I just sold my 2011 jetta tdi 6 speed manual for the frs. Although the jetta has a more grown up interior, the materials in the frs are nicer except the seats. The dash in the frs is soft vice the hard plastic jetta tdi. However, the seats in the frs look cheap compared to the nice pleather tdi seats. Overall I'm happy I traded but I miss my 44 mpg but I'm getting 34 from the frs.

I do miss the torque and initial acceleration in the tdi but the frs is night and day difference in the fun factor.

No leather here but I wish I had it, VW leather interiors are top notch now, the top trim of the passat looks like a $50k+ car interior now. When the fiance get the TDI its not like its going anywhere though really it just won't be my daily anymore. I kinda wanna rip out the 2 cats in my midpipe and get a stage 1 tune (170hp, 290tq) before I give it to her but she'd kill me if it gets even worse as a commuter car lol

Just a flash on the TDI will give you great torque with no physical mods. I thought about doing it but never did.

i agree! you bought it initially for all the right reasons. you cannot duplicate them in the frs/brz. this is fact.

i had an engine problem with a 2001 vw eurovan. was just out of warranty, (car was $32,000.00 out the gate!)
called vw of america.was told to practically go f**k my self! offered zero help.
repair was in the $7,000.00 range.needless to say,i'll NEVER buy "german" again,and neither will any of my relatives,or friends.

Me, too...

On-topic:

I sold my 2008 VW Rabbit to buy the FR-S. I originally wanted the GTI, but decided to be conservative and get the Rabbit instead. I didn't make that mistake again. I'm sure in a few years i'll have to get something with more room, but that's what STI wagons are for, right?

I concur with all of the comments about the VW interior being higher quality overall. In fact, you'll find lots of little things lacking on the FR-S, like no hood struts, no 12V power port in the trunk, donut spare, and an unusable analog speedometer :).

What it lacks in features, it makes up for in driving experience. Also, you're keeping the VW in the family, so you won't miss out on any of the conveniences like having seating for 5.

@BlueDubbinTDI

Recommended first “mod” for FRS/BRZ, especially if you’re keeping the TDI. A label on the dash reading:


NO!

NOT the diesel pump … go to the GAS pump!


:)

I came from a MKV GTI (DSG).

Other than the FR-S being the slowest car in the world I'm happy with the switch.

You're saying this about the car that still keeps traction control on when you "turn off" the traction control? lol

A TDI VW is almost the exact opposite of an FR-S. With the TDI you have incredible low end torque, amazing highway cruising MPG, and an engine that will last forever.

The FR-S is a sports car, it shines on twisty back roads, drinks premium gas, and has a first gen subaru boxer engine that only delivers power above 5k rpm.

I really liked the old diesel volkswagons when they were lightweight and simple, not uncommon for them to last a half million miles, they were incredibly slow but handled well for FWD. I was a fan of these 50 mpg diesels, but the modern TDI's are heavy complicated machines that do one thing well : long distance highway driving. If you put 30k highway miles a year on a car the TDI is tough to beat.

I elected to get an FR-S because for a modern car it is fairly straight foward engineered and it drives country backroads very well. Fuel economy is poor, and I don't expect the boxer to last half as long as a diesel long block. I think being a low volume japanese built vehicle it could suffer the same sort of maintenance issues that the German cars face with high parts cost and labor.

I think for you driving a TDI going to an FR-S will be a big disapointment in low end torque, you will have to work the gears a lot more, much more driver engagement.

The two cars couldn't be more different, you may experience serious culture shock.

VWs are notorious for having electrical issues.. so what if the engine lasts for years when the rest of the car shorts out or leaves you stranded and broke!
So you think since the FA20 is a new engine, that it wont last? That toy/subie didnt take what they know and learned and applied it to this engine?
I came from a BMW M3 and before that a C6 Z06.. Yet i dont find the FRS to be lacking in power to where I would want to drive a VW anything..
So you have to rev it higher to get more power.. and shift it more often.. thats the whole idea of these cars!! To DRIVE them and enjoy wringing out the power and feeling the shifts..
You act like the thing cant get out of its own way.. thats not the case.. Im finding the 86
to be a joy to drive.. it handles, runs smooth and make me smile everytime I drive it..
what makes it even more enjoyable is the fact that I didnt spend alot of money to have this much fun.. !! It looks and runs great.. backed by two companies known for building reliable cars that last and dont break the bank..
not to mention im getting great mileage.. and have u checked the price of diesel lately?
get real..

No I just meant that its an entirely different driving style, with my FR-S I have to shift a lot. With my diesel jetta I didn't. I hope/expect the FA20 to last a long long tie but it will never last as long as a diesel.

The main point is the cars are so different that a comparison is a bit silly, the cars are opposites and serve different needs. I dropped my diesel Jetta when I moved to a hilly curvy road rural area it just wasn't suited, the FR-S is perfect however, you do need to shift a lot. While a torquey Diesel is like driving an auto.

But if I had a 60 mile straight highway commute a deisel would be boring but the logical choice. Take car of ne and a German diesel will go a half a million miles before needed a new long block, but I do agree about the complicated electrical issues, thats just poor over engineering.

Just want the original poster to know that if he has to ask for a comparison of the two vehicles he really needs to take a step back, they are like polar opposites in function.

Another thing is the diesels don't get good milage on rural hilly areas, they struggle and tend to have more problems, they are built for highways.

just about every model car the japanese make is rated "much better than average" in repair records over time! if you are wanting value over time,the japanese get it done. the germans? they tout ''superior engineering" as their advertising mantra,yet they have "zero" cars that possess even an "average" repair record over time,along with high maintenance,and very high initial purchase pricing..no joy there! american cars are better,however they still lag behind the japanese..ask yourself why is this? for overall value at purchase,and over time,the japanese are tough to beat!..just sayin'

This looks alot like a car in my neighborhood. By anychance do you live in the greensway?