Wonder what that made in Mexico build quality will be like? I owned the following Vw's: GTI, GLI, Scirocco, and Wolfsburg edition cabriolet. While initial build quality was good they did not age gracefully.

 

I had a stage 2 full bolt on mk6 gti and I loved it! Been in the mk7 interior is very nice as usual with the new gtis, personally I just don't like the exterior changes they made to the new model. Loved my mk6 when I had it great car. Put 75000 miles on it and never had a single problem with it besides coil packs. One would crap out like every 30000 miles but other than that excellent car.

 

Ummm, '16(ish) RS?

 

trust me its on my mind! i'm wait for the pricing to be release!

 

I don't think you can't go wrong with either of them. Both are great cars, test drive them both and decide from there

 

From your post sounds like you want the gti. Can't go wrong with either.

 

not 100%, I'm looking for prospective on what made everyone make the jump. These 2 are usually shopped together and from what I've read on the forum it seems like the cash back has made most go with the ford

 

I went with the ST because of price and (what I thought) would be better reliability. Local VW dealer has all the new GTIs over MSRP and won't budge. Just research here and on VW forums.

 

I couldn't agree more, seems like VW is really proud of their new GTI. By the time you are ready to buy the GTI won't have the dealer markup that they have now. One thing that really bothers me is that the lighting package is separate where as with the MK6 it was standard with the Autobahn package.

 

I am currently having the same dilemma. Right now, the ST has more incentives and discounts available than the GTI.

In fact, the incentives for the GTI are really sparse, and I don't think VW will offer anything substantial until the MY16's start rolling out. Reading threads on VWVortex, you can certainly get a $500 voucher through the VW Partner Program, and there is their Graduate discount. But other than that, I don't see much.

For the ST, Ford just doubled one of their rebates from $500 to $1000. There is also a 'first time buyer" rebate and probably a few more (which customers might not be able to combine).

All in all, from a cost standpoint, you are right that the ST is a better deal than the GTI, and it is actually a much more better deal (right now) than what you say, given the lack of incentives from VW.

 

I also was in the same position but in Canada and a GTI with PP would have ended up costing $4k more. I know the GTI is overall a better car but if I was going to spend that much more than the FST I would have just got the Golf R.

 

Hey everyone i'm currently starting to shop for a new car...I really like the GTI and i really like the ford... Anyone else cross shop these 2?

The gti has a limited slip and bigger brakes and parking sensors. I really wish ford offered these 2 options!!

TLDR Bought the 2015 ST3; If the seats on the GTI were wider, and the vehicles were the same price, I don't know what I'd have done.

Count me in, I cross shopped them. Even went and drove the GTI, it was my first ever time in a VW Dealership and first time driving a VW. The GTI is a very nice car. Very quick. Ride might have been a little smoother then the Focus; it's difficult to tell this time of year with the potholed roads in Ohio test driving a car in the 20's & rain/sleet/snow. I drove one manual and one w/ the paddle shifters. I wanted to try the automatic, because of concern with bumper to bumper rush hour traffic and the stick during the daily commute.

Things I really liked about the GTI: the option of transmissions, two door availability, purposeful non-summer-tires stock in/for my climate, some of the thought that seemed to be put into the inside of the vehicle (back hatch design, storage). The launch mode was quite fun Didn't like: the plaid seats, the width of the seats. I didn't feel like I could get my shoulders into the seat (I'm wide, nearly wider then I am tall). Price (high, no rebates for quite a while, no willingness to move from MSRP at all).

I ended up going with the 2015 ST3. I've had it roughly a week and a half now. Time will tell if I made the right choice

 

I'm 6'2 and wish I had the longer coupe doors for getting in and out and seeing more than a panel when I'm driving my car. GTI wins it in my book for the extra body style choice.

So pissed that neither the Golf R nor the RS are going to have the coupe configuration. ugh.

 

I bought a 2014 ST3 2 weeks ago, and I also drove a 2015 GTI.
The Ford was ~$4k less and the VW dealer didn't have a GTI with leather in stock. I like how the ST drove compared to the GTI. The GTI felt like the chassis was more conservatively tuned compared to the ST. I still own a 2006 TDI and I haven't been impressed with the build quality. There's a lot of common issues that haven't been resolved over the years. My headliner is falling down, and I've had to resolder the alarm module, as far as I know MK6 cars still suffer from similar cost cutting measures. Who knows if the issues have been solved for the MK7. I know VW has struggled with door harnesses since at least the MK3 generation, and the MK5 had similar issues, so to me it seems VW isn't so concerned about common issues that arise outside of warranty.

Pros for the VW: The ride is smoother, and the interior looks more refined.

 

The GTI is faster and probably in most aspects better, but about 4k more (comparing ST3 to a pretty loaded GTI). If you are okay paying that and like the looks, I would buy the GTI. I personally wouldn't buy one and didn't cross shop them because I think they are ugly as sin (exterior styling).

 

I'm with Lou, I'd pay the extra 4k for the LSD and bigger turbo. Dont like the styling on the new ST's at all. Do like the flat steering wheel though. Although I love the way my ST drives compaired to my wifes GTI... the handling feels better and more stable at speed in curves.. meh.. nvm I dont know what id do #worthless

 

it is a tough choice...I'm thinking of a GTI once the ST hits 80-90k but I don't think the mk7 looks as good as the mk6....and they're so similar.

 

If the price difference doesn't bother you the GTI is a great choice. I couldn't rationalize spending $5k more than an ST1 for a base model GTI. I also don't like how they look, so it made it easy on me.

 

I haven't driven the new GTI yet and I'm sure it's great, but I'd probably go Focus ST because I simply don't trust VW long-term reliability. I know they've improved since my POS 1995 Jetta GLX, but I just can't go back to VW until I'm convinced it won't be a major hassle. I know all cars can have issues, but I'd be less concerned with the Focus ST because it's been in production a few years.

 

i picked the ford because of price (st1 model) and ability to maintain the vehicle myself.

 

I was in the market for a new car since last August. Chose the '15 ST due to cost and looks. The pricing on the GTI just to get out of the atrocious plaid interior was ridiculous. If they had something other than plaid for non-leather I would have looked into the car. Factor in the PP for handling and the lighting pack, the car was ~ 4K more than the ST. Plus, I'm coming from a '04 STi which was known to be a very raw but fun car...could not see myself driving a mild mannered car. I have that already with my 2.0t Sonata.

 

I'll chime in since I am considering the '15 Focus. I owned multiple VW's in the past and most of them were really unreliable. The parts are expensive, the dealer service is poor and they aren't the best engineered cars on the road, IMHO of course. Forget about doing any type of major DIY work on these as well. On the other hand they look fantastic, drive great (when not broken down) and have some of the nicest interiors in their class. I never owned a Ford so I can't comment on reliability on long term maintenance costs. Also, a similarly equipped GTI will cost about 4K more than the ST and you really need the PPK to handle as good. CarAndDriver does a yearly VIR lightning lap and last year the '14 ST was considerably quicker than the non PPK GTI on that course, just another thing to consider. The '15 is supposed to be even better.

 

All I can say is that I test drove 2015 GTI and made me yawn. Boring looking car with boring interior (my opinion of course) for something that costs more. I have no idea why people like the look of the GTI. It is just so ugly!
ST just drives better and is more alive (again my personal opinion) and actually looks aggressive.
VW is known for killing fun. When have you seen a German guy laugh and have fun?!?! (JK of course!)

 

Test drove both. Bought a 15 ST.

The GTI was nice. Roomy inside and I think the stock plaid seats were the best of all possible seats available on both cars. The engine was strong and the ride and handling were both fine.

But the ST just felt more fun and immediate to me. It just had that extra something... It could be as simple as a tighter steering rack and the sound symposer, but it was enough to make a stronger impression.

I like the ST more. It was cheaper to buy, will be cheaper to maintain and I have more faith in Ford than I do VW.

All that said- the GTI is absolutely a solid choice and I could clearly understand why someone would pick it. There's no wrong choice between the two.

 

You say you understand, I say I don't!

 

I'll say that I had a horrible experience with VW. I had a 2003 Jetta GLS with the 2.Slow engine (2.0). Performance wise I knew not to expect anything since it wasn't a GLI. No big issue. When the car worked, it was amazing. But it started getting leaks in the trunk, a short that would discharge the battery if I left the battery connected while parked for more than 30 min. Also, when I tried to work on it, so many parts are sold solely at VW parts departments. Ours here is only open 9-5 M-F, so if you need a part, for most people, you have to take a vacation day to buy a part and install it. Like I said, when it worked, it worked great, when it didn't, it was a colossal nightmare. Plus trying to save money by going to a junk yard for a part and then still having to go to the parts department to buy these funky flat metal fuses they use on top of the battery put a little bad taste in my mouth with them.

 

new Golf is fast - even 1.8T variant.

Around auto-x track, they are very competitive. Can't wait to see GTI variant this coming season.

 

ST Hands down. I will not divulge my hatred for the GTi crowd LOL.

 

The wife's 15 GTI(MK7) is always cool, calm and collected. The interior is far more subdued, besides the plaid seats and honestly, the seats are slightly more comfortable, although I don't find the Recaros to be uncomfortable. The shifter is smoother and the ride is quieter and less rough. In terms of power, it's about as even stock as the numbers would say. The ST pulls a little harder, but, the MK7 is underrated and can hold its own. For 349 bucks, plug in a Neuspeed "power module" and the MK7 is pretty beastly.

What would I get, since I "have" a 14 FOST and a 15 GTI(when the wife lets me drive it)? If you want some throwback fun to the boy racer import days of the 90s, the ST is it. It looks the part and get squirley fast. The GTI is what you get if you want something equally as fast, but far more refined and in my opinion, a more mature looking car. Both of them are great and super fun to drive. Without rebates, the ST is not far off from the GTI's price. I would get the ST for the shear fun in ripping on it.