Fifth Gear Shootout: Volkswagen Golf GTi versus Subaru Impreza WRX

[Rui Pedro Mendes Salgueiro]

British TV show Fifth Gear in yesterday's episode did a track comparision
between a Volkswagen Golf GTi and Subaru Impreza WRX

http://www.finalgear.com/shows/fifthgear/13/9/

[Spoiler space]





















Despite the Golf GTI having less power, only front wheel drive and not
even being very well considered as a track car, the Subaru was "nearly 2
seconds slower" *

Ok, we already knew that the 2008 WRX is not supposed to be very sporty.
Let's see when the STI (and the EVO X) arrive in Europe and Top Gear and
Fifth Gear compare those. Or maybe we won't have to wait that long. The
guys from Top Gear went to Japan recently or will be going shortly
filming for the summer series . It is not know what they drove there,
(Nissan GT ?) but I would really like if they drove the STI and the EVO.

BTW, Vicki Butler-Henderson is a racing driver:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Butler-Henderson

* I just remembered that the French magazine "Motorsport" recently tested
the WRX and IIRC it was a comparision with the most sporty Renault Megane
(the R26, 230 HP, IIRC). In a short circuit the difference was even greater
(4 seconds ? I don't have the magazine here). But of course that Renault
has a very hard suspension that works on the track, but not necessarily
on the road (or on a rally special stage .

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

British TV show Fifth Gear in yesterday's episode did a track comparision
between a Volkswagen Golf GTi and Subaru Impreza WRX

http://www.finalgear.com/shows/fifthgear/13/9/

[Spoiler space]





















Despite the Golf GTI having less power, only front wheel drive and not
even being very well considered as a track car, the Subaru was "nearly 2
seconds slower" *

Ok, we already knew that the 2008 WRX is not supposed to be very sporty.
Let's see when the STI (and the EVO X) arrive in Europe and Top Gear and
Fifth Gear compare those. Or maybe we won't have to wait that long. The
guys from Top Gear went to Japan recently or will be going shortly
filming for the summer series . It is not know what they drove there,
(Nissan GT ?) but I would really like if they drove the STI and the EVO.

BTW, Vicki Butler-Henderson is a racing driver:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Butler-Henderson

* I just remembered that the French magazine "Motorsport" recently tested
the WRX and IIRC it was a comparision with the most sporty Renault Megane
(the R26, 230 HP, IIRC). In a short circuit the difference was even greater
(4 seconds ? I don't have the magazine here). But of course that Renault
has a very hard suspension that works on the track, but not necessarily
on the road (or on a rally special stage .

How disappointing.

Carl

 

[kaboom]

BTW, Vicki Butler-Henderson is a racing driver:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Butler-Henderson

**VBH is one of the reasons why I taught myself to drive standard at
almost 40 years old. The late SpeedTV (now Fox 2 - Even More Reality
Crap) started showing some Fifth Gear a few years ago. I saw Vicki
driving an Alfa Romeo 156 GTA and I thought she was just awesome.
Driving fast seemed to be so second nature to her. My sister was
learning to drive standard also as she was going to purchase a BMW
wagon (and track it at Lime Rock!). She was insisting that I should
learn. I traded in my 2003 VW Jetta 2.0 for a 2003 Jetta 1.8T 5M and
taught myself. One of the reasons I have an Impreza now is because it
was easy to get a five speed aside from the AWD bonus (also I wanted
to grab an 05 model because I liked how it looked)

Other than that, I'm not sure I'm that surprised at the results of the
shootout for some reason. I certainly like both cars though.

kaboomie