I owned a '10 GTI for a short while as I was searching for my TDI. Fundamentally they're the same car, with basically just the engine being different. The engine, however, makes all the difference. The GTI might've had decent pace, but it sounded coarse, harsh, and uninviting. It sounded and felt like it would rather commit suicide than be a good driving partner. I couldn't bond with the car solely from the engine character. The heavy unsprung mass from the suspension also gave the car a clompy, awkwardly footed feeling. The TDI is much lighter on its feet [lighter wheels and brakes], but its engine is also much more interesting, fun, and soulful. It's slower overall pace is more than made redundant by the fun interaction with the engine. As such, the GTI, while the jack of all trades, is definitely the master of none.
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Originally Posted by ryude
I have a GTI, it has a lot of body roll in the corners and there is tons of wheel hop in first and second gear if you try to use power in a turn. It's ok I guess, not a sports car but a sporty hatch.
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What model year? The Mk6 has very well controlled body motion, though it still has some wheel hop when you drive it like a retard.
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Originally Posted by PAImportTuner
A comparable car would be MINI Coupe S 2 seater or even the Cooper S. Don't let the 180hp and fwd fool you. At WOT it hits like 205 tq with overboost at 1600rpm holding off til like 4500rpm where HP takes over. The are fast cars that handle beautifully. *Note I'm biased having owned 2 MINIs and still currently own one..
I'd also like to mention that a perfect new compact car garage would be Lotus Elise, BRZ/FRS and MINI Coupe S.. all that is missing from this equation is a new awd, lightweight, turbo car.
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Ughk, have you actually driven the MINI Coupe? It's the worst handling MINI, and the worst R56 derivation, ever. Dead steering feel but still torque steers, twitchy chassis, yet understeers madly when driven cleanly. It is an embarrassment to all GP's and R50/53's around the world. The Countryman All4 is fun; the Coupe is frustrating. Who cares that the engine has some torque once you push the sport button and smash the pedal to the floor and eventually the turbo catches wind of your intentions. The chassis stinks. Case closed. Oh, not to mention the Coupe is completely absurd looking. Styled after the designers' son wearing a backwards baseball cap? This might've been slightly cool for a minute in the 90's, but not now. The only new MINI worth buying right now is the Countryman All4, and that's only out of desperation for brand loyalty, not because it's genuinely good.
So, back to the GTI. No, it's not competition to the FR-S/BRZ. The GTI is for people that are willing to give up connection and fun for a bigger box that can haul a bunch of stuff, and 4 people comfortably. It's no sports car.