Dilemma

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
08/31/2019 at 10:34 • Filed to: GTI, Ask Oppo, 1st World Problems

My GTI is simultaneously too fast and also not fast enough.

I am constantly afraid of getting stopped for speeding again while driving it not even close to as aggressively as I would like to be able to - or as hard as the car can handle.

Yet at the same time, it isn’t scary-fast to the point that any subtle prod of the go-pedal is met with terror; which while not at all what I want in a daily driver, would at least make driving it interesting.

I need to do some handling mods still, but honestly I wish it had like 50 fewer HP. Yes, I want my GTI to be slower .

No one makes my ideal car anymore. The GTI used to be the standard bearer for this segment, and I am not at all arguing that it is a bad car. Far from it. It is truly exceptionally well rounded. And when I am just stuck in traffic commuting, I absolutely appreciate that it can driven like an appliance without fussing that I cannot let it run.

But when traffic is clear and I have the space to drive hard, I am very aware that the speeds being achieved are likely going to cost me. Just this morning I had an open run to merge onto the highway and did so fairly hard. I was well past the posted limit before I was even halfway onto the ramp. So instead of being able to continue charging toward the freeway, I had to back out and let it coast so I wasn’t flying past everyone at over 100 MPH.

Anyone have any idea what to buy or start with to build into a ~2500-pound FWD, manual, hatch, with ~200HP NA, that also would have clean, uncluttered interior ergonomics and handsome, non-overwrought styling like my GTI?

DISCUSSION (33)

Captain of the Enterprise > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:00

Civic Hatchback Sport?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Captain of the Enterprise
08/31/2019 at 11:01

The new Civic is hideous.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:03

Kinja'd!!!

Hello there!

2002-2006 Mini Cooper S, 2400lbs kerb weight, FWD, manual, hatch, 160bhp stock. It is not NA, its superchargered.

With a smaller pulley you are looking at 190ish bhp crank.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:04

sure....

just buy an old golf

its not like the old gti stopped being your ideal car just coz new ones got made

Captain of the Enterprise > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:05

Fair enough, I like it but I know that’s not a super popular opinion.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/31/2019 at 11:07

And huge bills when the engine grenades. Also the center speedo is insipid. Otherwise, yes, this chassis is ideal.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:08

Uhhh, the phantom car you’re describing is a regular Golf, dude.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:10

Engine nades? Why?

The 1st gen's Chrysler motor is very stout. Mine is running good after 200k miles, oil report is fine too.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:13

First generation Mini engines are downright bulletproof. You have to be trying in order to kill one of those engines.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/31/2019 at 11:18

I have never heard anything good about the BMW MINI engines with boost. I know the NA engines are okay. That said I have done next to no research into these as I wanted to buy a new car when I got my GTI. I already had 10 years of driving an old car with impossible to find parts and was tired of that life.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/31/2019 at 11:19

Good to know.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:23

1st gen Mini s have bulletproof engines, its the 2nd and early 3rd gen cars that have a lot of issues.

Parts are available literally everywhere. Ecs, fcpeuro, outmotoring, waymotorworks, detroittuned, etc etc. Heck, I bought a new radiator fan from my local AutoZone.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 11:29

I completely agree with how you feel, and I understand where you’re coming from. Most modern stuff is fast enough to get you in trouble quick, while not fast enough to be holyshitwtfgigglesfast. The GTI just also does it in the twisties too I would think. This is why I’m perpetually buying <180hp cars.

AestheticsInMotion > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 12:07

Probably a last Gen gti.

A brz hits some of those boxes too.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 12:07

The obvious answer is Fiesta ST

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/31/2019 at 12:10

I was convinced one them would be my next car. Drove one . Interior is horrid. Hard pass.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > AestheticsInMotion
08/31/2019 at 12:11

The MK6 GTI isn’t as solid and reliable as the MK7.

I drove the BRZ and really wanted to get one. But I do not know how to drive RWD, and was less than impressed with the interior build quality.

Basically I want my car as is, but with less fast.

AestheticsInMotion > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 12:20

Maybe try the GT86? Interiors are a bit different. Neither one is as nice as the mk7, but they’re still much nicer than a wrx or ST interior. And hey, o nly one way to learn how to use rwd

Hmm, I bet you could tune your car for better gas mileage and engine longevity at the expense of power. That would be a win-win.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 12:20

Golf E?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/31/2019 at 12:43

The thought has crossed my mind. I have a set of summer wheels and tires I would be able to bolt up to the Golf E (unless they changed bolt patterns). Some mild springs would make it fun to toss around. And I can use the saving of not needing gas to fund other projects later...

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/31/2019 at 12:57

Holy shit they want $40k for those!?!

Well that sinks that idea.

NojustNo > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 13:03

all the range of a L eaf for 50% more money! how are they expecting to sell them?

NojustNo > Captain of the Enterprise
08/31/2019 at 13:06

I’m a I’m a Civic fan too but my head hits the ceiling. if I could remove a couple of vertebrae’s i’d grab a Civic SI in red or green. I’m tired of all my silver and grey and white cars

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 13:11

Used?

Jewish Stig > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 14:29

Almost 4 years back, i had a similar dilemma..

I had a quick car, maybe not as quick as a gti (alfa mito qv).

But i felt bored, i was looking for a bit more excitement,

So i checked out Audi s1, amazing pocket rocket, but to enjoy it, tou had to drive wayyy above the speed limit, and the constant looking out for police, can really reduce you life span.

So i skipped it, a friend gave me his ND miata for a couple of days.

I was afraid, i never drove a RWD car before.

I remember i was driving down a highway, top down, thinking to my self, “wow i must be doing 160 kmh”, looked down at the speedo, i was doing 120 kmh.

The sensation of speed in that car is amazing, you truly feel faster then you actually are.

And in the twists it was also amazing, it makes work hard an d think before getting to a corner,

When to shift correctly, when to brake, how to carry as much speed as possible out of corner...

All these things that make you an actual good driver.

I ended up buying a new BRZ, because the insurance premiums for a soft top where too much for me.

I spent an amazing time with that car, and “ slow” RWD cars can give you a giggle factor like no other car while still keeping you license.

Come to RWD side! We have dounts!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jewish Stig
08/31/2019 at 14:38

I had strongly considered the BRZ. But it just didn’t feel right and I know I was at fault for not knowing how to drive it correctly.

There is one with very low miles on Carvana that has my curiosity piqued. I’m still paying on my GTI though, and they want quite a lot for that BRZ. Even though the age and miles would be about the same per vehicle, I would be losing on that deal most likely.

Jewish Stig > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 14:44

What didn’t you like about driving the BRZ?

It took me a while to get used to atmospheric engines again, no more turbo, meaning all your driving errors are visible to you in the form of "why am i soo slow??"

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jewish Stig
08/31/2019 at 15:12

At the time I already had an NA engine so I was completely okay with that type of power delivery.

I did not like how aggressive the TC was when I was not even pushing the car. I turned a corner on a test drive as I would have in my FWD SVT Focus I had at the time and once the BRZ rotated I must have punched the gas rather than roll into it, because the TC kicked in hard. I decided that I could do without a drifting lesson during my daily commute and went with the GTI instead.

The GTI is also a much, much nicer place to sit for a commute or highway drive.

Honestly, if I could have my car as it is, but with only 200 HP I would be happy.

Jewish Stig > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/31/2019 at 15:33

Regarding the interior i agree... It’s hard to compare it a modern day car like a gti.

Tc wise, you need to learn when it kicks in.

My brz was after the “refresh” they did, and on normal mode i did feel it was a bit on the intrusive side, after a couple of months driving i was more than happy to put it to “track mode” and let the giggles run.

At least in the refreshed model they did an excellent job with the TC in my opinion, on normal mode it keeps you on safe side, especially when you haven’t driven a RWD car.

I think it’s time for another test drive, try out the new “new ND” of its 8n your budget.

The power bump they gave it, sounds very interesting.

Again, i think getting a RWD car like that is the logical way to proceed for some one who doesn’t want the extra horse power the new cars have today, and wants to focus on improving his driving skills

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jewish Stig
08/31/2019 at 16:54

It’s more so that I want a car I can absolutely flog without as much fear of going to prison.

But learning a RWD car would present a good challenge and I do still happen to like the BRZ and adore the new ND. I am not sure I can realistically buy a different new vehicle though. I’ll have to have a chat with the finance department about that.

I think I just need to make my GTI more entertaining at slower speeds, which means better shifter bushings and a larger rear sway bar. I might also splurge on an upgraded steering wheel.

Captain of the Enterprise > NojustNo
08/31/2019 at 19:36

Have you tried a current gen one? I’m 6’3” and fit in the new one but couldn’t in prior gens.

NojustNo > Captain of the Enterprise
08/31/2019 at 23:50

Yah this was a current gen one. Maybe was a sunroof car so shorter? Its been a while and im not shopping for a new one anyway...ive got other shitboxesto deal with. For example i jo ined the Fiero club yester day. M ore to come on that after I get it (hopefully) home.

Captain of the Enterprise > NojustNo
09/01/2019 at 10:00

That’s a good point the one I sat in didn’t have the sunroof which can take a couple inches away :(

Congrats on the Fiero!