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Would you buy a GTI over an M3?

Edmunds, Golf GTI v BMW M3

Michael Jordan would. Not that Michael Jordan, no, the Michael Jordan from Edmunds Inside Line. In fact, MJ not only reckons the current Golf GTI is better than the BMW M3, he says it is twice as good!

It’s true, this is what he said, “This is some great car. It’s not that it’s less than half the price as an M3; it’s that it’s more than twice as good as an M3.”

There is some method to his madness, though, “I’m tired of driving 4,000-pound sedans masquerading as coupes. Most of my disappointment in the BMW 1 Series has to do with its unwillingness to embrace a new personality as a light car rather than simply perpetuate the old 3 Series template.”

Jordan continues, “For me, the Volkswagen GTI is the kind of M3 that I prefer, less like a V8-powered truck and more like the Whispering Bomb.”

I can see where he is coming from, and the price gap is exacerbated to greater extremes here in Australia, but if presented with the choice of a GTI and an M3, budget aside, the M3 would get my vote. Read the full article and let us know what you think.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line | Thanks to Adam for the tip]

15 replies on “Would you buy a GTI over an M3?”

I can identify with what Jordan is saying – when I went to test drive the 135i, I drove there in a MK6 GTI. Driving around town, I couldn’t say the 135 was any better than the GTI.

But.. when pushing the limits, that’s where cars like the M3 come into their own and you start seeing where you’re money has been spent.

Unless you are heading to the track, I’d say the GTI is better more often than not. You simply can’t exploit a high powered RWD sedan on the road safely.

Unless of course you just want to burn people at the lights. But if you want to go fast in a straight line, get on a train.

MJ says “Most of my disappointment in the BMW 1 Series has to do with its unwillingness to embrace a new personality as a light car rather than simply perpetuate the old 3 Series template”

What utter drivel. Has he not driven these two cars?

No doubt the GTI is a great car – especially in DSG guise.

I have driven the GTI but not the M3, but don’t think that I could in reality pass up an M3 – E30/E36/E46/E92 all included, for a GTI if I could afford either.

i’ll take the m3 if i can afford

vw has too many PROBLEMS with their car and the gti has quite a few of them.

The M3 isn’t as class leading as it used to be.
A lot of the flack against a GTI comes from frustration that the GTI is so well balanced against the competition. Would I say its a fair comparison, hell no, they are in different classes and price ranges.
If I was given 150K to spend on either car, I’d buy the M3, but again mainly for bragging rights and because its not my money.
In day to day driving (eg school run, office, shopping), I would honestly PREFER to drive the GTI.
If I was driving up to a good hotel and wanted to impress, I’d PREFER the M3.
If I was going to the track on the weekend, I’d like to take BOTH as they are EQUALLY fun to drive.

Booya, GTI is very soft on the track compared to a M3. No way are they equally fun to drive on the track. M3 is a car that really needs to be unleashed to be appreciated. It’s chassis feels good at road speeds (including mountain runs etc), but where it really excel is on the track. Similarly the engine is a doddle at low revs (almost feel under torque to be honest), but get it up above 5000 rpm and watch it sing!

The GTI has a combined handling character of FWD and AWD (due to XDL).
The M3 has classic RWD characteristics, great for sliding out of the apex.
It takes great skill to drive a RWD PROPERLY on track the way it should be which I don’t have. Hence for me, fun-wise they are similar. Of course, the M3 would out gun the GTI on the track but thats not what the comparo was about.

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