POLO GTi OR COOPER S??

[Jnr]

hey guys since selling my v8 about a month ago ive been wanting to get back into the small car market and ive narrowed it down to either a 2nd hand polo GTi or a Mini cooperS.. ive test driven a mini and was very impressed with power and handling....(it felt nice and strong) hoping to test drive a polo this sunday...
Has anyone got any advise or maybe have also researched these cars and found out some info??

cheers guys any feedback is appreciated.

[pologti18t]

The Cooper S will be much more expensive (age for age) than a Polo Gti

The GTi will not have the feedback and handling of the Cooper S. This will, in part, be balanced out by a smoother ride and loads more interior space.

[VW GTI]

I would say the Mini is definitely not the 50% better car the price would suggest.

[Sharkie]

Also, if you would like a bit more power, the Cooper S is fairly expensive to take to 150kw, while the Polo is 10mins and less than $2K.

Polo with an extra 40+kw is a real eye opener to drive.....

Cooper S will have more status but is also perceived more of a "girls car" than a Polo GTI. Believe me you will get flack form every Tom, **** and Harry for driving a Polo or a Mini until you leave them behind in the dust, or take them for a ride ......

[gareth_oau]

I like the Minis from the outside, but hate the look of the seats and the dashboard, the tacho looks rediculous IMO.

Have you also considered any of the Audi range, if yr looking for a hatch, you could try the A3 or perhaps an S3? Ive just bought an S3 (which in std kit produces 154KW), and this thing is doing around 250KW

[DubSteve]

Speak to Paul (Floody) I remember him telling me that he spent the better part of a year looking at getting a mini but then bought a Polo instead.

[callen]

Price wise the mini is in a different class i.e. you could be looking at a golf gti for the same $$$

You would also need to look at practicality, if you are tall you will be very cramped in a mini as they have very little interior space and the rear leg room is completely non-existant.

[SoVeReIgN]

I don't think they are really even in the same market.

The Mini is a (much) better hot hatch imho.

[Sharkie]

Polo is bigger, more spacious, more standard kit.

Mini is more like a go-kart, less space less goodies and now in 1.6T should be a cracker.

AND costs more than $12K more.

You get what you pay for IMO.

[FL00DY]

hey guys since selling my v8 about a month ago ive been wanting to get back into the small car market and ive narrowed it down to either a 2nd hand polo GTi or a Mini cooperS.. ive test driven a mini and was very impressed with power and handling....(it felt nice and strong) hoping to test drive a polo this sunday...
Has anyone got any advise or maybe have also researched these cars and found out some info??

cheers guys any feedback is appreciated.

The difference in the two cars you've mentioned starts at price. If you've said 2nd hand Polo GTI cause you can't afford new then you'll be way off buying a new MCS. As others have said MCS competes with Golf GTI, the Cooper is closer in price to the Polo GTI and whilst it's still a great handling car (prob better then a Polo GTI) is way down on power (88kw vs 110).

When I specced my MCS over 2 years ago I was pushing $45K, I met lots of friends with MINI's and have spent many a weekend chasing them up and down various mountains and around a few race tracks. Is the MCS worth the extra cash? No. Is it a better car yes. I've never been out for a drive and found the GTI lacking power following or leading a pack of MCS's.

If money was no object, I'd buy a MCS JCW you can spec one of those to bout $60K. But back in reality I would still pick the Polo GTI again.

[Flaps]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that your Polo set a faster time then the Mini's on the Mini skid pan day.

[FL00DY]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that your Polo set a faster time then the Mini's on the Mini skid pan day.

hahaha nice Yes that's true, the first motorsport I ever did was at the skid pan at EC and my GTI kept beating all the MINI's for time. Just a pitty the day was about consistency and not amazingly fast speed

[balkanac]

if you can afford it go for the mini. I drove a 2007 Cooper S Works (turbo model, not supercharged) and it goes like mad!!!! Im 6 foot 3 and i found that its got more space than my R. not sure about the boot thou.

[Flaps]

Hmm I'll have to go for a test drive in a new MCS then because I've flogged the day lights out of a new Pug 207 GTi with the same 1.6T motor and it felt worse then the stock Polo motor.

I'm shocked that the Mini weighs 1205kg's.

[Guy_H]

The new Turbo Mini is awesome, we have been doing some work on one, and after some exhaust work, It dynoed at 147kw @ the wheels, its an awesome little engine that thing (and it has a K02 turbo on it !)