a GTI owner review of the new WRX

[WhiteRabbit]

Here is an update from the WRX Forum:

Some were understanding / Supporting:
"I didnt think it was particularly biased. Yes he compared it to the GTI, but I got the impression he wanted to like the WRX and was looking forward to driving it. Thought his post was relatively articulate compared to some of the drivel that people write in car forums. And I thought a lot of the points he made were pretty valid."

"Having owned both a WRX and GTI - both have their good points. GTIs do handle well when on the move and nothing beats the sheer blast you get from the AWD launch of a Rex, especially on a wet day. Standard equipment (stereo and asthetics of interior on the VW) and layout and looks **** on Subaru (my MY05 for example sat about 3 inches too high stock). "

"I'd sum it up by saying the VW is very capable but the WRX is 'edgier' (well the MY05 was). "

"I'd agree with pretty much everything the guy writes. but for me it all comes down to numbers: $$, 0-100 and servicing. Sure the GTI is a good all rounder, perhaps too good at everything except excitment and DSG???? give me a manual shifter anyday. Nice ladies car" !!!(Ladies Car)

"Ive said it once I'll say it again. Subaru have never made a car that appeals to the general public in the past, and now that they have made a attempt to do so, there going to loose all the people that have had them in the past.

"I don't think till now there has been people who have bought a WRX on looks alone."

"I tend to agree, to me that seemed like a pretty fair appraisal. Pity some of our Rex guys can't take even an ounce of criticism, even when it appears to be fair. "



Some Were less impressed:

"I have looked at that forum before. I love VW's, but some posters there remind me of the poor guys that used to sit up the front of class whilst the rest of us fired spitballs/peashoots into the back of their heads."

"Those guys are utter feucktards! "

"Motor's test of the GTI vs. MY08 revealed even ol' Betty was a better driver's car."

"back when I bought my WRX I looked at the GTI, I think it is a really nice car. I didnt find the seats comfortable and the ride was a bit ."

"Kinda funny really ... I didn't buy the MY05 for its looks, I bought it for the bang-for-your-buck hoonage.

Anyway, I think that the current Golf looks pretty ordinary as well."

I Think my Explosion of G's broke the back of my Review (Passion of the moment I guess, I don't generaly get anymore than 1 G in accelration):

"His summation was probably fine until the "G" comment"

"The GTi is a great car, but there is no way I would pay any attention to someone that talks of "explosion of G's" after driving one..."

""Instant explosion of G's"?? What with? Your 140-odd kW of FWD fury? "

All an All, I was quite impressed with how those took my comments about their beloved WRX, and I think there is a good bunch of people in that forum, Maybe we should Orgnise a VWwatercooled + WRX.com.au Cruise

[RhysQ]

wow there are some real tools on that site, but it's interesting to read to 'real' comments made by the ones who actually know what they are talking about.

i find it funny how the one that calls us feucktards has an avatar of himself driving recklessly in a suburban street.... thumbs up to him

overall i reckon they took the review pretty well, it was definitely worth being leaked to their site to hear the other side of it.

[Sharkie]

Bottom line is ....

WRX makes you feel special 20% of the time .....

GTI makes you feel special 80% of the time .....

Which would you rather have ?

[KWICKS]

Most of them have pre MY08 WRX's, much better cars than the MY08 WRX. A real competitor to the GTI in performance and space. The MY09 addresses some of the performance issues, but its still smaller and very poorly finished inside.

I own a Subaru (Liberty Spec B) and a VW (GTI). One look at the new WRX was enough to turn us away. And there has been precious little said about the stigma associated with the WRX - my Mrs wouldn't be seen dead in one.

We ordered a GT Sport but VW couldn't deliver so we ended up with a GTI. I think the two cars that we came closest to buying when changing from the GT Sport were the Audi A3 2.0T and the R32, while the Ford Focus XR5 was a solid car as well. The current WRX just didn't enter the equation.

It's proof that constant improvement (kaizen) is required to stay in the game, unfortunately Subaru did not improve the WRX when it moved to MY08.

[Blitzen]

Good stuff.
As for the Barina SRi - didn't that one win Wheels COTY and Motor BFYB?

Yeah, COTY 3 years running(02, 03, 04), and BFYB 2 years running(03, 04) in its class and out right too I believe (I have to look it up, but I have the magazines).

[Greg Roles]

Well I could have gotten a new WRX at next to cost thanks to a good mate being a Subie dealer principal....and there was still no way I would drive one.

[WhiteRabbit]

Ok, So here is the latest jokes of my G comment on the WRX forum, I have to say; I found it very funny

[Greg Roles]

I think you should trademark it, you're starting a trend!

[bazzle]

Bottom line is ....

WRX makes you feel special 20% of the time .....

GTI makes you feel special 80% of the time .....

Which would you rather have ?

My MkV R32

Bazzle

[nismo23]

hahaha
word gets around!

http://www.wrx.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=54098

was that you wr?

No bites yet though

HEHE, this freeballer23 is a bit of a stir

[nismo23]

Looks like the thread has a bit of momentum in suby land...

[GTI POLO]

Im reading this and thinking... hmm a bit biased..

WRX would really leave a VW Golf GTi Flapping in the wind..

I used to have a 05 Audi A3 147kw 2.0T with DSG, same drivetrain as GTI.. It had plenty of punch but if the WRX toom aim at you, it would destroy you..

I much rather like the big boomy top end rush of a turbo, not the baby turbos running out of puff as revs rise.. Thats what happens with the GTI, lets be real.. (im talking stock for stock). People used to ask me if the audi was even turbo or not.

On the street, the low down torque is nice, but when you plant the foot, the VW doesnt deliver much more as it gives you 75% performance with just a whiff of throttle whereas the WRX gives you a slap in the chops for tickling the go fast pedal.

I also had an XR6T, they have big turbos, again nothing down low before the boost arrives, but when it did arrive, whoa you would know about it.

[3Putt]

Anyone remember first year maths at uni?

Just overlay the torque curves of each car on each other, and all will be revealed.... they would be very different indeed.

Horses for courses, as they say.

"Useable torque" says the Golf man, as the Rex man responds "look at the scoreboard pal!"

As for the Mathletes out there, do i hear anyone citing "area under the curve"? That may determine the real winner here.. maybe..

[VW Convert]

Im reading this and thinking... hmm a bit biased..

WRX would really leave a VW Golf GTi Flapping in the wind..

Don't think there is much doubt about that.

I wouldn't knock the WRX but really comparing a GTI to a WRX is comparing chalk and cheese. I get great enjoyment from every day driving in the Jetta (I know, I know it's not a GTI) but I would not enjoy driving a WRX every day, characteristics are totally different. Of course if the opportunity arose to take a WRX for a fang.........that's a different story!

As they say, it's horses for courses.

Cheers

George

[ericablack36]

WRX review

Hello
My first post.

I have been in the market for a hot small car for some time. Upgrading a base model Subaru Impressa, that my wife uses as a daily runner. I wanted a new car that was a suitable day runner for her plus had some poke when I got behind the wheel for spirited driving or the odd track day.

I looked carefully at the WRX, the Golf GTi and the Renault Clio. The Clio is a mightly little car with Brembo brakes, a great suspenson set up and a punchy and high reving naturally aspirated 2.0l engine with a close range 6 speed box. It is great fun to hoon around town and would be a lot of fun on the track. In the end, I decided against it.

The 09 WRX is a big improvement on the 08 WRX (which was deemed the greatest dissappointment of 2008 by MOTOR magazine). The 09 WRX is quick and quite a thrill when you hit hard the loud stick. The brakes and the handling are not quite up to scratch - but then again, Subaru reserves for the STi good handling and braking capability (and improved performance). I might be completely wrong here, but in my view, Subaru needs to improve the handling and brakes of base WRX so that it is more competitive against the Golf GTi. An improved base version of the WRX would bring it much closer to the level STi. Subaru could either upgrade the STi or discontinue it (as it has discontinued involvement in WRC.) A discontined STi would surely disappoint some people, but many WRX owners like to modify their cars and decisions about performance enchancement could be left up to them. The 09 WRX is a much more useable car around town than the Ralliart which is becalmed till it pushes past 2,000rpm and then it takes off. It really is a stop, start affair about the town - and the sales staff I dealt with readily acknowledged as much.

In the end, I chose a GTi despite its lack of horsepower compared to the WRX. It is tractable at low revs, nippy and handles like a dream. A good car need to performance on three fronts: go fast, brake and corner well. The WRX wins the straight line race, but the GTi handles and brakes better.

If the Pirelli version was available in a manual gearbox, then, for my purposes, it would be the ideal car for an acceptable daily runner and suitable occassional track car.

The 09 WRX is still a serious competitor to the GTi and I would not be surprised if WRX sales really take off.

Unfortunatly, the new WRX design has almost universally upset traditional Rex enthusiasts. I would have to agree with them. There are major advantages to defining a style and then reinventing, revising and modernising it over time - as is the case with the Golf, Porsche 911, Rolls Royce, BMW, Mercedes, the Mini and so on. By doing so, car manufacturers can invest in making incremental improvements because the benefits of such innovation can be realised over the longer term.

The alternative approach is to adopt a totally new design every decade or so. This has been successful for some manufacturers (Holden, Ford, Toyota etc). I personally prefer the former approach because by retaining a particular styling, customers are not only buying a car and a manufacturers reputation, but they are also buying heritage.

Heriage certainly matters to VW as it is possible to seeing the family resemblence between the current Golf model and first 1970's Golf model. The Golf is not a beauty but it has become iconic; and iconic is something the Rex can now never be.

My new GTi arrives 30th December and I look forward to joining Golf track and social events.

I was nearly an WRX owner, but every person I asked for advice about which car to buy said: get the Golf. And so I have.

I look forward to enjoying the Dub culture