They are great when it comes to handling, only thing that is very similar is Ford Fiesta which has little bit more loose rear end, easier to pivot around corners. Even the ONE versions are fantastic to drive. In between R53, R56, F56, R56 is the one to go when it comes to chassis, they are sublime. But reliability is horrible, those Prince engines are oil thirsty and have timing chain and GDI issues plus electrics aren't great too. Better to buy Fiesta ST. I have Fiesta and MINI. Fiesta is rock solid in compare.
@@wellwh0 had a few fiestas do like my fords , prefer the mini allday I find with decent tyres they handle better and you cant best that charger whine. I've had my r53 couple years odd never had a prob fsh and it's only ever had tyres and brakes oh and a wiper motor. Some good ones out there
youngsta Young nah not my thing. mk7 Fiesta has much more cummunicative chassie in compare to r56, imo. But we all have different opinions and tastes, so who am i to judge ;) @Bob yes Fiesta has twist beam, but it is great. Only benefit I see in compare with R56 that with independent rear r56 is more comfy on those very high but short speed bumps...also it has more stable rear end. But Fiesta is very predictive so that isn’t a problem. (all in all Fiesta mk7 and R56 are great chassies, one of the best) 🙂
Terrific stuff - the Mini's a far more serious performance machine than I'd expected. As picked up in the article, maybe it's the graphics cheapening the look? Great video, guys.
About time the Mini got some air time. We hear all about Renault, Vauxhall, Citroen and Ford when the real hero hatch was mini all along and not surprisingly so.
The MINI GP is such an amazing car! I own one too and it's such a good fun machene :) Hopefully I can take it to a racetrack one day to have a comparison of my normal video I made about it!
Enjoyable to watch folks run some streetable hot hatches at the limit and in such proximity. I would have enjoyed seeing all 4 cars on the track at once.
Im looking to buy a Mini, now. But, I have to point out one thing. Having extra power is great, knowing what the surface will handle is up to the driver.
Apparently the Mini OWNED the Subaru WRX Sti and the Subaru Cosworth Type 25 STI Spec C around the Nürburgring. Google: List of Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times
RSR Auto true that. The GP2 got a fair bit of stick at launch for being 'soft' compared to the GP1 but if they make a GP3 (which I hope they do) it will really cement the GP2 as the epic car it is.
i agree bro. audis are wonderful fun to drive, the awd is unrelentingly grippy, and very very reliable. ive had mine for a while now, and still love it. gets great fuel economy with the turbo 4 and nice power when i need it. AUDI FOREVER!
Conclusion is that you must have the right tool for the job at hand. Probrably in faster tracks with long straights the powerful, but heavier cars would do better than in that curvy circuit. Nice vid!
Surprised they used the R26.R instead of the new Meagane 265 Cup or Trophy..that Mini looks like an absolute lunatic! Not surprised the Audi lost, it's much to heavy and over complicate with the 4wd. It shows it's not really needed in a hot hatch.
The "fight" at 4:33 is one of the most funniest scenes I'vs ever seen on youtube. Not only they're great drivers and know their shit about cars, they're also hilarious!!
Great video! I love seeing 'uncle' Tiff. That A1 is stunning but ridiculously expensive. Scirocco R still wins out for me though if it had more power it'd be perfect
I love this video. All these car channels and journalists hate minis for some reason especially the top gear chanel. They race the 4 door mini Cooper s against top performance competitiors
The DS3 is fairly similar to the Mini, and the DS3 Racing is still surpassed by the Mini JCW GP. evo likely just wanted to bring the best of the best to this comparison.
I don't understand how the underpowered Mini with an anemic 215hp car beat the RS 500 with 345hp???????? I don't understand how the 2 wheel drive Mini beat the All-Wheel Drive Audi A1 Quattro in wet conditions??????? I don't understand how the Mini beat such a track focused car like the Renault Megane R26.R, I mean it comes with dedicated track tires??????? Just Wiki'd the Mini GP it beat the Lotus Exige S, Sube Sti, Mitsu EVO, BMW 335i & the 911 around the fabled Nürburgring!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!
Now that was some real testing, superb video , although i am a fan of the FORD i admit the renault and Mini are better in track day point of view, still there are things like on a straight line nothing can match the FORD 4 mathcin it we need an audi rs3 or bmw m135i, also the sound of FORD is the best, so all these cars are good but hats off 2 Mini and Renault, Ford better diet and work on the mechanical slip differential to keep the rear stable, Audi as usual superb quality crap
The Megane 265 and the ST are more recent hot hatches yes, but I don't think they're as extreme as the RS500 or the R26R. And bare in mind both the A1 Quattro and the Mini JCW GP are limited run production cars.
you have a good argument when you say that Audi and Merc are both not fun to drive. I'd argue that the manual shifter in an audi is pretty bad as well - feels rubbery and not precise. Audi is even worse at cornering due to the positioning of the engine in front of the wheels - audi without quatro is really a big turn off when trying to push on a twistie. Mercs have a better ride quality than Audis (which are too firm) while BMWs offer the best in handling and still better ride than Audi.
It always makes me laugh how the "legendary" Quattro system is always the slowest round bends. Audi, how about making cars that aren't so heavy and unbalanced. They always fall to pieces round a track.
They are not meant to be fast on the track, especially this A1 Quattro, there are only 333 of them out there and they are meant to be collected. It's still the most refined among all of them, yes it's not the best on the track but the best all rounder.
Really, check out Audis IMSA , Transam, and Touring cars against supposedly "Better" RWD cars, it may change your mind, Audis dominate all these series with those "Slowest round bends" as you put it cars.. they are legendary because Audi proved that quattro was just as good on tarmac as they were on gravel.... you dont know much about motor sport do you?
probably because Audis always have way too much weight to actually be of serious use around a track. The GP doesn't even has rear seats iirc, meanwhile the A1 has what might aswell be the full list of extras of a regular A1, and a Haldex system on top of it making it even heavier. It also looks to be a bit taller and seems to have slightly bigger rims than the GP, of which none help with agility. Heres the thing, the legendary Quattro system is obviously better for anything but dry weather. People should know this by now. If it was pouring rain, the A1 would easily demolish the Focus, and beat the megane and GP with ease.
The best car isn't always the fastest car, I've never driven the new mini in any specification but I can say something about the Renault albeit it in the non lightweight version (R26) and its a very confidence inspiring and feelsome drive while still remaining supple over bumps on our crappy b roads, it does lack power really compared to some newer cars but thats fine by me, as it feels fantastic....
Power isn't everything! and it show's, all great Hot Hatch's though, I'd love to have seen the Corsa VXR Nurburgring there, partly because it's got great reviews and it would be interesting to see it against them on track, great Video EVO :)
I think this would have been a very different & more accurate race if the track wasn't so cold & wet. How many races are run on cold, wet courses? The Focus RS 500 would have pulled away from any of these easily if it was dry.
Doesn't cost less though. Look at cost to own and by the time you sell the Mini is the cheapest here by a fairly long way. Initial sale price is only looking at a small part of what they cost. Depending how long you kept them the Renault is most expensive or 2nd to the Focus. You're also less likely to be sat in the Mini waiting for a tow truck.
The idea was nice and the video is cool, overall. But, if the Mini and the Audi are brand new, they should have used the Renaultsport Megane 265 and the new Focus ST. Just to keep all cars new.
Great vid!!! I've said it before+I'll say it again... Tiff Needell is my hero!!! As for the cars,what sucks is on the Mini is the only 1 of these 4 available here in the USA,2nd the Ford would stomp the others with the right tires and lastly I feel sorry for anyone foolish enough to buy a Renault. I'll stick with my Subaru Impreza RS Coupe,it runs circles around everything else in ANY kind of weather :-) Cheers from "across the pond" !!!!
Tbh did look like it was drying out for the mini and audi a bit?! Like the fact the mini is limited to 2000 units. Prob only be 300/400 in the uk... Id like to see a rematch fone in the dry tho
Mini - best looking, fastest and good sounding too. Love it.
Minis are underrated. I bought one r53 for a cheap run around, couple of cheapish mods and I'm loving the thing . They can be pretty quick cars
They are great when it comes to handling, only thing that is very similar is Ford Fiesta which has little bit more loose rear end, easier to pivot around corners. Even the ONE versions are fantastic to drive. In between R53, R56, F56, R56 is the one to go when it comes to chassis, they are sublime. But reliability is horrible, those Prince engines are oil thirsty and have timing chain and GDI issues plus electrics aren't great too. Better to buy Fiesta ST. I have Fiesta and MINI. Fiesta is rock solid in compare.
I have an 02 base model with 115 bhp and that thing is a BLAST! It’s like a damn golf cart
Couldn't agree more. I've also bought an r53 recently and the thing is an absolute hoot. I can't keep the smile off my face when I drive it!
@@wellwh0 had a few fiestas do like my fords , prefer the mini allday I find with decent tyres they handle better and you cant best that charger whine. I've had my r53 couple years odd never had a prob fsh and it's only ever had tyres and brakes oh and a wiper motor. Some good ones out there
youngsta Young nah not my thing. mk7 Fiesta has much more cummunicative chassie in compare to r56, imo. But we all have different opinions and tastes, so who am i to judge ;)
@Bob yes Fiesta has twist beam, but it is great. Only benefit I see in compare with R56 that with independent rear r56 is more comfy on those very high but short speed bumps...also it has more stable rear end. But Fiesta is very predictive so that isn’t a problem.
(all in all Fiesta mk7 and R56 are great chassies, one of the best) 🙂
I never tire of watching Tiff enjoy himself behind the wheel.
Minis were built from the ground up to be a sports car that happened to be practical hatchbacks. That's what makes them great great cars to drive.
No they didn't are you mad?
Terrific stuff - the Mini's a far more serious performance machine than I'd expected. As picked up in the article, maybe it's the graphics cheapening the look? Great video, guys.
6:35 great car control over there..
About time the Mini got some air time. We hear all about Renault, Vauxhall, Citroen and Ford when the real hero hatch was mini all along and not surprisingly so.
Im in love with the Mini GP2. Thinking of buying one in the future :)
My uncle brought one second hand a couple of days ago can't wait to get in it
I own a GP I love it it's the most fun car I've ever driven. Miata, BMWs, audis, Mercedes. The mini is just too much fun
I have a mini countryman sd and even though its bigger it still goes round corners so well.
That Megane is soo serious and planted, it looks the ultimate and true hot hatch!
The little Minis have been doing very well at the SCCA Autocross races, the car kinda been dominant in Stock class here in America.
Christ that Mini is impressive.
A list Tiff Needell is 1 of the best steersman out today !
One of the best videos on this channel !
What a legend, Tiff is 61 years old!!!
The MINI GP is such an amazing car! I own one too and it's such a good fun machene :)
Hopefully I can take it to a racetrack one day to have a comparison of my normal video I made about it!
I love my R53 S
Thank you all very much for this video
Long life to the Mini!! Really good video guys. Continue with this amazing work.
The best youtube shootout I've seen in ages! Great production and spectacular driving! Keep it up EVO!
This video is exactly what driving pleasure is all about, great stuff !!
MINI know how to make a car. No question’s asked.
I have a question
Keep it to yourself then please.
@@GeoffreyCapes DON'T GET RUDE 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
He’s still not going to answer your questions! 😜
@@GeoffreyCapes who Cares I didn't need your stupid opinion anyway😀😀☺☺😊😊😅😅😆😆
Nothing will ever handle better than a MINI!
Enjoyable to watch folks run some streetable hot hatches at the limit and in such proximity. I would have enjoyed seeing all 4 cars on the track at once.
Evan Moon look up best motoring
Cool cars, great driving, brilliant banter = another fantastic Evo vid!
Im looking to buy a Mini, now. But, I have to point out one thing. Having extra power is great, knowing what the surface will handle is up to the driver.
You gotta luv the Needles, the original Stig without the silly race suit & expensive Simpson lid.
Apparently the Mini OWNED the Subaru WRX Sti and the Subaru Cosworth Type 25 STI Spec C around the Nürburgring. Google: List of Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times
Moto Guzzi
Yes, 8 minutes 23 seconds. Five years later it’s still an awesome car. Couldn’t be without mine, no complaints even when it rains haha 😆
R56 MINI, the last of the good looking and driving MINIs. The new ones are watered down and bloated, FWD BMWs!
RSR Auto true that. The GP2 got a fair bit of stick at launch for being 'soft' compared to the GP1 but if they make a GP3 (which I hope they do) it will really cement the GP2 as the epic car it is.
I still prefer my r53 to any of the mini’s
I just picked up a 2013 R57 JCW and I haven't stopped smiling all week. Honestly more fun than my 2006 Elise R and so much more comfortable.
R53 all the way for me. Made for nothing but being driven hard. As raw as it hets
I have an r56 and I love it it's so much fun
Anything with the words "Hot hatch" and "Tiff Needell" is going to be entertaining. Good stuff guys
The mini is the best
Shame it looks like a dogs dinner.
i agree bro. audis are wonderful fun to drive, the awd is unrelentingly grippy, and very very reliable. ive had mine for a while now, and still love it. gets great fuel economy with the turbo 4 and nice power when i need it. AUDI FOREVER!
Great video! I really liked the format of this one.
Go MINI Go yeh !
Mini is always king of go kart handling.
I love how Low Weight can kill High Power
In the market for a mini gp2 hence why watching this video, a slight tune on them adding 20/30 bhp and it can become a real weapon.
Didn't expect to see so much oversteer from that Audi, and the lap time for the Mini was surprising too.
It wasn't a boggo A1 they were driving. It was the A1 quattro - a limited run sporting £40k four wheel drive version.
Tiff is the man.
Conclusion is that you must have the right tool for the job at hand. Probrably in faster tracks with long straights the powerful, but heavier cars would do better than in that curvy circuit. Nice vid!
Tiff should be in every automotive piece of video on TH-cam...actually, just every video
If I had to pick one of these four, I would buy the MINI.
MORE TIFF PLEASE!!!!!!!
Surprised they used the R26.R instead of the new Meagane 265 Cup or Trophy..that Mini looks like an absolute lunatic! Not surprised the Audi lost, it's much to heavy and over complicate with the 4wd. It shows it's not really needed in a hot hatch.
The "fight" at 4:33 is one of the most funniest scenes I'vs ever seen on youtube. Not only they're great drivers and know their shit about cars, they're also hilarious!!
Actually like all of these cars. So telling that the RS500 is slower than the R26R. Love the Megane but that mini looks like a hoot!
I would choose the Focus RS500. Such a fantastic car!
Great video! I love seeing 'uncle' Tiff. That A1 is stunning but ridiculously expensive. Scirocco R still wins out for me though if it had more power it'd be perfect
I love this fight was really fun to watch !
I love this video. All these car channels and journalists hate minis for some reason especially the top gear chanel. They race the 4 door mini Cooper s against top performance competitiors
Needles and Meaden - great paring. Want to see these two race McLaren P1 and Ferrari F150 this year!
Good point, but it looked as if the mini was a bit more fun.
Wow, says a lot. The boring A1 vs the epic Mini? Also, the Renault just wipes the floor with the Ford. Love it.
Mini is running road legal track day tyres too
Was it not a lot wetter when testing the Ford and Renault compared to the Audi and Mini?
Really liked this video. Almost as good as the eCoty 2012 video!
Not because i own one, but the Mini is EPIC
they should invite tiff more often
The DS3 is fairly similar to the Mini, and the DS3 Racing is still surpassed by the Mini JCW GP. evo likely just wanted to bring the best of the best to this comparison.
4:55 there - megane has the a/c on. On track, it should be off, because that means all of the power is available.
what a nice vid, thank you Evo !
The MINI JCW GPII !!
Tyres and Conditions, The R26.R is such a fast car around a track.
I don't understand how the underpowered Mini with an anemic 215hp car beat the RS 500 with 345hp????????
I don't understand how the 2 wheel drive Mini beat the All-Wheel Drive Audi A1 Quattro in wet conditions???????
I don't understand how the Mini beat such a track focused car like the Renault Megane R26.R, I mean it comes with dedicated track tires???????
Just Wiki'd the Mini GP it beat the Lotus Exige S, Sube Sti, Mitsu EVO, BMW 335i & the 911 around the fabled Nürburgring!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!
Now that was some real testing, superb video , although i am a fan of the FORD i admit the renault and Mini are better in track day point of view, still there are things like on a straight line nothing can match the FORD 4 mathcin it we need an audi rs3 or bmw m135i, also the sound of FORD is the best, so all these cars are good but hats off 2 Mini and Renault, Ford better diet and work on the mechanical slip differential to keep the rear stable, Audi as usual superb quality crap
Reliable, affordable, fast, fun. They all have at least one but none have it all.
hell of a video. Tiff is awesome!
Awesome video. More like this please
The Megane 265 and the ST are more recent hot hatches yes, but I don't think they're as extreme as the RS500 or the R26R. And bare in mind both the A1 Quattro and the Mini JCW GP are limited run production cars.
This is my kind of show!
you have a good argument when you say that Audi and Merc are both not fun to drive. I'd argue that the manual shifter in an audi is pretty bad as well - feels rubbery and not precise. Audi is even worse at cornering due to the positioning of the engine in front of the wheels - audi without quatro is really a big turn off when trying to push on a twistie.
Mercs have a better ride quality than Audis (which are too firm) while BMWs offer the best in handling and still better ride than Audi.
I had the GP2, i LOVE this car, but i wanna send it for buy a A1 quattro, it is ok for 2022 ?
MiniFTW!
fu
@Obi-Wan Kenobi fu
It always makes me laugh how the "legendary" Quattro system is always the slowest round bends. Audi, how about making cars that aren't so heavy and unbalanced. They always fall to pieces round a track.
They are not meant to be fast on the track, especially this A1 Quattro, there are only 333 of them out there and they are meant to be collected. It's still the most refined among all of them, yes it's not the best on the track but the best all rounder.
Fuck you
@@user-hs2hd7wp9g I disagree, The Megane is the best all rounder if you ask me.
Really, check out Audis IMSA , Transam, and Touring cars against supposedly "Better" RWD cars, it may change your mind, Audis dominate all these series with those "Slowest round bends" as you put it cars.. they are legendary because Audi proved that quattro was just as good on tarmac as they were on gravel.... you dont know much about motor sport do you?
probably because Audis always have way too much weight to actually be of serious use around a track. The GP doesn't even has rear seats iirc, meanwhile the A1 has what might aswell be the full list of extras of a regular A1, and a Haldex system on top of it making it even heavier. It also looks to be a bit taller and seems to have slightly bigger rims than the GP, of which none help with agility.
Heres the thing, the legendary Quattro system is obviously better for anything but dry weather. People should know this by now. If it was pouring rain, the A1 would easily demolish the Focus, and beat the megane and GP with ease.
Why did they take the R26R instead of the newest 265 RS ?
The best car isn't always the fastest car, I've never driven the new mini in any specification but I can say something about the Renault albeit it in the non lightweight version (R26) and its a very confidence inspiring and feelsome drive while still remaining supple over bumps on our crappy b roads, it does lack power really compared to some newer cars but thats fine by me, as it feels fantastic....
... but those rims! Just beautiful!
Great video! True too, I own borh the a1 and the mini (s line and s). The mini is better for me. I owned a megane gt also. Great car.
Yay, it's Tiff!
Tiff Needell overdrives EVERYTHING .. there's no subtlety at all to his driving ...
I agree, they need to get him back on topgear
On the dry in summer the megane would be first, why? It has toyo semi slicks fitted
dont fuck with mini on a track
Power isn't everything! and it show's, all great Hot Hatch's though, I'd love to have seen the Corsa VXR Nurburgring there, partly because it's got great reviews and it would be interesting to see it against them on track, great Video EVO :)
Love the tripod action! AWESOME!
Great video. I'll have the GP2.
I think this would have been a very different & more accurate race if the track wasn't so cold & wet. How many races are run on cold, wet courses? The Focus RS 500 would have pulled away from any of these easily if it was dry.
Fifth Gear has moved to the Discovery channel on Mondays & 8 pm (UK)
Why is there so much video noise? Shot a bit late at night?
A1 Quattro looks sensational!!!!
Audi A1 and BMW Mini are the best machines here
Doesn't cost less though. Look at cost to own and by the time you sell the Mini is the cheapest here by a fairly long way. Initial sale price is only looking at a small part of what they cost. Depending how long you kept them the Renault is most expensive or 2nd to the Focus. You're also less likely to be sat in the Mini waiting for a tow truck.
The idea was nice and the video is cool, overall. But, if the Mini and the Audi are brand new, they should have used the Renaultsport Megane 265 and the new Focus ST. Just to keep all cars new.
Tiff & the Mini are akin each other. "Fast & Cheeky"
Nice video and great driving!
They were doing extreme hatches and the 265 isn't that yet.... I hope Renault do the same with it as they did the R26
Great vid!!! I've said it before+I'll say it again... Tiff Needell is my hero!!! As for the cars,what sucks is on the Mini is the only 1 of these 4 available here in the USA,2nd the Ford would stomp the others with the right tires and lastly I feel sorry for anyone foolish enough to buy a Renault. I'll stick with my Subaru Impreza RS Coupe,it runs circles around everything else in ANY kind of weather :-) Cheers from "across the pond" !!!!
Tbh did look like it was drying out for the mini and audi a bit?! Like the fact the mini is limited to 2000 units. Prob only be 300/400 in the uk... Id like to see a rematch fone in the dry tho
9.15 Tiff calls the Focus a Fiesta!.. sort it out Tiff lad!..
Great Video