i bought it because it was cheap and manual. If you can find a cheaper "performance" vehicle thats around 240hp and manual for 500 bucks a month brand new (0 down) go buy that instead.

I think even the base WRX is more money per month and significantly less features on the base WRX vs my loaded to the tits GTI.

Also its the cheapest car to make additional power. Even the most mild 87 tune can push it past 300hp/300ftlb sub 500 bucks.

So 500 bucks a month you can easily get the HP/Torque numbers of a M340i which would be 1500 a month. Yes dynamically it wont be THAT good, but who gives a shit, youre not taking either on long track days as both would require a ton of mods to make it track worthy.

The Golf product is a great bang for the buck and best DD of the batch.

I don't live my life 1/4 mile at a time anymore, but when I do. It will do 0-100 in 4.6sec with my Ikea desk in the back.

That is family.

On the street the GTI seemed like more fun than one of the AWD hatch options. I'd want a manual though, I don't really get what the hype is about the DSG and the stupid micropenis gear selector thing is weird.

aye! if youre ever in town, hit me up and you can take twiddle my box for fun. te-he-he

The manual is very meh - Hobz had to get an aftermarket short shift kit to even make it feel nicer to shift, and the clutch is not great.

The DSG farts, is snappy, and yes the little nubby shifter is dumb.

I had about 2hs of seat time on an Auto-X with the new GTI and the new WRX. The GTI is funnier on a tight course. Very happy to rotate for a FWD.

Been a minute since I drove it, today hit VTEC

https://i.imgur.com/lnEockZ.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/0DAKPU1.jpeg

At least the kit is an option. The DSG didn't feel like anything special to me. The only difference I noticed vs other cars is when you manually downshift into 1st as you roll to a stop most normal cars jerk around a bunch and the GTI was smooth.

I didn't like the farts either but that's just me. If I owned the car I'd want to get them switched off.

Even NA engines can have farts with an aggressive ignition/timing cut on an upshift - every Hemi I've driven with ZF8 does it.
https://youtube.com/shorts/ZukxzHn3o...Xef5UElTzUFr9Q

An aggressive full throttle downshift will do it too.
Can hear it at the start of me going into massey tunnel:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3BCBJRLenK7n2x7E7

Stupid programmed in pops and bangs are an ick tho:

What you guys described as for the Golf R is what makes it obsolete and most likely going to be dead after this generation. It's no longer "good enough" without a standout trait for most enthusiasts. If going quick enough with your Ikea flatpack is your jam, then get any of the EVs available. Even a small EV motor(120hp) like what my X5 has will give you that jolt of acceleration as the instant response and torque of the motor gives the illusion of quick acceleration.

The Hyundai N stuff stands out for being engaging and "fast enough" - ENGAGEMENT
The Type R is a laptime chaser with a decent amount of functionality sprinkled in - PERFORMANCE

The WRX unfortunately falls in the same category as the Golf R where it's good at a lot of things but great at none. Open front and rear diffs, shitty looks, awkward option packages, not great seats. Without the STI to prop up the model line this is probably the last generation of the WRX as well.

TBH I also don't know where the GRC would sit as well. It's not as practical, it's not got the raw performance like the Type R. I haven't driven it so I can't say if it's engaging or not. The only benefit is it's got a real performance AWD system, the on track issues notwithstanding.

I'm not gonna drag the M or AMG cars in this conversation since they don't really fall into the same category, even if we consider the AMG CLA45/GLA45

Next gen WRX/Golf R will be electric if they can achieve batteries a little bit better than Hyundai's current ones

Expect 2026 launch for 2027

Has anyone here actually driven all three?

TBH I see less enthusiasts buying the Golf R - it's more for the (now older) guys who want a small city car, with an "upscale" (HAHA) interior and a subdued exterior appropriate to take to the office without raising eyebrows, decent riding suspension because broken back from playing hockey or other sport, and with AWD/fast enough acceleration to dice through traffic without having to floor it. Heated seats and steering wheel a must, decent sound system for podcasts, and practicality a bonus. Also need good enough rear seat space for taking people out to dinner on double dates, bonus if you can bring home IKEA flatpack to your inner city apartment/townhouse.

Fuck that describes me to a T.

:pokerface:

And that's why the GTI has been around since the 70's.

I disagree it's going away. Young ppl can't afford houses, where are they going to store these multiple cars we're dreaming of?

It's going to be these in-between cars if you want anything. No one can store their sports car in their imaginary garage.

yes - Mk 7 TSI was my college car, Mk 7.5 GTI 6MT, Mk7.5 R DSG and 6MT (Ohlins).
Also driven FK8, Elantra N DSG.

Need to drive a GR Corolla (next Vancouver trip), FL5, more recent STi than the hatchback and 6MT Elantra N.

Go drive the mk8, it's way better than the 7.5.

The 7 drives like a Golf Golf.

Low key sounds like a Model 3 except for the decent riding suspension/comfy seats part.

I see it these days more as the car you get your wife to drive when you want a practical car that's not a complete bore + don't have kids yet.

ok!

The slight refresh S650 Mustang is 1000% better than the last one - great idea to give the Mk8 a rip too.

Mk 7.5 TSI was a downgrade, they removed the 1.8T and gave it a wimpy 1.4.

Haven't driven a Mk8 but have driven Mk6 and 7.

My wife wants one, you are 100% correct. And it's not because she's a speed demon, she likes the size, and wants AWD.

But you should drag your M3/4 into this conversation. Hagerty just did a objective review between the Model 3 Performance vs M3/4 and overall the model 3 performance won in terms of backroads, price, day to day livability, etc.

Literally if you compare any of these cars to EV's you will lose. GR Ratrolla, CTR, anything and everything. You most likely cannot compete on any performance measure vs a modern day EV.

But thats not the point. the whole point of these old school cars is to give you an old school feeling that you cant get in an EV.

same with the M3/4 its old school, its delicious, and you can get it in a manual. GTI is the same, inline 4, 6 speed, and a reasonably tuned chassis for spirited driving. What more can you ask for ? The R is a wee bit expensive given it only added an AWD system and turned up the boost vs a GTI, but i stand by the fact that the GTI is a friggin bargain in the modern day car world.


you drove my mk8 ! well not very long

I had a mk7 sportwagen, it doesnt feel all that much different. Other than its stiffer and more refined, but thats how everything is nowadays. Add weight, add refinement, lose the "rawness" of the original.

The only reason to buy the R over the GTI is the hilarious 4.6sec launch control.

Basically what I said but even better served with an EV. Ionic 5 or Model 3/Y would fill it in better than a Golf R ever will.

You are right, the EV is faster, and you are describing the problem with the GTI/R, it's boring and no more engaging than an EV. At least with GRC, Type R, and my M3, it's more engaging.

I'm curious what you think of Ioniq 5N or Mach E GT PP after you try one.

On one hand they do the engagemen thing well enough logically but doens't make me smile like a Mini/S2k/Miata does.

I'd really like to get into a GTI too. With my kid growing up, the Mazda is becoming a bit too small for our needs now.

On the other hand, the Mazda has also been dead reliable and cheap to operate, despite all the abuse and neglect that I subject it to. And since I have had it for so long, it is completely dialed in for my needs, and everything just fits and works like a glove.

The biggest problem is -- I don't have the $$$$ to get one. Adulting / parenting and financial responsibility suck ballz. And at least in the foreseeable future, I don't even have the drive or the money to tweak / fine tune the car to how I'd like it. And since it'd really be a daily that we tend to keep for a pretty long time, I feel like at this point in time, our next car (DD) really ought to be an EV, but that also opens up a whole different can of worms that I am not ready to handle just yet.

TL;DR
I am full of BS and excuses, so no GTI for me. :(