Has anyone driven the 2.3 Mazda6 and the VW GTi?

My friend which owns a 2001 Jetta and his brother a 2003 GTi, both 1.8T says the Mazda6 lack refinement in the engine department, and lacks handling capabilities of the GTi. He also said is was underpowered. Is this true?

I'm going to drive one myself soon, since I heard so many good things about it.

 

you gonna listen to that kind of biased crap?

2 VW driver's opinion compared to many MANY positive feedbacks from 6 owners and professional reviewers, who are you gonna listen to?

go drive a 6i yourself (in Sports package trim, not the base model w/ the hubcaps), and compare it with your friend's VWs.

 

Although I haven't personally driven a 6i, I have a hard time believing that a GTI will outhandle it based on opinions I've heard from numerous other people. Most reviews of the 6 have fawned about the handling, and many have mentioned that the 4-cyl actually handles BETTER than the V-6 becuase it's lighter.

However, I've noticed that many VW fans seem to have this irrational belief that the VW Golf/Jetta will outhandle any other FWD car produced by anyone, ever. I HAVE driven a newer Golf, and the handling really wasn't anything special. Better than average, yes, but not any better than a 99+ Protege ES, and nowhere near as good as the best FWD cars I've driven (88 CRX Si, 96 Neon ACR, 00 Celica GT-S, 03 Mini Cooper). I routinely ignore the opinions of VW fanatics. No offense to your friends, of course.

As for the horsepower, Ia 6i will probably feel underpowered compared to a 1.8T. The 6i's power/weight ratio and performance stats are slightly better than most stock non-MSP Proteges, but not by much. C&D tested a 5-speed 6i in the February 2003 issue and got a 0-60 time of 7.9 seconds and a 1/4 mile of 16.4 sec. @ 86 mph. Respectable, but not stellar, and not quite as good as a 1.8T Golf or Jetta.

All IMHO, of course.

 

Let's see here a 160?hp 4 banger in a midsize sedan vs a 150?hp motor in a compact hatch and compact sedan? What are they trying to compare apples to oranges? Handling the 6 should be all over them, almost all the current mazdas are great with that, mazda's aren't known for accelaration, rather handling on turns and great value. (take a look at the price of a 1.8T GTI or Jetta and see how it stacks up to the MSP and event the 6i) Oh well I guess I'm a bit biased towards mazda products but people will just trash anything to make there car or stuff look better. Don't get me wrong, the 1.8T is a great motor and for about a grand or so in mods you can really crank out some serious hp. But I'll still take my Protege "S" anyday.

 

I've heard that the GTIs have mushy handleing right out of the box. If they've done any suspension work, it probably handles very well.

Comparing a modded COUPE to a stock base model SEDAN =

 

Back in the 80s, the VW folks might have had a case. The old GTIs, Sciroccos, and Jetta GLIs could run rings around anything else in their classes, but I don't think it's true anymore. One of the things I love about my Pro is that it's more "Jetta-like" than a Jetta. I still love the VW's, but they're so far away from their true mission it's like they're not the same company anymore.

And btw, as a longtime VW owner (recently converted), I can say that the terms "VW engine" and "refinement" rarely go together. Their engines are many things, but refined is not one of them.

I saw a 6 for the first time in person the other night, and I would choose it over a Jetta or a Passat in a heartbeat. But, of course, it all boils down to opinion...

 

True, every one of my friends with a VW has had the thing in the shop for severe engine problems at least once (no compression in 1 or more cylinders, head gaskets blown). My pro has only been to the dealer twice. Once for the pinging that pro's are known for and the other a free oil change. In fact, last time i read a C&D test report on 2003 cars, all the VW cars were rated "worse then average" for all engine stats and 4 of the 6 mazda's got the check mark of approval.

 

This is kind of a sidetrack, but it's interesting to note that the last VW to trophy at the SCCA Solo II autocross championships was an 87 Jetta, if I remember right. 70's and 80's VW's (back when they were actually LIGHT) actually DID handle really well, but the new ones really aren't that great unless you throw thousands of dollars of speed parts at them, which doesn't really mean a whole lot when you're comparing cars stock-to-stock.

[EDIT: I'm talking about trophying in STOCK class. VW's still do well in Street Prepared class, but the best ones are late-70's Sciroccos, which just backs up my argument. ]

 

FYI the Jettas and Golf have had 180hp in the 1.8T since 2001 or something like that. And yes the Protege and the 6 handle better then the Jetta. I have driven all three.

I personally would get a Jetta just because I want like the looks of them (and the fact I like VWs) but If money was tight and I had to have just one car I would get the 6.

 

The 6 is fast and handles better I test drove one. Out of curiosity how fast is your mustang 99Silverbullet