Golf v Sub

[les88]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwJa1fftrr0

les

[gordon]

All we need now is for similar review of R32 against new STI

[anarchycamp]

STI should annihilate the R32, id still prefer an R32 though

[balkanac]

i had my friend's 05 STi over the weekend. It has some things done to it, like full exhaust, intake, chip, boost controller, coilovers, leather seats, etc. It pulls like mad, its much faster than than my R, but its so uncomfortable, noisy, everything shakes. build quality is way better in the R. his car is fun for a day, but after that, it gets annoying

[gareth_oau]

The WRX/STi is designed for drivers like Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder(for you naive ones out there, theyre blind)

[datracer99]

i had my friend's 05 STi over the weekend. It has some things done to it, like full exhaust, intake, chip, boost controller, coilovers, leather seats, etc. It pulls like mad, its much faster than than my R, but its so uncomfortable, noisy, everything shakes. build quality is way better in the R. his car is fun for a day, but after that, it gets annoying

What he said..

The current Wheels mag has a review of STI vs R32.

STI is waaay faster, but not a good day to day car.
R32 is much better quality and a more refined drive.

[mrx]

Wheels and Motor both have this in the latest issue, page 72 of each (was reading them in the supermarket otday). Somehow they get totally different times, etc.

[mhh]

What he said..

The current Wheels mag has a review of STI vs R32.

STI is waaay faster, but not a good day to day car.
R32 is much better quality and a more refined drive.

But didn't they give 4 stars to the STI and only 3.5 to the R32? The way I read the comparison they preferred the STI.

[jb747]

The way I read the comparison they preferred the STI.

I suspect their preferences are directly related to the advertising paid by the respective makers. I think motoring journalists lost all touch with the world quite some years ago. Far too many 'tests' are little more than rewording of the makers brochures.....

[amrjon]

But didn't they give 4 stars to the STI and only 3.5 to the R32? The way I read the comparison they preferred the STI.

Not in MOTOR. They gave 4 to STI and R32 (and 3.5 to S3). Summary comments were as per datracer99 above.

What were the times in Wheels?

[GLR32]

Hmmm...

It's interesting to see/read these articles, but I wonder how relevant they really are. I just see the two cars as fundamentally different, in that they appeal to different people.

The STI is just a performance car (IMHO).

The R32 is a luxury car with a bit of performance mixed in.

Perhaps the S3 is a better balance of both, but it comes with a bigger price tag and is pushing the 'value' equation.

I've ordered an R32 as I wanted a luxurious feeling (small) car that had a bit of go too. I would never have considered an STI. Yet, I'm sure there are plenty of STI owners who would never consider an R32 because the performance stats don't add up.

[mrx]

It's interesting to see/read these articles, but I wonder how relevant they really are. I just see the two cars as fundamentally different, in that they appeal to different people.

The STI is just a performance car (IMHO).

The R32 is a luxury car with a bit of performance mixed in.

Perhaps the S3 is a better balance of both, but it comes with a bigger price tag and is pushing the 'value' equation.

I've ordered an R32 as I wanted a luxurious feeling (small) car that had a bit of go too. I would never have considered an STI. Yet, I'm sure there are plenty of STI owners who would never consider an R32 because the performance stats don't add up.

That may be true, but the original video clip is of a standard WRX vs. GTI. They seem to appeal much more to the same type of buyer. Especially since the styling of the latest rex is so naff. I, for one, went out to buy a WRX (not the current model) and came home with a GTI.

[gareth_oau]

I suspect their preferences are directly related to the advertising paid by the respective makers. I think motoring journalists lost all touch with the world quite some years ago. Far too many 'tests' are little more than rewording of the makers brochures.....

I think thats an unfair comment. I've read Motor for years and Ive never gained the impression that their biased, especially by advertising dollars. Its true they might review a particular model more often than others, but I dont think there is bias in their comment. I know recently theyve been incredibly rude about the looks of the new WRX - if yr comment was correct, they would seem to be shooting themselves in the foot there.

You need to appreciate whats important to you vs the reviewer, they might not give a lot of creedance to something thats incredibly important to you. these guys often flog cars in speeds way in excess of what I'm likely to do - so it doesnt bother me if my car doesnt stack up - its only academic.

[bailey78]

Ummmm I agree with JB747......

I have driven an S3 and my partner is about to take delivery of one.....there is no way in hell that the car is 3.5 stars out of 5. (As rated by MOTOR)

Laughable.

I guess in performance terms - yes the STI should be 4 stars with the R32 and S3 equal-ish (S3 quicker than the R32)

In terms of actually living with the car - (and I'm sure this is where the R32's 4 stars came from) the S3 should have been marked up considerably. The S3 is an amazing drive and boasts an equally amazing interior. When you are forking out 60-70k on a car you want a "special" interior. The subaru doesn't even come close to the Mondeo let alone the S3/R32.

If I were to mark the cars on a balance of performance/aesthetics:

R32 4.5 stars
S3 4.5 stars
STI 4.0 stars

Laying out 70k for a subaru with that interior is just silly...

(Thats just my $0.02)

[LiFers]

there is no way in hell that the car is 3.5 stars out of 5.

Depends on your priorities. The S3 has a $65,000 price tag, and that's just the base, start optioning Sat Nav, Sun Roof, your selection of interior and exterior colours and trims and you're adding $10k easy.

Not that I've driven one, but all the reviews I've read say the S3 motor is great, but in order to gain the extra power, it loses the extremely linear style of the GTI version of the TFSI, it's more peaky.

Granted an STI starts at $60k, but you can get a WRX from $40k. If you get even almost S3 performance at $40k, in my book the value poposition gives it more stars than the S3 (unless the S3 can levitate).