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05-02-2013, 10:13 AM | #26 |
*** Banned ***
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Burien WA
Vehicle:13 Wrx sedan SWP |
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05-02-2013, 06:16 PM | #27 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 7164
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Arizona Bay
Vehicle:2000 Miata LS Evo Orange Mica (1/644) |
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05-02-2013, 06:18 PM | #28 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 93830
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Who are you?
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05-03-2013, 11:13 AM | #29 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 250813
Join Date: Jun 2010
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: on the beach
Vehicle:08 unamused LGT Camarillo - ish |
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05-03-2013, 05:03 PM | #30 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 24162
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Vehicle:2022 Forester Wilder Crystal White Pearl |
See ya. good luck and be safe.
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07-08-2013, 01:16 PM | #31 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 281725
Join Date: May 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:2006 STI Aspen White |
Hey everyone. Two months later, and would like to offer my initial thoughts on the car switch.
For background, I let go of a 2006 STI with 90k miles for a 2010 Mini JCW Convertible with 27k miles. I'd like to keep my thoughts in the frame of reference of bone stock cars, which is pretty much how I had my STI and still have the Mini. Actually, the STI had a kartboy short-shifter, but that's it. Looks: STI certainly looks more aggressive, stands out in a crowd with the dual spoilers. Mini looks much more reserved, and doesn't stand out so much. The STI was Aspen white, Mini is Chili Red. The red does give some visual pop. However, the Mini is near invisible to cops, street racers, and the like. Winner: Mini Space: Not really a competition here. STI is a 4 door sedan with a proper trunk, Mini loses a lot in convertible form. Front seat space is comparable if not a bit more comfy in the Mini, but rear seats and trunk are hands down to STI. Carrying stuff isn't a big deal to me, so this was a moot point. Still... Winner: STI Interior: My Mini came spec'ed with full leather, heated seats, all the goodies. Both cars have auto-climate control. The Mini has some odd design choices, such as the dinner-plate speedo and a curiously placed volume knob. The STI is a standard double-din where the Mini is clearly more integrated. However, overall quality, comfort, ergonomics, gadgets, go to... Winner: Mini Undesirable noises: Let's face it, Subaru's have lots of little rattles and strange noises, and the Mini convertible has some audible creaks as well. My STI had a funny rattle on partial throttle going uphill, but I could never trace the source. The Mini I sometimes wish didn't creak so much when I accidentally hit a pothole, where the STI was largely quiet. Winner: Draw Desirable noises: Keep in mind here we are talking stock parts. No aftermarket exhausts, intakes, BOVs, etc and so forth. In stock form, the Mini sounds so much better than the STI did. The STI exhaust was always a bit quiet, wasn't very audible in the cabin, and I always felt that such a car should be a bit more vocal when you mash the gas. The Mini JCW exhaust is awesome. Super quiet when cruising, but barks loudly when the gas gets stepped on. The car is tuned to snap/crackle/pop/burble when you lift off the gas, and it gives it so much character. For OEM sound... Winner: Mini Handling: I sadly never autocrossed the STI, never had the time. So I will compare them both on spirited road driving. Again, two wildly different platforms. 1 diff vs 3, FWD vs AWD. The STI was much more stable and composed, the Mini needs some attention. In the Mini, on the gas in a turn, hitting an expansion joint or a road imperfection will cause the car to jump, and you need to be ready to catch it. The STI just kept going where you wanted being steered with one hand. However, that led it to being a bit boring, in my opinion. The Mini is a much more involved experience. The STI biased toward understeer with the all-seasons I had on it, the Mini behaves similarly with the runflats that are still on it. Both turn very nicely, rotating predictably. I have not had the Mini in snow yet, and I'd bet the STI would win there. But, for nice weather on tarmac... Winner: Mini Braking: On stock pads, brake feel is by far better in the Mini. Front brakes are only .3" smaller, and stopping considerably less weight. Winner: Mini Speed: The Mini gives up some ground in pure HP/torque as well as power to weight. STI had 300hp/300lbft and the mini has 208hp/207lbft. STI had a curb weight of 3,351 pounds, the convertible mini is 2,877. For the street, the Mini is much easier to play with without risking losing your license. Turbo lag is much shorter in the Mini. The STI is still quicker off the line and faster in a straight line. Winner: STI Street-cred: Let's face it, more people can identify an STI than they can a JCW Mini. The racing and rally heritage of the Subaru is much more well known. However, where the STI got lots of thumbs up from drivers in modded cars or other cars in class (Evo's, etc), the Mini gets it from people all over. People randomly walking by as I'm washing the car complement the Mini, where the STI received no such feedback. I haven't quite picked out why that is yet. The JCW badge is really one of the only ways to reliably pick out that the Mini isn't your standard Mini, where the STI was much easier to pick out from a distance. Both cars get complements, but from very different groups of people. Winner: Draw So that brings my tally to 5 for the mini, 2 for the STI, and two draws. I think that accurately describes my feelings as well, where I am much happier with the Mini. If I missed a crucial area for comparison, let me know. Cue the "who are you again" and "we dont care" comments in 3..2..1... |
07-08-2013, 01:25 PM | #32 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 353162
Join Date: Apr 2013
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Garland, Tx
Vehicle:2005 WRX Black |
Get rid of the mini cooper and get a e46 m3 if you are going the German route.
Last edited by zjacobs2005; 07-08-2013 at 01:40 PM. |
07-08-2013, 01:36 PM | #33 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 149021
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Antonio
Vehicle:2007 STI OBP |
I used to have a JCW, stage 3 hardtop. Loved that car. I have an 06 STI now (my dream car). As much as I love the STI, and I hate to say this, I think I liked the Mini better. Stupid ****ing 18 wheeler ((
I had red leather seats, air blew cold, and fully loaded, didn't even need to pull the key out of my pocket to open the door, start the car or open the hatch. Free XM radio the entire time I had the car. I will never find another car like it. |
07-08-2013, 01:38 PM | #34 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 149021
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Antonio
Vehicle:2007 STI OBP |
Oh and still got 35-40mpg with close over 250hp, only weighting 2300lbs
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07-08-2013, 01:45 PM | #35 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 281725
Join Date: May 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:2006 STI Aspen White |
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07-08-2013, 01:51 PM | #36 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 281725
Join Date: May 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:2006 STI Aspen White |
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07-08-2013, 01:51 PM | #37 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 189211
Join Date: Sep 2008
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Peoria & Surprise, Arizona
Vehicle:2005 18g WRX wagon Aspen White |
Youll be back, so goodbye for now. lol
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07-08-2013, 02:04 PM | #38 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 149021
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Antonio
Vehicle:2007 STI OBP |
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07-08-2013, 04:21 PM | #39 |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 306139
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2007 evo color of smoke |
?? what is this? the sti would **** on this car! the cobaltSS turbo alone would win in all those categories except interior. so if a car doesnt lose control on a turn cuz someone was too much of a ***** to go fast enough and the mini just loses control going a little faster then it's a draw?? im so confused. it sounds like you made a review based off being butt hurt from getting neg. approval in the first place. how does it drive in the pouring rain? or other bad conditions?
Last edited by ultramario12; 07-08-2013 at 04:36 PM. |
07-08-2013, 04:33 PM | #40 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 180514
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Windsor/Canada & Detroit/MI
Vehicle:2004 Sti WRB |
haha handling comment was funny. He is basically saying mini is better because it is unpredictable and makes you experience driving better. I bet he finds torque steer exciting and experiencing too.
Some people are just a car driver. They shift and push the accelerator. They won't go deeper than that. |
07-08-2013, 04:44 PM | #41 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 357396
Join Date: May 2013
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Georgia
Vehicle:06 Stg 1 WRX Limited Aspen White |
Quote:
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07-08-2013, 04:47 PM | #42 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 281725
Join Date: May 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
Vehicle:2006 STI Aspen White |
Haha. This might actually be more fun than intentionally trolling.
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07-08-2013, 04:49 PM | #43 | |
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Member#: 346539
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Joburg
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Quote:
Maybe for the ultimate fun, they should weld their shocks and put on some Prius tires. Last edited by Corners; 07-08-2013 at 05:34 PM. |
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07-08-2013, 05:56 PM | #44 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 139955
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Boston
Vehicle:2015 Subaru STI 17Forester / 18Crosstrek |
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07-08-2013, 06:14 PM | #45 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 153088
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Arlington, TN
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo 95&96 Sambar 06 Forester |
Quote:
I didn't read that. I read "the better handling of the WRX made it more boring". He never said the Mini handled "better". He just liked the way it handles,...better..... |
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07-08-2013, 07:32 PM | #46 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 323103
Join Date: Jun 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Columbia MD
Vehicle:2018 WRX Pure der |
Thats how I read it as well. Lol. Doesnt make sense to me, but I dont have a mini so...
Enjoy your car OP. And belated congrats to you. Side Note: I appreciate the "goodbye" thread. Id rather the forum feel more like a community then just a mob. |
07-08-2013, 08:57 PM | #47 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 297396
Join Date: Oct 2011
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I really don't want to start a war but I've driven a Cooper S and a JCW and unless you have, you have no idea what you're talking about.
They are two of the most tail-happy FWD cars you can ever drive. Unbelievable feel, communicative steering, great brakes and this is stock, not modified. With the JCW comes a torque biasing FD which really helps it through the corners: no one wheel peel. The only other FWD car I've found as rewarding to drive was my fully swapped 16v 1984 GTI with suspension work donated to it from a 16v Scirocco. This car was a whopping 140 hp but right around 1900 lbs. With the Coopers at 2200 or so, it's a similar feel. There's just something about not having that extra weight to contend with. Before you all jump down my throat: my current car is an 03 WRX wagon, stage two with mild suspension work done to it (20mm RSB, Swift/GR2, Sexy rear end kit, group N mounts for motor and suspension as well as brake mods) and when the road gets tight and twisty, I do miss my GTi. Once you get used to a shorter wheelbase/lighter weight car regardless of the drive wheels, these cars feel a bit heavy and bloated. I will admit though, with the swampy weather we've been having here in PA: the AC has been a nice touch in the wagon (I deleted it in the GTi). The WRX isn't bad, it's just different. Like I said earlier: unless you've driven a Cooper S or a JCW you really shouldn't judge, they're pretty damn fun cars. IIRC reliability is about the same so I'd say it's a moot point. I did regret not buying my friends JCW hardtop. I just wasn't financially solvent at the time and the interior and size are love/hate things. They are cramped inside and the gauge layout takes alot of getting used to, I personally feel they tried too hard. My .02$. -Randy |
07-08-2013, 10:11 PM | #48 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 180514
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Windsor/Canada & Detroit/MI
Vehicle:2004 Sti WRB |
FWD just don't make sense in a performance car. And you guys come here and tell us how your GTIs, Minis handle better than a symmetrical AWD. It's just non sense.
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07-08-2013, 10:22 PM | #49 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 284699
Join Date: Jun 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Vehicle:2013 Impreza WRX STi |
my sister had a base mini and my buddy had a 2005 mini type s. Real fun to drive especially the type s. My mechanic worked at Mini Cooper for a few years...said a lot of the parts break down and cost an arm and a leg to repair/replace. Nonetheless, it's a fun car to drive.
Have fun with the new whip OP! |
07-08-2013, 10:29 PM | #50 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 348177
Join Date: Feb 2013
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: TX
Vehicle:2002 Bugeye Haltech GTX3584RS |
And I thought the sti was small. Eeek.
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