VW Golf GTI or Mini Cooper S JCW?

mb30

I'm buying a new car and was looking for a clean 2008, Golf GTI, (200 BHP), been looking around on done deal carzone etc I havent seen anything worth spending my hard earned euros on. I started looking at websites in the UK and found a dealer whos got an immaculate 2008 Golf GTI, Black, 200 BHP, and the price suits my budget even adding on (travel costs/vrt etc) so my mind was almost made up until I seen this dealer also has a 2008,
Mini Cooper S JCW (210 BHP) :-)

So I'm not sure what car I want now? my girlfriend is insisting on the Golf, but I'm thinking you see alot of Golf GTI's around but I havent seen one Cooper S JCW like this one in the UK anywhere before, its got very high spec and leather recaro seats etc both cars are the same price.

If anyone has had either the cooper s jcw or the Golf GTI I'd love to get your opinion/advice on this matter?

Supergurrier

A member on here has a 2008 GTI he was considering selling lately. I'm assuming as you stipulate 200bhp its a FSI MK5 you are after ?

/summon OSI

Mk5 GTI's are nice cars but hardly manic in their power delivery (they have very linear speed and refinement is great) onlydriven a regular Cooper S so can't comment on the JCW but I'd say its much more focused and less refined than a GTI.

Both interesting choices hope you get some useful feedback.

mb30

Supergurrier wrote: »

A member on here has a 2008 GTI he was considering selling lately. I'm assuming as you stipulate 200bhp its a FSI MK5 you are after ?

/summon OSI

Mk5 GTI's are nice cars but hardly manic in their power delivery (they have very linear speed and refinement is great) only driven a regular Cooper S so can't comment on the JCW but I'd say its much more focused and less refined than a GTI.

Both interesting choices hope you get some useful feedback.

---

Yes its the MK5 Golf GTI I'm talking about, Ive never driven a Golf GTI but have
driven the R56 Cooper S (175 BHP) which was like a go cart and fun to drive.

Thanks for the input

noelf

Have you tried putting the cars through the online vrt calculator op ? Assuming 70000 miles and july first reg gti works out at E2600 mini E5000 .. ouch ;(

Henry Ford III

I've driven a JCW - it's good but it's heavily track focused. Ride is harsh. Goes like stink though.

Donnelly117

I drive a normal MCS R56 which is pretty quick. I've driven the JCW and it goes like s*** of a shiny shovel!!
The ride is quite crashy and harsh though, could get annoying depending on he quality of the roads where you live...
I also drove the a JCW GP edition which is just plain mental :pac:

the Golf I would think is more of a cruiser in comparison to the JCW Mini...

mb30

noelf wrote: »

Have you tried putting the cars through the online vrt calculator op ? Assuming 70000 miles and july first reg gti works out at E2600 mini E5000 .. ouch ;(

---

Yes Ive been on ros.ie and checked the VRT the mini is coming in at €2,097
and the Golf GTI comes in at €2,620 both reasonable figures for the pleasure of driving
on Irish plates on our lovely roads :-)

mb30

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I've driven a JCW - it's good but it's heavily track focused. Ride is harsh. Goes like stink though.

Cool.... Just what I'm looking for

mb30

Donnelly117 wrote: »

I drive a normal MCS R56 which is pretty quick. I've driven the JCW and it goes like s*** of a shiny shovel!!
The ride is quite crashy and harsh though, could get annoying depending on he quality of the roads where you live...
I also drove the a JCW GP edition which is just plain mental :pac:

the Golf I would think is more of a cruiser in comparison to the JCW Mini...

---

Ye Ive driven the standard 175 BHP R56 and with turbo button on it was quick and fun
and handled well, I do recall the gear changes being a bit harsh and there wasnt much
comfort as felt like was sitting on the ground, I do remember the car putting a smile on my
face and found it fun to drive.

I live in Dublin and use my Berlingo van for work everyday so wont use the car much only maybe a few evenings a week,weekends and the occasional trip down home to Waterford so comfort and practicality are out the window its just gonna be something I can hop into while running a few errands might even do the odd track day.

At the moment I'm steering towards the Mini might go to UK and get it Sat but going to have a drive in workmates GTI later so we,ll see

noelf

mb30 wrote: »

---

Yes Ive been on ros.ie and checked the VRT the mini is coming in at €2,097
and the Golf GTI comes in at €2,620 both reasonable figures for the pleasure of driving
on Irish plates on our lovely roads :-)

I checked again still over E5000 did you click on jcw version end of model list ?

mb30

noelf wrote: »

I checked again still over E5000 did you click on jcw version end of model list ?

Yes I checked it comes under the Mini Cooper S 175 BHP and its got the JCW tuning kit which brings it upto 210 BHP now the car your looking at is a JCW (GP) which is a different model but thanks anyway !

MuppetCheck

^^^
That is definitely the best colour combination for one. That car should be on the OPs shopping list.

Muppet Man

Sweet sweet car OSI, GLWS....

Guest0000

there is a jcw mini on d/deal for sale, been there for a while now, though is a cat d salvage. could be worth a look, for something different.

MisterDrak

mb30 wrote: »

I'm buying a new car and was looking for a clean 2008, Golf GTI, (200 BHP), been looking around on done deal carzone etc I havent seen anything worth spending my hard earned euros on. I started looking at websites in the UK and found a dealer whos got an immaculate 2008 Golf GTI, Black, 200 BHP, and the price suits my budget even adding on (travel costs/vrt etc) so my mind was almost made up until I seen this dealer also has a 2008,
Mini Cooper S JCW (210 BHP) :-)

So I'm not sure what car I want now? my girlfriend is insisting on the Golf, but I'm thinking you see alot of Golf GTI's around but I havent seen one Cooper S JCW like this one in the UK anywhere before, its got very high spec and leather recaro seats etc both cars are the same price.

If anyone has had either the cooper s jcw or the Golf GTI I'd love to get your opinion/advice on this matter?

Hi Mb30,

A few years back myself and the girlfriend had a Mk5 Gti (2006) and a Mini cooper S (2007) at the same time, I had the Gti and she the Cooper S (chili Pack).
We used to regularly swap cars. While the Cooper S, would always put a smile on my face, and was great for a back road bash, it was the GTi that had the edge in terms of a long term ownership proposition.

The Cooper S, (with sport engaged) probably had a slight advantage in terms of 0-60, over the Golf, however the suspension setup was way to hard even after a just a few minutes driving on rutted roads.

Ultimately any long drives both of us would opt for the Golf every time...

PLUG71

Hi o/p.

It depends what you want from the car.

The previous posts in relation to both models are spot on.

The only thing I would add is the resale situation on the Golf Gti may be better.

I have luckily driven both models and in the end I test drove a Focus St, Astra vxr and a R26 Megane which I bought.

To be honest IMO the VXR and the Mini JCW were not as nice to drive as the ST, GOLF or the R26.

I suppose its a personal choice but try and drive them all if you get a chance before you buy!

Bendihorse

Post links to the cars please.

I have JCW mini and brother has GTI. Both lovely cars but different focus on each.

Be careful on the VRT Jazz, I though I would get mine cleared as a Standard Cooper S but it didn't work, had to pay 3k more than I hoped. This was five years ago when the system was open for abuse. It said Cooper S on the tax book coming over from UK but when they looked up the vehicle statistic code it was down as an S Works so that's what I paid for.
The real bastard was, when they sent out the Irish tax book it says Cooper S, even though I paid S Works Price. Tried to get it changed but may as well have been writing to Jesus.

mb30

Hi to everyone thanks for the replies to my post just to update I bought the cooper s in the UK have it here now vrt'd it 2 weeks ago so its on irish plates now, very happy with this car it is very fast and handles like a gocart ride is a little rough but considering I dont use it much its ideal for what I want.

Muppet Man

Pics, or GTFO

Seroiusly, would love to see it.

Well wear.

Marcusm

mb30 wrote: »

Hi to everyone thanks for the replies to my post just to update I bought the cooper s in the UK have it here now vrt'd it 2 weeks ago so its on irish plates now, very happy with this car it is very fast and handles like a gocart ride is a little rough but considering I dont use it much its ideal for what I want.

Is it still on run flats? If yes then a change to normal tyres massive changes the ride - I'm on my second Cooper S but back on run flats. Definitely running on Conti Sport Contact normal tyres made 300 mile journeys much easier.

As regards the go kart aspect, you haven't really experienced that feeling unless yours is a convertible and you've had a spirited ride up the Sally Gap or similar. That's when you find you just keep driving to keep having fun.

Donnelly117

Marcusm wrote: »

Is it still on run flats? If yes then a change to normal tyres massive changes the ride - I'm on my second Cooper S but back on run flats. Definitely running on Conti Sport Contact normal tyres made 300 mile journeys much easier.

As regards the go kart aspect, you haven't really experienced that feeling unless yours is a convertible and you've had a spirited ride up the Sally Gap or similar. That's when you find you just keep driving to keep having fun.

Are you carrying some trye weld or something with you? I had to get 2 new tires recently on my MCS and decided to stick with the run flats (sickening costs :mad:) but I cant be bothered dealing with the hassle of not having a spare!

Marcusm

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Are you carrying some trye weld or something with you? I had to get 2 new tires recently on my MCS and decided to stick with the run flats (sickening costs :mad:) but I cant be bothered dealing with the hassle of not having a spare!

I have tyre weld but it's not in the car! The only tyre I had a puncture in was one of the run flats and I had to wait a week for a replacement. That's living in London for you. I recently did >2,000 miles in 10 days and I have to say it did not even cross my mind. The only other time I've had to change tyres because of punctures I had to change 2 tyres in a little village near Tuam and 2 nice Latvian guys came out in a van. From blowout to on the road was 90 minutes.