Mini Cooper vs. VW New Beetle
The new Mini Cooper and the recently introduced VW New Beetle have much in common: Both are retro European small cars of similar size. Both are front wheel drive. Both have a smorgasboard of safety and performance features, combined with a huge "fun factor." One is available with two different turbo charged motors. The other can be had with a supercharged motor. Both have a similar price range. Both are essentially German, of not made there. The New Beetle, of course, is inherently more familiar to Americans, and perhaps less novel than the Mini. I like em' both!
Let's hear it from those who have compared these two models.
Which do you prefer? Would you (have you) bought one?
Also, has anyone found interior volume specifications for the Mini Cooper? It appears to be 10-15% smaller than the VW New Beetle.
Start your engines...
Let's hear it from those who have compared these two models.
Which do you prefer? Would you (have you) bought one?
Also, has anyone found interior volume specifications for the Mini Cooper? It appears to be 10-15% smaller than the VW New Beetle.
Start your engines...
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Comments
wheels spliced out at the corners for maximum handling capabilites.
narrow slab body for maximum space efficiency and minimum manufacturing costs.
these type of cars are the modus operandi in Europe - cheap, mainstream, and highly functional.
now they're being parceled out on a highly rationed basis in the US with the requirement that they have to optioned to the gills with unnecessary junk to those with more bucks than brains.
hopefully that portion of the American market attracted to the newness or whatever will get satiated, and Americanized junk will continue to be popular enough to relieve buying pressures on this car ...
else it's investigating the grey market for me.
Since then, he's had the vehicle into the dealer because a) the alignment began to drift after 1000 miles, and it took the dealer 2 tries to fix it, b) a number of interior bits (screw covers, recline-handle on passenger seat, some part of the cupholder) started falling off a few weeks after delivery, c) if he uses Tiptronic mode for an extended period of highway driving, when he slows down, the tranny the refuses to engage overdrive in either auto or Tiptronic mode until he drives really slowly, or shuts the car off to let it cool (the dealer has no clue what's wrong there)
In addition to that, it doesn't handle as well as he'd like it to (and he's not a go-fast junkie like some people I know) and is considering upgrading shocks & antiroll bar.
So that's a month of getting the shaft to get the car, several bonafide problems in ~6 months of owning it, and less-than-complete satisfaction independent of the troubles he's had. From the reviews I've read of the Beetle, even in "sporting" trim, it shares the handling deficiency that seems to be endemic to all VWs (at least from the rides I've had in his GTI and reviews I've read of Jetta, Passat, etc). In sum, VW has moved off my list of possible new-car purchases.
Just my $.02
DjB
I drove the MINI, Beetle Turbo S, and Beetle 1.8T. The 1.8T is comp to the MINI - both have great speed, but handling and ride is better in the Beetle. I thought the MINI was too jumpy on rough roads. Visibility in the MINI is a challenge for tall riders - the roof comes down a little into the viewing. Back seat is better in the MINI. I'm 5'10" and bumped my head riding in the back of the Beetle. Beetle is best as two seater. The MINI can handle back seat passengers at least for short distances.
The Turbo S beats the others, hands down. Great handling, great speed, and great ride on the highway with the extra gear. The only unfortunate part about the Turbo S (beside no headroom in the rear) is the boring color offering. No double yellow (my dream bug), and definately no concept colors.
Neither is especially practical if you have to use the trunk or carry passengers. A nice alternate would be an Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T or 2.8.