Took my mates golf gti out today.
#1
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Took my mates golf gti out today.
A mate of mine at work bought a golf gti 55reg. Payed £11,500 for it due to the current value of cars. It has sat nav, leather, all the extra's with 26,000 miles on the clock. He got a bargin.
First impression of the car. As soon as I sat in it, it was quality. The seats were extremely supportive and comfortable. The ride quality, handling, steering feeling compared to my scoob wrx 03 was a different world.
It wasn't as fast but when you threw it into corners it gave you positive feedback. It was alot more sure footed than my car has ever felt.
I'm getting coilovers for mine and only hope it handle as well as this golf.
If anybody doubts what I'm saying take one of these cars out for a test drive. You will be shocked.
I love my scoob but was amazed how a golf could be so much better.
Better gearbox, brakes everything. This car was planted.
First impression of the car. As soon as I sat in it, it was quality. The seats were extremely supportive and comfortable. The ride quality, handling, steering feeling compared to my scoob wrx 03 was a different world.
It wasn't as fast but when you threw it into corners it gave you positive feedback. It was alot more sure footed than my car has ever felt.
I'm getting coilovers for mine and only hope it handle as well as this golf.
If anybody doubts what I'm saying take one of these cars out for a test drive. You will be shocked.
I love my scoob but was amazed how a golf could be so much better.
Better gearbox, brakes everything. This car was planted.
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They really have nailed the chassis in the mk5 Golf GTi.
Try a thicker rear ARB and some droplinks on your car, will make a noticeable difference.
or go to town with the whiteline catalogue and then report back
Try a thicker rear ARB and some droplinks on your car, will make a noticeable difference.
or go to town with the whiteline catalogue and then report back
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Seems weird a heavy fwd Golf can seem more planted and give more feedback over a Scoob, but each to their own.
I can happily say though that my 900kg 205 GTI handles just as well as my old Scoobs used too, BUT they were legendary for being brilliant to drive.
#6
I went from 2 400+bhp Supras, to a Clio V6 to then my current Scoob and to be honest most things felt more planted than my Scoob.
After 6 months of driving it and testing it's limits and building up confidence in it there is no-way on earth anything i've previously owned would match the handling of this car.
I think possibly martwrxsl it's like you say there isn't that much 'positive feedback' perhaps because you haven't fully exploited the cars abilities fully yet. I went out in a few with people at Mocom and Carnetix and let them drive my car and they were putting it through corners like i'd never had before made me suddenly realise alot about the car.
After 6 months of driving it and testing it's limits and building up confidence in it there is no-way on earth anything i've previously owned would match the handling of this car.
I think possibly martwrxsl it's like you say there isn't that much 'positive feedback' perhaps because you haven't fully exploited the cars abilities fully yet. I went out in a few with people at Mocom and Carnetix and let them drive my car and they were putting it through corners like i'd never had before made me suddenly realise alot about the car.
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I think to get the most out of an impreza you really have to commit it to a bend, thats when i seem to get the most feedback anyway. Taking a bend any other way it just feels diconnected if that makes any sense.
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The golf is an excellent car i had one before my Scoob, the handling is very balance and you get excellent feedback throught the steering, brakes aren't bad too.......I think comparing it to an WRX it will come out on top in terms of handling compare to a Spec C, no chance.......
#10
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I have to admit that when looking for a replacement for my S4, I've been looking at the S3 and the GTI. The GTI won hands down. Totally agree with the handling and focussed drive.
Sure not as quick as the S3 (circa 60bhp), but SOOO much more fun. The S3 was good in a straight line, but devoid of feel in the bends.
I compared the handling more to that of Wifey's 306 GTi6. GO KART!
In comparison to my 2 Scoobs, close call really, but down to a different driving style. It's all well and good having to be committed in the corner with a Scoob, but if you are unsure mid-bend, lift-off oversteer and a resulting world of grief The Scoob will bite back, and quite nastily.
Fun though!
Dan
Sure not as quick as the S3 (circa 60bhp), but SOOO much more fun. The S3 was good in a straight line, but devoid of feel in the bends.
I compared the handling more to that of Wifey's 306 GTi6. GO KART!
In comparison to my 2 Scoobs, close call really, but down to a different driving style. It's all well and good having to be committed in the corner with a Scoob, but if you are unsure mid-bend, lift-off oversteer and a resulting world of grief The Scoob will bite back, and quite nastily.
Fun though!
Dan
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As soon as I sat in it, it was quality. The seats were extremely supportive and comfortable. The ride quality, handling, steering feeling compared to my scoob wrx 03 was a different world.
It wasn't as fast but when you threw it into corners it gave you positive feedback. It was alot more sure footed than my car has ever felt.
If anybody doubts what I'm saying take one of these cars out for a test drive. You will be shocked.
I love my scoob but was amazed how a golf could be so much better.
Better gearbox, brakes everything. This car was planted.
It wasn't as fast but when you threw it into corners it gave you positive feedback. It was alot more sure footed than my car has ever felt.
If anybody doubts what I'm saying take one of these cars out for a test drive. You will be shocked.
I love my scoob but was amazed how a golf could be so much better.
Better gearbox, brakes everything. This car was planted.
The wife's got an 06 GTi with lots of options and while it is a nice car, there is no way it's better than even a WRX. The ride is about the same (although she has got 18s), the gearbox is worse (but 6 speed). The engine is characterless, but is does have satnav, xenons, Cd changer..... which is nice .
I drive hers more than she does, but I still choose mine whenever I can.
Considering hers cost the original owner £26k new, and mine cost £15k (plus about £2k in mods to make it 50% more power than hers), I still say they are too much money unless you really like them (which she does!)
#12
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#13
I've driven a golf gt tdi sport 170 DSG .... (hopefully that's all the acronyms I need).
Anyway, it was a very smooth drive but I was also very impressed with the handling for a fwd car it felt very planted and not much roll. Wouldn't say it's better than my classic though for handling.
Having owned an E30 BMW before pretty much anything feels grippy to me these days as they handle like a pig on rollerskates in the wet (not the m3 though).
Anyway, it was a very smooth drive but I was also very impressed with the handling for a fwd car it felt very planted and not much roll. Wouldn't say it's better than my classic though for handling.
Having owned an E30 BMW before pretty much anything feels grippy to me these days as they handle like a pig on rollerskates in the wet (not the m3 though).
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....and another thing.
I'm not knocking the Golf because it is a great car, but one reason for buying one is the rock-solid residuals. The previous owner of the wife's one lost £12k in 2 years, Mart's mate saved around £14k on a 3 year old car. (There were no discounts on them then). My car is 3 years old now and as long as it's worth more than a grand, then I'm not doing too badly.
I'm not knocking the Golf because it is a great car, but one reason for buying one is the rock-solid residuals. The previous owner of the wife's one lost £12k in 2 years, Mart's mate saved around £14k on a 3 year old car. (There were no discounts on them then). My car is 3 years old now and as long as it's worth more than a grand, then I'm not doing too badly.
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I went from 2 400+bhp Supras, to a Clio V6 to then my current Scoob and to be honest most things felt more planted than my Scoob.
After 6 months of driving it and testing it's limits and building up confidence in it there is no-way on earth anything i've previously owned would match the handling of this car.
I think possibly martwrxsl it's like you say there isn't that much 'positive feedback' perhaps because you haven't fully exploited the cars abilities fully yet. I went out in a few with people at Mocom and Carnetix and let them drive my car and they were putting it through corners like i'd never had before made me suddenly realise alot about the car.
After 6 months of driving it and testing it's limits and building up confidence in it there is no-way on earth anything i've previously owned would match the handling of this car.
I think possibly martwrxsl it's like you say there isn't that much 'positive feedback' perhaps because you haven't fully exploited the cars abilities fully yet. I went out in a few with people at Mocom and Carnetix and let them drive my car and they were putting it through corners like i'd never had before made me suddenly realise alot about the car.
Ns04
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Thanks for your replies. I would really like to go on a track day and find out what my car can do. As said above I haven't pushed it to absolute limit but I can't do it on the road just in case. The scooby is probably better than the golf, it's just the golf doesn't seem to roll and seemed tighter in the bends.
I'm sorry I'm not very good at explaining things. When I throw the scoob into corners it always goes around them but I can't always feel how it's doing it.
I'm sorry I'm not very good at explaining things. When I throw the scoob into corners it always goes around them but I can't always feel how it's doing it.
#17
the benifit is, the golfs got no power so you can feel like your going flat out round a bend, plus its front wheel drive so if you loose grip nothing much happens, if you did the same in a scoob youd have to do some corrections lol.
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I've been a passenger in a new Golf GTi and have to say it is a nice car. Shouldn't you be comparing the GTi with the STi though and a lower spec model Golf with the WRX?
I'd have the GTi over a WRX I think, but not over an STi. It is worlds away IMHO.
I'd have the GTi over a WRX I think, but not over an STi. It is worlds away IMHO.
#22
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lol - I know what you're getting at, but to be accurate -
Golf Mk5 GTI - 1328kg (manual) 1347kg (dsg) source
Subaru, well, you might want to take a look at the SIDC website
You might be surprised.
I was one of the sceptics, until I drove it - yes, it's slightly down on power (up to 25bhp on the UK cars, and 95hp on the MY08). The Golf isn't THAT far behind, apart from grip levels associated with AWD.
If you're comparing it to the STis, then well, "apples & pears" springs to mind, as it's not a fair comparison.
Dan
Golf Mk5 GTI - 1328kg (manual) 1347kg (dsg) source
Subaru, well, you might want to take a look at the SIDC website
You might be surprised.
I was one of the sceptics, until I drove it - yes, it's slightly down on power (up to 25bhp on the UK cars, and 95hp on the MY08). The Golf isn't THAT far behind, apart from grip levels associated with AWD.
If you're comparing it to the STis, then well, "apples & pears" springs to mind, as it's not a fair comparison.
Dan
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The GTi is marketed against cars like the STi, not the WRX, so I think it is a more accurate comparison.
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Price-wise, probably (down to Subaru being "keen" to sell cars )
But I don't think it's fair to compare the cars on performance, as there's nearly 100 bhp difference. Plus the fact the R32 isn't a special edition. The ED30, or GTi Pirelli is...
The issue was more regarding the fact that the Golf is percieved as a slow car, which just isn't the case.
Dan
But I don't think it's fair to compare the cars on performance, as there's nearly 100 bhp difference. Plus the fact the R32 isn't a special edition. The ED30, or GTi Pirelli is...
The issue was more regarding the fact that the Golf is percieved as a slow car, which just isn't the case.
Dan
#26
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The only thing that puts me off about the R32 is that the V6 is a heavy engine (I know, I've got one in my Audi! ), and whilst there's more "power" I would imagine that the gains aren't that much, aside for the 4motion.....
Now a gti with dsg..... much more interesting
Dan
Now a gti with dsg..... much more interesting
Dan
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I've driven a few R32s and they do feel manically fast, but they are as thirsty as a Scoob, expensive, in the top road tax band and not as fun as a GTi. I found them quite hard work to drive fast too.
As for which is better an STi or an R32, it would depend on your loyalties. Do you prefer a Jap rally beast or the class of a German autobahn stormer?
As for which is better an STi or an R32, it would depend on your loyalties. Do you prefer a Jap rally beast or the class of a German autobahn stormer?
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When I first bought my lightly modified WRX Wagon I was worried about exploring the limits on the road - cornering at medium speeds, I was not impressed. One day, however, I decided to see what happened on a decent sized, empty roundabout if I went for it—Ah...as New_scooby_04 alluded, it's not until you push the Impreza that it starts to come alive—the front suddenly squatted down and I just went around the bends with no drama, extremely quickly.
I had a couple of hours tuition on a track recently and, as long as you turn, accelerate and brake progressively, cars like Imprezas are easy at high speeds and it's hard to go too wrong.
On a long right-hander, the instructor got me to accelerate to see what happens when you use too much speed. This was at the end of the session and he still wasn't used to the car's ability (he was almost sick earlier when he got me to drive in circles to make the car skid out - it wouldn't without booting the pedal and yanking the wheel).
Anyway, same thing was happening on the high speed corner; went into it at 60-70 mph and gentle acceleration wasn't gonna do it so he got me to floor it. I was concentrating on the bend and the Blob Eye coming the other way (that's right health and safety fans!) but we must have been going somewhere between 80-100 mph when it gave way and guess what: grip loosened a little - no drama - and he explained that when you start to lose grip you just need to ease off of whatever caused it. Problem solved.
To address something martwrxsl said earlier - you're unlikely to be able to find the limits on the road as even stretches that permit such driving are fraught with too many hazards and you won't be able to commit yourself.
Go to a track and get professional instruction if possible (preferably one where they bother to warn you when part of the track is closed without any proper barriers and that, should you venture into that part, a high-speed vehicle may be comin' at ya...like a shark with knees!).
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A mate of mine at work bought a golf gti 55reg. Payed £11,500 for it due to the current value of cars. It has sat nav, leather, all the extra's with 26,000 miles on the clock. He got a bargin.
First impression of the car. As soon as I sat in it, it was quality. The seats were extremely supportive and comfortable. The ride quality, handling, steering feeling compared to my scoob wrx 03 was a different world.
It wasn't as fast but when you threw it into corners it gave you positive feedback. It was alot more sure footed than my car has ever felt.
I'm getting coilovers for mine and only hope it handle as well as this golf.
If anybody doubts what I'm saying take one of these cars out for a test drive. You will be shocked.
I love my scoob but was amazed how a golf could be so much better.
Better gearbox, brakes everything. This car was planted.
First impression of the car. As soon as I sat in it, it was quality. The seats were extremely supportive and comfortable. The ride quality, handling, steering feeling compared to my scoob wrx 03 was a different world.
It wasn't as fast but when you threw it into corners it gave you positive feedback. It was alot more sure footed than my car has ever felt.
I'm getting coilovers for mine and only hope it handle as well as this golf.
If anybody doubts what I'm saying take one of these cars out for a test drive. You will be shocked.
I love my scoob but was amazed how a golf could be so much better.
Better gearbox, brakes everything. This car was planted.