GTI vs Cooper S vs Ralliart vs MX-5???

[Swallowtail]

Out of the box suggestion - BMW123d coupe... 150KW, 400NM twin turbo diesel, mid to late $50Ks, and 5.2L per 100km. Goes hard, not so much off the line (I think 7 sec 0-100) but in gear acceleration is nuts. They handle pretty well too, but have a hard ride.

[Beaker]

Drive the Ralliart - you'll walk away shaking your head at how bad it is. I know I did.

I've owned a number of fast Mitsus and have always been a fan - the ralliart Lancer is an absolute dog that should never have gone on sale.

can't comment on the mini

[Corey_R]

I personally LOVE the Mini Cooper S. They're a great little funky car which are immensely fun to drive and just make me feel great to be in. I've seriously almost bought one on two separate occassions, but have either time simply because there is no way I could possibly fit my friends in the back seat or get any of my equipment in there on the occassions where I move it around.

The Mitsubishi - seriously... such a cheap, cheap car, with admittedly a good engine and handling, but ewww, such a cheap, cheap car. I couldn't wait to get out of it.

The MX-5... I have to admit, that although I hate most of Mazda's cars, I really like the MX-5. A close friend of mine has 'car swapped' with me a few times when she's had her nephews staying with her and needed a car with 4 seats and I've enjoyed driving it a lot. It's obviously a big 'live-style-choice' car, being strickly 2 seat only.


When it came time for me to hand over my $50k to buy a car, the MX-5 wasn't an option (2 seats only) and the Mitsubishi wasn't even a consideration, cause I wanted a car which felt/looked like a $50k car , but the Cooper S and GTI (and BMW 120d for that matter Swallowtail!... 123d wasn't available at the time). I ended up going with the GTI (obviously). Basically the GTI is just as solidly built as the Cooper S, it's performance just as good, and although it doesn't quite have that 'planted go-kart type' feel to it, I can fit myself and 3 other 6ft friends (plus a skinny chick in the middle rear seat) and my guitar amps and a few guitars in the boot), and not need to adjust my seat to provide added leg room etc in the back.

In the end it comes down to what YOU think and what YOU need, but to me and a lot of car reviewers out there, the GTI is just the best 'all rounder' out there.

[Frankenstrat]

Thats probably the stupidest question i have heard asked on here. You come on to a Volkswagen Forum, into the MK6 section, put forward a selection of similarly specced and priced cars and ask which people would prefer?

I use software for recording music on my PC, it's called Sonar and it's by a company called Cakewalk. Occasionally people will post on the official Cakewalk Sonar forum and ask, "which is better, Sonar, Cubase or ProTools?". Usually, the response is similar to yours Matty.

[240z]

The GTi for me and its not because I'm a VW person in fact I've never owned one before, I just found the quality of the gti to be superior of any of the other cars we looked at, the cooper s we had as a company car and its too small and had a lot of torque steer and who needs a speedo that big? The mx5 is a good car but not practical for the missus(although I've had a couple of NA mx5's, beautiful car)and the lancer just looks cheap too me, but I'd love a evo for a track car.

[noone]

What is your criteria? Why do you want an auto?

Just a few ideas for criteria: Seating, comfort, speed / power, luggage, fuel economy, size, looks, gadgets / technology, resale, safety, track-upgrades, etc.

I'll guess at saying it needs to be auto for the wife / someone else to drive as well?

[Zed!]

Thats probably the stupidest question i have heard asked on here. You come on to a Volkswagen Forum, into the MK6 section, put forward a selection of similarly specced and priced cars and ask which people would prefer?

Hmmmm.... i wonder what the responses will be

Chillax and take your valium. Just because it's a VW forum doesn't necessarily mean people will choose a GTi over another model. The GTI has it's shortcomings, as does my R32 which I was aware of when I bought it. If someone posted on here that they were tossing up between an Sti & a R32 & perhaps they wanted to reguarly track the car, I'd suggest the Sti. the Gti isn't perfect and neither is the R32. There are a lot of cars I could quite happily choose over a Golf.

[gareth_oau]

but Zed, if a VW owner and forum member says "I recommend a VW" (as you would expect), but also suggests "that a Cooper S is pretty good", then wouldnt that give you a better impression of the Cooper S?

Also, if the Golf was a problem, then maybe asking the question here might get some honest answers about reliability issues or other problems that forums are renowned for airing.

[GTi Crow]

Well I have had many cars and for a time owned and was in love with a WRX but I have trouble bringing manuals into the drive as my partner will not drive them. I solved this when I bought a Golf MkV GTI DSG and believe it to be the best car I have ever owned. So when it went and I looked at another car the partner balked at the price. So (being an auditor) I went through every know variety of car in the similar price range and analysed what you got for your money and what the golf provided. The assessment included WRX's (no auto knocked it out quick), Liberty GT & Liberty Premium, Cooper S, Mazda 626, BMW 130i, BMW 125i, Merc A200 Turb, Forrester Xt Premium and of course the Mark VI GTI.

I have to say that the Liberty GT came closest, but is but ugly - even the partner would not have it in the drive. The value for money and performance of the GTI won by heaps - but then again i am bias. At least my partner is now happy with my purchase, which is optioned quite a bit.

Your answer - get the GTI you will love it - and it will hold its resale value better than most of the others.

[scheps]

i assume jcw still doesnt have auto? otherwise that is a pretty nice/fast/raw car and not too many on the streets.