[FriskyDingo]

I've been in the market for a car for myself since getting rid of my 2009 335. It was a sedan w/ Sport Package and all the goodies-Nav, Comfort Acc, etc. I loved the car, and miss it dearly. I also love the BMW brand.

With that said, try though I might, I've come up empty handed in my search for another BMW I want. Between cars with too many options, not enough options, too many miles, too rough condition, too high in price, the overwhelming amount of AWD cars, and other factors, I've pretty much given up.

So I recently started looking into other options. Drove a new STI, was massively disappointed. Drove a new Camaro, but didn't like it as much as the 5th Gen ZL1 and Z/28. New Mustang GT is slow and soft. F30 doesn't do it for me after the E90. SS Sedan is more than I want to spend, and lease deals suck. I even drove a 4-dr Cooper S 6MT w/ Sport Pkg. Fun car, but cramped back seat and an interior with poor ergonomics and too many quirks. I had a brief drive in a GTI, and thought it was okay.

Then I went and REALLY drove a GTI. With Performance Pkg and 6MT. And when I finished driving it, all I could think was, "Why would I spend any more money than this when this thing is SO good?" And it is. Good steering, great handling and brakes, punchy, refined, efficient, practical, and just plain fun. It's a do-it-all car that's affordable and enjoyable to drive.

So I'm currently in the process of buying one, but am encountering trouble finding one like I want. Anyone who is looking for fun, practical option for a DD like I was owes it to themselves to give one a try. Awesome little cars.

[eluded]

They are great little cars. No backseat room. Slightly dangerous due to the size. But I won't support a cheating, lying, Deceitful company like Volkswagen.

[mremg]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

I had a brief drive in a GTI, and thought it was okay.

Then I went and REALLY drove a GTI. With Performance Pkg and 6MT. And when I finished driving it, all I could think was, "Why would I spend any more money than this when this thing is SO good?"

Interesting, what was different in your first GTI test drive? I test drove a GTI last year and it just felt very numb and boring. It had power, somewhat but overall everything was just mediocre. Maybe the Perf Package makes a lot of difference.

[HyeWarrior]

I had a MK6 GTI before my 135i

They really are fantastic fun daily drivers, but that's pretty much it. By no means is it the fastest thing on the road at all. I miss it sometimes

[DocWeatherington]

The GTIs are great cars.. I almost bought one a few years back.. what about an R?

[Nkc]

Lovely car all round if you're the driver. I just hate being the passenger in a gti due to its harsh ride. The rear seats are pure torture.

Overall great car for spirited driving but a nightmare on track.

[gtron]

who cares what anyone thinks?! if it spoke to you when you drove it and it made you smile the most, make it happen. you can always throw it in the gutter and go buy another if you get bored with it.

btw, after our last discussion about the sti, i'm ordering one. just goes to show that it's all subjective, bro!

i might cancel before it arrives because i change my mind every week but that's another issue. haha

[Mywifes335]

Tested one when considering between Mini Cooper S, EVO X, and WRX. Well balanced and solid, great use of space.

Really underpowered. Feels OK around town and driven in a vacuum but hop into anything else and you'll want more.

Plus, you'll get smoked by a soccer mom in her RDX at the stoplight.

[sygazelle]

Got rid of a car you love without getting another car yet? Strange.

Thanks for sharing that the F30 doesn't do it for you. There are a bunch of E90 owners who have felt that way. Some converted and liked it while others didn't and moved on to other models or brands. Question: Did you get a chance to drive a 335 or 340 with DHP?

Glad to know you found the GTI. It certainly passes the fun to drive test.

I'm surprised that you like the last gen Camaro over the new one since the new model is getting such outstanding reviews.

Good luck with whatever you choose. Since you already got rid of your beloved E90, you better make a choice. Walking and public transportation are probably even worse than an F30

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

New Mustang GT is slow and soft.

Good luck in your search for the perfect GTI. Definitely great cars. Pretty much every automotive magazine gave them the Car of the Year Award a couple years ago.

But not sure I can agree with your assessment of the Mustang GT based on the other cars you listed. Soft - okay I could maybe buy that, although I think only the hardest of the hardcore would say the Performance Package suspension is soft.

But slow? It's 435 horsepower and has a 1/4 mile trap speed of 112 mph. The GTI is maybe 100 mph.

So just confused about how the Mustang GT is slow? I guess I would ask, compared to what?

[IEDEI]

they are sort of fun for 3 months. then you will be car shopping again.....just not enough substance in them. A waste of money really....

[FriskyDingo]

Originally Posted by mremg

Interesting, what was different in your first GTI test drive? I test drove a GTI last year and it just felt very numb and boring. It had power, somewhat but overall everything was just mediocre. Maybe the Perf Package makes a lot of difference.

First one I drove was a DSG non-Perf Pkg car. It was just in town, so I didn't get a feel for the handling. Also didn't know about the different modes. Was just an uneventful drive.

[FriskyDingo]

Originally Posted by DocWeatherington

The GTIs are great cars.. I almost bought one a few years back.. what about an R?

I'd love an R, but can't justify the price jump. And local dealers are selling them for 1-2K over.

[FriskyDingo]

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

Tested one when considering between Mini Cooper S, EVO X, and WRX. Well balanced and solid, great use of space.

Really underpowered. Feels OK around town and driven in a vacuum but hop into anything else and you'll want more.

Plus, you'll get smoked by a soccer mom in her RDX at the stoplight.

I'm not terribly concerned with it's straight line performance. I live in the city, so the packaging and point-and-shoot aspect really makes the car enjoyable in such an environment.

I didn't want anything I'd be jumping on the endless engine mod train with.

[FriskyDingo]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Got rid of a car you love without getting another car yet? Strange.

Thanks for sharing that the F30 doesn't do it for you. There are a bunch of E90 owners who have felt that way. Some converted and liked it while others didn't and moved on to other models or brands. Question: Did you get a chance to drive a 335 or 340 with DHP?

Glad to know you found the GTI. It certainly passes the fun to drive test.

I'm surprised that you like the last gen Camaro over the new one since the new model is getting such outstanding reviews.

Good luck with whatever you choose. Since you already got rid of your beloved E90, you better make a choice. Walking and public transportation are probably even worse than an F30

Well, I currently already have 2 other cars in the household, so I'm not without a vehicle. I traded my E90 on a 4Runner Trail Edition and almost immediately lifted it and put bigger tires on it. That was a mistake.

As for the F30, I haven't driven a 340, but I've driven an M Sport 335i and it just didn't feel lively enough for me. Even having driven one without a back-to-back comparison to my E90, I still didn't love it.

The new SS is definitely a big leap over the old car, but the ZL1 and Z/28 have it covered in the power and fun-to-drive department pretty easily, imo. A Z/28 is what I'd really like to have once I reach the point where I can justify spending such money on a pure toy.

[FriskyDingo]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Good luck in your search for the perfect GTI. Definitely great cars. Pretty much every automotive magazine gave them the Car of the Year Award a couple years ago.

But not sure I can agree with your assessment of the Mustang GT based on the other cars you listed. Soft - okay I could maybe buy that, although I think only the hardest of the hardcore would say the Performance Package suspension is soft.

But slow? It's 435 horsepower and has a 1/4 mile trap speed of 112 mph. The GTI is maybe 100 mph.

So just confused about how the Mustang GT is slow? I guess I would ask, compared to what?

Compared to the SS. When I got done driving the new GT, all I could think was, "This is how the thing should have driven back in 2011."

[Dackelone]

Have you driven a M235i ? I would go drive one.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

Compared to the SS. When I got done driving the new GT, all I could think was, "This is how the thing should have driven back in 2011."

Fair enough, you're certainly entitled to choose whichever car you like.

I should have added that the confusing part for me was that you discounted the Mustang because it was too slow, and then you ended up choosing a car that's like 10 car lengths slower than the Mustang.

Just curious - did you consider the Focus RS? If I was in the market for a hot hatch, that one would be at the top of my list (along with the GTI). It literally has a "drift mode" in the mode selector!

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Good luck in your search for the perfect GTI. Definitely great cars. Pretty much every automotive magazine gave them the Car of the Year Award a couple years ago.

But not sure I can agree with your assessment of the Mustang GT based on the other cars you listed. Soft - okay I could maybe buy that, although I think only the hardest of the hardcore would say the Performance Package suspension is soft.

But slow? It's 435 horsepower and has a 1/4 mile trap speed of 112 mph. The GTI is maybe 100 mph.

So just confused about how the Mustang GT is slow? I guess I would ask, compared to what?

+1 Mustang GT slow then so is my M235i.... Not sure where that leaves the GTI.

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

I'm not terribly concerned with it's straight line performance. I live in the city, so the packaging and point-and-shoot aspect really makes the car enjoyable in such an environment.

I didn't want anything I'd be jumping on the endless engine mod train with.

Then it makes sense. GTI is torquey and is fun enough around town.

[FL335]

I love the GTI. Been a VW guy forever.

Question: Why did you get rid of the 09 335i? I love mine to death. Just a great all around performance car. Very fast, quality and fun.

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

I'd love an R, but can't justify the price jump. And local dealers are selling them for 1-2K over.

I can understand that.. What about a Ford Focus RS