I have put 600 miles on my new MS3 and would like to give some comparisons to my GTI.
Seats...GTI are more comfortable. The MS3 are great and look better but im more comfortable in the GTI seats. I think the main reason i like the GTI seats better is because they have better thigh/leg suppport. I guess when you get old that matters more.
Stereo...MS3 sounds better. The GTI has a 10 speaker system so on paper you would think it would sound better but the MS3 sounds much better. Maybe the Bose speakers are better. By the way where is the subwoofer located at on the MS3?
Overall interior...MS3 is better. I think the guages and lighting/color are awesome. Mazda did a nice job with how everything is set up. VW is not bad either but when you compare them the MS3 wins all the way. Did i mention that the glove box is huge on the MS3!!! WOW!!!
Overall exterior...This is tuff. I feel its a tossup. I like the looks of both but i have not had a single complement on my MS3. No one at work even noticed i got a new car. With the GTI i still get complements. I think its because there are 2 other Mazda 3s at work and they dont look much different than the MS3. My wife and son like the MS3 over the GTI...again im nuetral...they both look great.
Engine power...well this is a no brainer...MS3 all the way. The passing power on the freeway is nuts. It feels as fast from 80 to 100 as my M coupe!!! The only complaint i have with the engine so far is the turbo lag. Both the GTI and the MS3 have direct injection but there is almost no lag in the GTI. The MS3 has some serious lag. Maybe the MS3 has a bigger turbo and that is why it has so much lag?
6 speed tranny and clutch. I love the clutch feel of the MS3. The extra spring/pop in the pedal is nice which leads to a more sporty feel. But shift smoothness overall goes to the GTI. Maybe its because of the rear engine mount that is junk on the MS3. I do have the CP-e on order to fix this. It does seem like the shifter is smoother in all gears in the GTI though.
Handling...MS3 all the way. This car is so smooth and easy to drive fast. The roads around where i live are full of curves and kind of bumpy. The MS3 takes them with ease and does not jar my teeth. The GTI is good but its really not that close. I have put 36k on my GTI and after the first 100 miles on the same curves i knew who was better.
Brakes...MS3 has way better feel. I have never really liked the GTI brakes. They arnt bad...just dont have good feel and seem to fade really easy. The brake dust on the MS3 is as bad as my BMW though. I cant wait to get the MB Boost wheels which are gray so can hide all the dust.
Well thats about it...my GTI is for sale on Autotrader if anyone is interested.
Seats...GTI are more comfortable. The MS3 are great and look better but im more comfortable in the GTI seats. I think the main reason i like the GTI seats better is because they have better thigh/leg suppport. I guess when you get old that matters more.
Stereo...MS3 sounds better. The GTI has a 10 speaker system so on paper you would think it would sound better but the MS3 sounds much better. Maybe the Bose speakers are better. By the way where is the subwoofer located at on the MS3?
Overall interior...MS3 is better. I think the guages and lighting/color are awesome. Mazda did a nice job with how everything is set up. VW is not bad either but when you compare them the MS3 wins all the way. Did i mention that the glove box is huge on the MS3!!! WOW!!!
Overall exterior...This is tuff. I feel its a tossup. I like the looks of both but i have not had a single complement on my MS3. No one at work even noticed i got a new car. With the GTI i still get complements. I think its because there are 2 other Mazda 3s at work and they dont look much different than the MS3. My wife and son like the MS3 over the GTI...again im nuetral...they both look great.
Engine power...well this is a no brainer...MS3 all the way. The passing power on the freeway is nuts. It feels as fast from 80 to 100 as my M coupe!!! The only complaint i have with the engine so far is the turbo lag. Both the GTI and the MS3 have direct injection but there is almost no lag in the GTI. The MS3 has some serious lag. Maybe the MS3 has a bigger turbo and that is why it has so much lag?
6 speed tranny and clutch. I love the clutch feel of the MS3. The extra spring/pop in the pedal is nice which leads to a more sporty feel. But shift smoothness overall goes to the GTI. Maybe its because of the rear engine mount that is junk on the MS3. I do have the CP-e on order to fix this. It does seem like the shifter is smoother in all gears in the GTI though.
Handling...MS3 all the way. This car is so smooth and easy to drive fast. The roads around where i live are full of curves and kind of bumpy. The MS3 takes them with ease and does not jar my teeth. The GTI is good but its really not that close. I have put 36k on my GTI and after the first 100 miles on the same curves i knew who was better.
Brakes...MS3 has way better feel. I have never really liked the GTI brakes. They arnt bad...just dont have good feel and seem to fade really easy. The brake dust on the MS3 is as bad as my BMW though. I cant wait to get the MB Boost wheels which are gray so can hide all the dust.
Well thats about it...my GTI is for sale on Autotrader if anyone is interested.
Last edited: