VW Scirocco vs MINI JCW

Two of the most famous performance cars of all-time are back – and doing battle here in the ultimate hot head-to-head. Who dares wins...

Coupes place style above substance; hot hatches place substance above all else. You could assume, therefore, that the two classes have little in common. Yet each aims to offer the same kind of feelgood factor – and Volkswagen has tried to bridge both sectors with its new, reborn Scirocco. When we pitted it against three traditional coupé rivals in Issue 1,028, the German newcomer couldn’t quite match the unique looks and sense of occasion of our current compact sports car favourite, the Audi TT.

But the Scirocco’s on-road abilities did impress. With its Golf GTI-derived chassis, engaging driving experience and versatile cabin, it felt much more like a top hot hatch. And with a £20,940 price tag, the VW is also pitched straight at traditional pocket rocket rivals. In fact, getting behind the wheel of our current hot hatch champ, the MINI John Cooper Works, costs you only £45 more.

A punchy 208bhp engine, highly entertaining driving dynamics and bags of retro charm make the British-built JCW stiff competition for any sports model. Can the Scirocco emerge victorious – and decide just what it wants to be?

verdict:

These two cars are closely matched on price, performance and ability. But their characters couldn’t be more different.

The Scirocco is a great all-rounder, delivering a good blend of eye-catching looks, strong performance and polished driving dynamics. While the cabin is highly competent, it could do with more flair – but even that’s forgiven when you see the price.

As a hot hatch, though, the VW is trumped by the firebreathing MINI. For driving fun and raw thrills, the JCW has its rival beaten hands down. Where the Scirocco demands your respect after a drive, the MINI leaves you itching to jump straight back in to head for your favourite stretch of B-road. The agile handling, blistering straight-line pace and mischievous character ensure it remains unbeaten as our favourite pocket rocket.

1st- Mini JCW

2nd-VW Scirocco
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Whelan - 10/20/2008 11:13:11 AM

-6 Boost

Let's see a car I won't ever be able to buy in the US (Scirroco), and a car that shows me nothing special since I am not really impressed with JCW's work.

yawn.

mini22 - 10/20/2008 11:51:57 AM

+2 Boost

It would be interesting with a match up between the JCW and the Chevy Cobalt SS.

caixa2 - 10/20/2008 12:34:04 PM

+2 Boost

Never driven any of these 2 cars, but (and this may come out of left field) I wonder how the "old '92 Corrado VR6" would have done in this comparison. It could even have a power disadvantage (granted, with over 15 years behind) but the fun-to-drive factor (in my very biased opinion) is something not to be ignored. Has anyone driven these cars, including the Corrado VR6, that could comment on that?

theoptimisticpessimist - 10/20/2008 3:31:11 PM

+3 Boost

I have not driven the new Scirocco but I have drive the JCW and the Corrado. I would pick the JCW, its lighter, faster and has a more direct feel, it wants to be tossed about. Also it just more fun to drive. That said I do prefer the cabin of the Corrado but the green house of the Cooper.

mini22 - 10/20/2008 7:23:48 PM

+1 Boost

Yes I would take the the Scirocco as well. I have an 06 Cooper S that is slightly moded up. It puts out about 190 HP with 15% reduction pulley,Web air box amd Milteck exhaust. So it has about 90% of the HP that a JCW has but less torque. The power is very good but it's got plenty of torque steer,especialy on less then a perfect road surface. I can just imagine the torque steer a JCW has.

Type707 - 10/21/2008 4:39:53 PM

+1 Boost

I would consider getting the Scirocco being that majority of society have those Minis. Of course the Minis would probably have a better handling and corner attacks due to its size and weight.