Video: Subaru WRX vs VW Golf GTi
March 19, 2008 by George Skentzos
An all-wheel drive 169kW Subaru Impreza WRX against a front-wheel drive 147kW Volkswagen Golf GTi around the track is a no-brainer right? This latest installment of Fifth Gear may just surprise you.
Tags: Subaru Impreza WRX, Volkswagen Golf GTI
very interesting. wonder what the outcome would have be on a wet track.
Wow! Golf is the best.
I love the Golf don’t get me wrong but I’ve driven the WRX and I would have thought it had the edge on the VW. But there you go!
It was on a damp track, and it blew away the wrx by 2 secs
So not only fugly but slower than a FWD girls car. For shame Subaru, for shame!
Where is the advantage of going to that horrid hatchback style you have been bleating about. Please don’t pit a Golf against the STi – I could not handle the embarrassment.
R32 vs STI would be interesting
Given these figures, I would guess the STi would have trouble beating the GTi…least the Rex might win the Red Light Grand Prix… oh, the shame of it all…..
I took delivery of the new Sti last Friday and its a completely different animal to the standard rex. If you wanna see how the Sti does against the R32 (and the S3) pick up the latest MOTOR mag..
How can you now call the GTi Golf a “FWD girls car”?
It just goes to show that some front drivers can be great cars if set up properly. Like the GTi.
interesting vid. would love to see how the R32 compares with the STi around the same track. i have a feeling the sti would beat the R32, but i hope im wrong.
I think the STi would win vs. an R32 too; don’t forget that evo did a comparison of the STi with the Lambo Superleggera and found (over wet, bumpy switchback roads) that the Subaru was competitive in that situation – against a true supercar. So the STi is in a slightly different league
As for the GTI being a ‘girls car’ I suppose that was a joke but it’s a bit of an anachronistic view – hatchbacks these days are so much more complete than they used to be and I don’t think the GTI has even been a girls car, except maybe the Mark IV.
That was meant to be “has EVER been a girls car”
MYO8 STi – can you shares the on the road price paid for your new STi? I was quoted 71155 – non negotiable…
$71000 for a Suburu?! Haha, good one! How did they come up with $70k when the list price on the STI is $60k? Makes the choice between Evo and Sti even easier.
The WRX also got beaten through a slalom course by a Mazda 3 MPS (Youtube somewhere). Shame 5th gear didn’t do the Evo versus Sti comparison for this current series – I would assume because they weren’t released during filming?
if anyone is interested 5th gear will test the new sti next week in the final episode of this series. so should be on youtube soon
Good to see the WRX’s performance matches its looks.
FH, I paid 65,9XX on road for the standard spec. 71K is for the Spec R. I wasnt willing to spend the extra 5K on the Spec R for a few reasons. I doubt you will find any discounts at this stage, not for six months at the earliest until demand subsides. The issue is, I dont think demand will subside in the near future as more of them get on the road…because the Stis look absolutelly stunning in the flesh and this will drive demand for a while yet – IMO. As it is there is at least a 2-4 month wait unless your lucky enough to snag a cancelled order.
Does the golf stereo go….
“doof-doof-doof-doof-doof-doof”
Thought not!
WRX wins….. :-)
Cheers
F-0
Yep MY08 STi – thats right I was talking about the Spec R. And ppl – it is the ON THE ROAD price. Please don’t be so dumb as to be duped by the LIST price which is WELL short of the ON THE ROAD price.
CapnCrunch – I guarantee you the ON THE ROAD price for the Evo X will be similar if not more than the STi. By all accounts you will have 2 versions of the Evo X:
* V1 = 5sp Manual (prolly priced against the standard STi which will be about 65K ON THE ROAD)
* V2 = 6sp Auto (call it manumatic DSG SST or whatever else – but you dont need to press a clutch so for all intents it can be driven by someone on an auto licence and is therefore an auto) will be about 72K ON THE ROAD
Yep the STI rocks can’t say much for the standard one bit of a let down for subaru in that market segment, the ralliart lancer should clean up in this area
Funny that europen car show and the euro car wins I bet the subaru would win on a japanese car show.So to make it fair who would in Oz
I would lean towards the subaru
FH I’d say you’re right. I’d assume the base model Evo will be under $60k (they would be pretty dumb to make it dearer than that). Probably match the exactly the STI pricing – wouldn’t that be a surpise *rolls eyes*.
The Subaru deserved to get flogged….cars that ugly need a good flogging!! LOL
I really question the the credibility of a test like this, I would have thought the WRX would have the edge… more power, AWD… it has all the aces up its sleaves. Fair enough it has abit more body roll these days, but its actually a better handler then previous WRX’s according to various Max G and Slalom tests.
Interesting vid, would have thought the WRX would have won. Ah well spose they are just the same as the old ones over rated rice rockets, the new ones do win something they are just uglier.
See TP.. The golf proves that a lighter less powerfulc ar can beat a heavier more powerful car; a bit like my Subie RS and the Aurion.
Nice to see 5th Gear actually testing cars rather than engaging in stupid stunts.They should leave that to the other mob . Everyone knows that WRX”s are meant to be driven by skinny little blokes with bad haircuts . No way that a mere woman could ever do it
justice.
Wheelnut your not serious are you? This is around a track, a lighter vehicle with less power can benefit around bends, like an XR4 for example (chix car, but it would handle well)… in a straight line sorry, you are wrong… a 110kw Impreza does not beat a 200kw Aurion. Wheels tests showed this, a Mazda 3 despite a lack of power did well around a track, but did it beat Aurion in rolling accleration? No, not even near it.
There is no way a FWD girls car is going to beat a AWD car on a damp track. It was a setup because she thinks the Golf is a better car and did not drive the WRX hard enough. I don’t think the Golf interior is as special as they make out, it looks like a lame girly car, is too small and just does not go as hard. Too expensive also – you want anything good then like other Euro brands you have to hit the options list for an enormous cost blowout. The Civic Type R looks the goods but has no grunt at all – lots of engine revving but not much acceleration or speed. The Mazda 3 MPS looks like a normal 3 and is just too damn noisy – you just cannot live with all that noise on a daily basis. Then I went and bought a MY08 WRX – super quiet, goes like a cut snake and has that lovely boxer engine sound. It may have lost some of it’s macho looks but is a huge technological advancement over the previous models.
Did someone just say 200 KILLER wasps?????
Whatever TP… my car has more than 110Kw and I never mentioned if the road was straight
wake up to yourself wheelnut,
the world is exactlly as TP sees it and nothing else
Hahahah AndrewM thinks 110kw can beat 200kw. AndrewM is a complete dumb shyte? Myth Confirmed.
Subaru sucks.
TP,
just re-read wheelnuts last post mate!!!!!!!!!!!
come on, sound-it-out
perhaps understand the conversation first and then post second
FYI it is the ‘Wheels’ Magazine (April 2008) – just arrived on my door step today – that has the comparo twixt the STi and R32 Golf. By virtually all accounts the STi beats the R32 hands down.
I have to agree with TuffGuy that the sheila driving those cars around didnt look like she was making much of an effort – with either car really. At any rate, the STi is the current Impreza’s model line up only saving grace. Standard REX is far too lame comparatively – whether this particular race was biased or not.
Want a hot hatch? Buy a Megane. Looks the best, is the quickest!
Andrew.M Ive also addressed his power increase on RS… one of the mains reasons why the WRX is quick to 100 is the start with its AWD. You go WRX 60-100km/h vs a Family car and its a close call, because that AWD just become added weight. So yes even a 150kw Impreza RS would struggle to beat a 200kw Aurion… displacement wins in rolling starts.
TP – sorry mate but no matter how you cut it – an Aurion is a camry and is a camry and is a camry – albeit in a puffy pirate outfit.
The interesting thing is that Toyota and Suby are very likely going to release their joint venture cars in about 2010. The only thing that will give the cars any credibility whatsoever is the fact that there is Subaru technology behind it.
Hopefully Toyota’s pirate brigade of Camrion fame won’t have too much say in the design of the shells…
TP,
in rolling starts displacement wins???
well its a bit more indepth than that my friend.
thats a very simple statement
Tp – I can’t believe your comparing an Aurion barge with a Mazda 3. Awww come.
Found out about the diesel 25% bit yet.. Nah doubt you can!!
What is your point Flying? What you say about Camry is one thing that I laugh about when you idiots mention it, because this ‘puffy pirate outfil’ of a Camry if it had the same tyres as a XR6 would have beaten it in Wheels dynamics test… and it did beat it around a track among all other areas!!! So who looks bad here, the slapped together Aurion which has been voted Drives large car of the year two years running or the built from ground up Falcon/Commodore which is beaten by a Aurion not only in features but it would appear dynamics as well! (I didnt mention acceleration here, because its a well known fact now the Aurion is the class leader in this department, despite also having the classes smallest engine!)
No Name I provided the evidence RE oil, I dont lie… so you can cop that one sweet, you look like a complete fool now (although I doubt you will accept it)
TP,
i agree,
fancy toyota short changing its buyers by giving them skinny tyres. i mean they just arent as safe
No its a focus on fuel efficiency… smart really, you cant push a car to the limits tests such as those done by wheels do, so why bother getting 0.5 more G around a bend or 3km/h more around a slalom course, relatively useless gains, over fuel efficiency which is a very important gain.
TP,
wrong mate,
its actually the bottom line dollar, not fuel efficiency nor co2 emissions that drives people to diesel and LPG.
not to say that diesel and LPG arent environmentally better.
but the bottom line is what it costs us each week Versus any compromise to improve that
Since when does a WRX v GTi blog have anything to do with an Aurion (as good as it may or may not be). I didn’t see one on the track.
As for the comments re the WRX not being driven hard enough or it being biased, Did anyone consider that Subaru’s decision to only equip the WRX with a 5 speed box may have influenced the result.
The extra ratio in the VW may have given it an edge on this circuit, seeing as power and weight are only half the equasion when it comes to acceleration. Gearing makes up a big chunk of the other half. Find the right gear for the right speed or corner and you’ll go quicker than the wrong gear at the same corner.
Tuff guy, did you drive a GTi before you bought? Just wondering, as I haven’t compared dimensions and so on. I’m a little surprised that you find the Golf small. Heck, maybe it is!
There’s a certain Kraut austerity to the Golf’s interior and dash, yes, but when you live with one you realise it’s well made and works beautifully and is actually loaded with gear. Nothing fails the “knuckle test”.
The Subie? I’m guessing you’ve gotta love the wave-look of the dashboard for it to work for you.
I’d go a Golf, as I’m sure you can tell, but here’s wishing you happy motoring in the WRX (despite your Girly Golf jibe).
love the GTi… I like the WRX.. although I love the STi.
Very fair comparison, but again, a one off 1-lap timed circuit is not as concrete as it sounds.
I would love to see a 10 lap circuit with about 2 different drivers for both cars and see the top 5 recorded times. Then find out the mean, by take away the best and worst time for each and compare once more.
Again, the WRX with its AWD should be more balance for most road-types. But the GTi is best buck for under 45K AUD hatch or car for that matter.
I’ve owned a new ecu modified GTI for over 2 years now. The performance improvement is no comparison to the stock one shown on this clip. 400Nms and 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 sec. But is it quick enough to beat an Aurion on a rolling road though… :)
Flying High, “that shiela” knows what she’s doing.
“Born into a racing family, her grandfather used to race a Frazer Nash at Brooklands, her father was in the British karting team and her brother Charlie is a racing driver.
Butler-Henderson started racing karts at the age of 12, being overtaken by David Coulthard in her first race. She holds a Race National C licence as well as a power boat racing licence. After supplementing her income as a racing instructor at Silverstone Circuit, she also undertook a dual career in journalism”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Butler_Henderson
I’m with you Nick – Subaru sucks.
I’m well aware that the Subaru would outperform (mainly in a straight line) both the current S3 and the current R32.
I bought my R32 as I wanted a supple ride with a nicer interior. Something the new STI with the cheap arse interior couldn’t match.
My partner bought his S3 as he wanted a supple ride with an even nicer interior. Again – something the STI couldn’t touch.
We drive 90% of my time over inner city Melbourne streets where 0-100 times are less important – the R32 and S3 are plenty fast for us. Also – we never track our cars, where the STI mostly shines.
Subaru interior screams cheap – could’nt stand 3 years of that interior. My partner is a former owner of multiple WRX’s so its not like we have a thing against the subie either.
They are different cars and should’nt really be compared.
200 killer wasps!!!!!!
ARGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, I’ve just watched the footage, now my internet is running full speed again.
I’ve seen Vicki Butler-Henderson fang the Vauxhall VXR around the same track.The girl drives way better than I could have managed, so I’ll just settle with her result. It was her result with those 2 cars on that day.
All of these English presenters (the other one here is Tom Ford) sound as though they’ve been watching Top Gear for too long. They speak the same, their intonations are all terribly similar and they all seem to know the same bloke, regularly interrupting themselves mid-sentence to utter his name reverently; “Bert”.
DSG and a six speed makes up for the KW adv of the suby, its about making the most of your power quicker. Think the awd of the suby would come into play over a few more laps. Mot many 1 lap races in the world, so suby fans dont be discouraged. The golf is a damn good car and taken for granted cause its been around for 3 years now and can still punch above its weight. I got had to get the Jetta FSI as it suits a family a lot more(boot is sensational), that moves as well :)
Just as an aside, for those who don’t know much about DSG this is a great example of its benefits. Brain over brawn guys :)
Um, wasn’t the above test done with a six speed manual, not the DSG?
Golfschwein, you are aware of how Fifth Gear started aren’t you? ;)
Oh, and of course an STi would beat an R32 around a track. A GTI would probably do the same, haha!
Umm, isn’t DSG a manual set up?
The test suprised me.Obviously the WRX would kill the GTI in straight line aceleration.But it will be interesting when the Fifth Gear program takes a STi around the same track.I want to see if it beats the JDM Civic Type R’s time of 1:24.05 secs.That time(Civic R) was 6 secs. faster than the WRX!
She owns a VW GTI, got familiarity? got bias? Look at the different lines she takes.
From her wiki “Butler-Henderson drives a Mk II Golf GTi, a Honda S2000 and a Ducati Monster 750. [1][5] She is a fan of snooker and darts, and is an avid skier.”
Not just bias either… if she owns a GTi then she is going to be more familiar with its handling etc characteristics and be able to get the most out of it, while with the WRX this might not be the same case, having driven it only for a short period of time. It really seems unbelievable a GTi would beat a WRX, let alone with that huge margin, more so on the slightly wet track.
The girl’s a professional racer and driver. We’re not. Did you see the way she was flinging the VXR sideways a few months ago whilst cutting the crusts off a cucumber sandwich at the same time? People of that ilk can get in a car and DRIVE. Let’s just accept her result, shall we?
Liam, fill me in…something about a spin-off from Top Gear, did I once hear, Bert?
Geez whiz Golf, the guy who obviously likes or has a Golf, defends the result. Sorry but a car with more power, not that much extra weight and AWD does not lose 2 or whatever seconds in the wet. Get someone who hasnt driven them both, not a person who friggen owns a GTi, and then let them undertake a more controlled test and make a unbiased conclusion. Clearly that wasnt the case here. Mind you there was another fith gear part on the Impreza where the stupid presenter compared the new RS to the old WRX saying how Subaru have gone down hill, a WRX to a RS!!? It shows the credibility or lack there of this shows reviews. Its all show.
im not saying whether or not i agree with the result,
but TP there are a lot more things that influence such results than power.
someone even mentioned gearing before and you still didnt take it in.
then there is rev range where power is made etc etc etc.
its funny how you only seem to look at the “power” figure
The result is a confounding one for people who like lists and surveys.
No AndrewM I dont think that, Ive had many arguments in the past about where torque etc is produced in the Aurion… your memory is clearly fading. But given they are both small turboed engines its likely they are similar in this deparment, regardless of power I also mentioned AWD, the track was damp the AWD of the WRX should have made it a winner even with less power then it has.
No Golf its a result that theyve planned to create discussions like this and further Fith Gears viewer base. As I said theyve attacked the new Impreza on other occasions, even more blatent were their ridiciulous tests, saying the new Impreza is crap when comparing an RS to the previous WRX! The new Impreza is the flavour of the month for attacks, they are just jumping onto the bandwagon.
And another thing I should have picked up earlier, where do you people think the AWD WRX gains the most over a FWD GTI? OFF THE LINE. What did they use… rolling start. Thats call manipulating the results, a proper track run should be from 0km/h… so there the WRX immediately gains what, 1.5seconds… then add difference in driver reactions in both cars and the fact that she owns a GTi, meaning she knows it limtits better… and then you begin to realise that something is up!
Oh dear. I don’t know how many more sophisticated conspiracy theories I can take in one day!
And Andrew.M just to satisfy you, which I already knew, both cars as I saidn reference to small turboed engines produce a relatively flat torque curve. Yet the WRX has 40Nm and 20kw more… that is just alittle more, thats alot… fair enough it weighs more, but its power to weiht ratio still wins… with AWD… BS test
TP,
you are only guessing mate. or should i say “assuming” as always
you assume their rev ranges would be the same. why? because they are both turbo charged? pffft
Golf if you think this is a conpiracy theory then you better pull your head out of your ar*se. Very valid point, it wasnt a standing start, the WRX does the 100 in 5.8 seconds compard to the GTi at 7.1 seconds… they claimed the WRX lost by 2 seconds, clearly its only 0.7 seconds when you factor this in… and then factor in her familiarily with the GTi, you can clearly say the test cant be relied upon. THIS IS COMMON SENSE.
Heaven only knows why an enthusiast and race driver would choose a Golf Gti as a personal car. Anyway, it’s a MkII from the days of beam axles and 1100 kilogram kerb weights.
I just answered your last post Andrew.M, I had a reasonable idea… Ive just looked it up, your wrong… dont deny the points Ive made a very valid RE rolling start.
The WRX isnt as popular in England… in prior years when she would have bought her GTi it was also a hell of alot less refined then the Gti. So no Golf that argument is again more BS by you. Provide anything half plausible yet?
AndrewM, you know the definition of “Assume”? Assume makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.
Bit of trivia for you. :)
Do you know the definition of Golfschwein? An idiot who is embaressed by TP every time he shows his ugly head around this place
TP….You astound me with the rubbish you dig up, rarely good and mostly idiotic. Self proclaimed expert at cars…..being Easter me thinks not, but rather an EGG SPAWNED!
TP,
yes but the golf reaches its peak power and torque lower than the rex doesnt it.
racing around a track isnt all about straight line speed. thats what this proves. i do agree though that she would be familiar with the Golf but not to the extent where you need to rubbish the test.
what this clearly shows is that a car that goes under the radar in the golf can give a typical dream machine in the WRX a touch up
Hmmmm…did you scan the pics of the moon landing for fakeness on shadows as you might also claim it was produced in America and is a hoax!
TP, the only one patting yourself on the back is you
I don’t get embarassed by you. If anything, I can’t wait for your next comments to flash up, as they’re so hilarious. Yet, there’s no sign of a sense of irony or humour.
My comments are as they are as cant believe TP…his comment to you ANDREW M on fuel efficiency on skinny tyres was toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!
CANT STOP LAUGHING ON THAT ONE AS TRULY STUNNING COMMENT!
AndrewM sorry… as I said standing start the WRX cuts that margin down to 0.7 seconds… familarty can easily give the GTi a half a second handicap. It does show that the GTi is a good handler, no doubt, FWD keeps up with a AWD… but it is lighter afteral. But talking performance credentials the WRX wins, in the real world acceleration is more important then going around a corner at 150km/h… AWD is also important in the wet.
Nm any of this conversation is over your head, I suspect one day on site you forgot to wear a hard hat and got kncoked in the head? Explains why you can post during hte day, on disability pension.
Conclusing, third party posters already said they didnt think it was right based on handling alone… Ive shown all with the rolling start the this test was hardly accurate.
GOLF….being a builder would say hit the nail on the head with ya last comment mate. But as your Golf….you just landed a whole in one stroke! Now the prize for the winner is………..not a TOYOTA with skinny tyres! LOL HEAPS
The only people patting themsleves on the back is the idiots who dont know what they are talking about. Im not patting myself on the back, Im trying to educate you dummies (its going to take years Im afraid)
GEE YOU HAVING A MENTAL SESSION TP….CANT RECALL LAST TIME ON DURING DAY YOU FAIRY!
THE MORE YOU GO ON….THE MORE SHTYE FLOWETH FAST!
OK…TP I can see your comment on tyre width! Yes… but it “aint” the tremendous benefit you try to make out – what with Toyota spending the massive amounts on R&D to just simplify it a tad by putting skinnier tyres on! Better ways to get efficiency then that!
TP,
mate you seriously have a maturity issue
Its called a day off… some people actually have jobs, dont lie about them.
No mental session either, if you think stating that the WRX would get 1.3 seconds over a Gti from a standing start is mental, then I dont think Im the one who needs to get my head checked! Im stating facts here. Remember Im the Toyota man, I can speak here realtively unbiased, Golf on the other hand… well I think his name says it all. And Andrew.M, well he tries but he is ’special’
Yes I have maturity issue, you idiot, Nm sounds like a 5 year sold… been said by MANY other posters. Again talking sh*t. I honestly dont think Ive heard one accurate thing come out of your posts… just IMMATURE ganging up trying to prove your own, INCORECCT, point.
Anyway Im off, so no Im not ‘going quiet’…. I will be back for another education session later. See ya numb skulls.
It’s funny, Naughtyius. Some people spend all day quoting from lists, surveys and charts, yet can’t accept test results. I know. I know. It’s weird.
I await my edumacation seshun with Antissa Payshun!
Look at poor old TP. He’s so far behind, he reckons he’s coming first!
Golf,
lets give him a ribbon anyway
I reckon we should all chip in and give him some wider tyres to put on his 1976model Toyota Corolla.
NM,
yes!!!!!
now thats the sharing caring spirit.
perhaps i should give him my trailer tyres. they would be wider than anything toyota fits
SteveR32. I don’t know how you could say the R32 Golf has a “supple ride” the suspension is alot harsher than the new STi and the noise in cabin is terrible!
It’s that frigging superb engine in the GTI that shits on the Subaru boxer; there’s torque everywhere in the rev band, ie. 280Nm flat from 1800 to 5000 rpm. Let’s see subaru design a masterpiece like that!
JAV
“Superb engine in the GTI”. There is NOTHING special about the GTI engine.VW don’t really make engines because they use hand-me-downs from the AUDI group.
The Subaru has been let down by poor/soft chassis dynamics.
The 2009 WRX will certainly make the GTI look pedestrian.In terms of torque,the GTI competitors all have more torque and power and the manual GTI has always been last in performance reviews, but first for it’s interior touchy-feely soft rubbers and plastics-you know,it’s what GTI owners regard as the most important attributes of a hot hatch.