MSP Vs. GTI 1.8T

[JeRNuT]

Which car do you think will win in a race. I read alot about both of them and i have a MSP. The GTI is a little bit faster then the MSP in magazines. Do you think there is any difference in real life

 

[redwagon02]

GTi. My brother-in-law has an '02 GTi 1.8t and the suspension sucks in my opinion, but in a straight line, I got my money on the GTi. Not to mention I think the interior looks like garbage.

 

[beans]

Yeah I second that. Plus talking to GTI owners they all say get to know the local service department because you'll be there, alot. Plus that things got a two year warranty, whats up with that.

 

[Glowmunkey]

Which car do you think will win in a race. I read alot about both of them and i have a MSP. The GTI is a little bit faster then the MSP in magazines. Do you think there is any difference in real life

Performance is pretty close... but it feels very different driving them both back to back (did that today). The Mazda feels a lot edgier, more responsive. On the other hand, the GTi is more comfortable and cheaper. Both feel very solid, but the interior fit and finish might be a little better in the VW. Driving them both really set me on the MazdaSpeed... too bad it's only available in a four-door.

 

[SpicyRay]

i thought the fit and finish of the interior would be better in the mazda, and ive heard nasty stories about VW power windows...

 

[beans]

I don't know about cheaper, the cheapest I could find one within a 4 state area around Id was 21000 or so plus the dealers make them up bad. I went to buy one a year ago and the dealership treated me like crap.

 

[stoney]

if the GTi was a VR6 i would say you would be toast but sence it's the 4 banger i saw it comes down to who's the better driver.

Dave

 

[Glowmunkey]

I don't know about cheaper, the cheapest I could find one within a 4 state area around Id was 21000 or so plus the dealers make them up bad. I went to buy one a year ago and the dealership treated me like crap.

The one I looked at was most certainly cheaper. You just have to pit the dealerships against each other.

The one I looked at today was right around 20 after taxes and such.

 

[Glowmunkey]

if the GTi was a VR6 i would say you would be toast but sence it's the 4 banger i saw it comes down to who's the better driver.

Dave

I dunno, the turbos are not much slower than the VR6s, VW has been underrating them since they came out in order to keep them "below" the VRs. Only real difference is the lag.

 

[arkitek]

I have 2 friends with GTIs chipped which produce a tad over 200 HP/Torque. With stock tires, they barely beat my MSP in straightline. With stickier tires, they do haul ass though against my stock MSP which will be boosted shortly though.

But around the twisties, I leave them in the dust literally. We're talking about 20 cars lengths or more over 1 or 2 kms. In stock form, no comparion whatsoever.

Overall, the GTI doesn't feel very sporty at all. Shifter and steering feel is just horrible IMO. I considered them a year a go but just didn't like them as I did think that they were, still is somewhat, a good value for a car.

Reliabilitywise, it's a toss up between MSP and GTI really. One the GTI had it's transmission replaced amongst other things going wrong with the other GTI didn't really have any issues.

In the end, the MSP evokes more excitement and anticipation for the driving pleasure a hell of a lot more the GTI does for me. That's why I bought the MSP I guess even though I never got to test drive it. I test drove the Protege 5 and I was convinced that the MSP would be quite a ride and indeed it has been so far, problems and all.

 

[redwagon02]

i thought the fit and finish of the interior would be better in the mazda, and ive heard nasty stories about VW power windows...

Yeah, my bro-in-laws window fell down in the channel.

 

[girth]

...Plus that things got a two year warranty, whats up with that.

That's not true anymore -- VW finally swung into the 21 century and changed their B-to-B warrenty to the same as Mazda's -- 4 year, 50k miles. I looked into the GTI a couple years ago when they had it "tropic orange" but I couldn't find a dealer that would give me a fair price. Basically he wanted me to pay sticker, which was :bs:

 

[Dr.Sound]

1.8T..........i think it's the same engine.............and i think MSP will win..................cause i smoked my friend's A4 1.8T.................but then it might be a little heavier than GTI....................but, it has better suspension................

 

[03Speed]

I have 2 friends with GTIs chipped which produce a tad over 200 HP/Torque.

What POS chip to they have? My boss has a stage 2 chip from APR & he was dyno'd at 250HP/268TQ.

In a straight line a GTI will win. I work with 3 people that own brand new GTIs. And believe me, Ive raced them enough times to see how fast their cars are.

Stock vs. Stock- GTI
MSP w/ 10psi vs. Stock GTI- MSP
BTW the GTI holds a 10psi stock so it shouldve been an even match-up.

 

[TampaBlackMSP]

I had a '00 gti 1.8T with a bunch of stuff - bolt on everything, and it rocked. Excellent car, about 210-215 hp, 240 tq, unfortunately totaled by a girl in a rented Jeep Wrangler from TX - unbelievable...

MY MSP is excellent though, but coming from 5 VW's, it's a different but similar drive...My GTI was still faster, but not for too much longer - boost, fuel press. red., etc. and I'll be all set

For an Asian car, the MSP feels pretty german-solid - not tin cannish like others that shall remain nameless for this discussion... Anyway, yes the MSP handles better - the GTI had bilsteins/neuspeed springs, rear sway, front tower, motor mount, etc. and still wasn't quite as nice as the MSP

Which is really disappointing considering how well older VW's handle...Oh well, I'm in the Black Mica now so it's all good! Just waiting for a little more oomph...thanks for the ramble...out!

 

[pshaw34]

my friend has a 1.8T. I would rather have a msp anyday. Plus i think Volkswagen sucks imo. Who cares if you win, your car is still better.

 

[unwrittenLaw]

Aren't VW's assembled in Mexico now?

 

[murdock_]

Yeah, my bro-in-laws window fell down in the channel.

my brothers have broken twice :wtf:

 

[MazdaDryvr]

A guy at my work is desperately trying to get out of his 99 Golf GLS before any more stuff falls off of it.

BTW: here in Canada, the VW warranty is still 2yrs/40k and thats enough reason for me to never buy one.

 

[loj68]

What POS chip to they have? My boss has a stage 2 chip from APR & he was dyno'd at 250HP/268TQ.

I can vouch for this too....my buddy had a 2001 1.8T VW and it dynoed at 230HP and 250TQ with just an upgraded chip and a Porsche BOV.....those things are torque monsters....he put coilovers on all 4 corners and some 17's with good rubber and that thing was bad ass....and the interior on the VW is about the sweetest there is at that price....very tasteful leather everywhere. The looks are stale though on the VW IMHO.