WRONG CAR/RIGHT CAR ONLINE
http://www.topgear.com.ph/features/columns/wrong-car-right-car-online
T HE PICks
Our first stop is the Mini dealer-
ship—always a nice lively place to
visit. Apparently, Don has been
here a couple of times to inspect
the British brand’s lineup. The
third-generation Mini Cooper is
bigger, bolder and, thankfully, more
user-friendly than before, with a
choice of three- or four-cylinder
turbocharged engines depending
on the variant. And because this
is Mini we’re talking about, there
are many individual options and
customization programs that can
really break the piggybank!
A few months back, we pitted the
Mini Cooper against the Beetle,
and the VW came out ahead by the
narrowest of margins. We praised it
then for its newfound solidity, heft,
sense of purpose, and surprisingly
good driving dynamics—all this
despite the Mini being the real
performer. Ultimately, the Beetle
won because it was the more
well-rounded car. Don, however,
is looking for something more
specific, more focused and more
brash. Will the Beetle lose out to
the Mini’s charms this time?
A short skip and hop away from
the Volkswagen BGC showroom
is the Audi dealership. The A3 has
won numerous international awards
for design, safety and engineering,
and it’s hard not to fall in love with
its slinky silhouette and impressive
tech. The combo of the turbopetrol
mill and dual-clutch transmission
offers impressive efficiency and
power, and there’s also a 2.0-liter
turbodiesel available. Don likes
this Audi, but finds it too serious,
mature, and understated for his
personality.
While the FJ Cruiser isn’t exactly
a small, cute car, it’s an icon with
a rich, legendary history. The
original plan is to look at the Toyota
86, but because we’re using my
personal FJ Cruiser as transport for
the photo shoot, Don’s curiosity
is piqued. And because he visits
his folks regularly in Nueva Ecija, a
big, burly SUV is also an attractive
option. The FJ Cruiser is becoming
Toyota’s most popular model in its
local lineup, but is it special enough
to compete with the likes of the
Mini, the Beetle and the A3?
VERDICT: BOTCHI sAys
As a toy/play/project/feel-good
car, the Mini is hard to beat. It’s
a real go-kart on a nice winding
road. So, Don’s final choice is
pretty good. But for me, the
most ideal car that has the best
balance of pedigree, practicality
and performance is the VW Golf
GTI, which Don also looked at.
In typical German fashion, it’s
quite understated, but you have
to be a real car guy to see beyond
the exterior and realize what it
is you’re paying for. My second
choice is the Audi A 3 —it shares
many architectural parts with
the Golf, but it’s also available
with a diesel option.
VERDICT: DON sAys
The Mini is my pick! It’s got
what I’m looking for. There’s
real personality in the car,
the customization program
can really make it unique, it
drives like a dream, it has all
the tech and gadgets I want,
and it’s very safe thanks to a
load of safety aids. The size is
also just right for me given my
sometimes unpredictable route
and the tight carport at home.
And despite the modest three-
cylinder turbocharged engine,
performance and fuel efficiency
are both impressive. It’s not the
fastest car, but it suits my driving
style perfectly.
MINI COOPER
Price: P2,200,000 (Hatch)
Power: 134hp @ 4,400rpm
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,250rpm
VOLksWAGEN BEETLE
Price: P1,590,000 (1.2 MT)
Power: 104hp @ 4,500rpm
Torque: 175Nm @ 1,400rpm
AuDI A3
Price: P2,790,000 (1.8 TFsI)
Power: 180hp @ 5,100-6,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 1,250rpm
TOyOTA FJ CRuIsER
Price: P1,798,000
Power: 268 hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
PROs:
. (^) iconic and timeless silhouette
. (^) modern and cozy interior
. infinitely customizable
CONs:
. expensive for a small car
. tight rear seats
. almost-nonexistent cargo shelf
COMPATIBILITy RATING
PROs:
. (^) also easily recognizable
. (^) improved powertrain
. bigger cargo space
CONs:
. cramped backseat
. lacks an outgoing nature
. transmission can be jerky
COMPATIBILITy RATING
PROs:
. (^) truly premium-feeling
. (^) amazing transmission
. classy looks
CONs:
. lacks distinction
. too understated
. not enough bling
COMPATIBILITy RATING
PROs:
. (^) cheapest of the four
. (^) unique styling
. go-anywhere ability
CONs:
. mass-market image
. difficult to fit in Don’s carport
. huge for city use
COMPATIBILITy RATING
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