WTB MINI

He does.

"Blow it into the weeds"- do you mean straight line or cornering? Are you talking about a Jetta, or a Golf? Are you saying that the same driver (you) can post faster raw auotx times in a TDI than in a MCS?

I've never heard anyone say that. Most folks say the TDI is pretty anemic. I thought so too when I drove it, but I also understand the difference in impressions. Some of the most fun I've ever had is in a Yugo, and they are NOT fast. They feel it, but they are not. I found the TDI to be very comfortable and sedate, but the MINI was just plain fun.

How modded is your TDI?

I have a CooperS('03) and a Miata ('99) and if forced to keep only one, I'd keep the Miata, but it wouldn't be an easy choice. If you want to go hooning I'd take the MINI ,it's faster and the supercharger is fun. It's apples and oranges really. For a road trip the MINI is much quieter at highway speeds, but it's still only a 2 seater in reality. My dealership is a PITA and I haven't worked on the car at all, except to do a brake job. Since I don't have to make a choice I'll keep both !

No... I did put down faster times in the 'vert in HS (I never ran the MCS, which due to a 15% pulley mod, gets dumped into SMF) and stock-for-stock, a MINI is a better autoX car. The faster steering, stiffer suspension, better gearing and lower weight are problems the TDi can't really overcome without modifications.

On the street, the limits of the MINI are higher, but the TDi is more fun. In some ways, the TDi is the the MINI as the MINI was to the '97 M3 she had before it. That "driving slow car fast" sort of thing. I used to do MINI group runs with the TDi and NEVER got left behind in the corners. Ever. You simply can't go fast enough on publc roads where the difference in limits make a difference in speed.

My car is basically stock. I did have a Powerbox (changes the fuel mapping) in it for a short time and it was an eye opening experience. It did scary things to the power. I'm still on the fence about really modding the car since it's my DD and I get myself into enough trouble with its anemic 90 hp... Not to mention the MPG penalty - I'm not sure I'm willing to give up 50 mpg right now.

A modded car is a whole different animal. The owner of a TDi parts vendor in New England has a wagon similar to mine, except heavily modded with coil-over suspension, chip tuning, larger turbo, etc. He used to track it a lot. One of his favorite quotes came from a Spec Miata racer who talked to him after a session: "After you passed me, I realized, 'that's a diesel station wagon... and I can't catch it...' "

Lastly, the TDi has been a hell of a lot more reliable than the MCS (we don't really drive the 'vert enough to judge it - barely over 5K/yr), despite having a lot fewer miles (98K vs. 267K). It's a long story, but in a year or so, I'm planning to take the MCS off the road for awhile and do some restoration work on it. Nothing major, but a lot of little things... window motors... LCA bushings (again...)... track down and fix oil leaks (which may require pulling the drivetrain)... probably a couple of other things she hasn't told me yet.

one way to make the MINI's accelerate quicker is light weight 15's or 16's (or least it feels so :). dump the stock 17's. If you are a spirited driver, increase front negative camber. Your front tires will thank you.

I have 106k miles on my 05 S. It only needed brakes, tires, oil/filter changes and struts since new. It did go to the dealer for the knock sensor under warranty at 20k. At 90k, it had binding in the steering due to a rusty u-joint on the rack (live in the rust belt, so there). Like IanF said, at 100k, it needs a bunch of little things. But what car doesn't at 100 to 120k?

I've had scores of issues with our 05 S, but no MAJOR ones, and I still have the car as it is silly amounts of fun. You can find those details in many other MINI threads here

Be aware for those open road runs, our stock S starts to feel a little under geared above 70 mph. At 70 it turns just under 3k rpm (with the 6spd man). Anytime you're over 3k, you start getting into the big end of the supercharger and the mileage drops off. at 65 it will average abot 31, but at 75 it's down to 26. it also starts to get buzzy and a little tiresome on long trips, especially over pronounced concrete seams or the such. As a 6' tall male, I also find the seat - pedal realtionship to be uncomfortable after a while, but if it was my DD instead of the wife's I might have found a more oddball seat position to eliminate that, IDK.

On an autocross track (read: hooning) it gets worse milage than my Mustang v8 does under the same abuse.

I've got an 06 S with basically Alta's version of the JCW kit (intercooler, 15% blower pulley, stainless exhaust, cold air) all professionally installed (no ricer crap) and all the stock stuff still in hand. Spare set of wheels, improved brakes. 55K miles. Blue, well appointed. They are a hell of a lot of fun, but I have a kid about to start college!