Clubman S/JCW or Golf GTi or BMW?
Discussion
Hi, me again, finally able to test drive the Golf GTi
Have to return my 428i GC soon, instead of another PCP going for an approved use. Come down to 2 main rivals and may be a third option
Hope some owner or someone with experience with those cars could share some wisdom
Got to be Auto as my partner license is auto only
The Clubman S or JCW
Pros:
It is the best fun to drive among my list
Better noise than the GTi
Bold interior design should last longer than GTi
Barn door
A more engaging DCT
Cons:
Barn door pillar obstruct view
Already have a F57 S in garage
Afraid the S lack a bit of power as it is heavier than both Hatch and GTi
JCW aisin 8 speed just not very engaging to drive
In Golf R and M135i price range
Golf GTi
Pros:
It is a GTi, hold value like crazy
7.5 have very nice interior
More comfortable than Clubman
More power and lighter than JCW
Balance between performance and practicality
Never own a VW
Cons:
Not as fun as Mini
DSG not as much fun as Mini DCT but better than Aisin 8
Used price are strong almost Golf R and M135/140i money
Not as much characters as Mini
Which I have also test the M135i
The L6 is sound is wonderful but rear seat is cramped ZF8 is better than JCW 8 speed but return rather poor mpg(I drive about 66miles a day)
Have to return my 428i GC soon, instead of another PCP going for an approved use. Come down to 2 main rivals and may be a third option
Hope some owner or someone with experience with those cars could share some wisdom
Got to be Auto as my partner license is auto only
The Clubman S or JCW
Pros:
It is the best fun to drive among my list
Better noise than the GTi
Bold interior design should last longer than GTi
Barn door
A more engaging DCT
Cons:
Barn door pillar obstruct view
Already have a F57 S in garage
Afraid the S lack a bit of power as it is heavier than both Hatch and GTi
JCW aisin 8 speed just not very engaging to drive
In Golf R and M135i price range
Golf GTi
Pros:
It is a GTi, hold value like crazy
7.5 have very nice interior
More comfortable than Clubman
More power and lighter than JCW
Balance between performance and practicality
Never own a VW
Cons:
Not as fun as Mini
DSG not as much fun as Mini DCT but better than Aisin 8
Used price are strong almost Golf R and M135/140i money
Not as much characters as Mini
Which I have also test the M135i
The L6 is sound is wonderful but rear seat is cramped ZF8 is better than JCW 8 speed but return rather poor mpg(I drive about 66miles a day)
A timely thread.
I’m picking up a Clubman Cooper SD tomorrow which is replacing a Golf GTD.
The back story is that the GTD is a company car which I’ve had since December 2016 but this time my company is giving me a car allowance.
I looked at PCH deals but didn’t want to be tied into a contract so instead looked at 1-2 year old cars that I could buy outright.
I considered getting another GTD , a Leon FR 184, Skoda Octavia VRS but had always liked the Clubman.
I’d initially rejected the idea of a Clubman because I thought it would be too compromised but I had one for a 48hr test drive and was pleasantly surprised at its practicality. (It’s used every day and I do 28k. )
I’ve now driven a petrol Cooper and the diesel and they do seem to have the fun factor. The GTD is supremely competent but does lack some of the fun factor.
You are correct about residuals as similar used Golfs were about £2-3k more than similar Clubmans. My Golf has had its fair share of issues mainly related to ACC and auto hold. It also cracks and rattles and has weeping shocks.
I’d have been less tolerant of these issues had it been my own car. The first thing I noticed about the Clubman was how much better built it felt.
I’m going to be running the Clubman side by side with the Golf for the next few weeks until the Golf goes back so I should be able to report back and let you know how they compare.
I’m picking up a Clubman Cooper SD tomorrow which is replacing a Golf GTD.
The back story is that the GTD is a company car which I’ve had since December 2016 but this time my company is giving me a car allowance.
I looked at PCH deals but didn’t want to be tied into a contract so instead looked at 1-2 year old cars that I could buy outright.
I considered getting another GTD , a Leon FR 184, Skoda Octavia VRS but had always liked the Clubman.
I’d initially rejected the idea of a Clubman because I thought it would be too compromised but I had one for a 48hr test drive and was pleasantly surprised at its practicality. (It’s used every day and I do 28k. )
I’ve now driven a petrol Cooper and the diesel and they do seem to have the fun factor. The GTD is supremely competent but does lack some of the fun factor.
You are correct about residuals as similar used Golfs were about £2-3k more than similar Clubmans. My Golf has had its fair share of issues mainly related to ACC and auto hold. It also cracks and rattles and has weeping shocks.
I’d have been less tolerant of these issues had it been my own car. The first thing I noticed about the Clubman was how much better built it felt.
I’m going to be running the Clubman side by side with the Golf for the next few weeks until the Golf goes back so I should be able to report back and let you know how they compare.
Edited by Alfa Pete on Wednesday 30th October 08:17
Definitely the MINI is more fun and more characterful.
Comparing back to back I’d say the MINI feels better built too.
The steering and general feel of the MINI is sharper but I think the Golf feels more planted and has better traction.
The surprise to me is that the MINI doesn’t really seem to sacrifice a thing in the way of practicality.
Very little
In it but I think the synopsis would be that the MINI is the one you buy with your heart the Golf the one with your head.
Comparing back to back I’d say the MINI feels better built too.
The steering and general feel of the MINI is sharper but I think the Golf feels more planted and has better traction.
The surprise to me is that the MINI doesn’t really seem to sacrifice a thing in the way of practicality.
Very little
In it but I think the synopsis would be that the MINI is the one you buy with your heart the Golf the one with your head.
Not sure you can get out of a MINI and into a 1 series and say the rear is cramped in the 1 series 
Also not sure if the clubman is better in the back than the Hatch, but there is no way I'd get in the back of a MINI.
We've had a GTI (MK6 DSG) for a year and the handling is fantastic for a car that size, really grips well round corners and changes direction well.
Nice engine note, at least when it's not ticking over, refinement is good, it really is the best allround car you can buy I believe. Sport mode takes it towards MINI on the feeling of eagerness to play with.
Weve also tested a couple of 135is, again good fun, just a more polished thing, probably less fun than the golf, but the refinement is higher.
I drove a new MINI for the first time today ( R56 Cooper S Auto with the paddles) What a hoot - Such fun - I'd buy one tomorrow for myself if I hadn't just gone and bought a motorbike.
Also not sure if the clubman is better in the back than the Hatch, but there is no way I'd get in the back of a MINI.
We've had a GTI (MK6 DSG) for a year and the handling is fantastic for a car that size, really grips well round corners and changes direction well.
Nice engine note, at least when it's not ticking over, refinement is good, it really is the best allround car you can buy I believe. Sport mode takes it towards MINI on the feeling of eagerness to play with.
Weve also tested a couple of 135is, again good fun, just a more polished thing, probably less fun than the golf, but the refinement is higher.
I drove a new MINI for the first time today ( R56 Cooper S Auto with the paddles) What a hoot - Such fun - I'd buy one tomorrow for myself if I hadn't just gone and bought a motorbike.
I drove a MK7.5 GTI manual for nearly 2 months and it’s a brilliant car but it wasn’t that fun.
The Golf GTI to me, is a very good accomplished hatchback with a powerful engine. It’s not as fun as a Mini. It feels a lot faster than the numbers suggest too, lots of torque and it sounded quite nice and liked to be revved.
I also had a Mini Cooper S 68 plate courtesy car for a month and I found the steering to be atrocious coupled with torque steer meant that it took some time getting used to. The engine didn’t liked to be revved out like the Golf and only sounded nice at half throttle.
The Mini had worse fuel economy over the Golf believe it or not.
I’m not sure what upgrades the JCW has over the standard Mini S models but I doubt it would be that much more of an improvement.
I suggest you get the Golf, it comes with everything as standard and looks better than the Mini. My issue with Mini’s is how bare they come from the factory. They come with nothing and if you want a well equipped one, it will be pricey and will take a while to find as there’s so many different packs.
If I was you however, I’d go for the M140i, shadow edition preferably. They won’t depreciate as much as the others either as the new model is no different to a Golf R or S3.
The Golf GTI to me, is a very good accomplished hatchback with a powerful engine. It’s not as fun as a Mini. It feels a lot faster than the numbers suggest too, lots of torque and it sounded quite nice and liked to be revved.
I also had a Mini Cooper S 68 plate courtesy car for a month and I found the steering to be atrocious coupled with torque steer meant that it took some time getting used to. The engine didn’t liked to be revved out like the Golf and only sounded nice at half throttle.
The Mini had worse fuel economy over the Golf believe it or not.
I’m not sure what upgrades the JCW has over the standard Mini S models but I doubt it would be that much more of an improvement.
I suggest you get the Golf, it comes with everything as standard and looks better than the Mini. My issue with Mini’s is how bare they come from the factory. They come with nothing and if you want a well equipped one, it will be pricey and will take a while to find as there’s so many different packs.
If I was you however, I’d go for the M140i, shadow edition preferably. They won’t depreciate as much as the others either as the new model is no different to a Golf R or S3.
SweptVolume said:
talksthetorque said:
Also not sure if the clubman is better in the back than the Hatch, but there is no way I'd get in the back of a MINI.
Clubman is on a longer wheelbase, I believe. Should have more legroom than the hatch or previous generation Clubman.Alfa Pete said:
Clubman is similar in the back to a Golf.
My teenage kids sat in the back on a long journey and said they were as comfort as they are in my Golf.
Said the seats were less bulky too so more room for their feet.
Fair enough - I sit corrected. My teenage kids sat in the back on a long journey and said they were as comfort as they are in my Golf.
Said the seats were less bulky too so more room for their feet.
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