The Greatest Test Drive Ever (and help me decide!!!)

[Wyvern_64]

Long story short (I'll post that once we buy a car), I've been looking for a 5-door hatchback to replace the old thirsty giant '05 Dodge Durango. The two I've narrowed it down to are the 2013 VW Golf and 2013 Subaru Impreza.

I've done test drives for them both, but the most unique and by far most fun, was the Impreza. The guy giving the test drive raced an Alfa Romeo in GT2 class in the 80's and 90's and thought I'd appreciate a fun drive.

After going over a steep grade on the freeway to test the power, he had me go to a different exit with no traffic around. Coming up to it he said hold 40 mph (despite the 20 mph signs), hug the left side, and take a racing line through. As I hit the apex he yelled "FLOOR IT" and before long I was doing 80 mph around this freeway exit.

I have to say, the handling on the AWD Impreza was great and I loved the CVT with semi-manual mode and paddle shifters. And you can't go wrong with a Boxer.

I love driving the Subaru and I really liked what I heard about it mechanically and technically. I also like the looks of it better. But the Golf has such a better interior and more comfortable seats. They're both around the same cost for the trim I'd get.

I need some help deciding which of these two to go with. If anyone has some experience with either the Golf or the Impreza please share your thoughts!

(Quick side note: I haven't gotten a chance to see the Audi A3 (No A1's in USA, boooo) so if you think it'd be worth the extra money ($5000+ difference) to get one, let me know too).

 

[Rotary Junkie]

I haven't sampled the new Impreza (or Golf for that matter) yet but I must say you'd be a fool to not at least look at a 3 SkyActiv. The AWD of the Impreza really isn't a huge plus; it's effectively dead weight and drag when you aren't trying to go fast in situations you shouldn't be trying to go fast in outside of snow... And if you can't get around in a FWD car, you probably shouldn't be out driving in said conditions anyway.

Anyway, the 3. It does pretty much everything you could ask for very well. If an automatic is a requirement then the 3's almost-normal 6-speed autobox is better than every CVT I've driven and while I haven't really gotten the chance to play with VW's DSG boxes very much I don't see much reason to call them "better" than it either. In normal auto mode it does everything properly outside of perhaps being a little less willing to downshift under moderate throttle than I'd like (though that's preference), in manual it listens to you outside of not letting you over-downshift it. Didn't actually try during my test drive (salesperson next to me and all that) but I know in every other Mazda I've dealt with, they WILL NOT upshift for you in manual mode and with how quick-responding it was to shift commands, the manual would be a completely moot point if it wasn't extremely good... But it is.

If you've already ruled it out for other reasons, fine, but I can't say I'd tell someone to buy a Golf VI or any Impreza that wasn't a WRX or WRX STi.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I'd definitely recommend the Golf, especially if it's 2.5l basemodel. I5 sounds ALWAYS better than H4, and in this case, if we're speaking of base models, Subaru has 140bhp 2.0 whereas Golf has 170bhp on tap.

 

[Wyvern_64]

Subaru has 148bhp and Golf has 170bhp, that is correct.

@RJ: I started with almost every 5 door hatchback out there and got down to 4: Focus, Mazda3, Impreza, and Golf. The Golf seems better than the Focus for me in every way so I ruled it out. The Mazda dealer here offered half for the trade in than the others which is $9k under Kelley Blue Book value. Yeah right. So that's why I'm down to the two I am.

That said, I was impressed with the Skyactiv in the Mazda.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Subaru has 148bhp and Golf has 170bhp, that is correct.

@RJ: I started with almost every 5 door hatchback out there and got down to 4: Focus, Mazda3, Impreza, and Golf. The Golf seems better than the Focus for me in every way so I ruled it out. The Mazda dealer here offered half for the trade in than the others which is $9k under Kelley Blue Book value. Yeah right. So that's why I'm down to the two I am.

That said, I was impressed with the Skyactiv in the Mazda.

Yeah the dealer network for Mazda kinda sucks unfortunately. I'd say either find another dealer who's willing to work with you or, if at all possible, go private sale.

 

[T-Squared]

I would say Subaru, I absolutely love mine. Brand loyalty speaks strongly about a car and nearly half of the people that buy a Subaru trade it in on a new one. Resale value is quite good also.

 

[Rotorist]

Subaru or Mazda as they are only made in Japan. And that counts very much to the reliability factor.