That reminds me... my family lives in Ventura County, CA, and I live in Orange County, CA. Depending on traffic, sometimes I take PCH over the 101 freeway, and it has a nice stretch of road along the coastline through Malibu. The ONLY car I ever saw spin out with my own eyes happened to be a GTI. Not saying that it's bad or that every other car is better, but it's just an observation.

 

You're keeping your Evo, you're grand, man.
I have a friend with a manual TDI and drive it a lot. I liked my GTI 100x better, and the cost difference for the difference in fuel economy doesn't make a lot of sense on paper. The TDI is offensively boring. At least you can overtake a 4 cylinder Accord in a GTI. I don't think a TDI will do that.

The ultimate marriage might be the mk7 GTD. They're upping it to 180HP, so it can get out of it's own way, will still get great fuel economy, and have all the nice GTI bits. If this can come with a limited slip, it would be very hard to say no to as a practical makes-sense commuter. Just make sure you keep your Evo forever.

Out of curiosity, have you looked at a Fiesta ST? You lose most all of the GTI niceness, but it's a feisty little FWD that gets great fuel economy and has decent handling manners.

 

I'm all about the GTD but VW can go **** themselves with how long it's taking them to bring it here. Another year at least. The mk7s have been out in Europe for like two years now. Kinda ridiculous.

Focus and Fiesta ST interiors don't do it for me. The dash has too much going on.

A part of me knows I'd regret parting with the Evo. Another part of me gets more and more persuasive every time another issue arises.

 

I have already recently refinanced the evo, got it down but still not enough. paying 396. I'm looking like I'll be focusing on getting down to below 296, at least 100. So puts me at the low 20's, but lower the better. Thats why I've been looking at the r32 or a gti or stuff like that since they are low 20's and teens. Like I said I'd only want to do this the shortest time I can just to get off my feet with living in an apartment and getting my career going.

And I wish I could get an evo x mr lease at below 300. Possible with a base gsr, but don't want manual and want the options, and that comes in at 40k+ on new mr.

 

The wifey has a GTI Drivers Edition. I drive it on a regular basis. The DSG is great, and it's a fun car to drive. The newer Laguna wheels help the look of the car tremendously. It gets decent MPG, insurance is cheaper, the leather interior is spot on, the door pockets hold my big Nalgene water bottle, the satnav is nice and user friendly. It has a nice RPM range on the highway at 80. Very quiet, smooth, and practical, perfect if you are on a tighter budget and want a vehicle you can keep as-is yet is still fun to drive.
That being said, when I drive my car it's blatantly obvious that it's an entirely different animal. But with abysmal MPG, higher insurance, and stupid high RPM on the highway, it's still very much worth it and I look forward to every time I get to drive it. It all depends on your budget bud. If I HAD to have an automatic and couldn't have an MR I'd go with a VW and one of the DSG transmissions.
As reference we are both in our early 30's. She says she doesn't like driving my car, but magically every time she drives it the calculated MPG on my fill ups goes down quite a bit.

Her recent car history 02 Jetta, 12 TDI Sportwagen (totalled, other drivers fault), now 14 GTI
Mine, 06 WRX, 06 STI, 08 TL-S 6MT, 14 GSR

 

My father DDs an '08 STi hatchback, before I bought my Yedda I'd borrow it from him when my old Evo was broken.

It's a fun car, there's enough power there to have fun, but there's always the worry of ringlands, even with a retune. They don't handle as well and really like to push toward the limit, whereas even my VW will kick the tail out if I toss it. I've tracked it too on the wheels and tries from my Evo, but it just wasn't as fast or fun.

Would I DD it? Yes. Would I track it again? Yes. Would I choose it over an Evo? No.

 

I would NOT do that. It's your money so in the end your decision but as other has said, it doesn't compare. If you are a true Mitsubishi enthusiast it will be hard to drop the evo.

 

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "better quality especially interior." Coming from luxury cars, a leather seat and navigation equipped Evo is nothing short of being high interior quality.

GTI sounds like a down shift to me. It's more of a competitor to Lancer Ralliart rather than Evo.

You made a very good point about having a cheaper car, so you can build up your wealth and live comfortably. Maybe consider a 350Z/370Z, S2000, BRZ/FR-S, or just an Impreza WRX?

Also, buying/financing a used car is a lot better than a new car. With a new car I lose a lot in the first year's depreciation.

 

I think an frs would be too little ive driven both it and the brz and they are both soooo slow compared to any evo and although he wants to save money keep in mind a brz isbt on the cheap end. Although they do corner amazing

 

Yeah they are slow, but at least FR-S/BRZ somewhat improves driver's skill a lot better than a GTI, which has too much electronic intervention.

For your point it's totally valid. Maybe WRX would be a better option for the OP?

 

Get an E46 M3.

 

Just curious what your opinions would be if I temporarily went back to a ralliart? Only a 2009-2010 with recaro seats and hids and the rockford fosgate. Since then I'd have satellite radio and a sound system with enough thump for me. And have a nice low payment for the time I need. And have turbo awd and the twin clutch I love.

 

I'd take a RA over a GTI for sure. Lots more fun.

 

I currently own a mk6 gti. As far as daily drivers go, I think its one of the best. Comfortable and quiet when you need it, huge laugh when you want it to be. Good luck with you decision!

 

I wouldnt go to a gti but idk did you look at the golf r?? There awd and from what i under stand come with a larger turbo k04 then the gti