ATS or GTI: Oppo-inions needed! 

"Carbon Fiber Sasquatch" (turbopumpkin) 04/20/2016 at 22:10 • Filed to: None

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So by a strange turn of fate, a GTI Performance Pack and a ATS 2.0T both lease for about $300 a month in my area (Columbus, Ohio).

If it were your money (or if it weren’t), which one would you want to take home for the next three years?

Matthew Keyser > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:13

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I love my GTI. It’s earlier yes but I believe in the long run it’d hold up better than the ATS, as well as be worth more money when it comes time to part ways. Also, if you don't have fun behind the wheel of a GTI you might want to check your pulse.

Rico > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:14

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GTI, just more space overall inside than the ATS. Also I like the GTI interior more than the ATS.

Sneaky Pete > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:16

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ATS all day, everyday.

Spridget > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:17

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ATS, 100%.

jkm7680 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:18

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Gti!

DoYouEvenShift > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:18

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ATS no freaking contest! I have driven both fyi.

DoYouEvenShift > Matthew Keyser 04/20/2016 at 22:19

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Checked my pulse, its still there. Not my thing I guess.

yamahog > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:19

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Depends what I’d be using it for. Comfy and not totally boring DD? ATS.

Matthew Keyser > DoYouEvenShift 04/20/2016 at 22:20

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Fair enough. To each their own.

StoneCold > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:21

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You mean you’re not going to get something with an “H” on it like the rest of central Ohio?

Also, buying I would have said ATS, leasing I’m going to go with the VW.

DoYouEvenShift > Matthew Keyser 04/20/2016 at 22:22

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Agreed.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:22

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I’ve driven both and I’d take the ATS. The interior is just nicer and “Cadillac” carries a bit more weight to it amongst company than “Volkswagen”, if you care about such things.

dogisbadob > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:22

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I’d pick the ATS. Will most likely be much more reliable

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:22

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I can’t stand the ATS’s interior, and love the Golf’s interior. Since that is where I’d spend the most time, I’d get the Golf. And this is from someone planning on picking up the ATS’s chassis mate, the Camaro, soon.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:23

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Dude...the Caddy.

Slant6 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:23

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Having driven nothing that comes close to resembling either of those cars all I can bring to the table is the image that comes with the cars.

GTI makes you look like a kid, or a VDub guy. ATS makes you look like a 50 year old woman, but at the same time has a dash of class.

Birddog > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:23

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As much as I like the. Caddy I’d most likely go GTI. I’m a sucker for hot hatches.

Dslay04 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:24

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ATS, the Alpha chassis is like Nirvana

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > yamahog 04/20/2016 at 22:24

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That's what I'd be using it for lol!

DKerstan > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:27

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Depends on your primary use, for family/commuter ATS, but for more fun/spirited driving the GTI.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Slant6 04/20/2016 at 22:29

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Yeah that's my real dilemma, both brands are trying to shake those respective images for sure but haven't quite done it yet.

Big Bubba Ray > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:31

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ATS all day.

Slant6 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:32

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I would honestly go for the Caddy. VW isn’t doing too hot these days and the Cadillac seems like it will be more fun over time. Power gets old and boring, but RWD is always fun.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > StoneCold 04/20/2016 at 22:33

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Wife wants a new civic hatchback, but I’m not sold on the image of me as an Si owner which is the only one I’d want. I’ve heard too many fart cans blow off the line at an intersection lol

d15b > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:35

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Step 1. Sit in both cars.

Step 2. Decide which has better seats.

Step 3. Pick that. Yup, seats alone.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:40

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I have no experience with the GTI, but here’s my thoughts on the ATS 2.0T.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/2014-cadillac-…

DoYouEvenShift > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:40

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Who cares what people think. Your the one driving and paying for it. Drive what YOU want.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > d15b 04/20/2016 at 22:42

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I have, they're remarkably similar. The GTI feels more open but the ATS is more intimate. Split decision, but ATS edges the win

Khalbali > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:43

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Be warned that at the end of a VW lease they make it very difficult to trade in the car to a non-VW dealership, the payoff is higher than it would be to trade it in on another VW. So you effectively lose any equity you may have.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > DKerstan 04/20/2016 at 22:45

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Fun fact: the baby seat fits better in the GTI than the ATS. But, I won't have the primary family car either.

nermal > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:49

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Are you < 50 yrs old? If so, get the GTI. You aren’t old enough for a Caddy yet.

JR1 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:49

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You’re in the Columbus area? Me too! As for your question. ATS for sure. Looks better, likely handles better, and it would make me personally feel more special behind the drivers seat.

DKerstan > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:52

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I guess it would depend on if you get the 4 door or 2 door model. With a car seat the extra height would be handy in the 4 door but it would (I assume) be a hassle to wrangle the car seat into the back seat of the 2 door. As others have mentioned the Caddy name carries a bit more prestige than any of the VWs

d15b > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 22:53

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If that is the case, four door > two door when talking daily drivers

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Khalbali 04/20/2016 at 22:53

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Ah! Good call! The two VW dealers in town are large auto dealers with multiple brands but who knows what VW will be like in three years

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > nermal 04/20/2016 at 22:59

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In my area, Cadillacs are less old people and more people with money who only buy American. The local Cadillac dealer used to also sell Hummers if that provides more context.

shop-teacher > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 23:10

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ATS for sure. Unless you’ve just gotta have the plaid.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > shop-teacher 04/20/2016 at 23:23

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Let's be honest, if the ATS had a plaid interior there would be no need for this question. I wish more manufacturers had a quirky option like that.

CRider > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 23:27

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shop-teacher > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 23:36

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Me too. First manufacturer that has the balls to make a truck with a plaid bench seat gets my money.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > CRider 04/20/2016 at 23:37

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I know right? Sadly, not going for anywhere near $300 a month, much less in that wonderful blue :(

Jayhawk Jake > nermal 04/20/2016 at 23:37

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If you’re >21 the GTI doesn’t really work anymore either. Buy the ATS

Your boy, BJR > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/20/2016 at 23:38

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Get the Cadillac. Just saying “I drive a Cadillac” is worth it alone, trust me.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > shop-teacher 04/20/2016 at 23:47

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GM. Late 70s. K-5 Blazer. My old man had an ‘85 with the plaid interior. Black paint, 350, 4WD. It was awesome. The S-10s that followed were disappointing in my opinion.

shop-teacher > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 04/20/2016 at 23:55

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My dad had a ‘79 Chevy K10 long bed, with a 350 and a 4 on the floor ... And a blue and white plaid interior. What I’d like is a modern 1/2 ton crew cab, with two plaid benches.

E92M3 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/21/2016 at 00:33

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GTI. I would probably get the ATS though if I wasn’t leasing AND planned on keeping it outside of warranty. I don’t think I’d want any VW outside the warranty period.

CRider > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/21/2016 at 01:11

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Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack 6.4, leases around $370.

Darkshoe (With Straight 6) > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/21/2016 at 03:39

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Cadillac. I think it will look nicer in 2.5 years and I think that it looks nicer now. Plus, I’ve been driving used-luxury for three years and it’s as good or better than new-regular so I think new-luxury would be better than new-regular.

BobintheMtns > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/21/2016 at 09:37

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GTI owner here... And I fucking love my car. Hugely spirited AND fuel efficient..

gawdzillla > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/21/2016 at 09:56

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i am somewhat surprised people still buy VW after all that crap they (try to) pulled

that plus their horrid rebliability

Alex Zapata > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/21/2016 at 10:18

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This is insanely strange to me, because in Mexico the ATS is wildly more expensive than the GTI, so it would make no sense that they lease at the same price (especially since Caddys tend to tank in price)

Because of that I would pick the ATS and also because the faux-carbon center dash on the GTI is revolting.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Alex Zapata 04/21/2016 at 12:03

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I'm more surprised by how low the lease rates aren't for the gti, $300 a month for an S performance package is steep

Alex Zapata > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 04/21/2016 at 12:29

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It’s all perspective as they say, here a GTI is an $800+ USD Lease.