After my initial MCS test drives on Saturday I decided to drive these two cars back to back over the same roads today to re-confirm my choice.

The GTI was the base 4dr. It was solid, quite and rode relatively well with just a bit of tire harshness. Almost exactly like the Rabbit I drove just before it. Decent power but nothing wild with 3 up in the car at saleswoman approved 6000 RPM. Didn't push it in the turns but lane changes felt solid and stable. Shifter felt better to me than MINI - seemed like shorter more positive throws. VW seat fabric is has bit nicer cloth unless you hate tartan. Overall the GTI interior felt of a higher quality than the MINI but in large part due to the well executed traditional design my mind uses for comparisons.

The MCS had 17" wheels and the standard suspension. There was more tire and wind noise, ride is more jarring than GTI. (It's so clear the MINI is NOT a mini BMW sedan after this back to back comparison.) With 2 up noticeably faster to accelerate. Much more quick reacting though I think the initial roll may be more than the GTI. The brakes impressed me again today! The shifter felt a bit clunky after the GTI. The seats are growing on me and seemed to fit better this drive than the first day. The center console is growing on me also. I played with the HVAC controls and they are easy to adjust while driving. I looked down at the controls a time or two while driving and noticed they are starting to look good to me. Much more knee room than the GTI. Overall the MINI interior is more edgy and creative than the GTI.

I was able to feel the turbo lag today. Cruising just below 3000RPM or so in 2nd I floored it. I you time a penny drop of about 6" you will know how long it is. (Not long.) Torque is down a noticeable but not dramatic amount during that time. It takes off then really takes off. If you are already accelerating moderately and then floor it, you don't notice it at all. Didn't get to do the same testing with the GTI.

On balance and considering all things the GTI MAY be a better all around car. The MINI is definitely a better sports car. It performs and feels like one. The styling is more exciting like a sports car should have. I'll just have to find the long way to work to avoid the bumps.

Anyone else compare these two?

 

only every motoring advisor in the US.

on an autocross track. back to back. all out. no limits. tachometer pegged. tires screaming. cones VERY afraid.

the GTI is not a bad car, but I prefer the MINI for many reasons.

 

inomis, it looks like you've made your decision. Go for it. I wouldn't wait a minute. Go buy that GTI now. Seriously though, I'd go for the BMW designed product anytime over a car designed by the Volkswagen group. Two fundamentally different overall product design philosophies.

 

Tough call. However, I want a car that looks different. A GTI lacks the styling of a MINI. I'm not forever screaming around every corner like I star in The Italian Job. However, I am always going to look at the car, inside and out. Most of the cars I've driven have looked "different" from the mainstream, Mazda MX-3, Honda CRX (1984 original year before they got bloated), Miata. I don't like blending in. And that is what is special about the MINI. That, and you can still scream around the bend when you want. :-D

 

Yes, the MA at the dealership was telling us about her experience. From the way she told it you'd think the the GTI had the paint scraped off the side mirrors as it wallowed around the cones.

The back to back reminds you how different the two cars are, that there are many cars similar to the GTI and that the MINI is pretty unique.

 

The MKV GTI sucks, hands down. No handling whatsoever.

The R56 MCS is much better but the car "slides" in hard cornering. This is on a car with SS+ suspension and the sport button activated. I test drove a gorgeousSpakling Silver MCS today. Sorry but the R56 handling is not up to par with the R53 handling dynamics, not just yet.

 

That's weird. IMy MA said he did the back to back with the GTI and he said the Turbo lag was very pronounced -- he said in comparison MINIs lag was barley preceptable.
Before you hop into an argeement on a GTI, it sounds like performance is very important to you so do check the turbo lag on the GTI. Give it the same test you gave the MINI and see what you think.

 

I'm getting the MINI! Are you all reading the whole post? Maybe I should edit the first line to be more clear?

 

After driving the R56 this weekend, one of the first analogies I came up with was the R56 MCS is a smaller, lighter, quicker, better GTI. It's what the GTI should've been, as the mk5, while a fantastic car, has fallen too far from the hot-hatch tree, IMO.

 

My wife and I just bought a 4dr GTI for her to drive on a daily basis. I've had my R56 on order for about 6 months now. Waiting longer for MFSW...

The MCS I drove had the sport suspension. The GTI definitely has more body roll, and it does not corner as flat as the mini cooper S does. The S also has much better steering feel. The S has less turbo lag than the GTI also.

The GTI however does have a 'sporty' ride but is better for all-around usage. It basically was good because I could get my wife to get a semi sporty car I didn't mind driving, but wouldn't punish her around town. We also got the DSG transmission which is unmatched if you're looking for an automatic.

I think the GTI is more of a cruiser, and the MCS is definitely much more of a canyon carver. The MCS is exactly what I'm looking for. Small, nimble, good suspension.

But I'm glad I have the luck to have both.

 

i had the same dilemma back in october, i liked the gti its style standard xenons all that good stuff, i personally didnt like the feel of the clutch though, on all audi's and vws for that fact, but it came down to who drives these cars for me, were the same, but i think the mcs is just more refined more status with em, the gti is a teenagers car, coming from a teenager too lol, and its not as classy but again its what u want i fell in love with the gti the 1st time i drove it the gauges are gorgeous, but then i drove the mcs and that was it i wanted that car hope this helps go for waht u want cuz u dont want to regret it

 

I wouldn't go that far. While it does roll more than a MC and it does have pretty strong turbo lag, it handles better than most cars of it price range.

As I said, I prefer the MINI for many reasons, but just because the GTI isn't as good (for me) doesn't mean it sucks. There is a lot of room for "good" below the threshold of MINI before you get to the suck factor.

That would be like someone who has a lotus elise saying the MINI sucks in handling. It doesn't. You are just comparing it to a higher standard.

 

Much easier decision in the Uk if for no other reason than price. The MCS is somewhat cheaper.

 

Care to elaborate more?
Do you own both cars?

I thought both R56 & R53 are pretty much identical in term of suspension.. so maybe just
a slight alignment adjustment (which is a big deal) would fix the "slides" problem on the
R56?

 

Here the GTI is a a few thousand less for the base cars once you get cruise control and make a good deal. I think the UK GTI has better seats in the base model, not sure if any other differences.

 

The MKV GTI is a great car. VW has made incredible improvements to this GTI, versus the previous version(s). It definitely handles great, compared to most family cars. Now, comparing its' handling to the MINI or an Elise, well then it isn't going to compare. The seats are amazing, the interior is very well designed, it comes with lots of great standard features, and offers the best automatic in the industry; the DSG.

The DSG is actually faster to 60 than the 6-speed, by a whopping 0.7 seconds. It actually matches revs on downshifts, and is lightning quick.

If I were buying a car today, I would be seriously considering a GTI. This car is MINI's main competitor here in the United States, and for good reason. These two cars are truly the only hot hatches available here, with possibly the Mazdaspeed 3 thrown in for good measure.

For us few weirdos that love the functionality of a hatchback, but with sports-car behavior, our shopping list is rather short, (until the WRX STI hatch and BMW 1-series gets here, anyway). Those will be higher opening price points though...

Anyway, if you told me you decided to defect to VW's camp for a GTI, I wouldn't blame you. I'd pat you on the back, and say, "We're going to miss you around here, but you've chosen wisely. Enjoy your new car!".

 

Other way round here, hence the simplification of the dilemma

 

I test drove a new '07 R56 MCS (Sparkling Silver/Black top) 6-speed manual, equipped with the SS+ suspension. Very, very nice car overall, but the handling at the limit is a turn off in comparison to the R53, even with the Sport Button active all the way.

The dealer's test drive route has 3 to 4 high speed hairpin expressway ramp entrance and exit platforms where you can build some serious G's (Traffic permitting). The R56 has an annoying tendency to "slide" on high speed turns, something that the R53 does with more aplomb and a decidely "planted to the ground"feel. A stock R53 MCS corners flatter than the R56 and it doesn't slide.

Is not the tires and I don't think this is a by-product of the new electronic steering (Which feels 95% right but still not the same razor sharp precision of the old R53 electro-hydraulic steering calibration).

Don''t get me wrong. The car is a very capable handler, but if you come from an R53 S (I currently own a 2005 MCS and prior to that a 2004 MCS) you'll notice that the new car is not there yet, at least right out of the box.

Also the R56 exhibits more torque steer. Punch the gas pedal and hold on tight to the steering wheel.

I also didn't like the extremely light clutch pedal in the R56 MCS. Great for a manual transmission learner, but lacks feedback for us seasoned stick shift drivers. Much prefer the firmer feel of the old clutch pedal.

Last, my tester R56 MCS had "Valve Clatter"noise that was fairly loud coming from the engine. The Cooper automatic (r56) that I tested before it did not have this valve clatter, which seems to be a complaint with R56 owners back in the UK.

Overall, the R56 MCS is a fantastic car with much potential, but right out of the box, is no match for a stock R53 MCS in terms of handling. A R53 JCW GP will eat a new R56 MCS alive for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Also other people who have driven the R56 MCS "harder"than the average person have also noted the "slide"tendency of the new car when pushed hard around a tight corner, so I am not alone in this opinion.

 

The GTI has a flaccid steering calibration, something that you would find on an old Cadillac Seville.

Any MINI, wheter is R50/53 or R56 will put the current MKV GTI to shame out in the track.

 

Frank, I think Gabe and Dave felt the R56 was faster and had better handling that the old MCS. Brakes are better too. Of course, you're entitled to disagree. Perhaps you're a more advanced driver and they don't know all the technical terms like "sliding" and so aren't as able as you to control the R53? Just kidding buddy! Hang in there until the R55 gets here.

 

The R56 is a fantastic car. It needs some minor tweaking in the suspension to get it where it should be (Which is not far at all). Perhaps the R56 JCW will do it.

 

LoL, no doubt.

A R53 JCW GP will also eat a R53MCS for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then eat a GTI for dessert.

 

U bet it does.

 

No.. I currently own a 06 Evo IX... looking to get a fun-to-drive commuter
that's easier on the gas.. and in the same time turning the Evo into an autox
car.

Interesting... R53-S has been dominating the GS class in autox scene for
years... will see if the newer R56-S will be the new top dog.