[Trashed675]

My girlfriend bought her current car (92 Acura Legend) 4 years ago for $1,000 and its starting to behave like its not entirely healthy anymore. Obviously at that price range, serious repairs aren't going to be worth it.

Shes not entirely car savvy so shes going off of my recommendations. We've figured that we're looking in the $15-20k range. It has to get better gas mileage then the 17/22 her Acura gets(shouldn't be difficult), and she wants a hatchback. It also has to be something that I wouldn't mind driving or be too much of an insurance gouge.

Also her parent's live about 2 hours away in the high desert of Klamath Falls, where there is still snow on the side of the road in some places right now. This is why i suggested the WRX.

So as the title states i've narrowed the finalists down to a MK5/MK6 GTI or a 2007+ WRX hatchback(non STI). I personally have a little experience with both VW and subbie, my brother owns an 09 STI, my father has an 09 Jetta TDI, and I've test drove an 08 R32.

GTI - PROS:
Good MPG 22/29
DGS (Shes not %100 comfortable with manuals)
Cheaper insurance
Nicer interior
More mature

CONS:
Not as "sporty looking" her words not mine
FWD(only matters for visiting parents in winter really)

WRX - PROS:
AWD
More POWWWWAAA(that goes in my pros list, maybe not hers lol)
Boxer rumble
Slightly more interior space
Looks "more sporty" hood scoop/wing etc.
More outspoken(?), for lack of a better term. Could be a + or -

CONS:
Not as good of MPG 18/25
No dual clutch option(i refuse to get an auto WRX)
Only available in hatchback form as 4 doors (she's leaning towards the 2 door GTI)
Used WRX's usually tend to be more abused.


Obviously i could toss this thread around on someplace like the VW vortex but I would think it would get a pretty bias response, so i'm throwing it out to you all.

What one would you pick and why? For you personally or if you were a 22 year old woman.

Any horror stories from either choice?

Any love stories from either choice?

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