MAZDASPEED3 vs. GTI: Which Would You Choose?

i currently own a mazdaspeed3! i previously owned a vw jetta gli vr6. i looooved my dub and decided to test drive the GTI. then i made the mistake of test driving the MS3! mazdaspeed3 will spank the GTI end of story! consumers report voted excellent! most reliable!

lol gti is to over priced. asking $400 a month. it ant a porsche. ms3 kicks the shit out of it and the r32 read a magazine. speed is the fastest fwd car in production. and people talk drop an intake and chip it lol ya a chip is like $700 and an intake is $300 ok take that G and drop an exhaust in the speed. im kicking the shit out of gt mustangs im coming for M3 next lol. week ass gti. u people r on some crack if u think the gti or the r32 is a better car lol im dying right now! i dont even consider the gti in the same class as the speed i dont even consider the r32 in the same class. lol

I test drove both three times. The steering isn’t as sharp and precise in the GTI as it is in the MS3. Also, the interior in the GTI is actually overrated. It’s OKAY, just like the MS3′s — lets be real, we’re talking about low-to-mid 20K priced cars here. And no the MS3 powerplant is not completely tapped. Please don’t spread false information (and no, I’m not a MS3 fanboy). An intake gives anywhere from 11-20 whp gains, and an ecu chip/flash can yield similar (i.e. Cobb) or even greater gains (i.e. CPE, Piasini, and upcoming Unichip). Driving wise, it comes down to which you prefer more: a heavier/planted driving feel (which is typical of German cars) or a slightly lighter car feel. For me, the MS3 was already heavy enough (at ~3150 lbs). I followed and researched the GTI for two years but in the end, can you guess which car I chose? Yep. The overall, better (for me) one.

I test drove both three times. The steering isn’t as sharp and precise in the GTI as it is in the MS3. Also, the interior in the GTI is actually overrated. It’s OKAY, just like the MS3′s — lets be real, we’re talking about mid-20K priced cars. And no the MS3 powerplant is not completely tapped. Please don’t spread false information (and no, I’m not a MS3 fanboy). Intake gives anywhere from 11-20 whp gains, and an ecu chip/flash (Cobb) will yield similar if not greater (CPE, Piasini, and upcoming Unichip) gains.

to eric: get a grasp on reality and actually drive one before talking about subjects you have no clue about. “Why the fuck would someone buy a GTI over a Mazdaspeed3?” How about because its a nicer car to start with and is almost as fast an MS3 after adding only an intake and a chip. MS3 power plant is completely tapped to start with.

You fan boys make me sick. Drive one before you open your mouth.

I was in the market for a new car a couple months ago and I really had my heart set on the Mazdaspeed3. I had driven a couple of them and I fell in love with the ride. Extremely fast, quick through the turns and it was just a great car. I thought for sure that would be my next car, until I drove the 2008 GTI. True, it’s not as fast at the MS3 but its miles above the ms3 in terms of refinement and style. I love both cars but I ultimately purchased a 2008 GTI and I couldn’t be happier with it.

+ It only take a small amount of cake to bring it right up there for performance.

Well i am in the process of buying a new car, all i can say is that i test drove the Speed 3 and what a car, it handles like an M3, is quick as a cobra and it doesnt look half that bad. the interior is very comfortable and stylish. hands down the speed 3 might be a better choice for the younger crowd, i would buy a gti if i was 50 and cared about reliability and interior looks. dont talk nonsense unil you drive one and feel the car out.

I drove both and bought the Mazda Speed3, The Gti felt cheap and the interior is ugly! Gti drivers..Do not run a Mazda Speed3, you will get your feelings hurt!

okay, so its up ~60hp, but the interior is garbage. the ms3 just cant compare to the gti, its just a different league.. i’d rather be a tad bit slower, and have a quality car with the technology and features offered with a gti.

the mazda is butt ass ugly too imo

Mazdaspeed for an EASY win, GTI, overpriced, underpowered and couldnt handle itself out of a paperbag!

I have both a GTI (2002, with too many miles) and a 2008 MS3. While the GTI has a slightly nicer interior, my vote goes to my MS3.

DSG is for women who cant shift
MAZDASPEED FTW!

go test drive the speed3 then talk.

eventhough ms3 might be a wagon, but it sure looks better than that ugly vw.

I test drove both, read countless reviews of both, bought the Mazdaspeed3. It may be a “wagon” but the only thing you will see is taillights!

i gotta go with the MazdaSpeed 3. im a Japanese motorhead and wouldnt drive any thing i cant “JDM”. Plus i am a fan of the MS3, when it was the cover story of Sport Compact Car, i red that article over and over… why? dont kno, the GTi is nice tho

i gotta go with the MazdaSpeed 3. im a Japanese motorhead and wouldnt drive any thing i cant “JDM”. Plus i am a fan of the MS3, when it was the cover story of Sport Compact Car, i red that article over and over… why? dont kno, the GTi is nice tho

So here is the match-up that should have been done Speed3 vs. Dodge Caliber SRT4 vs Chevy HHR SS. Speed3 would still win though.

Wooooowwwww, what a bunch of uninformed morons. If most of you had half a brain, the Mazda would be the easy pick. I mean come on, the R32 and the MS3 are a much closer comparison, and I would still take the MS3 (and don’t get me wrong, I love the R32). So those of you who are going on brand preference and what you see in the picture, go and read some reviews and comparisons before you post up opinions on cars that you really know nothing about.

M A Z D A S P E E D KICKS A$$ Gti is slow it does look nice but SLOW

As much as I like Japanese cars, I’d have to go with the GTI purely because of its appearance and ‘coolness.’

The GTI has a massive history and has always been the definition of hot hatches which everyone is nostalgic about. Walk up to anyone and they’d understand you when you just say “GTI,” whereas with the Mazda, people wouldn’t care…sorry to be so blunt, but it’s true.

First look at the Mazda and it’s a family car with a body kit, whereas the GTI, serves the sole purpose of impressing people. The Mazda may be more practical, cheaper to run and faster, but I’d still choose the GTI.

gti > mazda. id rather it be a mkiv gti though

MAZDA looks better and is faster, so MAZDA got my vote

MAZDA looks better and is faster, so MAZDA got my vote

they both suck but i would have to go with the speed 3

i vote for the Mazda 3

MAZDASPEED 3 all the way!

The Mazda has some attractive features, but I like the GTI for its everyday manners. It’s a more complete package from my perspective.

Why are you comparing two cars that are diffrent in every aspect. The Mazda is a a-door wagon the vw is a 2-door hatchback.

the mazdaspeed3 is the fastest fwd car right now, granted, but look at it. who wants a family toting wagon. the gti is by far better. much more attractive, more luxurious, german engineering. its just an amazing car.

the mazdaspeed3 is the fastest fwd car right now, granted, but look at it. who wants a family toting wagon. the gti is by far better. much more attractive, more luxurious, german engineering. its just an amazing car.

GTI

mazda3 they should make awd models for both

hey well this is what i think i hate wagons. except for classics. but i would by far choose the mazda over the gti. its a better car and it has on sick stance.

mazdaspeed 3
faster, better

watch the reviews
shootout does the ms3 vs the r32
and likes the speed 3 better
so do i

the gti..car us the shit and the jetta

gti

The high-performance mazdas these days are the rotaries… and even thats pushing it. VW easy.

id go with neither i own the last year of the srt4 bought her brand new and in my eyes theres no car that can top it i love the srt4. Plus its the Commemerative Edition which makes it even better lol number 117/200

id go with neither i own the last year of the srt4 bought her brand new and in my eyes theres no car that can top it i love the srt4. Plus its the Commemerative Edition which makes it even better lol number 117/200

that Chanke4252 dude couln’t have said it better

VW GTI ALL THE WAY NO CONTEST

correction, I guess it would be an 08 model it says spring 08 on the website

I’d save my money and get a 09 SS Cobalt for a little bit less. 2.0 ecotec turbocharged 260hp. or the HHR if you want the wagon style. Mazda is part of the Ford division and since I ain’t a ford guy, I’d be cautious and vw, porsche, audi, lambo, I’d maybe take one.

VW GTI

VW!!! ALL THE WAY…

If I were going to buy an unreliable car, like either of these, I would go with the higher quality one…that being the GTI. Mazda reliability SUCKS, VW reliability SUCKS. However, the thing about mazda is that not only are they unreliable, but the interiors are garbage in comparison to the VW. Plus, who wants a 260+hp FWD car besides racerboy idiots? MS3 guys are not a ton better than SRT-4 guys in my experience. For a car that size, weight, and with the drive wheels in the front, 200hp is about as high as you really want to go unless you really just love the mind-numbing feel of FWD cornering in a car with too much power to put down through the front wheels (lsd or not, it’s still DEFINITELY fwd). Either way, unless you are a stoplight whore/idiot, or track your car in an area where it doesn’t get too cold, the WRX (and due out soon Lancer Ralliart) is a better alternative to either of these for a similar price.

You guys would pick the 4-door soccer-wagon over the GTi. I’m all for German automobiles!

mazda speed 3 for me the vw is just uglier n slower

mazda for sure
who wants a f****ng gti that will fall apart on the way home from the dealer. VW= worst reliability/quality in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MAZDA SPEED 3 ALL THE WAY MUCH BETTER LOOKING AND IF IT WAS AWD ITD BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH EVO’S N STI’S

Vincenzo: FYI the 3 is entirely japanese.

Mazda for sure looks better and its faster

mazda for sure, much better looking and faster

obvious choice here the V dub cause I will never buy a Ford cause they suck I don’t care if Mazda is from Japan they have American in them unreliable engines sorry but German engineering all the way.

because im a mazda man mazdaspeed 3 4 sure and yes it does look way better and faster.

not because i have a mazda but the GTI will get “the business” by the MS3.

gti

ms3 for me!! fast and 4 door ftw!! plus it looks waaay better

MAZDASPEED 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is something that needs to be settled on the track with 2 stock vehicles and I’ll put my money on the mazda

I like the mazda but i’d have to choose VW

Go figures, a with a gay name like Andrik, how could you not go with the GTi, I mean you gotta honor you German heritage I guess! Pride aside, the Mazda’s just better, don’t know why it’s so hard for people to admit it!

Well Ryan, your a fag! lol I would totally go with the GTI before i ever decide to step foot in a queer ass mazda!

If you chose mazda you will also be considered a fag for the rest of your cardomain.com lives!

mazda cuz i have one

I would definitely pick the Mazdaspeed over the GTI. Heck, the mazdaspeed packs more hp than the stupid r32 does (which btw doesn’t offer a manual transmission anymore). Oh yes, a local dealers here(such as Tasca Ford/Mazda) offer warrantied, upgraded speeds putting out 300hp and close to 400ftlbs of torque for a few thousand more… hows that for potential

yo guys, rmb v dub are partners with porsche and lambo… dsg trans is developed by porsche… one of the best trans… plus the material in da v-dub is more refined, becuz its from europe… plus horses are not a problem… y do you want so much while wen you dont even need that much? i go on highway doin 160km in canada, ma vw jetta 1.8T(which is stock and its madd sick) i did 160km without tryin, i kill anythin on da highway… 2.0T?? i dont think i need to say more… btw i chose V-Dub

i gotta go with the mazda

Mazdaspeed 3 all the way

MAZDASPEED 3
hands down

Speed3.

I owned a MS3 that was slightly modded, and it would blow the doors off a GTI!! The Speed3 if a true enthusiast car with a great mix of speed, torque, agility, and looks…all in a FWD platform. Kudos to Mazda….wish I still had mine, it was amazing!!

Seriously, I don’t know why these people are all talking about VW having terrible reliability problems now. The only time they had major issues was when they were manufactured in Mexico years ago. Oh, and that POS that we can all ignore known as the Corrado. My VW was built in that period coming from Mexico, and it is a tank at 223,000km. (Diesel, of course.) The VW GTI has the true drivers experience we want when we sit in one, GTI for sure.

(I have nothing against the Mazda, but a GTI is just that much better.)

Great Comparison! I actually thought seriously about purchasing both of these cars, and after looking at every aspect and test driving both, the MazdaSP3 definitely has more to offer. From the horsepower to the handling, the VW really can’t compete. The Mazda is more on the level of the STi and Evo’s than the V-dub. Named one of Edmunds.com’s best handling cars w/ the likes of the S2K, Lotus Elise, and other elite machines. Plus, German engineering??? Wouldn’t you want a car that lasts more than 3 years?

GTI

GTI fo sho! I Like the styling way more

This really isn’t even fair. The MS3 is in its own league.

The Mazda is the better left brain choice, given it’s superior power to weight ratio, better build quality, and cheaper horsepower per dollar.

The VW is the better right brain choice, given it’s more upmarket feel and driving experience, and it’s fun to drive quotient. It also has

In other words, I’d lease a VW but I’d BUY a Mazda.

ZOOM ZOOM Mazdaspeed. Nuff said.

Mazda speed3. I love Mazdas to much, plus VW can sometime be unreliable. But what isn’t when you mod it?

I dont like the new designs of VW, and ive driven a mazda 3 sport and loved the way it drove, so if the mazdaspeed is even better than mazda is my choice, although they are damn expensive on parts, its more reliable than the vw i believe.

MAZDA will kill that junk

VW is an unrelaible POS………..I wouldnt take it for free after my VW nightmares with my last GTi. The Mazdaspeed3 is the best bang for the buck, by leaps and bounds. Ridiculously good handling car and brutally quick. Plus RELIABILTY. Weld the hood shut and just put gas in it. Mazda slays VW, really.

SEAN= STUPID RETARD

GTI all the way

I’ve been fan of the Mazda 3 for a few years now, and I’d have to say – go with the ‘Speed 3. Best value for the cash, given that you can get it with HIDs, leather int, 18 in wheels, 6-spd, and other great tuner goodies for under $26,000. Totally awesome.

VW no doubt, you can do anything with the piece

VW no doubt, you can do anything with piece

Gotta be a VW. Here’s the reason… 12 years of rust warranty, which in Canada rocks! Can boost hp by 32 ponnies by flashing the computer…and another 25 if you chip it and flash it! (less than $200 by the way if you find the right place) It’s not as cheap inside (I find the Mazda has a cheap plastic dash, while the VW is a bit more refined). The handling is impressive, there’s not as much torque steer with the GTI as there is with the speed3. Not to mention the low end torque! WEEEE!!! It pulls like a deamon! More customization options are available, 2.0T is one of the worlds best engines, parts are easy to get a hold of. Mtc checks are once a year or every 16,000km (10,000 miles) and are usually around $500 after the first year of ownership. Oil changes can be done at home or by any certified shop without voiding the warranty, it’s built in Germany, fully independant suspension, the wheels are awesome, and did I mention it just looks better?

MAZDA

GTI FOR SURE!!!

Mazda=known for high performance and speed

VW=known for luxury and womans cars

END OF STORY!!!

Mazda=known for high performance and speed

VW=known for luxury and womans cars

END OF STORY!!!

All I have to say is power to weight ratio…. and the fact that mazda really isn’t everything its cracked up to be.

VW would walk all over the Mazda…end of story folks.

definately would go with the speed three

I love them both, I have a weakness for the hatchback…but i think i am going to have to go with Japan on this one (sorry VW i still love you) I would have to take the Mazda.

mazda3 all the way

ive driven the speed3 and its a hoot… amazing pull, tranny is solid as hell. i would definatly take it… the hole body is sent to a separate factory to be re-inforced.. each has their own serial number on the passenger side floor under the floor mat. this car is almost as fun as the RX-8. its a little more nimble on its toes and goes like hell.

Mazdaspeed 3 for sure!

I’d take the GTI. There’s just something about Volkswagens…

VW all da way!

besides a GTi has more customization performance options than that mazda

Mazdaspeed3, can’t pass up the 63 extra ponies

mazdaspeed3 easliy!! C’mon, the GTI is great, but there’s no competition between these two! The GTI is down 60hp. you guys should went for the Speed3 vs the HHR SS, they both are FWD, turbo-ed hatchbacks with 260hp. Now theres a match up.

v-dub!

Mazdaspeed 3.

its a tough call, the GTIs are sweet. but I’ve only heard great things about the MS3 platform

i love the RX8 and Miata but the 3 just isnt right. definatly the VW love those rims

Mazda3 for me please

How about the GTI with a TurboDiesel?

GTI (with DSG trans please)european cars rock!(

I’m gonna say Mazda as I just like the lines better on the Mazda.

I dont really like either, but If we gotta choose I would say the GTi just cause I would rather not support MAZDA! as far as economic standpoint not really if its better. It would be like driving a dodge eventhough chevy is better!

Mazda, GTI’s are wastes of money now.

more like FTMFW!! mazda all the way.

Mazda FTW!