Replace dd 08 Mazda 3 with 2010 GTI? Worth it?
 

Ok

So I have an opportunity to get a really good deal on a low mileage 2010 4 dr GTI 6 spd. My current daily driver is a 2008 Mazda3 hatch 5 spd I bought new.

The Mazda has 130k on it now. Long commute plus lots of ski trips and other road trips. In the last year, I've put several thousand dollars into it in the form of: new battery, windshield (old one was badly pitted), rotors and pads all around, 4 months on Conti DWS Extreme tires, Koni orange, control arms, ball joints, sway bar end links, motor mounts, and even brand new headlights etc. It's long since paid off and has no rust, damage, or other critical issues. Me wanting to buy a GTI is pure *want*, not *need*.

So, I took a friend's 2010 2 dr 6 spd with 63k on it for a spin the other night. I had not driven a mk5 or mk6 in about a year. The interior design is fantastic. Spare, simple, and high quality. Very comfortable and easy to live with. Much more sophisticated feeling than my 2008 Mazda.

As far as driving...the GTI did not blow me away, unfortunately. The steering feels slow and not that responsive, nice fat wheel aside. The acceleration is smooth, great in-gear pull, but not really rocketship fast compared to my little 2.3 ranger engine in the 3. Or at least, it didn't feel it. Yes, it's much more smooth. The GTI I drove has stock 17s and the ride was fine, still quite a bit of road and suspension noise. The handling was not out of this world by comparison either. Both cars are riding on the same tires. Am I nuts in thinking that on a twisty road my Mazda with Konis is pretty much just as sporting?

I came away questioning whether the 9-10k out of pocket it will cost me to sell the Mazda and buy the GTI is worth it. The Mazda is reliable, it's useful, and its dirt cheap to own. I am very hard on this car and it's rock solid reliable. And I could throw Racing Beat springs and sways at it to up the fun factor.

Am I crazy for thinking I'm going to pass on the GTi and just keep driving my little jap appliance wagon for awhile longer? I feel like a $400/mo car payment should be for something you absolutely love.

We are only talking maybe $3k a year here over 3 years. I realize this is a head vs heart thing...

Last week I bought a new mkvi gti drivers edition with dsg. I love it. Best car I've owned. Time will tell if it holds up. Would I buy a used one? Probably not. Having owned 5 vw's, I spent the money on an extended warranty this time and have peace knowing I'm breaking it in correctly etc....besides my 911, this is the only car I have owned that I look for reasons to go for a drive.

The new ones coming out this summer are made in Mexico....I prefer the mkvi

If you are looking at hot hatches, go drive the focus ST. Will blow the others out of the water, and you will love it. That car encourages hooliganism!

my daily driver is a 2009 GTI, exact same set up a the one you tested with nearly 70K on it. I have never driven your car so don't know what to compare it to.
That being said I love the car. For me to drive 50 miles in a car round trip 6 days a week, it's a huge statement. Check out the "fastgti" website/forum.
Bash

My daily is a '12 Mk6 GTI DSG. Awesome car! I drove the new Mk7 and the soul is almost non-existent, it's got none of the character of the Mk6.

I rented a Turbo Diesel GTI 6-speed in Europe a few years ago for a 3 week trip......Loved it........Great torque for passing.

I'm Mazda-biased, but I would keep the 3 (devil you know, etc). If you have an itch for a "fun car," could you take the money you would be spending on upgrading to the GTi and buy a second, project car?

Keep looking. I would never go into debt for a car, and certainly not one that didn't thrill me every time I got in it.

Seems like bad timing to sell the Mazda after putting so much money into it. I can't believe it's worth a whole lot now, being 6 years old with 130K miles on it. Any chance of keeping the Mazda as well?

Personally, I wouldn't own a VW or Audi unless it was under warranty. Any other cars that might light your candle?

thanks all.

Yes, I've come to the conclusion that it just doesn't make sense. Might as well run this thing into the ground. Especially after my 2012 bonus paid in spring 2013 put my AGI into the next bracket and I get to pay the feds $2400 next week :(

The only cars that truly light my fire are p-cars!

Though I really, really like that Ford Fiesta ST.

If I wasn't looking for mpg I would've bought the gti.

$500 of ECU tuning will really wake up a GTI.

Easy decision: keep the Mazda.

+1 on the Focus ST. I know most guys here on this forum are anti-American cars but this one is pretty sweet!

Is not the long term reliability on Volkswagon nearer the bottom of the scale?

I like keeping the devil you know...


Seconds on the Ford!

I think you answered it in post #1. Replace a good car with a car that you like marginally more for $9k more? I'm not very loyal to my cars, but that doesn't make good sense. Now if you were raving about how you freaking loved the GTi and it made your Mazda3 feel like a $h!tbox, that would be a different story.

I'd place another Focus/Fiesta ST vote. Really cool little cars.

Check out this comparison. The mk7 intrigues me. Sounds like a better handling car. In any case, I'm glad I have a German made MKVI. No complaints other than its iPod integration issue.
MK6 -v- MK7 : Golf GTI