RS vs GTI - New Top Gear Aus Magazine

[K1W1]

The Golf GTI is about as attractive to me to purchase as a Hyundai Getz it's simply not the size and shape of car I want regardless of how well it performs so to me comparisons are irrelevant. To others they may be and that is something that motoring journalists have to try to second guess when they do comparison tests. Just read the test with an open mind then forget it and get on with life.

[CanberravRS]

I test drove the GTI around the same time and was lucky enough to get a good long drive where i found some less than perfect roads.. This is where the vRS always eats up the GTI. The different weight ballance and more suited to Australian roads suspension in the vRS along with the imense space made it a no brainer to me..

Dont get me wrong.. love the GTI and admire the car allot, but i know i found it to be nearly as twitchy in the rear end as my Supercharged 2003 Cooper S was.
You just dont get any twitchyness with a vRS wagon.. its imensely forgiving. I guess thats due to the fact that the Czech Republic roads are as average as ours here in Aus, and therefore the different engineering specs work well here.
GTI Perfect on Perfect roads.. vRS Better in the real world of Australian roads.

[selurs]

The only comparison that really matters is the one you did when you bought your car. If reading an article like this makes you "angry" or other words to that affect, then surely that means it makes you feel bad about the decision you made? Why?

I don't have a family, yet I still chose the RS. I tested pretty much everything in the segment - from GTis (and Jetta 147s) to MPSs to XR5s, and the RS, in my opinion came out on top. I don't care what any motoring journalist says, the RS is the best car out of all of them. For me. That's the great bit too - I can't be wrong. If the best car for someone is a Hyundai Getz, then great for them. They probably have a very big house, or donate plentifully to charity. Or whatever. The important thing is that when shopping for a new car, people should try everything (that's the fun part anyway!), and make up their own mind, and with a review like this, they might just try the RS. They'll try the GTi, go "that was fun", but then maybe "hmm...it's a bit small", or whatever, then "I read that comparison the other day, maybe I should look up the nearest Škoda dealer". Then if they choose the RS...that makes it better than the GTi. For them.

Also, for me, I like the fact that Škoda isn't Volkswagen. It's all about sibling rivalry. The "little brother" always tries harder to impress, to stand out. Škoda will put more effort into their cars than VW ever would. VW know they make great cars and that people love them and as such could become complacent and rest on their laurels. Maybe this is beginning to show in the build quality and reliability (or lake there of) of VW stock. Škoda want you to think that about them too, so try twice as hard. Just my theory, but personally I'm glad I'm not driving a VW.

[bobski]

The only comparison that really matters is the one you did when you bought your car.

Too true, which is why it amazes me when people buy cars after a trip around the block with the dealer. But I suppose some people just see cars as a way to get to the shops.

Anyhow, I think any review in Top Gear or Motor needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Neither magazine have ever pretended that they judge cars primarily on their functionality and liveability. While they will mention the highlights and lowlights, most of their scoring is based on how well it drives at 9 or 10/10ths (which IMO is fair enough if you understand the magazine you are buying). The GTI is definitely more performance based, so driven in anger, I would expect it to come out on top. The latest motor magazine laments the poor lowspeed road quality of the GTI without its optional adaptive chassis control (one of the great inventions are the long-term reviews the magazines do now as it brings out liveability problems not found when they are thrashing them through a mountain pass).

This is why I read the letters to the editor in those mags, "how dare you rubbish XYZ, have you even driven it"... makes me laugh I enjoy the tribalism cars whip up!

[bobski]

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=69079&vf=2

OK -I find that one a bit harder to understand. In all the points they make, they seem disappointed with the Subaru, but praise the Scout and it seems the only photos they have are of the Subaru.... I'd say maybe the Scout didn't look good enough, but... its the new Subaru, the only beauty contest it would win is one against the Stavic...

I'm crying "paid advertisement".

[TuNeS]

Too true, which is why it amazes me when people buy cars after a trip around the block with the dealer. But I suppose some people just see cars as a way to get to the shops.

I spent 2 years looking at cars (not driving them) and test drove a petrol DSG RS around the block and bought a manual wagon version moments later. I didnt need to drive the car to know it was awesome. I had done my homework.

I dont regret my purchase in any way. At this stage, in 2.5 years I will be selling it and replacing it with the new version. If you can name a car around the $40k mark that is practical, quick, reliable, fuel efficient and looks the business - I will consider it.....I just dont know of one.

[bobski]

I spent 2 years looking at cars (not driving them) and test drove a petrol DSG RS around the block and bought a manual wagon version moments later. I didnt need to drive the car to know it was awesome. I had done my homework.

I will agree research is important; I did lots of it, but you never know what you're missing if you don't test drive them all back to back. I may have bought a Mazda 6 (highly acclaimed) if I hadn't also test driven an RS.

I'm glad you are happy though, it's happy RS owners that reinforce my purchase decision.

[woofy]

I have both, but the prior version 6, the new one had hardly anything over the old one so looked for something else. The new release 6 is a bit closer now, but they both have their pros and cons, the 6 is bigger and the boot is different dimensions so wider things fit better, but taller things don't. There is more width all round, but really a Passat/superb is the equiv for a 6 anyway in size. I have had the 6 coming to 4 yrs and in the short 1 and a bit years with the Skoda though I have been to see the dealer a few times over issues I just never saw with the 6. I have had a minor rattles from day one, and nothing at all in the 6.

Its the usual thing though, euro cars have issues, Jap cars can be more boring, but just work.