Welcome back! Today we’re sticking with sticks, because no matter what the fun police say, we love them. Today’s cars have different types of forced-induction systems, both of which are known to be a bit temperamental. But at the moment, they both run and drive just fine.
But before we get to those, we need to check yesterday’s results, and – well well well, what have we here? It seems the beat-up Chevrolet has taken a narrow but decisive win. I can’t really argue. If they were closer in price, I’d say it would be down to the test drive, but for a grand cheaper, my money’s on the Chevy as well.
A number of you expressed a dislike for stepside trucks, and I agree; the style works better on older trucks. But I do like the GMT400 with a stepside, at least in regular-cab form. Before I bought my truck, I test-drove an extended cab GMC with a stepside bed, and I just couldn’t get my head around the styling. It looked like those superhero drawings that are all torso on little tiny legs. But this, a short-wheelbase standard cab, I like.
Now let’s turn our attention from trucks to a couple of small European cars with a little something extra under the hood to help them along. One has a turbocharger, the other a supercharger, and both have a reputation for being finicky to maintain. Which one is worth the effort? That’s what we’re going to find out. Here they are.
2003 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 1.8T – $3,295
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.8-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Tacoma, WA
Odometer reading: 114,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The fourth generation is when the VW Jetta grew up, which makes it fitting that so damn many of them were bought as graduation presents or first cars out of college. It was also a huge step forward in complexity for the little VW sedan, and more complex often equals less reliable. And a great many complaints about this car revolve around the optional 1.8T engine.
On paper, it’s great: an honest-to-goodness 100 horsepower per liter, from a twin-cam 20-valve four, with plenty of torque down low. And in practice, it’s a good performer, too. But it’s also known for sludgy oil, coil-pack failures, self-destructing water pumps, and more. This one is for sale from a dealership, so there is no maintenance history available. All we know is it runs and drives well enough at the moment for them to offer test drives.
It looks pretty good cosmetically. This generation of Jetta introduced the “soft touch” plastics, which haven’t held up too well over the years, from what I’ve heard. And I think this is the era of Volkswagen that tended to smell like crayons inside; this is apparently due to the sound-deadening material off-gassing. But hey, there are worse things for a car to smell like.
Outside, it’s, well, silver, like the overwhelming majority of fourth-gen Jettas. But it’s straight and shiny, and these cars do wear silver well. You’ll just never be able to find it in a parking lot.
2006 Mini Cooper S – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: Supercharged 1.6 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, six-speed manual, FWD
Location: Woodinville, WA
Odometer reading: 104,000 miles
Operational status: “Runs good” is all we get
R53-generation Mini Coopers are cool little cars. They’re quick, handle well, and cute as a button. Unfortunately, they also live up to the stereotype of British cars being fragile and short-lived, even though they’re not British at all – these are actually BMWs, built in Germany. And sadly, they live up to all of the BMW stereotypes as well.
The 1.6-liter supercharged engines in these are actually pretty robust, but they are prone to oil leaks and cracked coolant expansion tanks. I don’t know why BMW can’t keep its vehicles from oozing various fluids, but it seems to be a constant struggle. From what I’ve heard, it’s a lot of nickel-dime problems with these, death by a thousand cuts, rather than any one catastrophic issue. And of course, we get zero information about its history. Best bring a friend along who knows these cars well when you check it out.
It does look pretty well-kept; there’s nothing obviously broken or worn out. And I don’t see any warning lights on the dash, which is a promising sign. I never have been a fan of having the speedometer in the middle of the dash; I didn’t like it on old Jeeps, I didn’t like it when I test-drove a Scion xA, and I don’t like it here. And if you have a passenger who tends to be a backseat driver, they know exactly by how much you’re exceeding the posted speed limit. You’d get used to it, I guess.
I have always liked the exterior styling of these. And more recent versions haven’t been able to improve on it. It’s the one big problem with retro-themed designs; how do you update it? Newer Minis have also forgotten the “mini” aspect; they’ve just gotten more bloated-looking. These early ones are lean and mean.
With either of these cars, you’re likely to have more problems than if you settled for a Corolla or something. But you’ll also have more fun behind the wheel. And really, for the most part, these cars aren’t unreliable, just fussy and high-maintenance. Do things when the book says to do them, in the way it says to do them, and everything will be all right. Mostly. Probably.
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Someone said both, must be barking mad. I am walking, no running away from these two nightmares.
My sister had an 06 supercharged Mini JCW. That little thing pulled hard seemingly from idle. And stopped just as hard—not to mention the handling. So, easy choice for me today.
MINIs aren’t that bad to work on, just do some research before you get started, and get well practiced at putting it in front end service mode and they’re actually better to work on than my 1st gen focus was. Once the bumper is off and you push the radiator out of the way, the whole motor and all of it’s accessories are exposed. Mine’s just been out of commission due to a lack of funds, not because it’s bad to fix, just that I’m getting hotrod parts so it takes time to save pennies.
I’m leaning Mini on this one, just for the fun factor… but I really struggle to understand the degree of VW hate around here. While I’ve had Chevy, Nissan and Mitsubishi leave me stranded and waiting for a tow truck, none of my 3 VWs ever required anything much beyond regular service and wear items replaced – just a radiator fan on my Mk V Jetta.
My roommate had one of the first supercharged (new) Minis in the state. To date, it’s by far the newest car I’ve ever driven. We had to travel one state over to pick it up and he actually let me drive it with only 11 miles on the odometer. Damn, was that fun! For that memory alone, I’m picking the Mini, regardless of whatever Beemer-struggles may accompany it at this point.
Picked the Mini because in this case the devil you know. I know a lot of folks who owned that era of Jetta and just didn’t like them. Not saying in a reliability sense, though in some cases yes, just not a good ownership experience.
Fuck, no. Absolutely not. Neither of them. Normally I’ll pick the least awful for this when it’s a Hobson’s choice, but not either of these.
I had a 2001 Mk4 manual that I put 189k on from new. That car was amazing, really zero issues except a factory recall for a window switch and a turn signal. I love that car still, so much so that when some idiot pulled out in front of me and totaled it, I ended up buying a 2004 Mk4 manual in a slightly lower spec, and that car was good, but it already has 120k on it when I bought it, and whomever owned it prior had not taken care of it. But still, it was reliable up to 190+k miles until I traded it in on my current jsw. I know a lot of people had bad luck with these, but I wouldn’t hesitate to but another. They’re super easy to work on in pretty much every regard.
Of course, both of know were the 2.0 engine, and that one was a lot more reliable. Still, I’d take it over the mini all day
Easily the Mini. Oil leaks don’t bother me unduly, and these are fun to drive when they’re working right. I’d trade it for something less worrisome at the first chance, though.
That jetta is probably my least-disliked generation of them, FWIW, back when there was hope that VAG wasn’t entirely an overdomineering mess and a half.
I like the Mini, but I’ve seen plenty of them parked in garages that never leave (or get worked on, really…). Not crazy about the Jetta, but it’s a lesser boss to battle.
Both big ole pieces of crap. Nope to both!
I had that Jetta in Baltic Green, I loved that Jetta, but it’s Mini all day for me.
As the resident VW apologist/ BMW naysayer..
MINI all day. They’re just so fucking fun.
How about both? One’s always going to be in pieces in the garage.
The Jetta will be a lot more reliable. A girlfriend has an almost identical one; same year, manual, same color, same mileage. Using 100% synthetic oil and maintenance by the book, she hasn’t had a single problem with it since new. I know that’s not typical, especially the way she drives, but I don’t think anyone can say that about any new Mini.
The Mini is so much more fun, I voted for it anyway.
Have experience with both vehicles –
Jetta is due for a timing belt; if not done, don’t walk run to get it replaced. My son had one of these, the doors sound like a bank vault when they close. Was a good car until it wasn’t – water pump leaked, which took out the timing belt, which junked the engine.
Wife has an ’06 Mini. wouldn’t worry about back seat drivers, they will be way to uncomfortable to notice the speedometer unless they are less than 4′-11″.
Am suspicious of the low price for the VW at a dealer..
Mini is a better value, mainly due to low miles.
I am not particularly interested in either of these cars, but I voted for the Mini. My only rationale is that it has the speedometer in the center of the dash. I like that. I find the steering wheel obstructs my view of gauges in many cars. Also, I don’t like bright lights directly in front of me when I am driving at night. The centralized gauges help with both of those things. More cars need gauges in the center of the dashboard.
Sure they leak oil, but there’s a big hole at the top to fill it up when you get low. I’ve made it to 200k with that approach, and it’s still a riot to drive!
Plus the added benefit of all that leaking oil will do a nice job of coating the innards and undersides meaning free rust protection
except the passenger taillight housing. the hatch or the gutters around the hatch feed rainwater and snowmelt directly to that spot. If you look at an R50, R53 backend, you’ll likely see severe scabbing below that light.
I voted for the Jetta since it’s cheaper and I think it’s likely to be the lesser of two evils.
Make mine the Jetta. Several years back, I bought a Mk IV GTI that was in pieces when it came home…. the 1.8T was pretty straightforward to do the timing belt job and the chain/tensioner. Coils got replaced, as two died in quick succession. Once sorted it was enjoyable to drive. Had it been a 5-speed car, I’d probably still have it. Now, the Mini–a buddy of mine has one torn apart in his garage at moment… No. Thank. You.
I had the 6cyl version of this Jetta. So many problems… A lot of fun to drive, but oof
VW is a dealership sale; I will go with the Mini for that reason alone. No way a dealer dumps a car at that low price without some problem.
I have a 2005 Mini Cooper S that made LA to Guatemala City in 4 days. And no, it wasn’t built in Germany. Though owned by BMW all of these were built in England though the engines come from Brazil. The supercharger whine is great!
I owned a B5 Audi A4 1.8T and the engine was the only reliable part of that car, but I was a fanatic about changing my oil on time. As I recall these engines have timing belts, so at that mileage it should be coming up on a replacement if the 60k mile intervals are to be follow.
Side note aren’t the Mini’s still built in Oxford, not Germany?
Not even close, the VW is going to be far less painful than the bastardized BMW.
It’s a deep pocketed affair either way, I think.
But I’m down for a British hatch with an engine that, if I’m not mistaken, is really a supercharged Chrysler motor?
Either way, I’ve seen Passat’s from that area, both 1.8T’s, and yeah, no. Just no.