5 door hatch Cooper S owners / vs Golf GTI

[menousername]

Hi all

Appreciate all feedback you have

Looking for owners reviews or even people who have driven both back-to-back

Considering a 5 door Hatch 2.0 petrol - Cooper S or Cooper S Sport. Manual gearbox - against a mk7 Golf GTI.

We used to have the 2009 1.6 Cooper S which was extremely jiggly and quite uncomfortable. We also had a 1.6 Countryman Cooper S which was similarly unresolved on bumpy roads although not as bad.

I recently test drove a 2018 JCW and was really suprised with how resolved the suspension was. Seemed to be such an improvement I had to check if it was on runflats which it was.

Decided against a 3 door and have now narrowed down to either a GTI or a 5 door Mini. But have not been able to drive a 5 door Mini yet. Did have a view and surprised how much room there was in the back. For my needs I have no issues with the space but what I am looking for is a fun car that can do decent journeys and also be a little under the radar.

Any feedback appreciated by way or comparison to something like a GTI

Was the suspension improved across the range when the 2.0 came along (F56?) Or was it something to do with the upgraded bits and bobs on the JCW.

Anyone able to compare to a Golf GTI for me?

Could you do long road trips (holidays not daily commutes) in the Mini - or to put it better would it be any worse than a GTI?

Would you actively avoid 18 inch wheels?

Thanks!

[twokcc]

Looks as if dampers were upgraded for 2021 model year see this about 9 minutes in .

looks as if could be standard n 5 door coper s bur check it very little info on video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2mRQ808gIE

[BOR]

We have a 2015 F55 Cooper s.

17" non run flats and electronic dampers.

We have just finished a 1000 mile/14hour journey and can say that it is surprisingly competent at that.

I can't compare it to anything else, but on its own, very good.

We switch to run-flats in winter, and then the ride is worse, but only slightly.

We actually put off using it for these trips assuming it would be uncomfortable, but it has surprised me.

[cerb4.5lee]

I had a 3dr F56 Cooper S and I thought it was very resolved down a nice country road(one of the best cars I've ever had in that regard), that was on 17" wheels with none runflat tyres. It was a little bit jiggly in town though.

[un1eash]

I was very close to buying a mk7 GTi Performance but ended up with a 2018 3dr JCW 8 Speed Auto. I wouldn't really compare the 2 as the Golf is a bigger car, a Polo GTi was also another option but they were too basic inside and I wanted a few extras like HUD and HK Audio.

[Alfahorn]

I've had my 2016 F55 Cooper S for 5 months and covered 9,000 miles in it already. It's surprisingly practical, very decent on fuel (averaged 41 over this time).

I'm very happy it, I've just had the MOT done this weekend and the service from my local BMW/Mini dealer as first class. They carried out the work quickly and efficiently, did a full health check on the car, including a free screen wash top up as as well as washed and vac'd the car for me. This is the only expense I've had on maintenance in this time.

[menousername]

Thanks all

Should clarify my budget would be 2016-2019 ish.

I wondered if the JCW I drove was indicative of how they ride now - I kind of assumed as it was a JCW it would be more stiffly damped and the regular Cooper S would ride better

It was very resolved and I could live with the ride on run flats

More than happy with the size. Polo comparison fair its just that I have narrowed my choices down to Golf or Mini.

On rare occasions there may be one or two adults in the back for short journeys. On more rare occasions I might like to use it for a long weekend road trip so I would like it to be able to handle a big motorway journey and do some fun A road type things the other end. Nothing crazy just a bit of fun and good feedback / handling



edit - if I wanted to search for examples with the electronic dampers - what are they called do they have a keyword - abbreviation ?

Cheers!

Edited by menousername on Monday 5th September 18:52

[Alfahorn]

menousername said:

Thanks all

Should clarify my budget would be 2016-2019 ish.

I wondered if the JCW I drove was indicative of how they ride now - I kind of assumed as it was a JCW it would be more stiffly damped and the regular Cooper S would ride better

It was very resolved and I could live with the ride on run flats

More than happy with the size. Polo comparison fair its just that I have narrowed my choices down to Golf or Mini.

On rare occasions there may be one or two adults in the back for short journeys. On more rare occasions I might like to use it for a long weekend road trip so I would like it to be able to handle a big motorway journey and do some fun A road type things the other end. Nothing crazy just a bit of fun and good feedback / handling



edit - if I wanted to search for examples with the electronic dampers - what are they called do they have a keyword - abbreviation ?

Cheers!

Edited by menousername on Monday 5th September 18:52

Just as an aside/ The JCW wasn't available for F55, only F54, F56 & F60 sadly.

[un1eash]

It's just called Variable Damper Control.

[menousername]

Thanks again everyone

[Mr Peel]

I'm guessing current Countryman isn't on the agenda: they are a bit hefty. But could a late R60 JCW fit the bill? I switched from a MK5 GTI to an R60 Cooper S and it's been great.

[E-bmw]

BOR said:

We switch to run-flats in winter, and then the ride is worse, but only slightly.

That is unusual, can I ask why?

The reason I ask is due to the stiffer side walls rft tyres typically offer slightly worse grip levels, especially when cold.

I do realise that winter tyres use different rubber which may well counteract this, but to what degree I don't know.

[menousername]

Mr Peel said:

I'm guessing current Countryman isn't on the agenda: they are a bit hefty. But could a late R60 JCW fit the bill? I switched from a MK5 GTI to an R60 Cooper S and it's been great.

Missed this sorry

We have a Cooper S already. So I am toying with the idea of a Golf for me and a new shape Countryman when the time comes, or a Mini Hatch for me and move away from the Countryman when the time comes

But again based on the ride it seems that generation of Minis seem to all have quite choppy rides

Was wondering if it was something resolved across the models about the same time

The JCW I drove was far more supple and comfortable than our Countryman which really surprised me

[BiggaJ]

Literally picked up a new 5 door Copper S last Saturday. It's for my wife who had loved her Mini's over the years but has had two Evoque's over the last few years.

Her new mini is the 2 litre engine with 7 speed auto, it's a great car, I much prefer it to the Evoque's she had. I'm quite surprised at the ride quality, it's not as smooth as the Evoque but the gear change is night and day better. My business colleague has a 2019 Golf GTI 7.5 with DSG, leather and sunroof. Nice car but much bigger than the Mini in all departments so difficult to compare. For driver appeal I would probably go the Mini route, not as powerful but lovely feel and very chuckable. For space, go with the golf.

[BOR]

E-bmw said:

That is unusual, can I ask why?

The reason I ask is due to the stiffer side walls rft tyres typically offer slightly worse grip levels, especially when cold.

It wasn't an active choice to go for RFT in winter, it was just that the winter wheel/tyre package on offer was RFT only.

It's definitely true that the sidewalls are stiffer, but I haven't honestly noticed any problem with the winter RFTs, in terms of lack of traction.

[Workshy Fop]

I went from a mk.7 PP with 18s and whatever the suspension is called (via a SL500 with ABC) to a 2018 Cooper S 5 dr on 17s no runflats. Standard suspension. The Golf is the better car. Considerably faster, comfy and just better quality all round. I traded it for the SL for a change and because the traction was awful until in 3rd. The Mini puts its lesser power down well and rides ok. Not crashy and that’s coming from 3 years in a SL. It does feel a bit cheap in some of the materials - compared to the Golf.
Was looking a a Tesla to replace it but changed my mind…

[MattyD803]

Workshy Fop said:

I went from a mk.7 PP with 18s and whatever the suspension is called (via a SL500 with ABC) to a 2018 Cooper S 5 dr on 17s no runflats. Standard suspension. The Golf is the better car. Considerably faster, comfy and just better quality all round. I traded it for the SL for a change and because the traction was awful until in 3rd. The Mini puts its lesser power down well and rides ok. Not crashy and that’s coming from 3 years in a SL. It does feel a bit cheap in some of the materials - compared to the Golf.
Was looking a a Tesla to replace it but changed my mind…

I went from a 2015 Mk7 Golf Mk7 GTD DSG (which I had from new) to a 2018 'F60' Mini Countryman Cooper S auto (also had from new) and honestly, there really was no competition - I would have the Golf (particularly a GTi) every single time.

The mini couldn't put its power down for toffee and despite being slightly 'quicker' on paper, was slower in the real world, despite the additional revs and extra cog. Suspension crashier & bumpier. Noisier (wind noise and creaks). Terrible standard spec (I mean halogens on what was a £34k car - really?). Terrible & small infotainment. More expensive to service. Cheap interior fit and finish - the list genuinely goes on.

Appreciating these are different cars (hatchback Vs small SUV) I am another one in the VW Golf camp - no competition. Sorry Mini heads, maybe I just had a terrible experience, but I'm not convinced.

[pjv997]

We have a Clubman JCW which was specced with the ride in mind, so we have VDC (used in comfort mode 99% of the time), 18s and non-run flat tyres. The resulting ride is good for a car I would classify as a hot hatch. It performs well on poor local roads as well as long distance (just returned from a long European trip in it).

This is our 6th Mini since 2003 and I am surprised about comments on quality as I have always considered them well put together and good quality compared to their competition.

All IMO of course.

[Workshy Fop]

Maybe my experience is tainted by needed a £16.5k engine and turbos at 13,000 miles. Interior wise I don’t think it’s as good. A few cheap scratchy bits in there.

[menousername]

Surprised by that

Although I am yet to test drive a 5d Mini, I did look at one half hour after test driving a 7.5PP GTI

Initial impression was the quality and materials were actually better on the Mini. Seemed more “expensive”.

Perhaps when I test drive one the ride quality may let it down.

I found the Golf to be more of a cruiser than a hot hatch. The power was there but you had to get the revs going to get that extra bite. You had to want to drive it hard. For the most part it would probably settle down into a relatively quiet, comfortable cruiser. Almost like a dual personality car.

I wonder if the Mini will give the fun factor more regularly without having to push too hard. Which is want I would want if we move away from Countryman as the big mile muncher work horse

Will report back when I finally manage to test drive one.