Comments on: 5th Gear: VW Scirocco vs the Cooper S

By: Dave Pevsner

Dave Pevsner — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:13:31 +0000

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.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:27:52 +0000

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

By: JonPD

JonPD — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:26:30 +0000

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.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:11:19 +0000

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

By: DUDE!

DUDE! — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:48:41 +0000

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.

By: dr

dr — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:01:58 +0000

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!

By: MINIme

MINIme — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:34:04 +0000

I’ll take the Scirocco!

By: Oli

Oli — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:07:13 +0000

@Liam: Maybe the people commenting on the drivers aren't from the UK...

By: KipperFillets

KipperFillets — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:33:22 +0000

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?

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:59:12 +0000

@Liam: Agreed.

By: Danny

Danny — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:50:06 +0000

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

By: Liam

Liam — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:44:39 +0000

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

By: Dimitri Grigoriev

Dimitri Grigoriev — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:01:51 +0000

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.

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:46:59 +0000

@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.

By: nickminir56

nickminir56 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:42:38 +0000

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

By: nickminir56

nickminir56 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:23:11 +0000

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

By: ACohen

ACohen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:14:47 +0000

@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.

By: robble

robble — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:01:51 +0000

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

By: Gabe

Gabe — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:59:12 +0000

@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.

By: dr

dr — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:49:26 +0000

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.