The Mini or the Golf? Help us decide!

[AlBDamned]

In the U.S. there was a recall and VW extended the warranty on all window regulators to 7 years, and they offered credit to anyone who'd been charged for the repairs previously. But yeah, in every single Golf and Jetta manufactured from 1999 to 2002 the windows will have already dropped and been repaired.

Wish they had done that in the UK...

The 1.8t coil pack cracking was another recall item. Brake switch was another. If you keep ahead of some of the other little things you can take care of most everything on your own, like preventing the dreaded but rare coolant migration problem.

That's excellent advice and as much as I don't want to read about problems with our new one, previous experience also tells me that it's good practice to do so. With 18 months warranty left on the car we should be ok. Will probably try extend the warranty if we can and it's worth it.

 

[shecky]

i have an '03 jetta Wolfsburg 1.8t and mechanically it has been great. excellent engine, handles beautifully, no issues there.

however, the electrics/odds + ends have been a pain in the ass. passenger front window dropped, fixed free under warranty. the lights illuminating the HVAC controls died, fixed free under warranty. the trunk hinges made opening the trunk VERY hard to do, fixed free under warranty. etc...

so its a great car and i love the styling, the handling, the hip "cool" factor of VW, but as i am finding cars more and more expensive to own and more and more of a pain in the ass, the more i am thinking my next car will be a basic japanese hybrid sedan of some kind - i have owned japanese in the past and my father (who spends 5x what i spend on cars) has gone back to Lexus after a couple of germans (Audi, Benz) because they are just plain more reliable and less of a headache.

while i lust after a beautiful car like anyone else does, i have learned to hate them too.

 

[dmelgar]

The Mini is the looker and the heart option, the Golf is the trusty, head option.

What do you guys think?!

Funny how you describe that. We had the same debate in 2002 between a VW Golf TDI and Honda Civic. The Civic was the roomier, more reliable practical choice. The Golf TDI the more fun car with some style, not a boring utility box.

We ended up with the Golf and have enjoyed the heck out of it ever since.

So on that level, I'd say go with your heart. But I also agree a Mini really can be impractical. Since 2002 we've had kids, and a Mini would have been long gone.

 

[3nm]

if reliability is a priority, i'd most likely get something like rsx aka integra. parts for mini or vw ain't cheap. not to mention japanese engines save tons on gas.

otherwise, i'd pick a mini s for the go-cart factor. but if you can get a golf r32 then it's a different story.

 

[Counterfit]

A: a bit late
2: if a MINI was impractical, there's no way in HELL an RSX/Integra would work.
three: the RSX isn't much more efficient than the 2.0l FSI in the VDub.

Muscle cars aren't about about cylinders, they're about performance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_Car

Right, performance in a straight line.

 

[3nm]

A: a bit late
2: if a MINI was impractical, there's no way in HELL an RSX/Integra would work.

sorry i didn't read every post and didn't realize the OP already made the purchase.

but if both cars were impractical, i'd pick one that is at least reliable and impractical.

three: the RSX isn't much more efficient than the 2.0l FSI in the VDub.

the difference is that the base rsx doesn't require premium fuel.

in any case, i'm sure the OP has made an awesome choice.

 

[AlBDamned]

sorry i didn't read every post and didn't realize the OP already made the purchase.

That is correct - we took delivery on Friday. I'm going to post pics when I've given him (he's been nicknamed "Gus") a proper Auto Glym clean and polish

 

[3nm]

That is correct - we took delivery on Friday. I'm going to post pics when I've given him (he's been nicknamed "Gus") a proper Auto Glym clean and polish

congrats on the purchase! golf is an awesome ride.

 

[AlBDamned]

congrats on the purchase! golf is an awesome ride.

Cheers - we're very happy with it!

Funny how you describe that. We had the same debate in 2002 between a VW Golf TDI and Honda Civic. The Civic was the roomier, more reliable practical choice. The Golf TDI the more fun car with some style, not a boring utility box.

Funnily enough, we considered a Civic, but they've yet to bring the European model down here and when they do it's going to cost stupid money, so it got written out of the equation pretty quickly. The Asian model currently on sale is the same as the uS version I think and yeah, it's very much a utility box. However, the Golf has proved surprisingly fun and rapid so far, especially considering it's only 110BHP. It feels like it's got more.

 

[00hkelly]

i have a friend with a golf and one with a mini. I would certainly go with the golf. Although the mini is a good car, its cramped and all the downsides you have listed. An especially bad point i have found is that the back seat only takes two, so if your with friends it limits your options somewhat.
The golf is a great car, and certainly would be my choice.

[edit] i should read more before i post, congrats on the golf, im sure you wont regret it!

 

[SkyBell]

Congrats on the Golf, I voted for it before even reading the thread

Mini's are nice to look at, but they are very impractical in many situations

 

[IJ Reilly]

In which situations is a Mini "very impractical" where a Golf is not equally impractical?

 

[mpw]

In which situations is a Mini "very impractical" where a Golf is not equally impractical?

Getting three rear passengers in or out.
Putting large items in the boot.

 

[mad jew]

What's a 'rear passenger', and would you really want one in your car?

 

[IJ Reilly]

Getting three rear passengers in or out.
Putting large items in the boot.

Don't make me post my huge-box-in-a-Mini picture again.

I presume few who buy a two-door subcompact are planning on hauling many people in the back seat.

 

[Counterfit]

Is this a 3-door or 5-door Golf?

 

[iGav]

I presume few who buy a two-door subcompact

Or midsize as we in the UK would call it.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Or midsize as we in the UK would call it.

Really? I thought you referred to them as SUVs.

 

[gallagb]

golf has much more storage.
and is very flexible - taking seats out...etc

(i've got a golf 04' and love it)

 

[OnceUGoMac]

Right, performance in a straight line.

In a straight line? It won the Monte Carlo Rally 3 times.

 

[wildthing1994]

Golf all the way, I have one and I'm 6'6", and fit in comfortably, I can't get behind the wheel of a mini.

 

[NATO]

I'm not sure if it's just an opinion among people in Northern Ireland, but most people I've ever spoken to have thought the Mini is a girl's car (I've even had it described as a "hairdresser's car"). The opinion seems to be that a Golf is a man's car, and a mini (or a new-style VW Beetle) are women's cars.

Must be a local opinion here in NI as no-one else had mentioned it!

 

[IJ Reilly]

Yes, as many have long suspected, I am actually a girl. Would you like a cut and color, or a perm?