|
I bought a BRZ in 2012 when they first launched and recently replaced it with a 2018 GTI Autobahn. I had a kid this year and while I wish I could say the BRZ back seat is fine for babies, its not. Going from the BRZ to the GTI has been a lot of fun. The GTI interior is more refined and is a nicer place to spend time hands down. The lack of road noise stands out immediately. The Limited slip dif, adaptive suspension and powerful brakes are superb. I LOVE the torque.
The GTI doesn’t feel like playing racecar in that fizzy way the BRZ did and I may grow to miss that. I didn’t buy the BRZ for straight line speed but I have to admit over the years I got so tired of how gutless and buzzy the BRZ was. That said others observations about the GTI being an 8/10ths car is accurate. When my BRZ was new (and I was 25), The BRZ was exactly what I wanted and I was willing to throw it around on the street. Over last few years I found myself spending minutes instead of hours driving the BRZ at the limit. The BRZ always wants to be driven hard and I have found the GTI to be way less frustrating when stuck in traffic.
The BRZ handles better. That said I spent 3 hours carving back roads in the GTI today and it was a blast. Overtaking traffic is safer in the GTI (Most work trucks aren’t as fast as the GTI unlike the BRZ). Corner entry is all about keeping weight on the nose of both cars but the GTI’s brakes are stronger so you can come in hotter. Right at the Apex is where the BRZ’s Balance is a thing of beauty, but then at corner exit the GTI pulls way harder. Both are challenging and rewarding in their own ways.
TLDR – I’m old now and the BRZ is a young man’s car. If you like nice things or are thinking about kids get a GTI and you won’t be bummed.
|