Do you guys think I am crazy when I can get a 15 WRX for the same money with 50 more HP and AWD?

No.

However I find it absolutely remarkable that you have purchased VAG products in the US market and found them reliable. That's what I find crazy. If they work for you, fantastic. I'd have preferred Subaru for the reliability (bone stock) but since you have not and are not having problems with VAG reliability I see little reason for you to switch over to Subaru, especially since you don't absolutely want AWD.

It is guaranteed you will get more power from the Subaru but I don't know how important that might be for you.

 

VW reliability has not been a issue for me I have owned multiple jettas and pushed them past 200k without any major issues.

There are small thing for sure but parts are cheep and i can usually fix myself powertrains have been great.

my current jetta has 140k on first clutch TSI tiguan has 90k and like new just doing a tune up.

 

Congrats!

One thing I'll add is that I suspect you will find the VAG interiors to at least look, if not feel and age, better than Subaru. Definitely drive before you buy.

 

Take a drive in the wrx. You'll fall in love with the awd. The traction it offers on the tight bends and off the line is a awesome feeling. Its nice not worrying about spinning out the rear end if you apply too much throttle on a turn like rwd. If your ok with the crap interior, the wrx will be a different kind of fun compared to the stringray.

If you just want something nice and comfortable, then i say stick with the vw or look into some unused acura's.

 

Yes I have driven a WRX and a EVOx and believe me I like the turn in and their easy mod ability.

You can't mod the stingray easily (I just have a 480BHP tune) but it has plenty of performance out of the box the 7 speed with rev match and dual mode exhaust is great.

 

I drove (and enjoyed) a 2011 VW Gti for the past few years. Had a few issues (tire pressure monitor, 2 fuel injectors) other than that it was reliable. To be fair I never modded the vehicle it was a DSG bone stock from day one. Great little car, never drove it in the snow though.

I took my Benz to get serviced and the service guy noticed my VW keys and asked me what I had. He raved about his 2013 GLI that he was planning on staging and how he was upset that there weren't alot of mods for it yet. Which seemed weird considering there are so many options for the Gti but it is what it is.

Here's the deal: Get what you want. I got a WRX more for the bad weather here where I live than the performance. The GTI was damn near the same price as the WRX for 2015, it was a no brainer for me with the winters we get. It might not be the same for you.

Either way you're getting a good car, and if you maintain it properly either would last you a long time. I will say this though............ I've owned my WRX for 5 days now, and everyday is better than the last. I can't say that about the Gti in all 3 years I owned it.

 

Fantastic! The first few comments in relation to VAG's reliability is just want I was looking for. I always hear horror stories about the quality of vw, but I feel like anything else...its a reciprocal relationship between user neglect and possibly manufacturer quality. nonetheless, there has to be some merit to it. I'm thinking about getting the jetta sportswagen, or whatever it'll be called in the near future. Would you say VW refined their reliability since 2008?

 

I would not purchase a VW at this point, due to a really crummy experience renting a Jetta on a business trip. My Subaru's haven't been perfect, but I have as yet to own a car that had the gremlins that this one did...

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/off-t...pic/134359767-review-2012-vw-jetta-why-its-unlikely-ill-own-vw-near-future.html

 

Eletrical issues....same kind of issues happened to a friend who has a 2008 A4. That's a real shame, but what I gather from different forums is that VAG vehicles are basically a gamble...not in the market just yet, so I'll give it more time.

 

Here is the thing if you are able to fix simple things yourself VW's are great I have 1 99 and a 09 both out of warranty and powertrains are solid I just took the 99 on another 800 mile trip with 0 issues.

If a sensor or switch fails they are super cheap to get and easy to replace and tune up is the same.

I have vagcom and a scan tool and can change every option in the cars and easily diagnose any issue.

If you are the type that has to bring your car into the dealer for the smallest thing a VW out of warranty may not be for you.

some people are just afraid of german cars for no real reason they usually end up driving boring badly styled hyuandis :-}

 

I am able to fix things.

A car should not need this though. A car that needs things fixed cannot be great.

I own no scanning tools whatsoever for my Honda, Toyota, or Subaru. My fourth car predates OBD. Of these, only the Honda and Toyota are truly great. Why? Because I don't need to know anything about them whatsoever.

If VAG achieves that again, they'll be great. They're not in the contest right now though IMO. SEAT and Sköda are doing interesting things in minis and superminis, but VW and Audi are frightening at times.

In my view, when you throw away your scanning tool, then the car will be great.

 

I wouldnt exactly call a '15 WRX a "Beater".....

 

If you looking for a long trip good highway cruising car, you will be disappointed in the wrx. It's the only thing I don't like about my wrx. I never take it on long trips.

 

I guess it depends upon the definition of "long trip". I've taken mine (with stiffer springs and struts than stock) on up to 8 hour trips, without it being too big of a deal. No, it's not as comfy as the wife's minivan for that kind of distance, but it's not enough to make me dislike the car.
It's all what you're used to, I think. I commuted back and forth to college in a '70 VW Beetle, for pete's sake.

 

I did plenty of roadtrips in my WRX. I actually preferred my bugeye for long drives thanks to the superb seat bolstering. Those seats fit me like a glove. I still miss them. My wife and I drove to San Fran from PDX and back in it without any issues. 12 hour drive straight back, and we were fine. I even managed the hills of San Fran with my clutch on its last legs. That said, our other car at the time was a beat up old Mazda 626 with collapsed struts and broken engine mounts, so the stock WRX ride was luxurious by comparison.

Now, my Outback is by far our most comfortable long-haul vehicle, with an excellent ride, butter-smooth drivetrain, quiet interior, plenty of creature comforts, and loads of cargo space. Cruddy gas mileage is its biggest fault (even careful highway cruising only yields 27mpg, city driving is about 20mpg, just like a WRX).

 

It's not the ride that bothers me on long trips, its the cabin noise. Around town, I love the sound of the engine, but on the interstate it quickly becomes annoying. On long trips, I just leave the wrx at home, and take my cushy infiniti.

 

I only got to sit in a BRZ at the dealership when I was picking up my WRX, but it definitely had better support than the WRX seats. The 2011-2014 WRX/STI seats look the part, but do not support very well, atleast not for spirited driving IMO.

 

Yeah, we're talking specifically about the 2002-2003 year WRX seats. They started loosening them up after that.

 

good feedback guys,

It is a tough choice but I still think a GLI is best option it is fun to drive reasonable quick and comfortable, quite on trips and can gets 33MPG highway can go in snow and tow my jetski but has limited tuning and requires premium.

I still have more looking to do a WRX, EVO, cooper s or fista ST also may fit.

I don't need anything super fast (stigray) or for heavy snow (AWD tiguan)