Subaru wrx at vs golf gti at

[EQAddict]

What would you guys choose? Driving experience is the number one priority. This is purely a mental exercise. Im not in the market for either.

[jdjoeydean]

I prefer Golf, but the price is too much.

[erick_214]

Subaru wrx...

[freeloader]

Subaru wrx cvt

[fireice2]

Wrx any day.

[foresterx]

wrx for the driving experience. in terms of performance, it will run circles around the gti it won't even be a competition. the gti isn't as powerful and as connected to the driver as the wrx.

[RF02]

even looks i'll still go to wrx haha =)

[jut703]

WRX MT. If it has to be an automatic, Forester XT.

If I wanted a sports car I'd like to be as involved as possible in the driving experience.

What's the point of youth if you don't spend it tiring your knees out in EDSA traffic with a stickshift?

[niky]

Having driven both... though the GTI only on the slalom course... if the driving experience is most important... the GTI.

The WRX is faster. No doubt about it. Acceleration is about equal on the butt-dyno... and the real-world dynos are backing that up. The GTI makes about 220 whp on most dynos. The WRX makes just over 220 whp. But the WRX definitely has an advantage in cornering. Very sticky Dunlop SportMaxx tires, bags and bags of grip, a stiffer suspension, more composure, active torque-vectoring that uses the brakes to trim your line through a corner... it's a very potent machine, and calls into question why you would ever need an STI.

The CVT is good, too. It allows you to stay under boost through corners... though take off is a bit slow. Certainly a much better daily transmission than the manual.

-



The Golf, well... that was quite impressive. Fantastic acceleration with the DSG. All the shifts bang into place quite nicely (other seven speeds feel too "tame", this one feels solid without being harsh) and there's a nice "braaap" between shifts as the motor backfires for a slight anti-lag effect. I'd say it actually feels more linear and revvier than the WRX, which has a rather soft top end.

Handling is great. The steering is not twitchy, but it's very sharp and precise, and the weight is very good. I'd say it's better than the WRX, but that might be because of the tires. The GTI uses less grippy Potenza S002s, which sacrifice some cornering grip but communicate better than the SportMaxx. (I feel that the tires also corrupt the steering feel of the Mazda3... the 1.6 has nicer steering than the 2.0R) Brakes are just as potent as in the WRX, but the Golf is lighter. The GTI also feels more willing to rotate than the WRX. (again, less grip) But it isn't a lift-off oversteer machine like some hot hatches. The suspension is too soft for that... the rear too stable.

For the experience alone, the GTI is more tactile, more refined, and more delightful to the senses than the WRX... which is buzzy, stiff, noisy, and drones on the highway. But if you relish speed above everything else, the WRX is a much more hardcore machine than the GTI.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Having driven both... though the GTI only on the slalom course... if the driving experience is most important... the GTI.

The WRX is faster. No doubt about it. Acceleration is about equal on the butt-dyno... and the real-world dynos are backing that up. The GTI makes about 220 whp on most dynos. The WRX makes just over 220 whp. But the WRX definitely has an advantage in cornering. Very sticky Dunlop SportMaxx tires, bags and bags of grip, a stiffer suspension, more composure, active torque-vectoring that uses the brakes to trim your line through a corner... it's a very potent machine, and calls into question why you would ever need an STI.

The CVT is good, too. It allows you to stay under boost through corners... though take off is a bit slow. Certainly a much better daily transmission than the manual.

-



The Golf, well... that was quite impressive. Fantastic acceleration with the DSG. All the shifts bang into place quite nicely (other seven speeds feel too "tame", this one feels solid without being harsh) and there's a nice "braaap" between shifts as the motor backfires for a slight anti-lag effect. I'd say it actually feels more linear and revvier than the WRX, which has a rather soft top end.

Handling is great. The steering is not twitchy, but it's very sharp and precise, and the weight is very good. I'd say it's better than the WRX, but that might be because of the tires. The GTI uses less grippy Potenza S002s, which sacrifice some cornering grip but communicate better than the SportMaxx. (I feel that the tires also corrupt the steering feel of the Mazda3... the 1.6 has nicer steering than the 2.0R) Brakes are just as potent as in the WRX, but the Golf is lighter. The GTI also feels more willing to rotate than the WRX. (again, less grip) But it isn't a lift-off oversteer machine like some hot hatches. The suspension is too soft for that... the rear too stable.

For the experience alone, the GTI is more tactile, more refined, and more delightful to the senses than the WRX... which is buzzy, stiff, noisy, and drones on the highway. But if you relish speed above everything else, the WRX is a much more hardcore machine than the GTI.

[EQAddict]

Thanks Niky. That's a great nuanced comparison . Now I wish they brought the R version in........

[andre]

Got a chance to drive the wrx cvt today. It was great! The tyres grip the road surfaces very well during hard acceleration. A little turbo lag but once you hit above 2000 rpm you'll be slam in your seats. I like the stiffness of the chassis too. I also got to play the paddle shifters in S# mode. Now this some serious shifting unlike those wanna be Honda paddle shifters. I thought CVT transmission are boring but boy am I'm wrong!
One thing I dont like is the sound of exhaust. Not much grunt and rumbling. You need to fork out additional molah for some serious exhaust note.
Overall its money worth spending for a great performance car.

[Egan101]

From a price standpoint, the VW Golf GTi is nearer to the Lexus IS350F. How does the Golf GTi stand up to the IS350F?

[1D4LV]

WRX pa din...

[niky]

From a price standpoint, the VW Golf GTi is nearer to the Lexus IS350F. How does the Golf GTi stand up to the IS350F?

Have not driven that one. If it's like the GS I drove before, it should be good (they share a common platform). Of course, the Golf is nowhere near as luxurious or powerful as that... the IS350 is a grand bargain due to JPEPA pricing, a real 335i competitor for a whole lot less... but I think I'd forgo the F for a better ride.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

From a price standpoint, the VW Golf GTi is nearer to the Lexus IS350F. How does the Golf GTi stand up to the IS350F?

Have not driven that one. If it's like the GS I drove before, it should be good (they share a common platform). Of course, the Golf is nowhere near as luxurious or powerful as that... the IS350 is a grand bargain due to JPEPA pricing, a real 335i competitor for a whole lot less... but I think I'd forgo the F for a better ride.

[foresterx]

Have not driven that one. If it's like the GS I drove before, it should be good (they share a common platform). Of course, the Golf is nowhere near as luxurious or powerful as that... the IS350 is a grand bargain due to JPEPA pricing, a real 335i competitor for a whole lot less... but I think I'd forgo the F for a better ride.

the f-sport is even faster than an STi on a straight line. around the track it won't be as fast and as fun as an STi but i can guarantee that it won't disappoint anyone. but yeah different class so i wouldn't really compare it to a gti, if i had to pick one though i'd go with the F-sport even against an STi. at the price point of the f-sport it's pretty much hard to beat since it has everything that you will ask for.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Have not driven that one. If it's like the GS I drove before, it should be good (they share a common platform). Of course, the Golf is nowhere near as luxurious or powerful as that... the IS350 is a grand bargain due to JPEPA pricing, a real 335i competitor for a whole lot less... but I think I'd forgo the F for a better ride.

the f-sport is even faster than an STi on a straight line. around the track it won't be as fast and as fun as an STi but i can guarantee that it won't disappoint anyone. but yeah different class so i wouldn't really compare it to a gti, if i had to pick one though i'd go with the F-sport even against an STi. at the price point of the f-sport it's pretty much hard to beat since it has everything that you will ask for.

[crosswind]

I will pick the WRX rather than the golf
performance and practicality

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I will pick the WRX rather than the golf
performance and practicality

[Walter]

Motor Trend article: Subaru WRX STI vs VW Golf R

2015 Subaru WRX STI vs 2015 Volkswagen Golf R

[Josh1996]

Subaru wrx. better performance and better looking

[speed_kills]

Subaru WRX uses a new engine and for sure a better value compared to the Golf GTI. But the GTI is very fun to drive and don't let the lower hp rating or front wheel drive bias dissuade you from considering it.

Try to do a test drive to see which you prefer.