CAR WARS: VW GTI vs. Civic Si vs. MazdaSpeed3 vs. MINI Cooper S. WHO WINS?

I will take the VW type R you have in the picture!!!

— valhallakey (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 12:03:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

1. Mazdaspeed 3 Power, handling and price 263 hp and 280 TORQUE
2. Mini CopperS. Design, resale, handling
3, GTI The grown up of the group always refined and good performer
4. Si total let down in design ,chasis, power and handling. Go back to the drawing board!

— kussimek (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 1:26:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I'm sure they all perform adequately, but to avoid having to wear blindfolds before getting into them, I'd have to take the GTI. I agree with kussimek on the grown-up (understated) design of the GTI. The Mazdaspeed 3 takes the cake for juvenile, overwrought styling and silly naming, but probably the choice for those who only care for power.

— AlleVier (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 9:50:46 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

1. Mazda 3 is the best mix of affordability, performance, and everyday usability
2. Civic if reliable, and well engineered.
3. -Mini is the best for urban driving, fun, pricey.
-Golf is pricey, and not the most reliable.

— PQ40 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 10:11:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Mazda, Civic, and zee Germans in last.

— PLAY (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 10:27:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Mazda, VW and then Mini

— Caraficionado (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 11:07:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Not sure what the Civic SI is doing on the econobox list, I must say, as it doesn't really fit the "box" profile of the others.

— AlleVier (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 11:09:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

But you have a higher chance of surviving the crash in the VW. That weight will save ur hind.

— commander104 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 12:47:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

These four pocket rockets have appeal to different buyers. Each knows its target audience and does a good job of appealing to it.
First, the Golf GTI. This is the closest thing the segment has to a GT: it sacrifices the least comfort in the name of performance and has an interior that's hard to imagine being produced at this price. It's heavy on refinement and it manages to be a great driver's car without actually being very fast.
Then there's the Speed 3, its polar opposite. This is a car for hardcore enthusiasts only. Forget comfort: its interior is lacking, it's manual-only, and it has the most torque steer of any car on the market. But if one is willing to endure all that, it goes like stink compared to the others.
The other two aren't quite as directly comparable. The Civic Si comes as a coupe or sedan, not a hatch like its rivals. Its interior is bottom-dollar, but that TSX engine is a sweetheart, and as always, the three-pedal-only Si's transmission is awesome. What's surprising about the Si is its high excitement quotient when compared with its shockingly boring brethren, the non-Si Civics.
Then there's the Mini. Rather than the standard Cooper, it's actually the Clubman which competes with these larger competitors. Its quirkiness sets it apart from the rest, from its infamous circular dashboard instruments to its retro styling. Its interior is great and it has a nimble fell to its handling. Like the Civic, it falls in the middle of the comfort/performance spectrum

— FromThePassengerSeat (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 1:17:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Hmm... Good question.

MINI
GTI
Mazda
Honda

MINI makes the best handling and fun to drive product of the three not to mention it is made to save your life in real world and doesn't get blown around on the road like the tinny Japanese product. Just wish the price of the MINI were lower with options as well as an updated and less quirky interior.

GTI is a tad bit more refined since it doesn't have the quirky-ness of the MINI interior.

MazdaSpeed has no moonroof so that's out and it isn't that impressive

Honda just looks lame and not interested in a motor that has to be revved to 8k RPM to have fun

— CarCrazedinCali (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 2:07:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

VW GTI
Mini
MazdaSpeed3
Civic Si

The Mazda is too unrefined and has way too much torque steer to be the best in this group.

— BrownsGoBack (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 4:17:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

For fun/handling the Mini.
For 8K redline and build quality the civic
Practicallity, and price the Mazda

— MercedesSL (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 5:12:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

None of the above.

Golf.

— Agent00R (View Profile)

Posted on 2/13/2012 9:54:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0