5th Gear: VW Scirocco vs the Cooper S

Sections: MINI Competitors | R56 (Coupe) | Video Jul 8th, 2009 23 Comments

Yes this has been floating around but we were reminded of it while clearing our in box. It’s not very scientific but it’s fun to see both cars thrown around a bit on the track.

Written By: Gabe

23 Comments

Ridiculous Jul 8th, 2009 Link

That contest meant absolutely nothing. Different drivers, a handheld stopwatch in the car, a single lap. That’s bout as unscientific as it gets.

Jason Williams Jul 8th, 2009 Link

This got a few comments on NAM when we found it in February. Very entertaining if not very scientific. Of course I’m biased, but I’d like to believe that they appeared to have more fun in the MINI. http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/coupe-talk-2007/162865-mini-cooper-s-vs-vw-scirocco-fifth-gear.html

C4 Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Yep old news. Nice video. I think the VW more than held its own.

dr Jul 8th, 2009 Link

The old man in the passenger seat of the MINI was clearly terrified at every bend, while the young man riding in the passenger seat of the VW was just having fun.

I think I would rather have terrified passengers.

Gabe Jul 8th, 2009 Link

@dr: That’s former F1 driver Tiff Needell who is probably twice the driver than most of us. Keep in mind this is for TV so everything is meant for max entertainment value.

robble Jul 8th, 2009 Link

So the VW gets an F1 driver and the mini gets whatevers?

ACohen Jul 8th, 2009 Link

@robble: My thoughts exactly. A regular dude just hammers it around the track and still puts in the same time as a pro. Tiff very likely could have beaten the VW’s time in the MINI had he driven for both laps.

nickminir56 Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Also check out this video by fifth gear:

2009 Mini Cooper S Cabrio(R57) vs 2009 Mazda MX-5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm2UK8_25ng

nickminir56 Jul 8th, 2009 Link

The second driver is Jason Plato. He is 2001 BTCC Champion and finish 2nd overall for the last two years. Obviously he is a bloody good touring car driver and has more experience with FWD touring car than Tiff:

check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPCGnkApnDU

Colin Jul 8th, 2009 Link

@acohen, @robble – Jason Plato has a ton more track experience than Tiff. He’s a successful BTTC driver. Tiff raced a total of two races in F1 in 1980.

Dimitri Grigoriev Jul 8th, 2009 Link

I say – inconclusive!!

The stop-watch in your hand, well, that’s just asking for error. I think that with proper telemetry…. well, it could still be very close.

Liam Jul 8th, 2009 Link

LOL at the comments dissing the drivers. That’s funny and says a lot about those making them.

Danny Jul 8th, 2009 Link

And the Scirocco is ugly as hell IMO, so what was their point again?

Gabe Jul 8th, 2009 Link

@Liam: Agreed.

KipperFillets Jul 9th, 2009 Link

It’s true that this isn’t exactly a scientific test, which is on par for Fifth Gear.

However, Tiff and Jason are no doubt much better drivers than any of us could wish to be. If two drivers that can squeeze the most out of a car get similar times, I can imagine that lesser drivers will notice little difference either.

It’s not as if either car is so awash with power that they can cover up for a drivers lack of skill, is it?

Oli Jul 9th, 2009 Link

@Liam: Maybe the people commenting on the drivers aren’t from the UK…

MINIme Jul 9th, 2009 Link

I’ll take the Scirocco!

dr Jul 10th, 2009 Link

I am just saying that if you have a former F1 driver clutching for the handles with a look of terror on his face….that is either one sweet handling car or one good driver…or both!

DUDE! Jul 10th, 2009 Link

Colin… That’s two more F1 races than ANY of us will ever race.

Others…being a passenger is way harder than driving, just ask any WRC co-driver.

Mike Jul 11th, 2009 Link

So the VW had the racing transmission, did the MINI have the limited slip?

JonPD Jul 11th, 2009 Link

Still would talk the VW any day over the Mini in one huge area, the interior design of the Mini leaves most if not all its competition looking better. I for one am hoping the ugly stick used to design the last has been tossed out and the designers and managers that actually came up with this have been hidden away deeply into BMW’s SUV program.

JonPD Jul 11th, 2009 Link

BTW I have a lot of hope for the mid-cycle redesign fixing the above complaint.

Dave Pevsner Jul 14th, 2009 Link

they never specified what transmission the mini had in it, but it’s worth it to note that tiff’s scirocco had the DSG, which is an automatic. also, i happen to love the scirocco, and would be pretty happy if it came to the US…i’m never letting my mini go, but i wouldn’t mind a VW scirocco or a small audi to drive around as well, and with no 3-door A3 here, the “small audi” that i like doesn’t seem to exist.

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5th Gear: VW Scirocco vs the Cooper S

Sections: MINI Competitors | R56 (Coupe) | Video Jul 8th, 2009 23 Comments

Written By: Gabe

23 Comments

Ridiculous Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Jason Williams Jul 8th, 2009 Link

C4 Jul 8th, 2009 Link

dr Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Gabe Jul 8th, 2009 Link

robble Jul 8th, 2009 Link

ACohen Jul 8th, 2009 Link

nickminir56 Jul 8th, 2009 Link

nickminir56 Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Colin Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Dimitri Grigoriev Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Liam Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Danny Jul 8th, 2009 Link

Gabe Jul 8th, 2009 Link

KipperFillets Jul 9th, 2009 Link

Oli Jul 9th, 2009 Link

MINIme Jul 9th, 2009 Link

dr Jul 10th, 2009 Link

DUDE! Jul 10th, 2009 Link

Mike Jul 11th, 2009 Link

JonPD Jul 11th, 2009 Link

JonPD Jul 11th, 2009 Link

Dave Pevsner Jul 14th, 2009 Link

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