a GTI owner review of the new WRX

[Transporter]

I would be biased, "I bought" a GTI

But Really, I have no doubt that it's quicker (not top speed wise, as the WRX has a 209km/hr top speed)

It was quicker, I looked at the dial and I was clocking 140 in amazing time (the dealer didn't seem to mind) but it just didn't feel it.

The fact is there were to much wait for the power, there is just so much of the rev range that nothing happens.

Mine is not a question of numbers, but a question of feelings. the GTI just feels more exciting to drive. well done on concentrating on punchy small turbo, rather than a laggy big one.

How could there be "to much wait for the power" if the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.3s? For what power do you wait less in your GTI than in WRX?

"Nothing happen up to 4,000 rpm".

Again something must be happening, if in 5.3 second you going 100km/h.

"Punchy small turbo, rather than laggy big one"?

Bigger one in WRX felt faster you had no doubts about it why would you care then about the size of the turbocharger?

No, really you don't need 6th gear to go faster than 209km/h.

I'm not defending WRX here; just your review doesn't make any sense to me.

[Tim]

How could there be "to much wait for the power" if the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.3s? For what power do you wait less in your GTI than in WRX?

"Nothing happen up to 4,000 rpm".

Again something must be happening, if in 5.3 second you going 100km/h.

"Punchy small turbo, rather than laggy big one"?

Bigger one in WRX felt faster you had no doubts about it why would you care then about the size of the turbocharger?

No, really you don't need 6th gear to go faster than 209km/h.

I'm not defending WRX here; just your review doesn't make any sense to me.

traditionally in a WRX you need to make the gearbox explode to get the quoted 0-100 times. Theyre not that easy to launch but in their rev range theyre very quick. Its pretty simple to digest when you think about it.


GTI is nicer as a daily drive because it will pull relatively nicely from low revs.
If youre driving 10 10ths and keeping the turbo on the boil the WRX would be much quicker no doubt.

[Transporter]

traditionally in a WRX you need to make the gearbox explode to get the quoted 0-100 times. Theyre not that easy to launch but in their rev range theyre very quick. Its pretty simple to digest when you think about it.


GTI is nicer as a daily drive because it will pull relatively nicely from low revs.
If youre driving 10 10ths and keeping the turbo on the boil the WRX would be much quicker no doubt.

In your opinion.

But it would be interested to see the review of the hard-core WRX owner

after the short test drive of the GTI.

[Mr Messy]

In your opinion.

Geez, wake up on the wrong side of the bed or what?

[Tim]

i dont think what ive said above is my opinion. Id consider it fact.
If you think its not correct then feel free to disagree based on whatever experiences you have had.

WRX STI does some things extremely well. And other things poorly. The GTI jack of all trades, master of none. Im not saying one is better than the other. Just two different cars. I can appreciate them both.

Its also interesting to take note of the amount of people that have switched from subarus to VWs after the release of the MKV

[Guest212]

In your opinion.

But it would be interested to see the review of the hard-core WRX owner

after the short test drive of the GTI.

Would go something like this:

"Heavy steering, bland interior, seats my parents would like (MEGA FAIL), great initial punch but no top& end feels slow. Rubbish cornering under power and ridiculous torque steer. No rally heritage I can think of, no sick bonnet scoop or bodykit uleh. Doesn't make my bro's attract the hoe's - how can i possibly build this car TUFF to attract MUFF? Overall epic fail, FWD for teh lose."

[WhiteRabbit]

How could there be "to much wait for the power" if the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.3s? For what power do you wait less in your GTI than in WRX?

"Nothing happen up to 4,000 rpm".

Again something must be happening, if in 5.3 second you going 100km/h.

"Punchy small turbo, rather than laggy big one"?

Bigger one in WRX felt faster you had no doubts about it why would you care then about the size of the turbocharger?

No, really you don't need 6th gear to go faster than 209km/h.

I'm not defending WRX here; just your review doesn't make any sense to me.

AM I IN SUBARU DOWNUNDER FORUM BY MISTAKE

Can I remind you of this video

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=MzB6C1MquLI

I know The new WRX is 195kw and stiffer than the one in the video which only has 169kw. but this was not a DSG GTI, which is faster.

Look in the end of the day, this is how the car felt for me. I don't like Holdens with V8s cause they are too big, some people like that. Some like R32s for their linear delivery, some like S3s for their turbo kick, some like 4wd some like RWD, etc, etc. For me I like a car to respond with full torque when I put my foot down, not one I'd have to put through a propsal and have to wait until 4000rpm came around

[jb747]

I've driven a number of Subaru products over the years, and come close to buying a couple of times. I'd have to agree that I've always felt that their interiors look and feel cheap...mind you, that's a trait shared by many other car companies too.

I don't like the amount of lag that is evident in the WRX. I know it gets up and goes really hard, but the empty bottom end destroys the whole feel as far as I am concerned. And I suspect that those really fast acceleration times aren't all that realistic. What do you need? 5000 rpm and sidestep the clutch; I guess that would work a couple of times.

But, I'm not a GTI owner either. I do like the GTI a lot, and if I hadn't listened to my wife, then I would own one. But she didn't like the power delivery in the GTI, so we went with an R32.

It's all horses for courses. We buy whatever we like, and it would be a bloody boring world if we all liked the same things.

[Transporter]

i dont think what ive said above is my opinion. Id consider it fact.
If you think its not correct then feel free to disagree based on whatever experiences you have had.

WRX STI does some things extremely well. And other things poorly. The GTI jack of all trades, master of none. Im not saying one is better than the other. Just two different cars. I can appreciate them both.

Its also interesting to take note of the amount of people that have switched from subarus to VWs after the release of the MKV

I'm one of people who switched from subaru to VW and I'm extremely happy with VW. I get impression from this review that somebody is making very cheap shot and mocking up the performance car with very good sporting results. I would definitely show some respect to WRX and write it a bit differently. I'm sorry but I can't applaud to such review.

[Transporter]

Geez, wake up on the wrong side of the bed or what?

Geez, good one.
The review just didn't feel right.

[Blitzen]

I sence a Polo GTI thread comming on!!!

[Sharkie]

I don't own either of the 2 but have also driven both now ........

and the WRX is actually painful to drive ..... its quality of plastics reminds you of a daewoo ..... and the lag is terrible.

For a WRX to get close to the posted performance figures you have to launch it really hard. Too few revs and it bogs down upon takeoff and then even a modded Polo has it for lunch.

Too much revs upon launch and you crack the glass gearbox ..... (well after a few ultra hard launches anyway).

Having just the right amount and getting through the sometimes notchy gearbox smoothly will reward you with an excellent time .... very similar to the posted figures.

I having driven a few WRX's over the years and never bought one. Why .... too much plastic and too peaky power delivery. A Golf GTI is a much better buy. Just need to be chipped to be competitive.

[nismo23]

Hmmm, maybe I should post the link to this thread in suby forum land...Should be worth a laugh

[Tim]

Hmmm, maybe I should post the link to this thread in suby forum land...Should be worth a laugh

They have forums for subaru owners?! When did they learn to read?!

[BuellFool]

"I having driven a few WRX's over the years and never bought one. Why .... too much plastic and too peaky power delivery. A Golf GTI is a much better buy. Just need to be chipped to be competitive."

Hmmmm. What happens if the WRX is chipped? I have owned a MY04 WRX which was chipped and it would spit my MKIV R32 out it's tailpile like the R32 was in reverse. It's easy to chip a WRX so that the midrange is fat.

Can't argue about the plastic.

What is the cost of a WRX v GTI?