ChrisJericho

Like the title says, a few days ago I did some test driving. Now, for comparison my current vehicle is 97 mazda b2300 rear wheel drive truck, which I think puts out around 140 hp.

So basically all these cars are a dramatic move up from my current situation. I would like your guys' advice on these cars on things like long term reliability, or any other factors you think I should be aware of. Anyways, here are my thoughts on the cars in the order that I test drove them (all models are manual transmission):

06 Subaru Outback Sport SE
- The power was ok, but seemed to be lacking in 2nd gear
- The gas mileage was decent
- AWD
- kind of boring to drive.

06 WRX Sedan
- Insanely powerful
- The thing ate a LOT of gas, but I was driving it pretty hard.
- The manual transmission is really clunky and the throws are longer than I expected.
- Interior is extremely bland, and the shifter doesn't even have a knob on it.
- There is still noticable turbo lag, but it's not as bad as in previous years, or so I've heard.
- AWD

06 VW GTI
- No noticable turbo lag. Constant power.
- Good amount of power, but obviously not as much as the WRX
- Smooth manual transmission, much shorter throws than the WRX, nice shift knob, a pleasure to drive.
- Attractive interior.
- Got good gas mileage.
- Xenon lights come standard.
- It was a 2 door model, and from what I understand most of the incoming 07's will be 2 door models as well. I would prefer a 4 door. In typical coupe design, the doors of the GTI were on the heavy side, but it wasn't too annoying. It's probably something I could get used to. Also, the seatbelt in the GTI is a little far back, I had to turn my body to reach it.
- Only FWD, the model I drove had optional 18" alloy summer tires. From what I understand most of the standard 17" alloy wheels are also summer tires. Living in seattle I would probably have to get a set of all seasons for at least october to april, maybe I would just keep them on all the time.


Right now I think I am leaning towards the GTI. With the WRX I would definitely have to get a short throw shifter to make daily driving tolerable, and I would also have to install a shift knob, and I'd probably want to install xenon lights too. This stuff is already included in the GTI. Plus I'm not sure I want to constantly be feeding the WRX;s hungry appetite for premium. I would also be putting premium in the GTI, but the mileage is much better.

That being said does anyone know what the quality of VW golf/gti's are nowadays? I heard they are manufacturing them in germany currently, but that doesn't completely wash away my concerns over quality issues.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions please post them! Thank you.

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"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

snowy

If I were you I would take another look at that Outback, simply because those drive REALLY WELL in the rain. You won't notice the true difference the AWD makes until it gets wet and slick.

As for the VW, my boyfriend's uncle is a VW mechanic, and he says the new ones aren't nearly as good as the older models. I guess they're much less reliable.

Oh, and save yourself some money: look for lease returns! Don't buy new--buy almost new.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

kurty[B]

I agree with onesnowyowl about buying almost new.

I'm a VW nut buried behind the wheel of an Xterra so my initial response is go with the GTi.

The WRX is really geared towards people who are either planning to Rally race, or race with it, or people who plan to get plenty of speeding tickets. Great car, but if you want nice amenities like a comfortable interior then the GTi is the winner there.

I'm not sure about the newest GTi's, but I know the last make of GTi's and Jetta are becoming notorious for developing electrical problems. What engine does the GTi have now (are they still doing the 1.8T, or the 2.0T)? I'm not sure what the reputation of the 2.0 is, but if you break in the 1.8T correctly it will pamper you the rest of the cars life. If not, it probably will not last too much longer after the warranty is gone.

If you don't need a powerhouse vehicle I'd almost suggest the Outback. It probably gets the best gas mileage out of the three, and does great in ill-weather.

ChrisJericho

Kurty the GTI is using the 2.0T engine now. I did some internet researching and I found enough stuff about VW electrical problems, that I think I will stay away from the GTI.

Snowy thanks for the reminder about the VW reliability, it was always in the back of my mind, but I think you're right, I would rather not take the risks of constantly having to repair my vehicle.

I asked my family's mechanic... he said definitely go with one of the Subarus.

Everyone is telling me that VW is still a ricky venture, so I'll stick with a Subaru model.

__________________
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

JustJess

Q's family have had half a dozen Subarus - you take care of them, they'll take care of you. Very reliable, if boring (!) to you. Nice rides, better gas mileage. A solid choice!

__________________
My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

moot1337

Does it have to be new-almost new?

One of the older model VW's can be a nice decision - as said, the 1.8T is a great engine if it's treated properly, and I know what the bland feeling a Subaru gives is like. You'll find that a mid-to-late 90's GTI is a dramatic move up from where you're at now, and they're always a pleasure to drive. The interiors from that era are pretty spiffy too... blue+red guages=major cool. Subaru does make quite a great car, though... the reliability is great, and I do love their engines... the boxer setup is v. neat IMO. You may also check out the outback with the 3.0 T, as it puts out quite a lot of HP *and* torque, due to the horizontal setup. A VW can treat you just as well with regular maintenance like oil/filter changes, lube, and preventative repair, as long as you're wary of models with electrical problems. My experience with those, however, is hit&miss, which is what makes buying used nice.

__________________
And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be
banana-shaped.
This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedevere. Explain again
how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.
Oh, certainly, sir.

politicophile

I'm a WRX driver myself. Mine has the short throw kit and the round titanium shift knob you can get through SPT. Gas mileage varies considerably depending on your driving style. On the highway, you're going to get 27mpg, or thereabouts. With the short throw kit, the car is an absolute blast to drive, doubly so when it's slippery out. The car eats snowy roads like nothing else I've ever driven.

Trust me: the short throw kit completely remedies the shifting issues. Night and day.

__________________
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

ChrisJericho

Thanks for the info, I'm going to be test driving a WRX with a short throw shifter already installed tomorrow, so I'll see how much of a differencethat makes.

I called my insurance company (Encompass) to give me some quotes on the models I'm interested in:

2006 WRX wagon with short throw shifter, turbo boost gauge, cargo net/tray: $2,991

2006 Outback Sport wagon SE: $2517

2006 Impreza Wagon manual, base model: $2490

2006 Forester manual, base model: $1938

I'm 24 with a clean record and these quotes are insurance with everything on it like comprehensive, collision, unisured motorists etc.

I can afford the WRX but I'm kind of a cheap-skate at heart. But I'll definitely see how the short throw shifter feels !

__________________
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

snowy

I don't know if I'd go with just the base Forester, but I drove a 2005 a year ago on a trip back from California and it's definitely high on my list. It's the vehicle I've picked to replace my Volvo wagon when the time comes.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

ChrisJericho

Well everybody, I bought the WRX wagon ! The short throw shifter made a HUGE difference in the driving of the car. The sticker price was 26,015 we got them down to 23,900 (Kelly Blue Book says invoice for the car is 24,244 and what people actually pay for a model with those options is 24,587). After taxes which were around $2000, and trading in my truck for $2,550, I wrote the final check for $23,360. Woot ! Thank you all for your help !

__________________
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Ilow

congratulations! I am sure that you will really love it. I love my subie in the snow and rain, and i have 140,000 on it and it is still very strong. keep us posted on any other mods.

__________________
"Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about"
--Sam Harris

politicophile

Welcome to the club! An excellent choice, if I do say so myself.

__________________
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

Redjake

Congratulations! I want an STI. Whenever I get my student loans paid off (which will be a while, yes) I am going to get one. That insurance seems really high. I'm 22 with a clean record with an SRT-4 will full coverage and am only paying $1200. Did you shop around?

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Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

ChrisJericho

Yeah I shopped around, those are yearly quotes and I'm not on my family's insurance (that would make a huge difference, my friend said when he got his new WRX because he was on his family's plan he was around $1200 yearly as well). I shopped around and the most I could save was maybe $100-$200 a year. But I've been with these local people for awhile and they have good customer service so I figured I would just stay there.

One of my friends had an STI for about 8 months. The thing was ungodly fast, but he sold it within the last month or so. When I asked him why, he kind of danced aroudn the subject. One of my other friends said it was because he was getting too many speeding tickets.

__________________
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Redjake

I'm not on my family's, either. I pay $1200 per year. It might be your area, though....I've heard the location (California, etc.) can make a huge difference in your price.

__________________
Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

ChrisJericho

Yeah.... plus... you know.... the SRT-4 is a Dodge, so maybe insurance companies figure it will spend more time in a repair garage than on the road


Hehe, the SRT-4 is a cool car though.

__________________
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Redjake

I'll take that cheap shot with a grain of salt

I was looking at a new GTO as well, though - and it wasn't much more than $1200 a year....I really think you should look around some more. You probably aren't under contract with your company. Go for it!

__________________
Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.