flav,

Nice writeup. I'm glad you are enjoying you TT. They are a wonderfully styled car. Audi's feel like they're carved out of a solid block of billet steel...solid. That being said after owning 2 A4's we've sworn off of them for life. Thank God we had the problems during the warranty. I don't mean to imply that you'll have problems you probably won't, just that even great cars like Audi's can be less than bullet proof. Compared to our Audi's the MINI's are bullet proof.

 

hmmm, Did you get the 180hp or the 225? FWD or Quattro? I'm fortunate to have both an '02 225TT Cpe. (Quattro) & an '06 MC. My feelings about how the 2 cars compare are going to be quite different since my 115hp mini (maybe 118 with the Mymini exhaust ), with the standard sport susp. & 15 inch holeys is different in several ways from your MCS, but here goes:

Perceived quality - TT is my 3rd audi (two A4s), and the build quality is very, very good. I did have a really annoying issue with tt rear hatch rattle, finally resolved. My Cooper only has 4K miles, but thus far, very tight, no squeaks no rattles. Cooper interior can't match the real brushed aluminum, etc., but I find the quality of assembly very good thus far. TT cost $39K new, mini about $20K, so given disparity in price, the mini hangs in there pretty well. We'll see after another 40K miles. I find the tt somewhat claustrophobic - you sit very low and pay for that wonderful "chopped" styling look. Mini much easier to see out of and around you.

Engine - I love both. The 1.8T, especially in 225hp tune, is a wonderful engine, very, very strong and remarkably smooth. The MC 1.6 is very nice too - not nearly the power, but smooth & free revving, and the MyMini exhaust gave just enough growl. It's really comparing apples & oranges.

Fuel economy - tank in & tank out, calculated (not computer) I get about 23 to 24mpg in the TT, 29 to 32 in the Cooper. For 225 hp, the TT is wonderful on gas. Long, fwy trip, maybe 30mpg in TT, and 36 in Cooper.

Agree about the back seat - the tt's is ridiculous, but folds down for great luggage capacity.

Transmissions - Don't understand your comment in that both are Getrags - the mini's a 5sp., the TT a 6sp. I find them both equal as to quality of shifts, but the mini is far lighter clutch takeup and generally easier to drive smoothly.

Ride: TT is on aftermarket bilsteins, stock springs. Mini is stock all the way as to springs/shocks (standard "sport" not "sport plus"), and the ride quality of the mini is way better. Mini wheelbase is actually a bit longer than the tt, so not so surprising.

Handling: For normal, day to day driving, meaning "handling" in the sense of lightness and tactile sense of steering, neutrality (both cars have 19mm aftermarket rearbars), "tossability" and putting a smile on your face at 6/10ths, the mini wins. I don't know yet about at 9/10ths or how fast the 2 would go around different road courses configured to negate the tt's hp advantage, & really don't much care. The mini is simply overall more enjoyable to me. In foul weather, the quattro is very, very nice.

Brakes - both stop very, very well - it's a wash

Styling - I love that neither of these cars can be mistaken for anything else. I think the TT is stunning and the Mini a cross between pugnacious and (sorry - the "c" word) cute. You get lots of looks and comments on both cars, and I think they'll both be considered great looking cars in ten years.

Finally, it might be the "new" factor - I've had the TT for about 2 years, but for now at least, I prefer driving the mini. I know it's partly the novelty, but it is honestly a more pleasurable, day to day drive. I feel lucky to have 2 such nice rides.