WRX or GTI?

[dgunay]

Forgot to mention in the previous post. Wait for the new Focus RS. It comes with 2.3L 350 hp Ecoboost engine + AWD.

I would highly recommend a RWD or AWD. Keep the fwd for getting groceries.

American muscles are also fine, but no way they handle better than a WRX, or any kind of sporty AWD.

I wouldn't compare GTI to WRX/STI, GTI is a hot-hatch fwd compact car and some of its' competitors are Mazdaspeed3, Civic Si, or Focus ST. You'd get slightly better gas mileage, better interior, and slightly cheaper compared to a WRX.

 

[JetStar]

Back in 2013 I was considering similar cars as a fun to drive commuter car that got decent mileage. I ended up with a 2-door 2013 GTI DSG built in Wolfsburg, Germany . I like the trade off between sticker cost, gas mileage, utility, and performance. I see you are in Ft. Hood, Texas. Does it snow much there?
I drove them all. I don't think you can get a Subie with a hatch now? I wanted a hatch. The Golf R was nice, but the cost and gas mileage hit was significant. I liked the Subaru, but again the gas mileage wasn't as good as I wanted. Maybe not a big deal now since gas is so cheap (It'll stay that way forever right?). The AWD wasn't a deal breaker for me, since I have a perfectly good Toyota Tacoma 4WD to drive when it snows. I live out in the country where you need ground clearance to get through.
Almost 3 years later, I'm still happy with my decision. The GTI fits my needs perfectly, and have never been back to the dealer since the day I drove it off the lot (knock on wood). The new Focus ST and RS look interesting to me. I'd be more interested if they came in a 3-door.

My advice, drive them all, the longer the better.

 

[Mr Nice]

Most important question:

Will the wife and kid(s) fit in the cars the OP listed as possible car choices ?

 

[Gasbuggy]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
OP, I think the ST is worth considering too, though it's not my taste. If you are into the 4cyl turbo thing I would look at the ecoboost mustang.

Rear wheel drive and they rip



..until the unbalanced drive shafts destroy bearings in the diff... (my understanding based on the 3rd hand symptom descriptionsi've gotten)
of course that my just be my brother's unit.
2016 EcoBoost, auto, with the performance pack. purchased last sept.
within the last month or so, he started feeling a strong vibration, and hearing a grinding/growling noise while driving.
last weekend, he put the car up on blocks, rev'd it up, and the whole car was shaking.

apparently a known issue, but ford hasn't found a fix/issued a TSB yet, and when the cars are coming in, it's the old, "we can't find anything wrong" routine.

some guys he works with have subies, and while trying to help him diagnose the problem, have taken him out for a quick Hoon/joyride, and now he is considering trading in the mustang(and selling his other 2 mustangs) and buying a WRX.



I haven't heard anything on the forums but maybe the 5.0 has a different drive shaft. There is a plentiful aftermarket for mustang drive shafts. $8-900 for a 1 piece aluminum. Not cheap, but an option. Factoring the whole cost of the car a Mustang can be had for less new than a WRX so the cost of an upgrade is negligible.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
Originally Posted By: earlyre
Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
OP, I think the ST is worth considering too, though it's not my taste. If you are into the 4cyl turbo thing I would look at the ecoboost mustang.

Rear wheel drive and they rip



..until the unbalanced drive shafts destroy bearings in the diff... (my understanding based on the 3rd hand symptom descriptionsi've gotten)
of course that my just be my brother's unit.
2016 EcoBoost, auto, with the performance pack. purchased last sept.
within the last month or so, he started feeling a strong vibration, and hearing a grinding/growling noise while driving.
last weekend, he put the car up on blocks, rev'd it up, and the whole car was shaking.

apparently a known issue, but ford hasn't found a fix/issued a TSB yet, and when the cars are coming in, it's the old, "we can't find anything wrong" routine.

some guys he works with have subies, and while trying to help him diagnose the problem, have taken him out for a quick Hoon/joyride, and now he is considering trading in the mustang(and selling his other 2 mustangs) and buying a WRX.



I haven't heard anything on the forums but maybe the 5.0 has a different drive shaft. There is a plentiful aftermarket for mustang drive shafts. $8-900 for a 1 piece aluminum. Not cheap, but an option. Factoring the whole cost of the car a Mustang can be had for less new than a WRX so the cost of an upgrade is negligible.


QA1 will build you a CARBON FIBER drive shaft for the new Stang for not much more than that!!

 

[FutureDoc]

WRX

I am on the hunt for a $30K driver and the GTI did not even get on the the list to make it to the first cut.

I would grab a Fiesta ST over the GTI. The WRX will own it on both performance and reliability. GTI is better with creature comforts... but so is a Malibu. The GTI is just too much money for what you get. The point of a cheap hot-hatch is that it should be CHEAP.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
The point of a cheap hot-hatch is that it should be CHEAP.

The OP did not mention that it had to be cheap though.

 

[FutureDoc]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
The point of a cheap hot-hatch is that it should be CHEAP.

The OP did not mention that it had to be cheap though.


Sub $30K is the "cheap" zone for a new low-cost performance vehicles. Just the "list" provided it it was an qualifier. We are not talking 40K cars. Afterall, then you might as well toss in the Audi A3 with the same powerplant.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Sub $30K is the "cheap" zone for a new low-cost performance vehicles. Just the "list" provided it it was an qualifier. We are not talking 40K cars. Afterall, then you might as well toss in the Audi A3 with the same powerplant.

He also mentioned a CC which has a starting price of around $35K and Golf R that starts around $36K.

 

[FutureDoc]

Which will make it at about the same realm as a basic Audi A3 (if you can find one). I thought the CC comment was waffling as it was out of place unless they are really considering the GLI. Kinda an odd jump. I can see the GTI vs WRX comparison, the CC looked like an also-ran.

I still stand that the GTI is overpriced. Great all-around car but about $2,500-3,000 or 10% more than it should be. They focused on refinement which is "ok" but a stripper-model at the under $24K mark is where it should be. It is the 1986 Nissan ZX compared to the original. $26K is where it "starts" and that is too much for a FWD only "performance" car. Almost all other companies in the pricepoint offer more (power (Focus ST), value (Fiesta ST), or AWD/RWD... Toyburu, WRX, Camaro) for the same or less. You can also look at it the other was as some of the lux vehicles creep down to the pricepoint. Sorry, I just find it hard to spend $27-30K on a Golf badge.

 

[legandrex]

Interesting thread...I am thinking of dumping my 15 WRX manual for a 16 Charger 392 Scat Pack. In a perfect world I could get my hands on a Focus RS for $5,000 under MSRP but that is a $10,000 variance pipe dream. Also dealers around here think Golf R's are plated in titanium too so that car is out for me. I have enjoyed my WRX and I will say it handles quite a bit better than my MKVI GTI did. It has been bullet proof for 20,000 miles and hasn't drank a drop of oil. Has been through two track days too. However, it leaves me wanting more...it does so many things well but I guess it just feels kind of stale. Maybe it is the economy car looks and interior. I haven't driven a MkVII GTI but I would say it would be tough for me to decide if those two cars were my only option. Each has their attributes over the other one.