Motortrend: 1989 BMW E30 M3 vs 2013 Scion FR-S vs 2013 Volkswagen GTI!

[Dorb]

Originally Posted by MattF

This argument is invalid.

Somebody has to drive the ugly cars too.

[Tanuki]

Originally Posted by MVJ1975

There is no way on earth I would buy a 30 year old BMW E30 over a new car, with a warranty, with modern safety features, and Japanese reliability, for the same money, or over the GTI for that matter.

I love the E30. I owned an E30. But it was a rattletrap and required constant attention to keep running, and that was in 1996.

The E30 is fine for a project or a toy car, but not as a daily driver.

I don't agree at all. I had an 87 325 and that car was unstoppable. Did wonderful in the snow, solid car and mine was rattle free. Add in the leatherette seats and you have a 30 yr old interior that looks almost like new. Biggest issues I ever had were electrical, but that was things like lights in the dash going out. As for drivetrain, the car was a champion.

[Pete156]

Here's my daughter's '87 325 next to my BRZ. It is rust free with 320K on the ODO, runs fantastic. They compare spec-wise so closely it's silly. Don't know how the VW got invited to this comparison.

[Dadhawk]

Here's the bottom line for me, and only me.

I plunked down my money to buy what met my criteria for a practical, low cost sports car. To me, that means two things:

When I'm sitting behind the wheel with my foot to the floor, it looks like, feels like and acts like a sports car.

It also means when I stand outside the car, walking away and look back, I know I'm the proud owner of a sports car.

I've not driven a GTi in a long time, so I can't comment on whether or not it meets the first item as well as an FR-S. I can guarantee you though that on the second bullet the GTi (and any other econo-hatch cum race car) does not, can not and will not satisfy that requirement.

I will gladly concede 1 or 2 seconds on the track for bullet one to meet bullet two.

[Pete156]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

[INDENT]When I'm sitting behind the wheel with my foot to the floor, with the traction control off, it looks like, feels like and acts like a sports car.

I agree with your post, with one slight edit.

[OnkelC]

Having driven a MkVI GTI with DSG for the last three years and about 100.000 kilometers, I chose the GT 86 as its replacement because it's just more fun.

[Steve86]

Maybe it's because I don't have a family, but the 86 is just as practical as the FWD hatchback I used to drive, and way more fun.

I don't see the need for three extra doors, comfortable seating for 5, or all that extra room. I use those things <5% of the time I drive. I can easily fit my girlfriend, my cat, my bike, and groceries. My point being, practicality is a relative term in my eyes.

[Mr.Jay]

LOL GTI guy chooses what he thinks is the winner before driving either car, proclaims the faster car is easily better then chooses the slowest car as the best.

go eat dog shit haha

[D1cker]

This video sucked and the lap times are pretty abysmal.

[MVJ1975]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

I don't agree at all. I had an 87 325 and that car was unstoppable. Did wonderful in the snow, solid car and mine was rattle free. Add in the leatherette seats and you have a 30 yr old interior that looks almost like new. Biggest issues I ever had were electrical, but that was things like lights in the dash going out. As for drivetrain, the car was a champion.

My '85 316 was not only not unstoppable, it randomly wasn't even startable. I suppose if you get one that's been well-kept it'll be okay, but honestly, would you really want to chance it? Even if you get one that works well you've still got a 30 year old car with no airbags and no traction control. And they're not cheap anymore, either. They're actually going up in price.

Like I said, I like the E30. They've got a lot of character. But they really weren't anything incredible back then and they certainly aren't now. They're simple, fun, light RWD cars... just like the FR-S.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Steve86

Maybe it's because I don't have a family, but the 86 is just as practical as the FWD hatchback I used to drive, and way more fun.

I don't see the need for three extra doors, comfortable seating for 5, or all that extra room. I use those things <5% of the time I drive. I can easily fit my girlfriend, my cat, my bike, and groceries. My point being, practicality is a relative term in my eyes.

This is what the comparison really comes down to, what do you need and what do you want.

I still maintain that my #2 new car to buy is an Abarth and if I was serious about it I would have thoroughly vetted the GTI and MINI before buying.

When all you want is two door hard top twisty fun, the Toyobaru is hard to beat.

[Brzetto]

Originally Posted by Pete156

Here's my daughter's '87 325 next to my BRZ. It is rust free with 320K on the ODO, runs fantastic. They compare spec-wise so closely it's silly. Don't know how the VW got invited to this comparison.

Because Motor Trend staff are middle aged yuppie VW fanboys who secretly know that their limp wristed Volkswagen sucks but do whatever they can to make it look good including skewer comparison tests and bring in overzealous super conceited euro jerkoffs like this guy.

[iLuveKetchup]

Geez so much anger because someone has a different opinion about the 86.

[_hollywood]

GTI as tested 32k
FRS as tested 25K


soooooo how are they even close? rwd 6 speed manual lightweight vs fwd 4 door dsg trasnsmission...

this was a horrible comparison, the M3 is cool but also does not relate to this car from a competitive standpoint, waste of a video

and it should be turbo vs turbo, NA vs NA, sticky tires on the frs would of beat the GTI lap time, hell give them both identical race tires and still i bet the frs would edge it out...