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Comments
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Apparently the R32 is selling quite well in Europe - even with the Peugeot and Renault hot hatch choices they have over there. VW is assuming a limited market for the R32 over here - the U.S. may suprise VW like Subaru and the WRX.
The U.S. has a huge market for high performance small cars - especially hatchbacks. I wish VW would make 4Motion an option on the Golf the way Audi does Quattro on the A4. I'd love to have 4Mo under my 240 HP 1.8t GTI. In fact I'd prefer a 4Motion 1.8t GTI to the R32. Although if the R32 is the only way we get a 4Motion Golf I guess I could learn to live with it :-) How about slapping an aftermarket supercharger on the R32 for 300+ HP.
I did everything but the chip in the first month and waited until 5k miles to do the APR chip. Just the breathing enhancements made the GTI significantly faster and added close to 30 HP to the stock 1.8t.
I also upgraded the suspension to handle the extra HP - Neuspeed: racing springs, 25mm rear sway bar, upper front stress bar (strut brace), lower front stress bar (ties lower front sheetmetal together), bilstien sport shocks and a removable rear tower brace just behind the rear seat. It handles like a go-cart, glued to the road - I'm trying to wear out the original Michelin Pilot's so I can put some Toyo Proxes T1-S's on it.
I like to AutoX - this GTI is an awesome track car and a decent daily driver. It's also rock solid dependable - It's driven really hard and hasn't had a problem in the first year and 12k miles.
This will be the first (and only) new car I will ever purchase...at 40 years old.
Has anyone driven both? If the Edmunds guys are reading: your comparison of the hot hatches did not include the S since it was not available. I would love to hear that comparison!
The SVT will get you more room but there is no way I could get myself to like, or even mind the styling of the Focus. It is a Focus to me no matter what is under the hood and in the eye of this beholder, it ain't pretty.
Finally, the MINI is a car people will recognize as different right away. The SVT will be a wolf in sheep's clothing -- most will think it is just a ZX3. Do you want people to ask you what your car is or do you want people to say, "I can't believe that car goes that fast?" As others have said, comparing these two cars, or any two cars in this list IMO, is more a matter of personal needs and tastes than which car is better.
Better yet, a WRX wagon if you can afford it (they go for well under $23k now).
The WRX sedan would work, or the upcoming Acura TSX.
-juice
The RSX-S was a close runner-up to my WRX wagon, but my bias for the outright "fun factor" gave the WRX the edge. The RSX-S reminded me of my former '98 GSR, one of the best cars I've owned, while the WRX offered up a totally different driving experience. Like they say, variety is the spice of life, and that's precisely why the MINI S will be replacing the WRX next month!
Seriously, the RSX-S feels much like the GSR but with the "rough edges" smoothed out. It offers a smoother and a more powerful feeling drivetrain, an excellent gearbox, and good steering feedback. It's a bit heavier, but that translates into a smoother ride and you really don't give up much handling unless you're an autoX racer. With all the standard options, it's a great value for the money.
The MINI S will be my seventh new car in the last five years, but I still think it's possible to find a car that can make you happy for a long, long time. In my case, it's turned out to be the SLK320 with an automatic tranny even though I really enjoy manual shift cars. It's not the fastest or the best handling thing out there, but it's a pure joy to drive (except in the snow) and it seems to get better as the miles roll up. This little car is still as rock solid after 20k miles as the day it was new and I plan to keep it forever. The only car in the "hot hatch" segment that I believe could offer as much long term satisfaction is the RSX-S, based on my prior experience with the GSR and another Integra before it. The RSX-S might not handle as well "at the limit" as the MINI S, or be as quick as the WRX, or a modded GTI, but it still does everything pretty well. If "novelty" cars like the MINI and WRX weren't available, the RSX-S would be my hands-down choice for a long-term "do it all" car.
It is rare to find someone who would have owned both cars for a considerable amount of time.
BTW, did you get a chance to compare the WRX sedan's driving ability with the Wagon's? Supposedly, Automobile magazine had stated in their long term test that the Sedan felt quicker and more agile.
I was going to take a dealer-spec silver / black '02 MCS in Sept, but decided to wait until Nov to get a green / white '03 model.
The sedan has the flared fenders and a slightly wider track, but very slight. You can fit bigger tires, though, like 225/50s. On the wagon they might rub.
Good luck with the Cooper delivery. Let us know how you like it.
-juice
Bob
http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/low_speed_smcars.htm
$800 average damage for the Mini. I don't see the Tib or RSX, but the Subie does better.
-juice
Bob
The Audi and Accord are midsized cars, not small cars so it is not a fair comparison against a MINI. A fairer comparison is the VW Beetle which does MUCH better, even better than the usually best-in-class polymer-clad Saturn.
This only really affects insurance rates as the damage done to most cars is over the average deductable anyways. We'll see what this does to the MINI's comprehensive/collision coverage next year.
As an example. The Forester does extremely well in the IIHS bumper basher tests, while the CR-V does miserably.
Both are Best Picks in IIHS offset crash tests.
It does affect insurance rates, IIHS is run by the insurance industry, but it also affects your out-of-pocket expense if you carry a deductible on collision. Mine is $500.
-juice
As a result, Juice is totally correct.
(Doing a project on bumpers finally pays off!)
Did you guys see the RSX Factory Performance package? I'd seen them on Civics, but lordy lordy the price totalled up some $23 grand, ouch. Looked cool, though, and all warranteed.
-juice
It doesn't surprise me that the brakes tightened up on the RSX -- my WRX had a break-in (brake-in?) period as well. I talked to BMW salesman recently who said he'd just gotten in a '94 Integra with almost 300,000 miles as a trade. He said the thing drove so well (even the A/C was still "ice cold") that he tried to get the buyer to just keep it since the allowance was modest due to the mileage. My guess is that your RSX will be quite reliable.
Traction control is not available in any U.S.-spec RSX.
As far as driving performance and feel, any three of these would have been great, which is why they were the final three.
That plus the seats now have integrated headrests, and are a little wider. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the old ones, but the new ones offer excellent bolstering.
The sedan on the showroom had the newly optional moonroof. While it ain't big, it isn't as small as I thought, either. It also had the new all-weather package, which includes heated front seats.
They had the STi there too, and we got there early and they actually let us crawl around and in that car. Sweetness!
-juice
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The taillight is even better sorted, again the round light bulges out slightly. In both cases it's very subtle, you don't notice until you're up close.
The front fascia also seems to be better integrated. The hood scoop is bigger, and sort of bulges forward. The STi's is enormous, but even the WRX's sticks out more now.
I forgot - they moved the tach to the center, a la Porsche 911, which is cool. The STi got exclusive ecsaine fabric on the seats, it's that blue stuff. Thing is, photos with flash make it look bright blue, but it's actually a dark blue and sort of blends in well with the interior.
The STi also got a cruise switch with an integrated on/off button, but oddly the other Imprezas kept the seperate cruise switch on the left console.
-juice
That plus the seats now have integrated headrests, and are a little wider. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the old ones, but the new ones offer excellent bolstering."
Hate to break the news to you, but the RSX has had an non-protruding antenna and integrated seat/headrest since its inception.
Is this true, or a myth?
Just curious, since I know you have a WRX (sedan?)
I prefer the Subaru by far. The Audi gets demoted to wife duty
I like the embedded antenna in the Audi, but on long trips it's a pain, just when you find a good station, the signal fades earlier. I heard they improved it on later Audis but it's too late for us.
On the other hand, I absolute despise power antennas, they just are just a pain to maintain.
I completely agree with you about power antennas. Having two break in two cars is enough! At least with the manual one, you just leave it alone, and it is cheap to replace.
I do like the seats in the base RSX and the Civic Si, actually better than the leather covered RSX-S seats. The WRX offers more side support, though.
-juice
Bob
-juice
?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
-juice
As far as actual performance goes, I'll take a mast antenna over the in-glass unit anyday. They have far better selectivity and are waaay less directional.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I did notice that the FM sensitivity is a little reduced w/ the in-glass antenna, but not by that much. But as I mentioned before, I'm usually too busy enjoying my 6-disc CD changer. ;-)
-juice