VW apparently still gets some things right.
Golf R vs GR Corolla: Throttle House
whitejeep1989
41 - 60 of 82 Posts
2021 Miata GT 6MT, 2023 Golf R DSG, 2024 CX-5 Signature
Joined
·
737 Posts
Depends on where you live. If you live anywhere where it snows a lot, a CTR or ITS is only fun 6 months out of the year. May as well be a Civic LX during the snowy months.
I want to choose the ITS over the Golf R just for the manual, but my God it's ugly as sin.
1000x this. In a world where a manual transmission 2025 Golf R exists, I would probably not opt for the ITS. But alas, we are living in the darkest timeline.
Joined
·
24,150 Posts
There’s nothing preventing, say, a GLI-R, which wouldn’t drive notably worse than a Golf R. Subaru could totally uptune the FA24 in the WRX if they brought back the STI gearbox, and then that bigger car would finally get the power to hang with the smaller (R, GRC) or fwd (TypeR, ITS) competition.
That is to say the size of a WRX or ITS doesn’t disadvantage them relative to competitors. They happen to have different sets of compromises but more manufacturer choices than size impacts:
Golf R - fast, refined, but smaller and 2-pedal only
WRX - bigger, quick-ish, fun, cheap, but not as fast as the others and no STI option to take it there
CTR/ITS - Quick, more legroom from the bigger size, but FWD only and no middle seatbelt
Si/A-Spec - middle seatbelt and better fuel economy but much slower
I think CTR & ITS prove you can be as fun/engaging even with a foot longer body, just not everyone’s ideal compromise either.
Joined
·
6,030 Posts
I live where it is quite snowy and have never had a problem driving any 2wd car. Snow days can be their own fun, and they don't happen all that often.
Too bad it starts at $10K more than the Golf R or GR Corolla.
It's unfortunately what got me out of my GTI. Working on call seems to mean I'm out before the plows are. I never got stuck but it was slow moving. I had intentions of getting a Golf R to replace it, but just ended up going another direction. Before making that realization I considered the Integra Type S. I excluded it on price alone. I think it's a great car, but im not paying that much for a front wheel drive car especially in the climate I live in. If I was still living in Las Vegas I probably would have found a way to make peace with the price.
Joined
·
6,030 Posts
I could never find value in the fact that the ITS costs almost twice what my GLI did. Is it twice as good? No.
Since I am not a track driver(and I would never want to track a $60K car) my GLI does 90% of what the ITS does for street driving.
BTW, my best winter car was my RWD manual Cadillac ATS. It was unstoppable and I would have no problems in 6-8" of snow.
2021 Miata GT 6MT, 2023 Golf R DSG, 2024 CX-5 Signature
Joined
·
737 Posts
Having no problem driving a 2WD car in the snow is different than having controllable fun, the ability to put down power, powerslide, and have the extra stability when you want it, in an performance-biased AWD car.
I’ve down FWD, RWD, and AWD. A Golf R (or GRC) is going to allow shenanigans in the snow that a FWD CTR / ITS / etc just isn’t capable of. It going to be fun all-year round, not just in dry conditions.
Subaru needs to bring the STI back already, and make it a hatch version for good measure. Lightly tweak the FA24 to say 300HP to 320HP, and throw the 118HP hybrid motor they have in the new Forester and Crosstrek into the old STI 6-speed casing and charge 50K for it. Charge 60K for a lightweight version with lighter wheels/suspension components/seats/body panels/brakes for those that complain about the 250 pounds of added weight the hybrid system adds.
Joined
·
6,030 Posts
They could do that now with the CAFE requirements removed.
I’m here for the V10 diesel (with factory emissions delete) errything!
(f@ck these kids and grandkids)
The Golf R is what? Bland, oh so... bland. At a distance, it could be misken for an old Kia model today. And auto? Akkk.
With the ITS, if the pushing is pleasin', the interior better sqeezin', there's a rhyme and reason it's a good place to be.
Hot damn, it moved.
I wanted to like the ITS. It's not for me. The powertrain is great, but the styling is trying way too hard and got lost by the time it got to the rear doors.
If I was going to go FWD this time around the GLI made it high on the list. I liked it more than the idea of a GTI without a manual.
As far as deep snow goes, I also live in a very hilly area. That's the biggest issue.
Kia?? Dude... lol.. I will preface this.. it's a Golf.. nothing super special, but I get more positive comments about the car in my area. I've had people follow me home(which is weird)to talk about it, had people honk, give thumbs up, etc. My wife just accepts it when we go out that someone will freak out about the .:R.
Looks rank low for me, obviously as I drive an ugly car. The Golf R is indeed an insiders knowledge car, car people know it. A few times, I was the guy at the stop light or parking lot giving a Golf R driver the thumbs up.
As a car person, I know what it brings and even in auto form, it would be fun to rip in. And though awd isn't a necessity, it's an awesome advantage to have when you need it.
A new STI would be in my list if Subaru does rethink it and make one and we all know it's guaranteed to be ugly.
The ITS brings things to the table more inline with my tastes, but yeah, I see why people prefer what they do with all three.
As a car person, I know what it brings and even in auto form, it would be fun to rip in. And though awd isn't a necessity, it's an awesome advantage to have when you need it.
A new STI would be in my list if Subaru does rethink it and make one and we all know it's guaranteed to be ugly.
The ITS brings things to the table more inline with my tastes, but yeah, I see why people prefer what they do with all three.
41 - 60 of 82 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
