2010 Mazdaspeed 3 vs VW GTI 4 Door

[nkryptit]

So I'm at a deadlock.  I have narrowed down my search to the Mazdaspeed 3 and the VW GTI 4 Door.

The GTI is has a more refined luxury feeling to it, but substantially less raw power.  I ride is very smooth, it handles the roads quite well, but I can't help but think the MS3 would be more fun because of the extra torque and HP.

The MS3 is a little more chintzy, and I really don't like the spotted red interior they put in it.  But it's a hell of a ride and the handling is very sharp and precise.  And did I mention more power, an extra 63 HP and 80 ft lbs.  And cheaper.

So what do you think hive mind?  I've had a Mazda 3 and 6 now, and have been happy, but never owned a VW.  Any FHE with German build VWs?

Thanks.

[mraff]

18/25 mpg vs 21/31 mpg, on top of which the GTI is a much nicer ride to actually "ride" in... Plus, if the power deficit is a huge issue, more tuner crap for the VW than the Mazda.

[ROBsS4R]

you can chip the GTI and get a instant 50 hp since its such a detuned engine.

I was considering a Speed3 and GTI but settled on a 08 WRX STI and I couldn't be happier.
No torque steering to have to deal with, better handling, better all weather car, more HP ect.

You cant go wrong with a speed3 or GTI though. Both or really nice cars and handle extremely well.

[nkryptit]

I figured you could get more power out of the GTI, so I was wondering if putting in a chip, or intake, or exhaust could have an affect on the factory warranty.  It seems like at best, if something went wrong, it could become an argument at the dealership.  I know that they have to prove that the upgrades directly caused whatever problem you're trying to have fixed.  But with such a large increase in power, they could blame almost anything in the drive-train on it.  This has been one of my concerns, so I figure if I want the power, get the one that has it from the factory.

Thanks.

[zooom]

1st...the new generation VW's, you don't chip them, you flash them....REVO is the best and most popular ( look at vwvortex.com for endless threads regarding this)...but a dealership can in fact tell if the car has been flashed in the encoding sequences.

2nd...technically speaking...ANY car that is modified can be singled out by a dealership in some variant fashion for not honoring warranty ( not voiding it-THAT is something only a manufacturer representative can do after inspection and then flagging the VIN in the system) oriented repairs, especially if said modification in any way shape or form can affect the issue. Warranty repairs are done at the discretion of the dealer based on the guidelines supplied to them from the manufacturer. If a dealer gets audited by the manufacturer, it is their ass and money on the line that they are potentially losing in reimbursment if they deviate or bend certain rules oriented in and around those procedures. This is where, to a certain degree, establishing a relationship LONGTERM with your service persons plays into your benefit. If you should happen to perform modifications, they can choose to massage a repair order to get things covered IF they should be somehow involved and turn that blind eye. We have a few customers here that have done some mods to their cars, and do ALL of their service work here, so we take care of them in regards to when their car needs something warranty related. They have spend a fair amount of money and in the end, it is about customer service, when you have the plan that this is a long term relationship.

3rd is a mere suggestion FWIW, in making the decision about living with the car. You test drove each for what...30 mins to maybe 2 hours tops?....there are things that WILL annoy you long term that you won't see in that short of a time span. Do a serach at the rental car companies and see if they offer the exact models you are looking at for to rent for a weekend. To me it'd be worth spending a hundred or so bucks to prevent having to spend thousands on a car that annoys you long term, even if it is the little idiosyncrosies. If the rental car companies are a no-go and since you say you have a couple of Madza's already, go to your service department and see if they have THE car you are looking at in their loaner fleet, and then talk to the service manager or the sales manager about renting it over a weekend s a test to see if you'de like to purchase. Do the sme at a VW dealer, and test drive the VW over a weekend. Some of the intial benefits may weight in as not as important and some of the insignifigant things will pop up more prominantly and change your POV on certain things as far as livability long term.

[victor441]

check out the owner reviews for both cars at edmunds.com, they give a good idea how a given car works in the real world

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews.html

[TAftonomos]

Used EVO9, done

You didn't ask, but buying a brand new anything is a poor decision (IMHO).  Let someone else take the 5-10k initial hit, then buy it.  It's not like the interest rates are poor on anything at the moment.

/end thread

[acalles]

Used EVO9, done

You didn't ask, but buying a brand new anything is a poor decision (IMHO).  Let someone else take the 5-10k initial hit, then buy it.  It's not like the interest rates are poor on anything at the moment.

/end thread

might be a good idea with a well maintained luxury car, but a car like the evo, the previous owner more then likely beat the snot out of it, and now warranty is almost, or already is over. nothing in the world makes people less happy then to make payments and repair bills.

I own a repair shop, I know what happens to cars, if I'm not looking for a >$1000 beater I buy a new car.

get the GTI, revo flash and a sps, you can set it in "force to stock" mode before taking it in for repairs, the dealer will never be able to tell there is software, if it doesn't feel faster there not going to spend the time checking it doesn't pay anything and techs don't like working for free. the GTI is a great car, and software is 50+ hp and 90+ ft/lbs.

[metallimonster]

I say go for the GTI with reflash.  My buddy just did this and the car is waaaayyyy faster and much more fun. Better quality and better techs.  You will pay more for repairs after it is out of warranty so be aware of that.

[TAftonomos]

blah blah blah...find a good example that is well maintained, and save 10K.  I had a performance shop for 5 something years before I sold it.  If the car is taken care of (easy to tell), then why worry.  If you keep a car for 10 years, I can understand buying new, but for someone like me who gets bored after a year with it, it make zero sense.  I despise FWD cars with a passion anyway, which is why they both loose in my book.  That and after working at a VW/BMW dealer for a year before venturing out on my own, I'd rather drive pretty much anything before I bought a VW.

FWD FTL!



and



AWD>RWD>WWD.

/end thread for me!

[teddy037.2]

haven't been in a new vw since my mkIV, but I'm a fan of german cars in general, so i'd probably get it over the new 3

[Popeye the Sailor]

Used EVO9, done

You didn't ask, but buying a brand new anything is a poor decision (IMHO).  Let someone else take the 5-10k initial hit, then buy it.  It's not like the interest rates are poor on anything at the moment.

/end thread

Uh yeah-plus +11tybillion.

I mean, right now, the 328i no longer meets our needs. Paid 35k ish-would be happy (and lucky, IMO) to get 15k. Book value is 17k. It sucks, in so many ways.

Seriously-I would never buy new. It's a waste of money-even if someone hooned it mercilessly it'd still cost less to have a mechanic inspect it and fix every item that showed any wear whatsoever than to buy it new.

[acalles]

Uh yeah-plus +11tybillion.

I mean, right now, the 328i no longer meets our needs. Paid 35k ish-would be happy (and lucky, IMO) to get 15k. Book value is 17k. It sucks, in so many ways.

Seriously-I would never buy new. It's a waste of money-even if someone hooned it mercilessly it'd still cost less to have a mechanic inspect it and fix every item that showed any wear whatsoever than to buy it new.

and then it hits, sludge, previous owner used cheap oil, under the cap looked clean but the crank case is a mess.

driving along, oil pressure light.. wtf is that? damn why don't you run any more?

get it towed and find out you now need $7k in work on your "previously loved" car.. oh, but it was pressure washed so nice I couldn't tell..

There are only two ways I would buy a used car, CPO or actually know the previous owner. take some corner sales lots word for it and it'll cost ya! they pick the turd up at auction, beat too hell, clean them up and make them look real nice, maybe even fix a few of the big things, wash off any signs of oil leaks, mark them up $5k and pawn them off on the first unsuspecting idiot. Trust me I see it all the time, performance cars are really, really bad about this.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Yeah-don't you work at a repair shop?  You're obviously not going to see the problem free examples.


Also, my suggestion was to have a real live mechanic check out anything bought used. Perhaps I was unclear, but this should be prior to purchase. What is wrong with that?

[acalles]

Yeah-don't you work at a repair shop?  You're obviously not going to see the problem free examples.


Also, my suggestion was to have a real live mechanic check out anything bought used. Perhaps I was unclear, but this should be prior to purchase. What is wrong with that?

I see it often enough I suggest against it. sucks giving some one the bad news on the car they think they got such a great deal on, or even paid a little more for because it looks so nice and clean. its a crap shoot, if your willing to take it. luxury cars tend to fair a bit better in this game because they loose more off the bat and are more often well maintained, family cars are middle of the road, some are ok, some are beat, performance cars are almost all ways driven hard, modified poorly or poorly maintained, its a pretty good chance a used performance car is gonna give you more problems.

used car guys are sleaze bags. sorry but its true. you've gotta look some one in the eye and lie to them.

all they have to do is clear the faults, pressure wash it, run a engine flush if it looks dirty, then talk fast and tell you how good of a deal it is.

no lights on, and some faults, especially the expensive ones ( like catalyst efficiency) take a while to reset.

you can't see some of the leaks, because now its pressure washed.

and they've run a engine flush and change the oil, looks clean right under the cap but you don't know whats waiting for you when the sludge it didn't get starts coming off and sticking in the pick up tube.

I can tell you how the c.v's look, how the suspension feels, how the trans drives, look at the belts and hoses and tell you about unusual sounds, but I can't predict catalyst faults or the possibility of crap plugging up the pump.

you've just spent a grip on your new pride and joy, only to find out as time goes on, the instrument panel lights up like a xmas tree, it leaves spots like a harley, and now you need $2k+ to get it to where you wanted it in the first place.