Cooper S v TT Coupe TFSI 197 v Gol GTI vs 325i Cab all 08-10

[talksthetorque]

The Z4MC has gone, and the OH is looking for her next car. Replacement woud be the wrong word, as it was epic.
The Z sold very quickly, and we've sort of been caught short on what to buy next.
All she knows is -
Fun
More practical than the Z ( easy one)
Leather, not a chavvy hot hatch - (as she's knocking on 50 but looks about 35)
Sunroof/Pano roof and Nav as nice to haves.
less than 75k
Oh, and it's got to be black.

The budget is 8.5k
The shortlist is:
10 Cooper S with the N18
08 TT Tfsi Coupe 197
08 325i (218) cabrio
Golf Gti.

They've all got their strengths and weaknesses, but are we missing anything that would do what one of these do better?
Alternatively tell us which one she should buy

[steve-5snwi]

I'm biased but out of that shortlist for me it has to be the Mini.

The TT is boring and a little numb, the engine is probably the best bit.
The 325i sounds good but is a little heavy in cabrio form
The Golf Gti is ok but is similar to the TT

For something nippy and chuckable the Mini is hard to beat.

[Maracus]

We've had our MCS N18 for 4 years and previously had a MK5 GTI.

The GTI as more comfortable, but the MINI is more fun for sure. A common issue with the GTI is the air con compressor failing (£600 fix) and for the MCS it's the High Pressure Fuel Pump (£3-400). We've had no other issues bar a failed reversing sensor that cost £15 to sort.

We're thinking of selling our MCS in the near future - '60' reg, auto, 68k, Full MINI History, Heated Leather, Bluetooth, 1 previous owner. It's a dark grey colour (Thunder Grey?).

I'd be interested to know how much you pay for one if you decide to buy one.

[steve-5snwi]

Thats probably Eclipse grey and the HPFP is now £721 from BMW excluding VAT (N18 version)

[Maracus]

steve-5snwi said:

Thats probably Eclipse grey and the HPFP is now £721 from BMW excluding VAT (N18 version)

Wow, £721! I got a discount from my local main dealer from £400 to £300 fitted iirc.

[cerb4.5lee]

I'm another one that would recommend the MINI Cooper S, great fun cars even though the ride can be a little unforgiving at times, plus they're not much to look at.

I personally really like the looks of the TT, but I found the drive a little underwhelming.

[talksthetorque]

Wow! Lots of love for the MCS, which was the first thought that she had.

Funny that the MK5 Golf Gti got raved about when released, but not a great deal of love for it so far.

Is it the ubiquity of 300hp 4wd hot hatches that makes the idea of a fwd 200bhp hot hatch that size a bit old hat?

[cerb4.5lee]

I don't think you can really go wrong with a Mk5 Golf Gti in fairness, but maybe they just get judged as being a little ordinary and lack a bit of excitement, maybe too accomplished.

[steve-5snwi]

What i like about the mini is its a little bit like a west highland terrier and always up for messing about, they are good fun and you don't have to break into 3 figures to enjoy it.

[DoubleD]

talksthetorque said:

Wow! Lots of love for the MCS, which was the first thought that she had.

Funny that the MK5 Golf Gti got raved about when released, but not a great deal of love for it so far.

Is it the ubiquity of 300hp 4wd hot hatches that makes the idea of a fwd 200bhp hot hatch that size a bit old hat?

I had a MK5 DSG GTI not too long after they came out. It was a good car but I found it rather dull. That could have been the auto box on it though.

[cerb4.5lee]

steve-5snwi said:

What i like about the mini is its a little bit like a west highland terrier and always up for messing about, they are good fun and you don't have to break into 3 figures to enjoy it.

That's exactly how I've found it, and I love how you can use all it's performance for most of the time, and I often look at how quickly I'm going on back lanes and it's almost always under 3 figures, but because it handles so well it feels a lot quicker.

I've mostly dismissed FWD in the past, but I now get why everyone raves about the older Renaultsport Clio's, and I bet they're a riot to drive.

[cerb4.5lee]

DoubleD said:

I had a MK5 DSG GTI not too long after they came out. It was a good car but I found it rather dull. That could have been the auto box on it though.

For me the Auto will make it feel dull straight from the off, and I find that two pedal cars become boring very quickly, and give the car an instant relaxed feel to it.

I got bored of the DSG very quickly in the TTS I had, I liked it's performance but not the excitement.

[DoubleD]

I loved the DSG for at least a couple of weeks. Then I quickly got bored of clicking a button to change gear.

[PK0001]

You are going to struggle to find a replacement to a Z4MC on that budget

[talksthetorque]

PK0001 said:

You are going to struggle to find a replacement to a Z4MC on that budget

talksthetorque said:

The Z4MC has gone, and the OH is looking for her next car. Replacement woud be the wrong word, as it was epic.

[ZX10R NIN]

A good alternative to the Golf GTI & TT is the R32 Golf the engine just adds a bit of character as well as a nice exhaust note.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

My gran recently sold her one she had hers 6 years with no issues & it was a good drive.

Volvo C30 T5 R Design but the boot might be a bit small.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'm not sure if you regard this one as to garish:

Mazda3 MPS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[talksthetorque]

ZX10R NIN said:

A good alternative to the Golf GTI & TT is the R32 Golf the engine just adds a bit of character as well as a nice exhaust note.


My gran recently sold her one she had hers 6 years with no issues & it was a good drive.

adds

"wants to get away from £520 a year tax"

to the list......

ZX10R NIN said:

Volvo C30 T5 R Design but the boot might be a bit small.

Good shout. She liked the focus ST but thought the image a bit chavvy. This may work.

ZX10R NIN said:

I'm not sure if you regard this one as to garish:

Mazda3 MPS

Shows her car you linked to.
"Don't want a Mazda"

Predictably random.

[JQ]

I currently have a Golf R and it's dull. I've had a TT and it was dull. I had an R53 MCS JCW and it was brilliant fun, absolutely loved that car and other than my trackday MX5's the most fun car I've had. Would have another in heartbeat only worry being boot size now the kids have taken up golf, current car has 3 sets of clubs in the boot permanently.

[mike9009]

Just a short post to reiterate the other votes for the MINI.

I have recently moved from a Clubman S to a BMW 330i Coupe (E92). The BMW is massively competent, quick and quiet. But, there is the problem. You need to be doing silly speeds in it before any excitement happens.

The MINI was so much more fun on the roads. More dynamic, chuckable and more 'character'.

I will keep the BMW and not move back mainly because I don't change cars regularly. But I do miss the MINI.......

I have only ever driven a TT once (08 model from memory), but it really was uninvolving and dull. Far more so than the BMW. I imagine a Golf of similar age/ engine would be similar too. (may be mistakenly?)


Mike

[talksthetorque]

Well, that was a surprise...
So I suggest that we look at a local Mini Cooper S and drive it to see if she likes them having never driven one before.
No - That would be too easy. Lets go to look at that one 1 3/4 hours away to see if I like it.

Stop to look at a 325 on the way. It's sold.
Get there - car looks good, take it out for a test drive.
"Don't like the way that it drives or the dashboard. Don't want a Mini"
Go and look at a TT roadster on the way back, on my insistence - despite the fact she prefers the one 200 miles in the other direction better from the advert.
"Boot too small, think I need the TT Coupe"
Go to look at a TT Coupe - "Oh, the boot's not much bigger, just a different shape" A roadster might be ok. But I still like the Coupe.
What about this coupe
"Don't like the colour"
216 miles later we get back home.

Going for a curry with friends tonight.
She is driving as I need a drink.And then another. And Another.