5th Gear: VW Scirocco vs the Cooper S

Sections: MINI Competitors | R56 (Hatch) | 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

Ridiculous

That contest meant absolutely nothing. Different drivers, a handheld stopwatch in the car, a single lap. That’s bout as unscientific as it gets.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1609199 Jason Williams

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

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

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.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

@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

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

@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

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

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

@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.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692242014 Dimitri Grigoriev

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.
http://www.AUSmotive.com Liam

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

And the Scirocco is ugly as hell IMO, so what was their point again?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

@Liam: Agreed.
KipperFillets

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

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

I’ll take the Scirocco!
dr

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!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1145665586 DUDE!

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

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

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

BTW I have a lot of hope for the mid-cycle redesign fixing the above complaint.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1365900163 Dave Pevsner

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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