Dear Gizzy, I do not mean offence to the female species. And maybe I can redeem myself somewhat by explaining that the women must be driving enthusiastically in the first place to get the Mini upside down and thus defying the laws of gravity. I merely chose women as my victim/culprit due to the fact that most Mini's nowadays are driven by women leading to an opinion that Mini's are girls cars. Which makes me sad
Please do not judge me too harshly.
You've really upset my feminine side. 
I'll feed you to the polar bears. 
Whilst the Golf is indeed a fantastic car I feel it is too big. Perhaps Snoopy can best understand as he has the original GTI to compare. The Mini drives where you want it to and feels like it is doing so purely because of less weight and mechanical design.
The GTI drives where you want it to but feels like it is doing it more because of the technology in the car.
I'd say the mk6 GTI feels more like a GT than a GTI. It covers distance like nothing else. The GTI literally ate Europe without thought. But in doing so kind of shot itself in the foot. See where I think the GTI is best is doing everything...
...good looking (modest with a hint of sport)...
...quiet...
...efficient...
...economical...
...fast...
...comfortable...
...dynamic...
but the GTD does all these also. Having owned the petrol GTI for almost a year now and having done 25k miles in it I would honestly say that I would take the diesel next time. (am1w I know you are thinking the same - or were). The GTI just doesn't feel anymore like the nippy point and squirt hatch that the mk1 was.
And unfortunately... it's the point and squirt that I really wanted from my GTI.
(Of course those who have come from larger cars will find the GTI plenty nippy and light footed. For me the GTI is a bigger car than my last so I find it larger and more cumbersome. Therefore my opinion may not resonate with you)
Apologies Kev for kinda highjacking your'e thread.
Man V.W.K suddenly appears and Kills Man P.G.T.I. ruthlessly and efficiently and Man A.M.1.W. readies the polar bears
