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The Mini or the Golf? Help us decide!
- Thread starter AlBDamned
- Start date
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Then I think you should really look inwards as another poster suggested... Can the two of you be happy with a Golf?They'll both be paid for right away
I know how I am, and if I give up on something I truly want, I can't ever let go of that. I regret.
And sometimes, it's bad enough that I end up getting what I wanted in the first place...
Get a Golf and tart it up with some fuzzy dice.
You will not like a car that you are cramped in when you want to do stuff. Sure a Mini might be more fun, but most driving is pretty mundane stuff, and the frustrations will grow.
Maybe you could drop a year on the Golf and get a Sportsline (lowered suspension, alloys, better spec). They handle pretty well. My wife has one and it's the first car she hasn't wanted to change after 2 years.
You will not like a car that you are cramped in when you want to do stuff. Sure a Mini might be more fun, but most driving is pretty mundane stuff, and the frustrations will grow.
Maybe you could drop a year on the Golf and get a Sportsline (lowered suspension, alloys, better spec). They handle pretty well. My wife has one and it's the first car she hasn't wanted to change after 2 years.
My vote goes with the Golf; IMO a nicer looking car, more classy, and of course it's a VW and in my experience they run and run and run and run and run...
I say Golf, I don't like the BMW MINI and I don't really know why??
I saw a MINI parked next to a Mini a little while ago, made me laugh that BMW can call it that and keep a straight face. Of course they're Germans though, so getting a smile outta them is like care-free Peugeot ownership.
I saw a MINI parked next to a Mini a little while ago, made me laugh that BMW can call it that and keep a straight face. Of course they're Germans though, so getting a smile outta them is like care-free Peugeot ownership.
How about this:
If you can get a 2004+ MINI, then get the MINI.
If you can't, get the VW Golf.
But since you seem determined on your 1st choice (the MINI), but the 2nd choice doesn't appear to be appealing to you whatsoever, you may as well explore other 2nd choices, such as the Hyundai Accent. I love my Hyundai, and I think the Hyundais in Australia are extremely good value.
They'll both be paid for right away
If you're leaning towards the Mini, get it. You'll regret you didn't otherwise (unless you get a new R32).
WTF? They're both missing a few cylinders to be muscle cars...
Anyways, I vote Subaru.
Kidding (sorta), I'll agree that if you can't get an 04+ MINI (
), get the Rabb- er, Golf. Plus, Road & Track had a few reports of vaporlocking ater driving through a rather small puddle. (Happened to their test car and at least two readers.)
Subarus are pretty overpriced here in Australia. Plus, they're quite an embedded part of the Grey Brigade's complicated yet devilishly slow transport network.
LOL guys, check out the poll results at the moment.
So tomorrow we're going to drive a 2.0FSI petrol Golf, black, very nice actually. Also may try the 1.9 Diesel as we've found a grey one but it's amazing value.
And then on to two MINI Coopers. Neither are Cooper S models, and both are 2003, but we'll see how we get on.
So tomorrow we're going to drive a 2.0FSI petrol Golf, black, very nice actually. Also may try the 1.9 Diesel as we've found a grey one but it's amazing value.
And then on to two MINI Coopers. Neither are Cooper S models, and both are 2003, but we'll see how we get on.
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I believe there are 3 versions of the of the 1.9TDI engine. This is off the top of my head but its something like 115bhp, 125bhp and 150bhp. Make sure you know which one your getting, so you don't overpay. Also the 2.0TDI holds its value much better than the 1.9TDI here in europe, don't know if that one is available in your budget though.
And get VW to change the grill and alloys for the GTi's.
The R32 is unbelievably tacky in the flesh.
True. The Blue colour is really..Well...crap. I saw a Fiat Panda 100Hp(99 really ) and that actually made my head turn. Really nice design, compared to the Grannymobile that is the basic Panda. That'd be a good choice, but not as fast as what you may want.
) and that actually made my head turn. Really nice design, compared to the Grannymobile that is the basic Panda. That'd be a good choice, but not as fast as what you may want.
And get VW to change the grill and alloys for the GTi's.
The R32 is unbelievably tacky in the flesh.
I haven't seen the new one up close, but sat in the previous gen R32...the bodykit was a nice design but looked really cheaply built up close.
Fast car though.
The silver looks tatty, I think it lacks the attention to detail (as well as the subtle nod to the MK I GTi) and design that the GTi's grill does, same for the wheels.
I never did quite understand why VW started the whole R model range, they should've just kept the GTi as the de-facto performance tag.
The problem with the R32 is that adding AWD makes the already flabby Golf downright obese. Of course, it is lightweight compared to, say, a Dodge Charger...
I just saw a Mk. 1 GTI the other day...good god, that thing is SMALL compared to the current model!!! I had to look up the curb weights:
Mk.1 GTI: ~1800lbs
Mk. V GTI: ~ 3300lbs!!!!
I just saw a Mk. 1 GTI the other day...good god, that thing is SMALL compared to the current model!!! I had to look up the curb weights:
Mk.1 GTI: ~1800lbs
Mk. V GTI: ~ 3300lbs!!!!
Well, you do have to consider all the sorts of safety features required now. Plus I bet the chassis is WAY stiffer.
In regards to the R32, if you try to build it for d-class in Forza Motorsport, don't. It's way too heavy. Plus, for some reason you can use a Civic Si coupe with an engine swap in that class.
Maybe I should find a vee-dub dealer near here and take a TDI for a spin.
In regards to the R32, if you try to build it for d-class in Forza Motorsport, don't. It's way too heavy. Plus, for some reason you can use a Civic Si coupe with an engine swap in that class.
Maybe I should find a vee-dub dealer near here and take a TDI for a spin.
What she said. 3 people I know have/had MINIs and while they said it's the most fun car they ever had, it's just not worth the trouble, they have problems and lots of it.
I drove a MINI once and it's got go-kart handling, but it's was too expensive for me to buy, which was kinda good thing.
Except that Volkswagen still sells a GTI that is the same size as the original - the Polo GTI. It may not be the best sports hatch out there, but there are a number of sporty hatches around that are similar in size to the original Golf GTI. The Golf, Civic and others have doubled in size over the years not because of safety regulations but because of a search for more power and features.
Well guys thanks for all the input and we've just had an offer accepted - on a Golf!
We tried a couple out yesterday, along with just one MINI Cooper in the end and after driving the first Golf, a 2.0L FSI model, the more expensive, much older MINI just seemed like a terrible decision (the other similar Golf we were looking at was grey as well). The actual car we looked at was a little dodgy too but after that we didn't bother going to see the other one available.
Maybe if the budget allowed and we could get a newer Cooper S it would have been a different story, but the Golf we agreed on (long way to go yet) is a fantastic car that really surprised us and has been well looked after. Will be a week or so before we get the keys provided it all goes ok.
Final poll results indicated the Golf was the winner as well (just) and it was excellent to read everyone's opinions. Cheers!
We tried a couple out yesterday, along with just one MINI Cooper in the end and after driving the first Golf, a 2.0L FSI model, the more expensive, much older MINI just seemed like a terrible decision (the other similar Golf we were looking at was grey as well). The actual car we looked at was a little dodgy too but after that we didn't bother going to see the other one available.
Maybe if the budget allowed and we could get a newer Cooper S it would have been a different story, but the Golf we agreed on (long way to go yet) is a fantastic car that really surprised us and has been well looked after. Will be a week or so before we get the keys provided it all goes ok.
Final poll results indicated the Golf was the winner as well (just) and it was excellent to read everyone's opinions. Cheers!
