Car for the girlfriend: GTI vs WRX

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by 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?

SOUND OFF BELOW

If I had a choice between those two cars and only those two cars.

WRX.

I don't care. WRX.



WRX.


Orgasmic boxer rumble.

WRX.

Look cool as fuck in that car. WRX.

Drive faster in rain. WRX.

AWD = Sexy WRX.

GTI = @ette 's fuel pump problem = Get WRX because WRX.

[ette]

Ok I love my GTI. Almost don't want to get rid of it when I get my BRZ. It's practical, fun, and everything I was looking for (other than RWD). But why not check out a golf R? With the AWD? The maintainence hasn't been that bad other than my evap leak. The hatch has enough room and it can haul ass. Also, my ex had a WRX and I grew to dislike it for the same reasons I love my car. The WRX is fun and all, but I wasn't used to the much stiffer suspension and even though I have a smaller turbo, it spools fast enough to enjoy driving around the city. The DSG is awesome, but I wish I had went MT. Hope the female rant helps :\

[Trashed675]

Originally Posted by ette

Ok I love my GTI. Almost don't want to get rid of it when I get my BRZ. It's practical, fun, and everything I was looking for (other than RWD). But why not check out a golf R? With the AWD? The maintainence hasn't been that bad other than my evap leak. The hatch has enough room and it can haul ass. Also, my ex had a WRX and I grew to dislike it for the same reasons I love my car. The WRX is fun and all, but I wasn't used to the much stiffer suspension and even though I have a smaller turbo, it spools fast enough to enjoy driving around the city. The DSG is awesome, but I wish I had went MT. Hope the female rant helps :\

I'd love to get an R, but they started at like 33k(?) only a year or two ago and i haven't seen one for under 28k yet, so still too expensive.

[BlaineWasHere]

The MKV/MKVI GTI is a way better car than the WRX. It's 85% of the performance of the WRX and twice as much everything else.

Are you looking for a tuner car or a nice fast daily for your GF?

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Trashed675

Well obviously i'm bringing my bias's into this(how could i not?). But her views aren't far off of mine. She got the Acura because it was her first car and it was what she could afford at the time, it was merely a tool, a means of conveyance, now she wants something that she can have a little fun in, while still remaining slightly practical.

They actually DID make auto WRX's, although maybe not anymore SEE .

True - they did make them for the first year or two after their introduction to the US, but they didn't sell very well, so they stopped making them. As a result, I'd be hesitant to get one (the rarity doesn't bode well for repairs if something were to go wrong with the transmission, and given the market for a wrx, it probably would hurt for resale value as well). I'd still probably lean towards the GTI though - its steering feels a bit better to me, the engine feels a bit more refined and smooth (though it doesn't have as much raw power), and the interior quality is a bit nicer. The WRX is somewhat raw, and kind of loud inside (especially at idle), which is great if you like that kind of thing, but it's kind of a polarizing factor (actually, one friend of mine just got a new WRX limited sedan, and another friend just got a new GTI, so I've had the chance to experience both recently). As for the WRX shifter? It felt fine to me. My friend ordered his with the factory short shifter, and honestly, it feels better than my Cayman (but worse than a new BRZ/FRS). I haven't driven one older than about an 09 though, so I can't comment with regards to the older models.

Back to the original point though - by all means, she should get a sporty car if that's what she wants. The original question you posted didn't really make that clear though - it sounded more like you were the driving force behind the desire for sportiness.

Another car possibly worth considering (if she wants an auto) is a recent Lancer Ralliart - the recent ones come with a halfway decent double clutch setup, and the engine is quite nice.

[Trashed675]

After much discussion, research and craigslisting we found a 2004(mk4) golf GTI 1.8T. 97k miles on the clock and its very clean and unmolested. To be perfectly honest, i'm a little jealous of the low end torque compared to my FRS, but we can't have everything.

This is her second car and the first manual, shes picking it up much quicker then i expected. The day she got it, she told me "I think this is going to be the start of a long lasting affair with GTI's". I'm sure in a couple years we'll be looking for a newer mk6.

She's happy, i'm happy.

Thanks for everyones input.

[DarkSunrise]

Congrats man! Having a GTI and FRS is a good combination, in my experience. They complement each other well.

[Trashed675]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Congrats man! Having a GTI and FRS is a good combination, in my experience. They complement each other well.

Thank you sir. I totally agree, FRS for fun, GTI for practicality, also fun too.

The only problem is that the tuning potential for a GTI is insane. For the 1.8t, $250 intake, $500 tune = 200hp and 240ft lbs(over 180/180). If you have a mk5 or newer with a 2.0t you start at 200/200, but the same $750 gets you 250/300 The FRS may get a little neglected when we upgrade to her next car haha

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Trashed675

Thank you sir. I totally agree, FRS for fun, GTI for practicality, also fun too.

The only problem is that the tuning potential for a GTI is insane. For the 1.8t, $250 intake, $500 tune = 200hp and 240ft lbs(over 180/180). If you have a mk5 or newer with a 2.0t you start at 200/200, but the same $750 gets you 250/300 The FRS may get a little neglected when we upgrade to her next car haha

Haha yeah I've been thinking about going stage 2 (downpipe + tune) on my GTI, which bumps power to 270/300. The problem at that point is FWD .

BTW APR is having their summer sale right now. Good time for a tune or CAI.

[Trashed675]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Haha yeah I've been thinking about going stage 2 (downpipe + tune) on my GTI, which bumps power to 270/300. The problem at that point is FWD .

BTW APR is having their summer sale right now. Good time for a tune or CAI.

Oh trust me, I know haha. The turbo's got 97k miles on it though and i'd really rather not risk it, not sure how long they last. I'll probably just throw a cone filter(for sound) on and call it good.