini Cooper (115hp) or a VW Golf GTI(180 hp) (my wife's choice).
>>>>Any comments appreciated.
>>

Personal decision, I own an Audi TT Quattro 225 HP, the ride it is very nice but .... the fun factor it is on the MINI S, read it right, MINI ´´S´´ not the regular Mini (no ofense nobody) the MINI S it is like a toy with enough power, and .. if you wait for the end of the year and order the 200 HP package from JCW??
MMMM hard to beat.
The Golf GTI ???
Get the anniversaty edition and it is a nice car, good quality, nice equipment, also you got the same transmision ( 6 speed ) but STILL it is a VW.

Mini it means fun factor, driving manners, heritage and proud to own it,
VW it is a car for the masses ( no ofense nobody again) it is my own opinion

VW == German/Brazilian/Mexican
Mini == English ... plus only the best electronic germany technology

You decide it

Good luck

 

The engine of the MINI is from Brazil. It has parts from all over Europe and a few from Japan and the USA.

 

I have owned a 84 Rabbit GTI, a 92 GTI 16V, and a Corrado S60, needless to say I am a hardcore VW buff. But 1 month ago as I drove pass Westchester Mini here in Westchester NY, I stopped to just take a look. The dealer asked me if I would like to take a test drive in a Mini S, sure I said, and we were off. I won't waste your time in telling you the details of our drive, but boy do I know how to make a dealer nervous!! Take it from me, I drove that car hard!! I was so impressed with it that when we got back from our rollercoaster ride, we sat down talked and I ordered a All black MINI S fully loaded!! I know what your thinking, "this guy is nots", no I am totally sane, but thae MINI has this magnetic personality, this car loves to drive, and is quite torquey to boot and handles better than my GTI ever did and believe me I spent plenty of money on after market equipment. And by the way the MINI S carries a faster 0-60 over the GTI VR6 ( MINI S = 6.9 GTI VR6 = 7.2 ) LONG LIVE THE MINI!!! People who are intrested should also know that with some simple upgrades to the MINI S that car will push about 200HP droping the 0-60 time to about 5.4 seconds, not bad for a car that gets 33 miles to the gallon!!!!!!

 

Technically. the 1.8 GTI is one tenth of a second faster, 0-60 wise than the Cooper S. However, having test driven both cars, I can say that the MINI is superior in handling and shifting, and has a generally stiffer and more solid feel to it. Also, in my opinion, the MINI is far more attractive, and has that unbeatable 40 year history to it. MINI all the way my friend.

 

Tho only time the golf gets a second glance on the street is when some kid has messed it up with silly decals and a giant wing. The first time I see a MINI abused like that I may not be able to control my urge to throttle the driver. :evil:

 

thw 1.8T engine your talking about isn't anything to write home about, how ever if you reprogram the chip it does make a big difference, but who cares, it ait no MINI!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

 

For me, I was between the Cooper and the standard Golf. The Mini won out in smile factor; the Golf wasn't as tight in the corners (more body roll) and didn't seem like that much more car for the same money. Also, my local veedub dealer didn't have a great selection of cars/colors. It was the mini by a grin!