Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Miscellaneous > Off-Topic

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-06-2010, 04:28 PM   #1
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default another car buying thread mazdaspeed3 vs 4 door gti

Ive read all the comparisons, reviews and threads I care to read on which is better.

I have driven the mazdaspeed twice, and the gti twice ('10 manual and '08 dsg) and there are things I like about both cars.

As far as both cars go, they both feel like they accelerate the same as one another and handle the same - this was just on a simple test drive though, as I havent really gone balls out in either car. Also I am looking at the exact same monthly payment on both vehicles. Insurance will also be lower on the GTI but not by much.

Ill start with the Mazda:
+ With the tech package, I am looking at the same price as the GTI at invoice.
+ Push button start & I dont have to fondle the key fob to unlock the doors; just press the button on the handle.
+ Has more power than the GTI.
+ Trunk mounted bike rack will work since there is a space between the spoiler and roof.
+ Bigger brakes.
+ LOVE the styling.
- Full power doesnt come on till 4th gear.
- Nav screen is freakishly small.
- Ipod connects with a/v cable so I wont beable to charge it while I listen to music - or I can, I just have to buy another wire for it.
- Elbow bangs into arm rest.
- Interior isnt as high quality but is still nicer than my current Civic Si.
- I can see this car attracting all the street racer douches.
- Summer tires are going to wear out pretty fast, and cold weather is coming meaning my car will suck this winter with summer tires (cant afford tires already).

GTI:
+ Comes with all-seasons that will end up lasting longer than the Mazda's summer tires.
+ Higher quality interior.
+ Ipod has a better hookup in the arm rest.
+ Motor has been around longer (IIRC... might be wrong though).
+ Easily makes 250whp and 300trq with a simple flash.
+ Looks like a grown up car and not a boy racer car.
+ MUCH better gas mileage
- Trunk mounted bike rack may not work since the spoiler doesnt have a gap for me to run the straps for it.
- VW electrical gremlins might attack at any moment.
- Rear window washer pees on the glass at will.
- Windows have been known to leak during rain storms.
- Worried that I will go broke keeping the car running once the warranty expires.


Any constructive thoughts here?
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Last edited by Blindeye_03; 09-06-2010 at 04:37 PM.
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 09-06-2010, 04:32 PM   #2
Tkacik
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 847
Join Date: Feb 2000
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Eatonton, Georgia
Vehicle:
'18 Titan Crew Cab
'16 Sienna XLE

Default

Mazdaspeed 3 would be my choice hands down.

Reasons:

The Mazda has the power already, and although looks "boy racerish" has better styling. You could keep the Mazda stock and be happy with it's setup.

The tires do seem to be an issue, but honestly, if you can't afford new tires right now - should you even be buying a new car?

Maybe get a used MS3 with some more miles with warranty intact?
Tkacik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 04:36 PM   #3
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tkacik View Post
Mazdaspeed 3 would be my choice hands down.

Reasons:

The Mazda has the power already, and although looks "boy racerish" has better styling. You could keep the Mazda stock and be happy with it's setup.

The tires do seem to be an issue, but honestly, if you can't afford new tires right now - should you even be buying a new car?

Maybe get a used MS3 with some more miles with warranty intact?
I hate the way older mazdaspeeds look - but buying 18" tires at the same time as buying a new car seems dumb to budget in - I could drive the car w/ summer tires but it just wont be as smart as having all seasons. Not like we get snow in atlanta anyways except 2 or 3 days out of the year.

While the Mazda has more power on paper, it only puts down 230 to the wheels and due to the tuning of the car it wont put out full hp till 4th gear. Thus 1-3 gears feel like you are in the GTI. I am not a super speed demon so the fact that Mazda has more power really only comes in effect on the highway if I have to punch it in 4th, 5th or 6th gear.
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 05:03 PM   #4
Slack
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 17548
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Land of No Turn Signals
Default

MS3 because it sounds like the GTI is already entering the electrical gremlins zone.
Slack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 05:12 PM   #5
cnw
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 98395
Join Date: Oct 2005
Default

speed3 unless it's the new body style *puke*

i'd be too afraid of the gti's electrical gremlins (ibvwcrowdflames).
cnw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 05:30 PM   #6
OriginalSin
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 66341
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: a fool's parade
Default

ms3

ive had both
OriginalSin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 05:43 PM   #7
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by OriginalSin View Post
ms3

ive had both
What year was your GTI?

I have yet to see much about electric issues, so far it seems most are caused by people not knowing how their car works.
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 06:51 PM   #8
poison
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Default

The GTi won't have electrical issues. It's not a ****ing Triumph. It may have failures of minor>medium level components: coil packs, cats, burning oil, etc. Under warranty, it doesn't matter, aside from the inconvenience of leaving it at the dealer.

It's this simple: if you plan on getting rid of it around 50K, buy either. If you can buy the extended warranty for the GTi, and keep it longer than 50k, buy the one you like best.

If you can't buy the extended warranty, buy the Mazda, regardless of which you like best. It's not more complicated than that. Really.




Oh, and if you buy the GTi, have them put A/S on it (if you really need them...why do you need them, again, if it only snows like, never?). They should be happy to put A/S on there for you.
poison is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 07:17 PM   #9
silver arrow
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 25859
Join Date: Oct 2002
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Foriderp
Vehicle:
1965 MGB yellow
2008 Black Miata

Default

I'd take a 4 dr GTI. I owned 7 VAG products and quality was hit of miss, but it is a great little car.
silver arrow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 07:51 PM   #10
Panda Lover
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 214367
Join Date: Jun 2009
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Glad I'm not Canadian.
Default

Do you really need All-Seasons in ATL? I run my summer tires until it doesn't get above 50 anymore. I live ~120 miles from Canadia.
Panda Lover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 07:57 PM   #11
FaastLegacy
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 11671
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region: SWIC
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Default

I'd go for an '11 WRX if I needed something like that. The new MS3 is hideous and supposedly not as fun to drive as the previous one. The VW is, well, a VW.
FaastLegacy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 08:12 PM   #12
Kubek
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 53222
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: chicagoland
Vehicle:
'10 Genesis Coupe
'99 Miata

Default

Or You could buy Hyundai I carry my bike in the trunk.
Kubek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 08:48 PM   #13
MPRZIV
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 49306
Join Date: Nov 2003
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Jupiter
Default

Had a mkv gti for a few years, chipped since around 5000 miles. It has been a blast to drive, interior is much nicer than the MS3...gets 31-32 mpg hwy, pulls hard with a flash, had no electrical or window leakage problems whatsoever.
MPRZIV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 09:53 PM   #14
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by poison View Post
put A/S on it
Do what now?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Panda Lover View Post
Do you really need All-Seasons in ATL? I run my summer tires until it doesn't get above 50 anymore. I live ~120 miles from Canadia.
Well they do tend to last longer...
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 09:56 PM   #15
poison
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Default

A/S tires. If you want em, tell the dealer to put em on as a condition of sale. IIRC, they should be an option, no? Don't roll out on rubber that doesn't fit your needs (though I question your need for a/s tires in georgia).
poison is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 10:07 PM   #16
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MPRZIV View Post
Had a mkv gti for a few years, chipped since around 5000 miles. It has been a blast to drive, interior is much nicer than the MS3...gets 31-32 mpg hwy, pulls hard with a flash, had no electrical or window leakage problems whatsoever.
I actually like the interior on the ms3 and love the second gen over the first gen. I definitely would get the apr stage 1 tune at some point also.

What sucks is that I want a white one but will settle on either blue or steel grey if I get the GTI. Where as I would get the dark silver ms3.

Going to see if VW will offer me the GTI under invoice since thats what Mazda is doing for me with the ms3 .
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 10:08 PM   #17
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by poison View Post
A/S tires. If you want em, tell the dealer to put em on as a condition of sale. IIRC, they should be an option, no? Don't roll out on rubber that doesn't fit your needs (though I question your need for a/s tires in georgia).
Oh a/s meaning all season.. Well I like that they last longer than summer tires .
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 10:17 PM   #18
poison
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 37678
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blindeye_03 View Post
Oh a/s meaning all season.. Well I like that they last longer than summer tires .
Depends on how you drive. If you drive aggressively, or a lot of canyons, summers might very well last longer. Even if you drive sedately, the extra 10-30 feet shorter stopping distance of summers can save you a ton of money when you avoid that accident. Why compromise the handling and braking ability of a $25k car over a $100-200 price difference?
poison is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2010, 06:42 AM   #19
Slack
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 17548
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Land of No Turn Signals
Default

I'm with poison on this one. The stopping and handling advantages over A/S make it the best choice. Grip > longevity IMHO. As long as you are religious about rotating the tires you should get plenty of life out of them. I got ~25k miles out of my Azenis on my Impreza driving like a lunatic 90% of the time.

Last edited by Slack; 09-07-2010 at 06:47 AM.
Slack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2010, 07:35 AM   #20
Bluestreak2006
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 140536
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Woodbridge
Vehicle:
93 MR2 Turbo
Turq Pearl

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kubek View Post
Or You could buy Hyundai I carry my bike in the trunk.

I can't fit crap in my trunk.....
Bluestreak2006 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2010, 09:18 AM   #21
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slack View Post
I'm with poison on this one. The stopping and handling advantages over A/S make it the best choice. Grip > longevity IMHO. As long as you are religious about rotating the tires you should get plenty of life out of them. I got ~25k miles out of my Azenis on my Impreza driving like a lunatic 90% of the time.
Thats not a lot of miles... I remember the Azenis on my RS and about killing myself in the rain and cold weather when they got worn down slightly from autocrossing all the time.

I get 40-45k out of my all seasons. To me its just more practical to have them. UNLESS I get to a point in my life where I can afford two sets of wheels and tires again

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kubek View Post
Or You could buy Hyundai I carry my bike in the trunk.
My 29er is not going to fit in the trunk it barely fits in my civic si... The handlebars are up by my face when I do have it in the car.
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2010, 09:31 AM   #22
SkirtBoy
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 11056
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Vehicle:
2012 MB C250 CPO
Black on Tan

Default

I'd go with the GTi as the styling of the new MS3 just looks bleh to me.
SkirtBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2010, 10:25 AM   #23
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Well aside from the looks? I like the way the ms3 looks EXCEPT for the tail lights and how they stick out of the hatch & are all altezza-y.

Im 80% sure im going with the GTI... only because they cant find a 4 door in white with the manual and no options anywhere, I would have to order one I guess. So its Steel grey, united grey or blue.
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2010, 10:25 AM   #24
Blindeye_03
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4418
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NKY
Vehicle:
2019 CTR
White

Default

Well aside from the looks? I like the way the ms3 looks EXCEPT for the tail lights and how they stick out of the hatch & are all altezza-y.

Im 80% sure im going with the GTI... only because they cant find a 4 door in white with the manual and no options anywhere, I would have to order one I guess. So its Steel grey, united grey or blue.
Blindeye_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2010, 10:55 AM   #25
MPRZIV
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 49306
Join Date: Nov 2003
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Jupiter
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blindeye_03 View Post
I definitely would get the apr stage 1 tune at some point also.
Atta boy.
MPRZIV is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
another car buying advice thread...OT halp sti robot Off-Topic 7 07-08-2008 11:01 AM
04 vs 06 - car buying thread Deuce812 Newbies & FAQs 8 07-09-2007 06:45 PM
2-door vs 4-door Impreza dugrant153 General Community 21 10-25-2003 11:26 PM
Yet Another Car Pricing Thread mr_yellow General Community 0 08-12-2003 12:06 PM
2 door vs. 4 door wop Newbies & FAQs 10 10-18-2000 12:48 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.