2015 Mini Countryman S vs 2013 WRX STI?

[OOMPH!]

Guys I'm in the process of purchasing a new car as my daily driver. It's coming down between a 2015 Mini Countryman S and a 2013 WRX STI hatch. Just want to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons and what you think would be more reliable?

-- Both are AWD
-- Both are 6spd manual
-- The Mini is slightly less expensive & I can get a better interest rate
-- STI has 306hp and Mini has 181hp
-- STI has more room
-- Mini has better gas mileage
-- Exhaust, wheels and suspension will be upgrades for both
-- Which would be more reliable?
-- Which would be less expensive to fix in terms of labor intensive?



Thanks for your time and help guys. ;D

[plmichal]

If the STI hasn't been beat on, that is the better car. Extremely reliable, safe, and the hatch looks great and is practical. I don't know about the MINI, but being that the STI is a Japanese car, I would suspect it would be less expensive to maintain/repair. Interior of the STI is very basic, just know it won't be as good as the German competitor. I worked in parts for a year at a Subaru dealership and have been a Subaru salesman at a different dealer for over year now. They are great cars and Subaru is an awesome manufacturer.

[TimeMachinE30]

Definitely STI. I wish I could fit three kids on one. It would be the DD.

[kts]

I really do miss my 08 STi at times. It was a great car. I had no issues with it in the 4 years/80k miles I put on it and it only required basic maintenance during that time. The hatch was super useful for hauling anything and everything and I though the interior was very nice.

My only complaint and the reason I sold it was the gas mileage, I averaged 20mpg on premium. When I was autocrossing the car on weekends it was a good trade off but after I got my E30 to be the fun car and the STi purely became a daily I got tired of getting such meh MPG. Moving to a very boring Focus has cut my monthly gas bill by more than 50%.

I think you need to decide what you want, will it be a daily that you sometimes autocross/track? If so the STi could be perfect. If it's just going to be getting you from point A to B I would look at the Mini for the better MPG or perhaps something even more 'appliance' like that gets good MPG and has room to haul stuff.

Changing the spark plugs in a Subaru can be a little 'fun' but otherwise they are easy to work on.

[Eric]

Focus ST.

[dnguyen1963]

My nephew just bought an STI...it is a blast to drive. The review on the Mini is not that good.

[OOMPH!]

If the STI hasn't been beat on, that is the better car. Extremely reliable, safe, and the hatch looks great and is practical. I don't know about the MINI, but being that the STI is a Japanese car, I would suspect it would be less expensive to maintain/repair. Interior of the STI is very basic, just know it won't be as good as the German competitor. I worked in parts for a year at a Subaru dealership and have been a Subaru salesman at a different dealer for over year now. They are great cars and Subaru is an awesome manufacturer.

Yea the STI is a 1 owner, low mileage, unmolested, stock car. It looks great! Thanks for your input!

Definitely STI. I wish I could fit three kids on one. It would be the DD.

Haha I hear you. Shove one in the back...... jk

I really do miss my 08 STi at times. It was a great car. I had no issues with it in the 4 years/80k miles I put on it and it only required basic maintenance during that time. The hatch was super useful for hauling anything and everything and I though the interior was very nice.

My only complaint and the reason I sold it was the gas mileage, I averaged 20mpg on premium. When I was autocrossing the car on weekends it was a good trade off but after I got my E30 to be the fun car and the STi purely became a daily I got tired of getting such meh MPG. Moving to a very boring Focus has cut my monthly gas bill by more than 50%.

I think you need to decide what you want, will it be a daily that you sometimes autocross/track? If so the STi could be perfect. If it's just going to be getting you from point A to B I would look at the Mini for the better MPG or perhaps something even more 'appliance' like that gets good MPG and has room to haul stuff.

Changing the spark plugs in a Subaru can be a little 'fun' but otherwise they are easy to work on.

Yea the gas mileage on the Mini is A LOT better. I do a lot of driving so gas mileage is a big player in the decision. I definitely want to drive both before I make a final decision. Did you get the Focus ST at least?

Focus ST.

Nah, they're FWD. The Focus RS is supposed to be released in 2016 though as AWD and 350hp. Can't wait for that!

My nephew just bought an STI...it is a blast to drive. The review on the Mini is not that good.

Yea I've honestly haven't heard anything bad about the STI's. I have to do more reading up on the Mini's. From what I read, the Countryman models past 2013 seem to have all the problems situated.




I REALLY want to drive both. I haven't gotten the chance yet. I'll be test driving the Countryman S tomorrow and hopefully the STI next weekend.

[kts]

Yea the gas mileage on the Mini is A LOT better. I do a lot of driving so gas mileage is a big player in the decision. I definitely want to drive both before I make a final decision. Did you get the Focus ST at least?

If MPG is a big concern the STi is probably not the best car even if it is fun as hell and still practical in every way other than MPG.

And be careful driving that STi, once you do you'll want it.;)

I have a base Focus. I drove the ST and loved it but wanted something a bit more appliance-like for a daily that got good MPG even while in stop and go traffic. Plus I wanted to save some $ for my wife's sweet baby-hauling SUV. (Looking back a year later I'm kinda wishing I had looked at TDI Golfs more, the new one is pretty nice.)

[Nygdup]

I love my '14 WRX.. but that gas mileage is a killer. Especially highway driving. I average 21-22mpgs.

[fight4life28]

Focus ST.

+1 My friend has one, I like the small feeling of the car and it looks pretty good and gets great MPG if your driving alot to work and back.

[e34john]

there are other cars I would consider first. But I don't think the Mini will be as reliable as the Subaru. If you're looking for a daily why not check out a new non STI wagon wrx?

[Nick_S]

For a daily driver I would personally go with the Mini. I've had a soft spot for the Countryman since they came out. Yea 300hp is fun but isn't that why you have a fun car?

[EyExR]

Minis are plastic pieces of crap and poorly built. They handle like stones across water, too. barf

[Kevinl]

Neither

[cwatt]

FML - I just typed out an awesome 5-paragraph response and my brower just crashed.

End point, not a fair comparison so buy the Subaru. Mini = style, Subaru = true AWD, stronger design, better depreciation value, and arguibly better build quluty.