This argument is getting really old.
I've already aired my opinion on Kells thread (why was it deleted btw?!

). The short of it is the valver has 35bhp & a sniff of torque over the 8v. That's fact. But at the end of the day, they're the same car. You're only going to notice any difference on the drag strip. On a road, private or otherwise they'll be nothing in it.
As for a MK3 keeping up with a 'flat out' Cooper S? I very much doubt it, it's a small engine but it goes (and handles!) far more than a weighty MK3!

The only argument really is the 16V engine
looks more impressive!
