Mini JCW or Audi S1 or....?

[pb8g09]

Good afternoon all - have scoured the forums for an answer but haven't quite nailed it.

I'm looking for a warm-hot small car priced around the £20k mark with little mileage to run as a daily. It'll also have to be the excitement on the weekend too.

I have a small driveway which fits two very small cars (currently a Mini One and an Audi A1) and this is unfortunately proving to be a limiting factor..!

I'm therefore torn between a Mini JCW and an Audi S1 - both seem to keep strong residuals and as I'm buying nearly new with about 80% on a loan this is relative importance. Both appear to have reasonable running costs.

I test drove a JCW and loved it, and on the same day drove an M140i and found that I just couldn't use the power legally to find it fun (sorry just an opinion).

Should I be including other cars in my search? - I'm not a fan of Fiesta STs , other family members have them and I won't be able to avoid the "bought the same car as me" jibes every Christmas.

- On a secondary note, I've noticed that a couple of insurers (Hastings for example) won't insure me on a 2015 plate but have no qualms in offering insurance on a 2017 plate of the same car with a low excess - anybody know the explanation on this?

[Jonny_gti]

Maybe also include the Peugeot 208 GTI by PS it gets a great name. Between the two you have mentioned I would be in the JCW myself.

[pb8g09]

Thanks for the reply - I was half expecting an abusive first response!

Not sure if it aids the decisions but of the two models that are within 100 miles of me...

JCW - £22k with XL pack
S1 - £18k with add on Nav SD for £500

Considered a 208 GTi too but not sure if it would tank in depreciation over 5 years? (and not a monster fan of the thick plastic interior)

[Deep Thought]

pb8g09 said:

Thanks for the reply - I was half expecting an abusive first response!

Not sure if it aids the decisions but of the two models that are within 100 miles of me...

JCW - £22k with XL pack
S1 - £18k with add on Nav SD for £500

Considered a 208 GTi too but not sure if it would tank in depreciation over 5 years? (and not a monster fan of the thick plastic interior)

A variation on a theme but what about a Cooper S Works 210 or Challenge 210?

Although personally i dont think you'd go far wrong with a JCW....

[CrippsCorner]

Golf GTI/R (would it have to be Mk6 at this price?) and Astra VXR too big for your drive?

[pb8g09]

Unfortunately both would be a bit too large.

First time in my life my car choice has been dictated by the size of a driveway and it's sh*t!

Would be great to hear from an S1 owner to hear what they're really like - most of the negatives I read are from people that don't own one. Which ironically enough seems to be the same story on the Mini JCW/MCS!

[nikaiyo2]

Have you looked at the Abarths?

Lots and lots of fun.

[cerb4.5lee]

I have a MCS and I'm very happy with it so I know the JCW will be great fun. I've always had a massive soft spot for the Audi S1 too, both great cars for me.

[CrippsCorner]

Funnily enough I walked past a new Cooper S & A1 S Line on the way home from work yesterday... got to say I preferred the A1, and that's coming from a Mini owner!

[cerb4.5lee]

CrippsCorner said:

Funnily enough I walked past a new Cooper S & A1 S Line on the way home from work yesterday... got to say I preferred the A1, and that's coming from a Mini owner!

Same for me and I've always personally preferred the looks of the A1 compared to my Mini. I've dechromed the Mini which has made it a little easier on the eyes, but its still a poor proportioned shape for me(mines the gopping F56). I think the S1 looks great.

[pb8g09]

I've got an F56 Mini One D at present and partner has Audi A1 S-Line both 2010/11 plates. Her A1 definitely looks better on the driveway, which probably explains my liking for the S1.

I don't know whether to go head (the S1 is cheaper) or heart (JCW hilarity)...


Abarth wasn't a bad shout either from the earlier poster, but I can't get the girly Fiat 500 out of my head when I see one.

[NordicCrankShaft]

At that sort of money I'd be putting into a Hyundai i30N, couldn't justify putting that amount into a mini or baby Audi.

[pb8g09]

You're missing the 2 main constraints from the OP. I'm not buying on finance, so an I30N is about £5k more than either of the two I'm choosing between and is too big for my driveway

[TheAlastair34]

the s1 is 4wd which in my experience dulls down the driving fun unless you have alot of power

the Mini will be more fun and enjoyable point to point and has a more interesting interior and specs

id go for a Mini

[mackay45]

pb8g09 said:

Abarth wasn't a bad shout either from the earlier poster, but I can't get the girly Fiat 500 out of my head when I see one.

So a Fiat 500 is girly but a Mini Cooper or an Audi A1 isn't? Riiiiiiiight.

Could be worth test driving an Abarth before you rule one out, they are fun cars.

What about something like a Twingo RS?

[pb8g09]

mackay45 said:

So a Fiat 500 is girly but a Mini Cooper or an Audi A1 isn't? Riiiiiiiight.

Could be worth test driving an Abarth before you rule one out, they are fun cars.

What about something like a Twingo RS?

I won't split hairs with you, but I know plenty more men that own Minis and A1s than I know men that drive Fiat 500s... but we digress.

Happy to take the advice though and test one. I don't know the specs very well on Abarths - what would you recommend?

Twingo RS is a definite no-no. I'd get laughed out of the staff car park!

[TheAlastair34]

pb8g09 said:

I won't split hairs with you, but I know plenty more men that own Minis and A1s than I know men that drive Fiat 500s... but we digress.

Happy to take the advice though and test one. I don't know the specs very well on Abarths - what would you recommend?

Twingo RS is a definite no-no. I'd get laughed out of the staff car park!

unless the build quality is better on an Abarth than a normal fiat 500 i wouldn't have one, you get what you pay for they arnt comparable to a A1 or Mini IMO

[mackay45]

pb8g09 said:

I won't split hairs with you, but I know plenty more men that own Minis and A1s than I know men that drive Fiat 500s... but we digress.

Happy to take the advice though and test one. I don't know the specs very well on Abarths - what would you recommend?

Twingo RS is a definite no-no. I'd get laughed out of the staff car park!

To be honest I don't know them very well either. I've driven a Competizione and it was good fun, but too attention seeking overall for my liking (stupid exhaust). Fair enough re the Twingo, was just trying to think of other small cars with that one.

[nikaiyo2]

TheAlastair34 said:

unless the build quality is better on an Abarth than a normal fiat 500 i wouldn't have one, you get what you pay for they arnt comparable to a A1 or Mini IMO

Depends on what you mean by build quality. You will find more squeaky bits on an Abarth than a mini or A1.

In 8 years and 3 different Abarths I had one suspension arm replaced under warranty and 4 tyres. At one time I had an S5 and an Abarth... oddly it was the Audi that was the unreliable nightmare.

[sicasey]

I’m one week into brand new JCW ownership and it’s brilliantly mad.

It’s far surpassed my expectations and has actually brought back the fun in driving having lost if to a string of German euro boxes.

Go for the JCW!

Edited by sicasey on Thursday 2nd August 18:15