10 GTI vs 09 WRX

[Poe]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/63745/vo...arison-review/

As an owner of a 09 WRX and having driven the MK6 GTI this article further reinforces that I bought the wrong car and should have waited

[JohnA]

i wouldn't say you bought the wrong car, unless you are regretting your purchase.

The article is very good, and agree that the WRX is still best bang for buck performance wise.

Depends what you want out of a car.

[Poe]

I didnt know about the new GTI comming out when I bought my rex, would have much prefered it over it. As the article says the GTI is the more complete package

[AusScare]

I didnt know about the new GTI comming out when I bought my rex, would have much prefered it over it. As the article says the GTI is the more complete package

The all wheel drive is pretty good though, cheaper to mod too. I don't know about anyone else, but the difference in spirited daily driving is so worth getting an awd car, vw's answer to this is just another $25k...

[Leagle]

Its a good thing (for Subaru) that the 0-100 times favour the WRX, otherwise (price aside) WHY would you pick the Subaru?

[Super]

I think the article hits the nail on the head - the two cars represent two different approaches to achieving the same thing. The WRX seems to be that little bit stronger on performance, while the GTI has better exterior styling, interior quality and feels more 'solid'.

But then the GTI is significantly more expensive, so you get what you pay for really.

[jessv3]

I dont see DSG vs Manual as a fair comparison .. why not just Manual vs Manual???

I do quite like the current shape wrx hatch, i looked at a few of them but then decided against it once i had a sit inside.

[pulse]

But then the GTI is significantly more expensive, so you get what you pay for really.

duno whether its significantly more expensive, its listed at $44,160 (manual) driveaway on the subaru website which is pretty similar to a base golf gti manual ($44,979 driveaway)

[oshuyi]

i'm surprise that the wrx has a better ride than the gti.

[philthy]

Its a good thing (for Subaru) that the 0-100 times favour the WRX, otherwise (price aside) WHY would you pick the Subaru?

A number of people on here like to modify their cars. Once you add more power to the GTI the limitations
of FWD become apparent.

The golf is a much nicer place to sit in. I find the seats in my colleague's 09 WRX pretty flat and
uncomfortable. Mind you it goes like stink .

[Corey_R]

The all wheel drive is pretty good though, cheaper to mod too. I don't know about anyone else, but the difference in spirited daily driving is so worth getting an awd car, vw's answer to this is just another $25k...

I don't know - I've found the mod prices for VW cars to be pretty reasonable.
Also, if the 'just another $25k' is in reference to the Golf R, I think you should do your research a bit better before making comments. The R32 was only $15k more than the GTI, and the Golf R is likely to be even less of a price difference. Plus, you get additional specification for that as well, so....

But then the GTI is significantly more expensive, so you get what you pay for really.

As pulse pointed out, the difference is less than $1k on base prices. Although it is true, that each car gives more focus on different priorities.

A number of people on here like to modify their cars. Once you add more power to the GTI the limitations of FWD become apparent.

Having owned a 205kw / 430NM Golf GTI, I can assure you that the limitations of FWD are a further target than you'd think. There are a few great articles on APR's Stage III 300KW/500NM GTI's. One of them was memorable (Motor magazine?) because the article started with the author "falling off his chair backwards from laughter", and ended with the same author declaring that this car was either "the best track car for every day driving" or "the best every day driver that you could take to the track" that he'd had the opportunity to drive.

APR also have a few Stage IV GTI's running around for those that find 300KW / 500NM isn't enough.... but don't ask me what Stage IV means or what it produces, because it's not an official package on their site.

[Super]

duno whether its significantly more expensive

The base prices are the same, but if you look at a cost of each car with similar specs there's quite a gap. Basic example..

WRX (with xenons as standard) with leather seats & sunroof = 40,000 + 2,500 = $42,500 RRP
Manual 5 dr GTI with xenons, leather, sunroof = 40,500 + 2,000 + 3,300 + 1,900 = $$47,700 RRP

Thats $5200 extra for the GTI ie more than 12% more expensive than the WRX.

[philthy]

Having owned a 205kw / 430NM Golf GTI, I can assure you that the limitations of FWD are a further target than you'd think. There are a few great articles on APR's Stage III 300KW/500NM GTI's. One of them was memorable (Motor magazine?) because the article started with the author "falling off his chair backwards from laughter", and ended with the same author declaring that this car was either "the best track car for every day driving" or "the best every day driver that you could take to the track" that he'd had the opportunity to drive.

APR also have a few Stage IV GTI's running around for those that find 300KW / 500NM isn't enough.... but don't ask me what Stage IV means or what it produces, because it's not an official package on their site.

If that's the "tuner shootout" motor I have a copy of at home, I remember the comment "wheelspin everywhere" in the article. And the 0-100 times were > 6 seconds with hoosier semi slicks and an LSD.

My chipped polo with far less power is annoying enough to drive in wet weather. Never mind something with 300 HP.

When a car launches (forward) the weight distribution shifts from the front to the back, which is why FWD cars have such a forward weight distibution in the first place. You can argue with physics all you like, but the WRX will always be better at putting down big power.

P.S. I note you have an AWD golf on order.

[gareth_oau]

Philthy - Guy, who built/owns the GTI also commented that the Hoosier tyres were run cold and werenot given the opportunity to warm up. He stated next year they would run normal road tyres (if I recall correctly!!)

[Corey_R]

If that's the "tuner shootout" motor I have a copy of at home, I remember the comment "wheelspin everywhere" in the article. And the 0-100 times were > 6 seconds with hoosier semi slicks and an LSD.

My chipped polo with far less power is annoying enough to drive in wet weather. Never mind something with 300 HP.

When a car launches (forward) the weight distribution shifts from the front to the back, which is why FWD cars have such a forward weight distibution in the first place. You can argue with physics all you like, but the WRX will always be better at putting down big power.

P.S. I note you have an AWD golf on order.

Nah - this article was purely on the APR Stage III SEMA Golf GTI.
If the car in the article you're mentioning is the car I'm thinking of, then that is a pretty lame time that Motor achieved given the times that the owner of the car is able to achieve. I think some inexperience is showing up there, or there was some problem etc.

I found out that the Stage IV APR GTI has 390kw/627NM!!! (343kw/550nm at the wheels). It's 20 to 100kph acceleration (as per youtube) is hilarious. Yet as soon as it changes gear at 100kph, the acceleration from there to 300kph is mind boggling for a 2L car!

But yeah. Your chipped Polo, like mine, is annoying in wet weather. The Polo GTI is a much less capable car, and is no comparison the even the MKV GTI as far as its ability to delivery power smoothly, and control weight transfer during acceleration. A 205kw/435nm Golf GTI is a far easier car to drive than the standard Polo GTI (110kw/220NM). Switching the Polo GTI to Stage I (154kw/328NM), although amusing, does require a decent amount of concentration to launch correctly.

So anyway. If all you're focused on is 0 to 100 times, then AWD will always win. But what I'm trying to say is, that the Golf GTI is a very capable car, and upgrading it to a Stage I or Stage II kit is well within the abilities of the car, and the abilities of its well worked FWD system, and the ability of probably your grandmother to drive it. My 60 y/o mother drove my Stage II GTI several times without issue

Edit: Ooh, I just saw that Gareth has posted to confirm my thoughts about that Motor article.