cb1111
Newbie
- Location
- Virginia, USA
I realize that buying a car is a purely personal decision and outside influences shouldn’t guide my decision but I wanted your guys’ thoughts to see if I’m overlooking something.
A bit of background. I had a MkV GTI and then an R32. Loved both cars, hated the dealership. From there I moved on to a 335ix (worst car ever with the high pressure fuel pump failures that plagued most of these). I then wanted something reliable so I got an Acura TSX wagon (twice – I got a second after a Mercedes driver decided he wanted to effectively total the first) and that is what I am driving now.
The Acura is a perfectly nice car. It has sufficient power and handles quite nicely but the tech is a bit outdated and it clearly isn’t as sporting as the GTI/R. Our German Shepherd likes it as well. I suspect that I’ll talk my wife into dumping her Civic and she’ll take my Acura as it has (at 80k) half the miles of her Civic.
I’m going to give VW one last shot here in the US – but – do I get a GTI or do I get an R? While the $10k difference is quite substantial, it wouldn’t be a dealbreaker, but is the R really a better car for me?
I live (and drive) in Virginia, so stupid driving is out of the question if I want to continue driving (not that I would engage in stupid driving anyway) – but there is a possibility of some legal crazy driving with lights (no sirens) – happened on 9/11 and a couple of other times.
I tend to run winter tires and summer tires. My job does require me to be mobile in all weather conditions – even before the plows are out if need be (although that hasn’t happened in the last few years). I’ve not had issues with FWD in the last 5 years although I remember the GTI being a bit squirrely in weird weather on a standing start.
About 3 times a week I’m stuck in rush hour traffic for about an hour each way (12 miles). The other two days I’m usually visiting sites about 60 miles away – against traffic and usually departing the house at 5am and returning 6pm’ish – usually highways or multilane roads. A bit dicey in winter because one has to watch for Amish buggies going to one of the sites.
Most of the time if we go somewhere with the pooch and have somebody in the back seat, then we’ll most likely take the Acura, but the dog will see quite a bit of time in the GTI/R as I often take her along to site visits. Is there a decent dog barrier to fit behind the front seats (back seats folded) without screwing up the headliner?
With the exception of the snazzy dash, I think the GTI has the same technology as the R. It uses 87 octane gas and is $10k cheaper.
The R has better driving dynamics, smother takeoff and all weather confidence. It has that snazzy dash, a bit nicer seats but uses 91 octane.
Insurance costs are about the same when adjusted for the replacement values.
I’m kind of coming to the same conclusion as Car&Driver – the R is “better” but the GTI is the value champ.
Thoughts, opinions and comments are welcome. I’m posting this in both the GTI and R forums.
A bit of background. I had a MkV GTI and then an R32. Loved both cars, hated the dealership. From there I moved on to a 335ix (worst car ever with the high pressure fuel pump failures that plagued most of these). I then wanted something reliable so I got an Acura TSX wagon (twice – I got a second after a Mercedes driver decided he wanted to effectively total the first) and that is what I am driving now.
The Acura is a perfectly nice car. It has sufficient power and handles quite nicely but the tech is a bit outdated and it clearly isn’t as sporting as the GTI/R. Our German Shepherd likes it as well. I suspect that I’ll talk my wife into dumping her Civic and she’ll take my Acura as it has (at 80k) half the miles of her Civic.
I’m going to give VW one last shot here in the US – but – do I get a GTI or do I get an R? While the $10k difference is quite substantial, it wouldn’t be a dealbreaker, but is the R really a better car for me?
I live (and drive) in Virginia, so stupid driving is out of the question if I want to continue driving (not that I would engage in stupid driving anyway) – but there is a possibility of some legal crazy driving with lights (no sirens) – happened on 9/11 and a couple of other times.
I tend to run winter tires and summer tires. My job does require me to be mobile in all weather conditions – even before the plows are out if need be (although that hasn’t happened in the last few years). I’ve not had issues with FWD in the last 5 years although I remember the GTI being a bit squirrely in weird weather on a standing start.
About 3 times a week I’m stuck in rush hour traffic for about an hour each way (12 miles). The other two days I’m usually visiting sites about 60 miles away – against traffic and usually departing the house at 5am and returning 6pm’ish – usually highways or multilane roads. A bit dicey in winter because one has to watch for Amish buggies going to one of the sites.
Most of the time if we go somewhere with the pooch and have somebody in the back seat, then we’ll most likely take the Acura, but the dog will see quite a bit of time in the GTI/R as I often take her along to site visits. Is there a decent dog barrier to fit behind the front seats (back seats folded) without screwing up the headliner?
With the exception of the snazzy dash, I think the GTI has the same technology as the R. It uses 87 octane gas and is $10k cheaper.
The R has better driving dynamics, smother takeoff and all weather confidence. It has that snazzy dash, a bit nicer seats but uses 91 octane.
Insurance costs are about the same when adjusted for the replacement values.
I’m kind of coming to the same conclusion as Car&Driver – the R is “better” but the GTI is the value champ.
Thoughts, opinions and comments are welcome. I’m posting this in both the GTI and R forums.
