VW GTI, MazdaSpeed3, Mustang, or Camaro?

[brendu]

So this summer im getting a new car and im curious, which do you all think is better. Knowing better is a matter of opinion ill let you in on what matters to me.

1. Comfort
2. Fun to drive
3. exterior / interior quality
4. reliability

I know the first 2 and the last 2 are completely different but I cant make up my mind on which I want... The Mustang and Camaro im looking at are the V6 models...

 

[leomac08]

DUDE!!!!!! it's the 2010 Chevy Camaro FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 304HP!!!!!! V6

 

[iShater]

Wow, that is tough. Two are more zippy and two are beasts.

Go with Bumblebee.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Camaro hands down.

 

[twistedlegato]

The Mazda all the way. It packs a punch for such a cute little hatchback

 

[ucfgrad93]

Another vote for the Camaro.

 

[brendu]

DUDE!!!!!! it's the 2010 Chevy Camaro FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 304HP!!!!!! V6

that was my first thought but the 2011 mustang v6 will have 305HP as well so that makes the two very similar...

I also play drums so the GTI and speed3 are easier to transport them in, but the mustang and camaro could do it... Its just so hard, I wish there was one dealership that had all of them for me to test drive because I hate dealing with salesmen..

 

[quagmire]

Camaro with the RS package.

I am not sure how Ford set up the 2011 V6 Mustang, but for some reason their engines are not power happy. The MKZ for example has a ~270 HP V6 and yet its 0-60 time is 7 seconds..... That is slow for the size of the vehicle and the amount of power. It isn't even that heavy....... My 252 HP Aura XR is faster with a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds.

Plus, the Camaro rides on a more modern platform using a modern suspension( though Ford did make the Mustang handle pretty well with that live-axle). Plus, IMHO the Camaro looks sicker then the Mustang.

 

[yg17]

GTI. I have a 2009 GTI, and if you want to haul crap around and have fun doing it, definitely the GTI. There's a ton of room back there.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I think the new Camaro looks kinda strange so I would have opted for the Mustang but I don't think I'd go for a V6 muscle car.

So I voted for the 3. A friend of mine let me drive his and it's a blast.

 

[leomac08]

that was my first thought but the 2011 mustang v6 will have 305HP as well so that makes the two very similar...

I also play drums so the GTI and speed3 are easier to transport them in, but the mustang and camaro could do it... Its just so hard, I wish there was one dealership that had all of them for me to test drive because I hate dealing with salesmen..

Well if you have seen both cars you would know that the camaro is a little bit bigger than the mustang. The interior is a little more spacious.

Plus the mustangs 305HP kicks in at 6500RPM (I have tried it and it's a blast) 300 HP is simply fast.

The camaro hits it at 6400RPM however.

The 0-60MPH may be diffrent in milliseconds by 0.5 but both are well respected machines.

 

[steve2112]

I'm a huge Mazda fan. I love the concept of the Mazdaspeed 3. However, I HATE the new styling. In fact, I hate the new styling on all the new Mazdas. The 6, CX series, and from the pics I've seen, even the new Mazda5. I also hate the insane torque steer of the Speed3.

I've long liked the Mustang, and I looked at getting one after the '05 redesign. The interior was a bit too cramped for me, and I never could get comfortable in it. I haven't tried it since the redesign, though. I would wait a bit and see how the new V6 performs.

Buying right now, I would go with the Camaro RS. I'm old school, and tend to see an ponycar without a V8 as an affront against nature, but that 3.6L V6 is really good.

Of course, you could wait for the Golf R.

I'm personally holding out for the new Ford Focus Wagon or the Ford Focus SVT.

 

[echeck]

Let me preface this by saying that I am a HUGE Mustang fan...

The new Camaro is awesome!!



That being said, I would get neither for an everyday commuter. It just doesn't make sense.

Between the other two I would go for the GTI. I've been very happy with our Passat, so I'm a little bias. A friend of mine bought a Mazda3, and it's a blast to drive, but I never cared for the Speed.

Good luck!

 

[Synchromesh]

Definitely Mazda. VWs had reliability problems in recent past and I have my doubts they stopped underengineering them. Mustang/Camaro are cool but they're impractical 2 door coupes. On top of that Camaro has tiny windows that look just awful.

The only downside to MS3 (sans subjective styling) is that it's not awd and I hear torque steer is pretty bad. Hopefully they fixed it some on the current model I haven't read the reviews yet. Definitely gets my vote over all others though.

 

[mac88]

Go for the Camaro. It looks awesome and the interior is very nice. Good luck.

 

[countrykid333]

I know somebody with a last gen GTI and although it might not be the fastest thing in a straight line, its a blast to drive around. Plenty of room in the back for all the junk one might need to haul around and decent economy. Given the 2 door can be a little cramped with 5 people packed in there, I'd probably go for the 4 door if you can afford it.

Out of the 2 muscle cars, I'd go for the mustang. 305 bhp and 30 mpg is pretty good in my book.

Anyway, good luck with what ever you decide on.

 

[Frisco]

Definitely Mazda. VWs had reliability problems in recent past and I have my doubts they stopped underengineering them. Mustang/Camaro are cool but they're impractical 2 door coupes. On top of that Camaro has tiny windows that look just awful.

The only downside to MS3 (sans subjective styling) is that it's not awd and I hear torque steer is pretty bad. Hopefully they fixed it some on the current model I haven't read the reviews yet. Definitely gets my vote over all others though.

Yeah like Mazda's didn't have reliability problems with Ford's power-train

How many old Mazdas or Fords do you see on the road? Not many because they are garbage.

 

[Theclamshell]

I would get the speed3 or the Camaro

Edit: I just looked at pics of the Camaro. As Quagmire said, the one with the RS package is so SEXY!!! I think if you want a sick car that will get alot of attention get the Camaro

 

[steve2112]

Yeah like Mazda's didn't have reliability problems with Ford's power-train

How many old Mazdas or Fords do you see on the road? Not many because they are garbage.

Oh please. No, you don't see as many because they don't sell as many cars as say, Toyota or Honda. Yes, they did have some issues in the late 80s/early 90s, which led to Ford becoming the majority shareholder. They never outright owned Mazda, btw. However, since the mid 90s, their products have been just as reliable as anyone's. My last Protege had 190k miles on it, my 6 had 85k on it, and my current Protege has about 70k miles on it. All of them were utterly reliable and had zero problems outside normal wear and tear. The only problem I had was the A/C going out on my 94 Protege at about 185k miles and 11 years.

Mazda designed platforms and drivetrains are the basis for many Ford and Volvo products. The whole reason Ford got involved with them was for their engineering expertise, especially in smaller cars. I would buy a new Mazda in an instant if their designers hadn't started smoking crack. Or maybe taking X, since all their new designs have that silly smile on them.

 

[ArtursBoy]

My vote goes to the GTI. Have you driven one?? that thing is so much fun to drive. I've driven the Mustang and the Mazda, and I'd take the GTI anytime over the other two. To be fair, I have not yet driven the new Camaro.

 

[Synchromesh]

Yeah like Mazda's didn't have reliability problems with Ford's power-train

How many old Mazdas or Fords do you see on the road? Not many because they are garbage.

I'm a regular on the Miata forum. There are quite a few people there that own Mazda3 in one guise or another. I don't remember any of them ever complaining of having problems. I know a guy who bought a Mazda3 new in '04 and it still runs well without giving him problems and he is not a car guy at all.

In fact, the only Mazda with some problems I can recall from recent memory is the early RX8 which has a rotary engine. But Mazda3 is a different beast. VW, on the other hand, had major problems with Jetta and Passat within last 3 gens.

Reliability aside, I got to sit in a brand new '09 GTI 4-door last year. A $25K car had the interior I would expect from a Toyota Echo with silly looking pattern on the seats. The dash was awful with dual-color red and blue gauges. Not only were they a huge information overload but the contrast looked horrible. I'll pass on that, thank you.

 

[Applepi]

I packed up everything I owned including some furniture and filled the crap out of my GTI when I moved across the country. It's zippy and has tons of space, gets my vote.

 

[Zombie Acorn]

Camaro SS ftw.

 

[Arran]

VW. Fun, practical and confidently understated.

 

[yg17]

Reliability aside, I got to sit in a brand new '09 GTI 4-door last year. A $25K car had the interior I would expect from a Toyota Echo with silly looking pattern on the seats. The dash was awful with dual-color red and blue gauges. Not only were they a huge information overload but the contrast looked horrible. I'll pass on that, thank you.

The "silly looking pattern" is the interlagos plaid which has been a GTI trademark going back to the first GTIs. VW enthusiasts understand, and you either love the plaid or you hate it. I love it on mine. If you hate it, there's the option of the leather seats which are solid gray.

The dual color gauges are excellent, they provide great visibility both day and night, and the GTI dashboard all lit up at night looks awesome. Again, it's another signature VW thing. Information overload? All your regular info, speed, fuel, tach, odometer, temp, plus a trip computer. It's nothing that's not standard on most cars nowadays.

In terms of comfort, I don't think you're going to find anything close to the GTI in that price range. I've driven many cars for extended periods of time, the GTI is the only one where I don't want to get out to stretch every 2 hours because my back and ass hurt, that just doesn't happen in my car. I've driven halfway across the country and back, stopping only when I needed, gas and bathroom and food, whereas in some other cars I would find myself stopping more often, not for gas or bathroom, but just to give my back a break. Just last week I drove my GTI nonstop from Chicago to St. Louis (I admit, did stop on the way up there, only once, because I hadn't eaten lunch and wanted to grab something to eat). Not only did I have the fuel economy to do that, but I had the comfort. No way in hell would I have been able to do that in, say, my brother's Hyundai Elantra which I can't sit in for more than 20 minutes without my ass crying for mercy.

And safety....I'll just say that I'm on my second MKV GTI. I had to find out the hard way that it's an extremely safe car.

I know this post sounds like a VW commercial or something, but the GTI really is the best car I've ever owned and I don't think there's a better value for money if you want fun and practical.