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.
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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.
<p>That contest meant absolutely nothing. Different drivers, a handheld stopwatch in the car, a single lap. That’s bout as unscientific as it gets.</p>
<p>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. <a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/coupe-talk-2007/162865-mini-cooper-s-vs-vw-scirocco-fifth-gear.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/coupe-talk-2007/162865-mini-cooper-s-vs-vw-scirocco-fifth-gear.html</a></p>
<p>Yep old news. Nice video. I think the VW more than held its own.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I think I would rather have terrified passengers.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-263245" rel="nofollow">dr</a>: 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.</p>
<p>So the VW gets an F1 driver and the mini gets whatevers?</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-263255" rel="nofollow">robble</a>: 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.</p>
<p>Also check out this video by fifth gear:</p>
<p>2009 Mini Cooper S Cabrio(R57) vs 2009 Mazda MX-5
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm2UK8_25ng" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm2UK8_25ng</a></p>
<p>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:</p>
<p>check this out:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPCGnkApnDU" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPCGnkApnDU</a></p>
<p>@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.</p>
<p>I say – inconclusive!!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>LOL at the comments dissing the drivers. That’s funny and says a lot about those making them.</p>
<p>And the Scirocco is ugly as hell IMO, so what was their point again?</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-263276" rel="nofollow">Liam</a>: Agreed.</p>
<p>It’s true that this isn’t exactly a scientific test, which is on par for Fifth Gear.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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?</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-263276" rel="nofollow">Liam</a>: Maybe the people commenting on the drivers aren’t from the UK…</p>
<p>I’ll take the Scirocco!</p>
<p>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!</p>
<p>Colin… That’s two more F1 races than ANY of us will ever race.</p>
<p>Others…being a passenger is way harder than driving, just ask any WRC co-driver.</p>
<p>So the VW had the racing transmission, did the MINI have the limited slip?</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>BTW I have a lot of hope for the mid-cycle redesign fixing the above complaint.</p>
<p>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.</p>