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YACT: Battle of the Sport Compacts!

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Originally posted by: Tommouse
Originally posted by: zerocool84
Originally posted by: Tommouse
I vote GTI again, now if you threw in the STI ... that's a different story.
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STI is in a different category with the base price it has.

Out of all those the Mazdaspeed 3 is the best and countless comparos have proved it, but like every other car thread EVER on here, this will soon turn into a flamefest. The only competition for the Mazdaspeed 3 is WRX and that has AWD advantage.
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You never set a limit on price 😉, it's still a sport compact albeit a more expensive one 🙂.

I'm with Xyclone in flashing the ECU in the GTI would tighten up the race a great deal. I don't know about ECU's for the Mazda or Scooby. My understanding is that the Mazda is about at the limit of their engine, and you wouldn't be able to get much more out of it. The WRX I expect has plenty left in it (assuming same engine & turbo combo as the STI) so perhaps the WRX with a chip could run away with this.
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It is the same displacement but the internals on the STI are a bit better IIRC, the STI also has a larger turbo and different exhaust tuning. The STI also has that sweet 6spd close ratio gearbox which is much stronger than the one in the WRX.

My vote is for the WRX. That 2.5l turbocharged boxer engine is a gem.
 
I didn't vote - don't think you really can because they're seperated, in my opinion, by drivetrain.

AWD - Probably the Subaru, *tons* of mods out there for it too
FWD - The Si, it matches the characteristics that I look for in a car
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It is the same displacement but the internals on the STI are a bit better IIRC, the STI also has a larger turbo and different exhaust tuning. The STI also has that sweet 6spd close ratio gearbox which is much stronger than the one in the WRX.

My vote is for the WRX. That 2.5l turbocharged boxer engine is a gem.
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I've always heard negative comments about the WRX's transmission and how a recommended enthusiast (not necessarily down-right racing) is to replace it with the 6-speed STi transmission.

I'd probably go with the Subaru, but I do live in the north, so AWD is a bit more substantial here.
 
GTI for the comfort, economy, features, and functionality while still having a decent amount of spunk under the hood. DSG is a great compromise for those of us who are married with spouses who don't do manuals.

🙂
 
Originally posted by: Raduque
The WRX is considered a "compact" these days? :Q
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Uh, what else would you consider it? It's smaller than the Midsize class (Accord/Camry/Legacy).
 
i like ALL of them except the cobalt

without driving them, its hard to say which i'd choose. my preliminary guess is between VW GTI (looks like, hatch), Civic Si (looks nice, Honda), and MS3 (4dr hatch).... i do know that under no circumstances will i consider the Cobalt

im glad people in the market have these choices
 
Originally posted by: RichUK
Nice car but, did you have to go with that colour?

P.S That?s my favourite Mk of Golf. The latest Mk Golf is meh, unless it?s a black GTI with very large alloys.
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the 20th AE only came in 3 colors - Jet Blue, Black Magic Pearl, and Imola Yellow. considering I just got it about a month ago and they only made 4K of them, I was pretty limited in choice 😛.

So yes, actually I did have to get that color, and I had to drive 2 hours to pennsylvania to meet the person from NY to get the car from them heh. the color grew on me big time, and it actually looks really nice. i put a black grille on it this weekend actually and it looks even nicer 🙂

i may take a cell phone pic for my friend in a litle bit cause he wants to see it, so i'll update if i do.
 
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: RichUK
Nice car but, did you have to go with that colour?

P.S That?s my favourite Mk of Golf. The latest Mk Golf is meh, unless it?s a black GTI with very large alloys.
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the 20th AE only came in 3 colors - Jet Blue, Black Magic Pearl, and Imola Yellow. considering I just got it about a month ago and they only made 4K of them, I was pretty limited in choice 😛.

So yes, actually I did have to get that color, and I had to drive 2 hours to pennsylvania to meet the person from NY to get the car from them heh. the color grew on me big time, and it actually looks really nice. i put a black grille on it this weekend actually and it looks even nicer 🙂

i may take a cell phone pic for my friend in a litle bit cause he wants to see it, so i'll update if i do.
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Ahh right, I see. I've always liked the design of the Mk4 golf, it's the best looking version IMO. A friend of mine has a Mk4 Golf GTI too. Easily the best in its competition.

Now, the R32 is a whole different ball game. CLICK ME

🙂
 
Originally posted by: RichUK
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: RichUK
Nice car but, did you have to go with that colour?

P.S That?s my favourite Mk of Golf. The latest Mk Golf is meh, unless it?s a black GTI with very large alloys.
Click to expand...

the 20th AE only came in 3 colors - Jet Blue, Black Magic Pearl, and Imola Yellow. considering I just got it about a month ago and they only made 4K of them, I was pretty limited in choice 😛.

So yes, actually I did have to get that color, and I had to drive 2 hours to pennsylvania to meet the person from NY to get the car from them heh. the color grew on me big time, and it actually looks really nice. i put a black grille on it this weekend actually and it looks even nicer 🙂

i may take a cell phone pic for my friend in a litle bit cause he wants to see it, so i'll update if i do.
Click to expand...

Ahh right, I see. I've always liked the design of the Mk4 golf, it's the best looking version IMO. A friend of mine has a Mk4 Golf GTI too. Easily the best in its competition.

Now, the R32 is a whole different ball game. CLICK ME

🙂
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Yah R32's are nice 🙂 I liked the 20th cause they already come looking very sporty (pretty close to R32 looks) but they are stock. The wheels on my car are the same wheels that are stock on the R32 I believe. I'm not sure about the suspension. The bumpers are definitely different too 🙂

But yah I agree, the MK4 GTI look is the best of them all. I don't like MK5 GTI's at all looks wise.
 
I've driven the Cooper S, Civic Si, VW GTI, and Cobalt SS and by far my favorite was the Cobalt SS. It's incredibly fun. I'd like to get my hands on a MS3 to drive, though...

 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It is the same displacement but the internals on the STI are a bit better IIRC, the STI also has a larger turbo and different exhaust tuning. The STI also has that sweet 6spd close ratio gearbox which is much stronger than the one in the WRX.

My vote is for the WRX. That 2.5l turbocharged boxer engine is a gem.
Click to expand...

I've always heard negative comments about the WRX's transmission and how a recommended enthusiast (not necessarily down-right racing) is to replace it with the 6-speed STi transmission.

I'd probably go with the Subaru, but I do live in the north, so AWD is a bit more substantial here.
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It's not that bad. For everyday driving it is fine.

I'm not certain but Subaru may have beefed up the transmission for the latest 2.5l WRX...not sure but I think I remember hearing that.
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Originally posted by: Raduque
The WRX is considered a "compact" these days? :Q
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Uh, what else would you consider it? It's smaller than the Midsize class (Accord/Camry/Legacy).
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Actually, I do consider it a midsized. It's too big to be a "compact"; might as well throw the Lancer Evolution in there, it's about the same size!
 
Originally posted by: Raduque
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Originally posted by: Raduque
The WRX is considered a "compact" these days? :Q
Click to expand...

Uh, what else would you consider it? It's smaller than the Midsize class (Accord/Camry/Legacy).
Click to expand...

Actually, I do consider it a midsized. It's too big to be a "compact"; might as well throw the Lancer Evolution in there, it's about the same size!
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What you consider it to be is irrelevant. Insurance companies and Subaru itself classify it as a Compact. Along with most other cars mentioned in this thread. The Mini falls into the sub-compact class.
 
To me a "sport compact" is something that has decent power, doesn't drive like a boat, and is under or around $25k. The Evo/STi are WAYYY over the price limit. Anyways, the WRX looks like a very appealing choice next to my original choice (GTI), but insurance rates are insane. The STi even has lower rates than it, because of the higher MSRP (less young boy racer punks buy it). The GTI is looking like a nice compromise between everything, but I have until late summer/winter or perhaps a bit later to decide which car I want. Keep the discussion going, ATOT'ers! 🙂
 
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