[genjy]

My brother-in-law (23) was considering a new turbo compact car.

He can't drive manual (yet), so he took me to test drive the cars for him.

We... or I... test drove:

2009 VW GTI (~200HP)
2009 Mazdaspeed3 (~265HP)
2009 Subaru WRX (~265HP)


I have actually driven the GTI and the Speed3 a long while back, and I've driven my cousin's SAABaru Aero many times... so nothing was super-new to me. This short review is based my back-to-back-to-back test drive experience (with a bit of Volvo C30 thrown in)

The GTI feels a lot like my Volvo C30 in terms of... everything. But its interior doesn't feel as quite well-built, and the engine feels less powerful. The 2.0T feels more refined and less raw than the Volvo T5, and it feels much much less sporty than the Speed3's and WRX's. The handling feels very nimble, but the handling alone doesn't quite compensate for the relatively lack-luster acceleration. It seems to be the most civilized car of the three.

The Speed3's interior is comparable to my Mazda5's: hard, cheap, with passable fit and finish. The Speed3's acceleration feels very sporty and well-tuned... linear, predictable, and well-behaved, unlike the WRX's acceleration. The engine and exhaust sound awesome with a sporty resonance that's not too tiring.

I actually like the WRX the best. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear acceleration is beastly. Step on the gas and it's warp speed. Even though the Speed3 and WRX have similar power ratings, the WRX feels significantly faster. Its acceleration is very raw and very addictive. The interior isn't half-bad at all, despite its quirky design. I think it feels more durable than both the GTI's and Speed3's interiors.

Exterior design wise, I think they are all handsome for their class... with the GTI being more a bit more sedated and sophisticated looking.

Of course, me being the one not actually buying the car, I didn't focus at all on the price. That was my brother-in-law's job.

My brother-in-law has decided to get a VW GTI based on ride-comfort and interior quality. I think he likes the GTI's overall value, as well.

We are going to pick it up this weekend, I think.