VW GTI vs Mazdaspeed 3

[squallz13]

How much more is a GTI then the mazda? 

[chenghoo666]

wow. the GTI interior is uglier then it's exterior. It's like it was designed 10 years ago

[cumac40]

I own an 07 GTI with the auto trans. I love it in every way but I have to say every time I get close to a MS3 I have to say "NICE CAR" give credit where it's due. i Have the same respect for the WRX, STI and the EVO. Although its a lot faster than my car I just can't take an SRT4 seriously. at the end of the day you're driving a Neon.

[clifford850r]

If you don't know how to work on a VW, don't get a GTI. I would prefer the GTI, but I've owned two turbo VWs, and I know where the pitfalls are. A GTI in untrained hands is a nightmare. But in the right hands, a rocket, and a total sleeper. Both of those cars look sharp, and the red in the seats doesn't bother me at all. I do have to agree on the nav screen though.

[yuneikiRD]

jaajajaj yeah mazdaspeed3.....toooooomaaaaa

[Astidcrisse]

sure... less HP, less acceleration, less top speed, less cornering grip by much and it's comparable?

for god's sake it makes as much power with it's 2.0 turbo as the civic with it's 2.0 n/a

biased as hell

[mountain885]

Mazda is better!!!

[fuguf1sh]

The Speed 3has a wonky clutch, engaging fully about 2" from the floor. It takes some getting used to. Nothing at all to do with a short shifter.

[jonathans8]

"clutch engagement is abrupt." yes. this is called a short shifter. believe it or not, it's actually considered a feature, not an accident. people even install aftermarket ones. wow!

do some real digging and you'll find the VW's laundry list of reliability issues.

and if you want more power -- how does 240hp strike you? -- visit goapr.com.

also, they quoted the mazda market price and the VW sticker price. big mistake!

personally i like the VW more, but this review sucks.

[WaldoUnited]

Both great cars, to each his own. the MS3 is a ton of fun and cheaper than the VW. I'd like to see VW make the GTI with a diesel that is just as fast as the GTI today.

[MrSHIZZLE4u]

Mazdaspeed 3 = Japanese cheap shit. Quick but fucking ugly and cheap.

VW R20 (Golf R) = German pure engineering, beautiful and quick. Simply exclusive.

My choice. VW R20 (Golf R)

[btinder711]

@MrSHIZZLE4u

A GTI is exclusive? I see them everywhere. I rarely ever see a MS3.

[tootsiejoon]

@MrSHIZZLE4u Cheap but reliable and low maintnance cost. Don't get me wrong I would pic GTI too but in a few years down the road I probably kick myself in the head because I will spend more on mauntaining the GTI. I used to own one years ago and it was the most unreliable car I owned.

[jonwu]

Ever wonder why the MazdaSpeed3 doesn't have sunroof?

[MrBunnyslaya037]

my dad has a 08 speed 3 and loves it. he races every weekend and a local race corse and smokes every thing from vettes to this gti, and all hes done is add a cold air aem intake

[puddefoots]

I own a gti and before I bought it, I test drove a Mazda 3 Speed amd there is no doubt that the 3 speed is quicker, but the gti is better built and handles so much better. I have also had my gti computer upgraded and added an intake.

Now it's much better than the 3 speed.

Germans build better cars,

Pd

[daison96]

Wow. Narrator states besides acceleration the VW is a match in all performance categories--oh, did he forget the top speed difference? Car & Driver is truly biased in this comparrison, and insulting to us all as viewers/readers. I like Mazdas and VWs, but be fair to your audience and compare objectively. And when it comes to the quality of the interior, my guess is yeah: VW wins; but in speed performance, the Mazda wins; and in the pocket-rocket world, that's what counts.

[idiotfieldmouse]

C&D is ALWAYS swinging on the nuts of VW...ALWAYS...main reason I hate C&D...they need to realize that the plaid seats...no matter how big of a tradition they are...still are the class leader in being hideous. The VW interior is more refined for sure...but then they stick those god awful seats in it and ruin it...and who the heck wants to spend an extra 2 grand for leather and still have a WEAK ass engine? Seriously VW I LOVE the look of the MK6...but can you please give it a pair of testicles?

[ksheekey]

how can they say the seats on the speed3 are ugly.. the GTI has plaid seats.. the ugliest thing i have ever seen. the reviewers obviously favor the GTI. all they did was put down the speed. be positive and negative to both. make it fair

[ChrisIsWhatSheSaid]

i agree with you , plaid is disgusting, however it is classic, and although the mazda has the more powerful engine, everything negative that was mentioned about the mazda, was different and better in the vw, they are favoring the better car.

[SEBAS2803]

What this car would look like with the Speed 3 engine ? Wait 'til the R20 comes to our shores: with a 270 hp 2,0 L TC engine, I think it will smoke it's competitors... but at a big price disadvantage !

[idiotfieldmouse]

It will not smoke its competitors..because at the price it will be (33K+)...its competitors will be the more powerful EVO and STI...and a couple other more expensive cars in the "go fast" segment. They need to up the GTI's power to right around 250hp from the factory for it to really be competitive for its price....I mean for god's sake it can barely hang with a Civic SI...or even a Sentra SE-R Spec V....and those are cheaper..and have no turbo.

[flowriderlemay]

@idiotfieldmouse

Just put a stage 1 program for 300 $ and here is your 250Hp

[flowriderlemay]

@SEBAS2803

You have to pay for quality...

the competitors are maybe faster, but , like I know vw's, it's SO fun to drive them.

[hondacar]

The R20 will probably have trouble keeping up with a WRX(non -STI).