Not according to Mitsubishi.

 

shh..im just trying to give us hope.

 

Why thank you but I know all about the GLI. I have friends with both the GLI and GTI. Yes we all know what they are but I'm grouping them as the same since they do go by different names. One could say that the Saturn sky and Pontiac solstice are the same thing, but you see them do tests with them separately.

 

Except for...it's not?!

 

Yeah I don't understand that either. The new WRX is fast but it's still not an STI. The 6-speed alone sets the STI apart.

 

If they keep it up it's going to turn into a Evo vs Evo MR kind of thing...

 

Don't shoot the messenger bro, just read the article.

 

If you are talking straight line, the 6 speed is a hinderance since it requires the time of the extra shift. The WRX suspension is too soft and is not good through corners and vague steering (not by me, by the article referenced in OP)

 

GTI "German sophistication and refinement, budget price, able chassis., bad brakes, behind in horsepower" Top in features, high in fit and finish.

MS3 "lots of low end grunt, tough exhaust note, big and comfortable. power dies at high RPM, wicked torque steer at lower gears...paragon of cheap speed" This got a lot of point for rear seat room and comfort ant interior style and fit and finish. They also gave it the highest points for exterior styling. High marks for handling .89g. Second shortest in braking. Base price is the second cheapest behind SI.

 

so now a RA does 14.2 and not 14.8 ? ... like major difference...

 

stock 06 Ra's do 1/4 in like 15.6

add a few mods to the 09, and it'll be down a good bit.

 

nice, maybe I will post scans when I get my copy. It should be here all ready.

 

GTI really is a nice car. The engine is very smooth and has good power with both transmissions. Cars like the Ralliart and WRX don't even come close to the GTI's interior refinement.

The love the MS3 gets is a real head scratcher for me. I tested one out and it did feel quick but the engine feels more like a large N/A 4-banger than a turbo engine and the power disappears over 5000 RPM. The 6-speed felt rubbery and the interior is well laid out but I've seen from other people's regular Mazda 3's that they tend to rattle and plastics scratch very easily. It's not a bad car but it didn't put a smile on my face and since so many women drive Mazda 3's I can't help but feel like I'm in a woman's car.

 

Don't be fooled -- it's a great car (I seriously considered buying one back in late 2007), but the reliability track record of Volkswagen is very spotty. In Volkswagen's case, German engineering means refinement and performance, but not reliability (except for the lucky few who end up with much better than average reliability).

Also, the Ralliart with the premium interior is awfully nice, especially with the Nav system -- I'm not sure what refinement you're referring to, but I don't feel that I'm going to be suffering any time soon (barring some serious defect lurking in the Nav or the Recaros, I guess). The WRX used to have an appallingly crappy interior, but it has certainly improved a bit over the years (I wouldn't agree with you that it doesn't come close to the GTI, but the GTI is certainly better than the WRX).

 

Other than the seats and navi, what changes in the interior with premium? The RA I was in was an expansive sea of black hard plastic and cheap knobs and buttons. My guess is that most of these cars in this category are like that, but I never got the impression that the RA had a great interior.