I haven't had a GTI (although I owned a '74 beetle, which I think was my second favorite car), but I have had a couple of 911's, a couple of BMWs (including an M3) and a few other odds and ends. I can say without a doubt that the MINI is the most fun car I have owned. The main reasons I like it: 1) its different, 2) it is fun to tinker (mod) with (I have disassembled parts of my car more times than I care to count), 3) the community of owners are diverse and interesting, 4) it is a blast on the track, and 5) it just makes me smile when I drive it .

Even if you're not into mods, I think all of the other reasons still stack up. But that is my opinion...

As someone mentioned, it's your money, so get what makes you smile the most. I'm sure you'd enjoy them both but if you buy the one that gives you less "smiles per gallon" because of resale, or instant gratification, or some other reason that doesn't really cut to the core of why you're buying the car, then you'll regret it a 100 times over...

 

Wait for the MCS! It's your creation - you decided every aspect of it. Probably can't really say that with a GTI. Just think, now you get to track your MINI on it's trip over from Oxford

 

I had a 2003 Jetta TDI - fantastic diesel mileage (48 MPG on average) and really loved the car; leather, sunroof the works. Yet this car was in the shop more than every other car I've ever owned - combined.

It had 3 recalls as well, for heated seats that could overheat and burn you and the leather...

...for rear doors. Unsure what the problem was.

...and for another problem that was taken care of incedentally while it was in the shop for another problem.

I has the water pump replaced.
Fuel leak put it in the shop
Driver side window coming off the track repeatedly
Bad plugs, befouled and carboned up had to be corrected.
Intermittant electrical problems - this was the final straw.

I was pulled over twice by the police as my taillights were out - both times I skated with no fine, but both times when I took it to the garage they said they could not trace nor fix it unless it was not working. As it was intermittent, essentially they were saying it was unfixable. So I had to get rid of it. Maybe could have pursued a lemon law but, everytime something went wrong it was something different.

It was a shame as it was a fantastic car - only my WRX compared in pleasure to drive. So, if you buy hte GTI you likely will have problems. Especially if it is made/assembled in Mexico or Brazil. Jetta wagons, made in Germany, seem to be more reliable.

Just my 2c.

 

GTI/Rabbit are assembled in Germany. Old MKIV Golfs were made in Brazil. Jetta sedan and Beetle are made in Puebla, Mexico.

 

I had an 02 GTi 1.8T. It was a mechanical and electrical nightmare. VW hasn't gotten their reliability act together throughout its generation IV models, so I'm not too confident it can improve with its fifth generation, especially in its first year model.

By the way, I test drove a 2007 GTi 2.0T a couple of weekends ago. Although it's peppy, it didn't feel any quicker than the MCS, and it definitely didn't take the on-ramp with the same sharp agility that the MCS displayed!

Having said that, I recently saw a dark grey 2007 GTI in my rearview mirror and, I must admit, it looked nice; however, it didn't draw the same emotion from me that seeing a MINI would have, and in a few more months when we'll see more 07 GTIs on the road, it will (IMHO) begin to blend in with the rest of the VW/Audi family of cars. The MINI, however, is a classic car that has a stronger niche in the automotive world. In other words, the GTI is simply another model in the VW expanding line-up.

While I was waiting for my MINI (same completion date as yours, and sitting at the dock), I also considered the 2007 GTI, but the above reasons were enough for me to cross it off the list.

I highly recommend the final-year 2006 MCS, with most of its bug worked out (and earning the "highest recommendation" from Consumer Report) over a relatively new and unproven 2007 VW GTI with the company's poor reliability record. Also, man, the MCS is a freaking go-kart with a supercharged engine!

Good luck, which ever decision you make.

 

The MINI is unique and IMO there isn't a better looking vehicle on the road.
VWs are a dime a dozen.

 

funny thing is i had the same problem. i looked at and drove both. love both however i have wanted a mini for ever( even a classic) so i decided to go with the mini so i wouldnt kick my self later. if i dont like i can just go to the gti. However i dont think that will happen.

 

I was in almost this exact spot.

My first car was an '86 GTI, so I had been heavily following the arrival of the A5s, since all of the press said it was a return to the old days before GTI was just a trim level. I took my test drive, had the dealer looking for the car I wanted, and just before I pulled the trigger I realized that I had never driven a MINI before.

I knew that I was going to buy the MINI before I got it out of the lot on the test drive.

The GTI is a really nice car, but its still too refined. Its very fast, but you never feel like you're going fast. Unless its just an optimistic speedo, but 80 felt like 45. It has the typical sloppy VW gearbox (too much of a curmudgeon to consider the DSG). When I grow up and have kids and stuff to haul, a nice 5-door GTI would work. But for now, the MINI has much more of the A2 GTI feel I was looking for, but better.

 

Yeah, as much as I like the GTI, I love driving the MINI . Nothing I looked at even came close in pure fun factor. I guess saving $2k isn't worth getting a car I wont enjoy as much. The GTI is a really nice car, and I wish I could get both, but I think I'll forget all about it when I'm motoring in my new MINI in a month and a half or so . Thanks everyone that responded, for talking some sense into me. I was about to do something I probably would have regretted! Now if I can just make it to delivery...

 

(My first Post)

Good Choice, USCFAN,

Unless you had a good VW dealer (I think Capo VW in Capistrano is one of the few down in OC), forget about the GTI.

For the next few weeks, just concentrate on watching Trojan Football. Your car will be here before you know it!

Fight On!

 

Capo VW was the dealership I was working with, and the only one that wasn't obviously trying to way over charge for a GTI.

And as a recent grad of USC, I am sad I won't be able to make it to all the home games anymore . But USC did look great last weekend against Arkansas. Contenders for another national championship? I think so!

 

ok i dont know the specs on the 07 but the new 06 GTI is what i will base my opinion on. I have been a HUGE VW fan ever since i can remember, and i currently own 2 air-cooled VW's. However i think that VW has lost its sense in direction but is slowly trying to gain it back. Although the 06' GTI is an improvment over the prevous years, it has become a little bloated. Not exactly a "Hot hatch" to me.

The car has 200hp and about 200tq BUT it weighs about 3,300LBS! is the car filled with lead!??! This is suppose to be a small sporty, agile hatchback. It weighs almost 700lbs more then the MCS. Thats like having 4 adults in your mini ALL the time, not including you. Can you imagine having you and 4 other people in the mini and then trying to attack the twisties?

The weight of the GTI is what caused me not to buy it when i was recently looking for a car to buy. As you can see i decided to get the MCS.

This is also comming from someone who has been a VW fan long long before they were a MINI fan.

just my .02

 

^That's another great reason to go with MINI! I was in a similar situation only I was comparing the Cooper with the VW Rabbit. I wanted something reliable, cheap to own, great warranty, and an opportunity to get involved on some level as an enthusiast. While I was a little unsure about my decision while going through with it, every single day something affirms that I made the right choice! Whether its a compliment on my car, being able to squeeze into a tiny spot, getting attention from a cute girl , or a fun late-night drive on some twisties, I couldn't be happier with my Cooper. The ultimate was this last weekend driving up to Jersey City on MTTS at the front of a line of 50 MINIs! What other car company could possibly bring its owners together to participate in a two week road rally across the U.S.? Few, if any... The people here on NAM and those I've met on the road have been very friendly and supportive and will give you great advice and assistance (like they are with your current dilemma). In two months of ownership I don't think there has been one day that my MINI has not put a big smile on my face.

If you're worried about the extra $1600, the free maintenance for 36,000 miles should make up the difference (I don't know if the GTI has free maintenance but I know the Rabbit didn't). In addition, your depreciation will be very low. Here are some numbers I just posted on another thread that I calculated on my 06 Cooper from Kelly Blue Book. After 2500 miles:

Sticker Price I paid: $20,150
Private Party Value: $22,615
Trade-in Value: $20,725
Retail Value: $24,560

Even the trade-in value is higher than the orignal sticker price. I realize that its true value is what I can actually get someone to pay, but I'm very pleased that I likely won't ever be upside down with this car. I'm not sure if you could say the same thing for a VW as I was very surprised at the rate of depreciation of the Golf. Sorry for the long rambling as it looks like you may have already chosen the MINI but what can I say? I love my new MINI!

 

uscfan,

I was also in a situation very similar to yours last year at this time. I had finally made the decision that I was going buy my first new car (all the cars I'd owned previously were purchased used). The MINI had been on my radar ever since it debuted in '02, but I had yet to test drive one. The VW GTI and GLI were getting great reviews so I figured I compare the two.

Unfortunately, when I was looking last September, the GTI introduction was still several months off, but the GLIs were just hitting the VW showrooms. I was having a hard time finding any GLIs to test drive, so I went to an Audi dealer and test drove an A3. The car was fun to drive, had lots of power (the 2.0T engine is fantastic), and was very refined, but I didn't really feel a connection with the car. A friend of mine had also purchased a MKV Jetta (2.5) in August and was already having problems with it, which gave me serious reservations.

I then went in to test drive a MCS. All I could say was WOW! Not only was the car a blast to drive, I really felt like I connected with the car (this probably sounds corny but it's the best way I can describe it.) It was all I could do not to put a deposit on the car on the spot. I ended up sleeping on it for a few days before I went in to finalize my order. What pushed me over the edge was the fact that besides being a great driving car, the MINI was also unique in a way that very few other cars on the road are (especially at that price) as well as the great community of people that own MINIs (especially those here on NAM! ) I also loved the fact that I was able to custom order my MINI exactly as I wanted it (all the options I wanted and nothing more), which made it feel uniquely my own. The wait for the car to arrive was somewhat frustrating, but at the same time I enjoyed the whole process of tracking the cars progress as it made its way to me.

Having owned my MCS for almost a year (and 12K miles) I can honestly say that I enjoy driving my MINI even more now than I did the day I picked it up. I doubt there are many other cars you can say that about. Also, the car has been absolutely bulletproof. No problems to date and just about ready to go in for it's first service.

Just my $.02, but I hope this helps!

 

I wish a magizine would post a head to head shoot out, MCS vs. the GTI.

compairison tests with: braking, accleration, g-force skid pad, slalom, and others.

i would love to see what kind of results they could put together.

 

There was a big test in the most recent EVO(or was it Car?) magazine with the MINI GP and GTI among others. But I wouldn't be surprized to see such a test once the production 07 MCS is released...

 

...which one will you still want once the "newness" is gone?

I've had Speedy for more than a year now, and the only thing I've ever questioned was whether I've optioned the car perfectly!

Almost every time I stop for gas, give someone a lift, or take my wife out for dinner, someone compliments the car.

No looking back here!

 

Just do this, imagine both are in front of you and you could walk over and drive off in only one right this second. Which one would you go for? Don't let a few weeks wait alter your choice, a year from now that wait will be a foggy memory so make sure you're driving the one you truly wanted.
Annette

 

or the difference in price (especially since its not a big issue for you)...

 

I'm sure the MINI will be a great first new car for me. I'll be sad in a way to get rid of my '93 Civic (it's my first car I ever bought, bought it used, lasted me 2-3 years no problems until just now), but I'll be happy knowing that I'll have a MINI right outside I'll also be happy to get out of the crappy traffic in LA, and into the slightly less crappy traffic in Orange County.

VW's reliability was a huge concern for me, and just reading about all the horror stories from people here and in the VW forums was more than enough for me to change my mind. I plan to have the MINI as long as I can keep it running, so hopefully it'll be good to me.