Mini JCW or Golf GTI? Advise needed
Discussion
So im looking to get a new car and quite fancy something with a bit of go for running around in,(mostly country roads and some motorway). I like the look of both these two cars. The mini has it for looks but the golfs always get the best reviews. I know MPG wont be great in either? I need advice on how to split the decision between them... Im planning doing a PCP partly because I don't know where I'll be working in a couple of years so don't want a long term commitment.
Many thanks!
Many thanks!
Different sizes of car, the Mini is slightly smaller than the Polo inside.
JCW with the dealer fitted and remote switchable sports exhaust sounds really nice. Long options list on the JCW, just avoid the run flats as they are useless.
Golf has a better standard spec, is larger, so might workout better value for you depending on what you need to use the car for. Worth looking at the R as it isn't that much more expensive than the GTI via PCP.
JCW with the dealer fitted and remote switchable sports exhaust sounds really nice. Long options list on the JCW, just avoid the run flats as they are useless.
Golf has a better standard spec, is larger, so might workout better value for you depending on what you need to use the car for. Worth looking at the R as it isn't that much more expensive than the GTI via PCP.
Thanks for the replies! Looks like the JCW is winning then. I've driven the mini sport a lot and really enjoy it,(although it's quite a firm drive). I'm really using it as a 2 seater car but admit the golf might be a bit handier.
Current thoughts are:
Mini JCW looks better. Enjoy driving the cooper S.
Golf GTI gets good reviews.
Think I'll test drive both but my heart is saying mini and head is saying get a golf.
Cheers again!
Current thoughts are:
Mini JCW looks better. Enjoy driving the cooper S.
Golf GTI gets good reviews.
Think I'll test drive both but my heart is saying mini and head is saying get a golf.
Cheers again!
I haven't driven this generation Mini (not even driven a Cooper S), but I have test driven a Golf GTI (twice).
From my limited experience of them I can say if you were thinking with your head its best Hot Hatch / performance car on the market.
Its quick, reliable, user friendly, great residuals and servicing costs will be reasonable.
However from my experience of them they do lack character (I know that is subjective).
I would say to try them both and also never hurts to look at alternatives outside of them (the looking is part of the fun).
From my limited experience of them I can say if you were thinking with your head its best Hot Hatch / performance car on the market.
Its quick, reliable, user friendly, great residuals and servicing costs will be reasonable.
However from my experience of them they do lack character (I know that is subjective).
I would say to try them both and also never hurts to look at alternatives outside of them (the looking is part of the fun).
Thanks for that! I'll definitely test drive the golf. 36mpg sounds pretty good. The lack of character is something I can relate to,(at least for appearance). They're nice looking cars. But I wouldn't say they stand out particularly.
I was looking at the Leon cupra earlier but I've managed to narrow it down to 2... So far..
I was looking at the Leon cupra earlier but I've managed to narrow it down to 2... So far..
Aaah too much choice!
I thought the gti would be fast enough and better fuel economy than the golf R.
S3 also seemed a good car but poor Mpg?
And I did have a long think about the BMWs but heard bad things about them being rear wheel drive and the snow. I drive up and down the A9 a lot.
Really appreciate all the help and suggestions!
I've realised since dismissing cars like the s3 at the start of my search that there may not be much in it fuel economy wise. I realize the hot hatches aren't the best for mpg but it is a factor to take into consideration.
Thanks!
I thought the gti would be fast enough and better fuel economy than the golf R.
S3 also seemed a good car but poor Mpg?
And I did have a long think about the BMWs but heard bad things about them being rear wheel drive and the snow. I drive up and down the A9 a lot.
Really appreciate all the help and suggestions!
I've realised since dismissing cars like the s3 at the start of my search that there may not be much in it fuel economy wise. I realize the hot hatches aren't the best for mpg but it is a factor to take into consideration.
Thanks!
I own a M235i (obviously exactly the same as the M135i) they are great fun, sound amazing and very quick.
MPG is not bad in them all things considering my record is 38mpg (my normal MPG around 31mpg) and record worse is 22mpg when I went to a regional Pistonheads car meet
But yeah when the snow hits it does not like snow and ice especially with its Michelin Pilot Super Sports (thankfully run flats are optional extras), being in scotland you would definitely need winter tyres fitted to the car when needed (not sure if the finance agreement would allow that or not).
But again BMW do offer winter tyres & tyre storage facilities etc (I was considering it the 1st year I had mine).
But yeah as you pointed out hot hatches nowadays don't have bad mpg figures.
Just keep your options open you could surprise yourself.
Sadly cannot comment on the Golf R and the Audi S3 as I have never driven one (tried to have a go in a S3 when I was shopping around but the dealer was the opposite of helpful and none of the dealers near me had Golf R's in at the time).
MPG is not bad in them all things considering my record is 38mpg (my normal MPG around 31mpg) and record worse is 22mpg when I went to a regional Pistonheads car meet
But yeah when the snow hits it does not like snow and ice especially with its Michelin Pilot Super Sports (thankfully run flats are optional extras), being in scotland you would definitely need winter tyres fitted to the car when needed (not sure if the finance agreement would allow that or not).
But again BMW do offer winter tyres & tyre storage facilities etc (I was considering it the 1st year I had mine).
But yeah as you pointed out hot hatches nowadays don't have bad mpg figures.
Just keep your options open you could surprise yourself.
Sadly cannot comment on the Golf R and the Audi S3 as I have never driven one (tried to have a go in a S3 when I was shopping around but the dealer was the opposite of helpful and none of the dealers near me had Golf R's in at the time).
Edited by Tomy90 on Tuesday 26th April 21:19
Just to throw a bit of feedback, depending on which version of the JCW you are looking at(auto vs manual), however the manual starts at around 23k iirc and the auto at around 25k.
I have a Cooper S Challenge 210 and I am averaging 38mpg in the car on a mixture of road types and have got 50mpg(optimistic) with the trip computer after a 50 mile drive on the motorway and some A/B roads too.
My only reservation is the lack of spec on MINI's as standard, as nearly everything is an option and most options are expensive(imo) for what they are on a new car.
I have a Cooper S Challenge 210 and I am averaging 38mpg in the car on a mixture of road types and have got 50mpg(optimistic) with the trip computer after a 50 mile drive on the motorway and some A/B roads too.
My only reservation is the lack of spec on MINI's as standard, as nearly everything is an option and most options are expensive(imo) for what they are on a new car.
Cheers for the feedback!
Just took a friends jcw out for a spin. It's not as hard sprung as the cooper s which was nice but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd like. Admittedly it was an automatic and i think the manuals are more fun..
Keen to test drive the golf and maybe the leon cupra for a comparison.
Any other suggestions very welcome!
Just took a friends jcw out for a spin. It's not as hard sprung as the cooper s which was nice but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd like. Admittedly it was an automatic and i think the manuals are more fun..
Keen to test drive the golf and maybe the leon cupra for a comparison.
Any other suggestions very welcome!
I haven't driven a mini but just playing with their configurator shows they have a tonne of equipment. I added a bunch of stuff to it and it came at a pretty reasonable 29k. Broadspeed will get you around £650 off a new one too. The GTI is great but I think the Mini is suitably different and I quite like that.
Country roads and motorway you say? Years ago I would have said a JCW but now I'd probably pick the Golf as the best all rounder. Mini is great if you want to be able to put a fag packet in it but nothing else.
Dont count the new Polo Gti out. Most of my mates have thought it WAS a Golf Gti and imo it's not very small at all. Cheaper to run than the Golf (and a heck of a lot cheaper to buy)
The latest version is only .2 of a second slower to 62 than the Golf and about 5 miles an hour slower top speed!
Food for thought. I'd have loved a Golf Gti because to me an R was just too much money (and I think the Gti looks better) and then I saw the price of the Golf and thought "what am I actually getting extra over the Polo"
Dont count the new Polo Gti out. Most of my mates have thought it WAS a Golf Gti and imo it's not very small at all. Cheaper to run than the Golf (and a heck of a lot cheaper to buy)
The latest version is only .2 of a second slower to 62 than the Golf and about 5 miles an hour slower top speed!
Food for thought. I'd have loved a Golf Gti because to me an R was just too much money (and I think the Gti looks better) and then I saw the price of the Golf and thought "what am I actually getting extra over the Polo"
My wife ordered a new Golf GTI in December and picked it up a few weeks ago, its a great little car and very nice to drive. Its only covered 800 miles so far and seems to average just over 30mpg as mostly short journeys of a couple of miles. Standard kit is impressive for a small car. Build quality, I was surprised at how good it is. The ride is firm but not to firm. She specced DSG box, full leather & pan roof which suits her as she has no need for a PPack. Since she took delivery 4 weeks ago I have only driven my E60 M5 once in that time and it now feels like a dinosaur ! My wife is really pleased with it and it looks great as well. Don't know anything about Mini's but its my perception they are more of a feminine car and as great as they are the styling doesn't appeal to me.
The best price I got was on drive the deal and then went into the dealer with that and got a tad more off, about 15% in total including the £1200 deposit contribution.
The best price I got was on drive the deal and then went into the dealer with that and got a tad more off, about 15% in total including the £1200 deposit contribution.
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