2007 VW Jetta GLI vs 2007 Honda Civic Si

70 messages, Last post on Aug 11, 2009 at 7:17 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Civic

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#69 of 70 Re: What???? [goose] by chris_tx Jan 15, 2009 (8:27 am)
Replying to: goose (Jan 15, 2009 7:26 am) I have owned Hondas (Civic EX, Accord V6, S2000) up until buying my 06 GLI new (my first VW), which I use as a daily commuter car. It has a sweet 6-speed, 18" wheels, gets great gas mileage (though on premium ), and has all the luxury accesories I could want. And while the regular maintenance on it is pricey at the VW dealer, it has been completely trouble free. And at 30k miles, it feels more solid than my old Hondas, which had rattles galore by this time. To me, it is more grown up, providing additional luxury, but still allowing me to unwind the engine and have fun when I want to. I grew tired of having to rev rev rev all the time with my Hondas. I also like the little "German engineering" details. I love that after reading the manual, I learned that the headlamp washers only spray every 5th time the windscreen washers spray (everytime would be excessive ), and how the wipers adjust where they park on the windscreen to lengthen the life of the wiper blades, and how nearly everything can be adjusted inside the trip computer, even the brightness of the dome lighting! Of course, one could argue that this type of thing just means more can go wrong, and I agree, but I haven't had a single problem, save a rattle, in 30k miles. So IMO I have Honda reliability with German soul. Now if only VW could replace my dealer with my old Honda dealer! Replies to this message: ghetto2315 (Aug 11, 2009 7:17 am)
#70 of 70 Re: What???? [chris_tx] by ghetto2315 Aug 11, 2009 (7:17 am)
Replying to: chris_tx (Jan 15, 2009 8:27 am) PLEASE do not compare the current Si (FG2) to previous years. This current Si is leaps and bounds far superior than previous years. This is the only Si that drives and feels like a solid German car. I am employed by Mercedes-Benz, the best automotive company in the world, let alone German manufacturer, and I can't stop driving my Si. The MotorTrend article comparing the Si to the GTi says it all. Need a 4-Door to compare to the GLi? Honda has you covered with the FA5 (4-Door Si). For my commute to work, I originally leased an 07 Honda Civic LX Coupe 5-Speed and although it served it's purpose of getting me excellent fuel economy, the performance I craved wasn't there. 9 months later, I made the switch to an 08 Si Coupe and it was the best decision that I have ever made. My co-worker was driving a 2006 VW GTi and he wanted an Si. He asked me to email him my pros and cons on the Si and I emailed him with: Pros: Good gas mileage (I do 60-miles round trip every day to work and I average about 31-mpg) Handling (One of the best handling cars I have ever driven. I can pull 0.91 G on the skid) The Price Performance (0-60 in 6.3 secs and the 1/4 in 14.8 secs) i-VTEC Powerband (Power and engine note sounds spectacular. "Wow! What an engine note! Equal parts angry hornet and formula bike" - MotorTrend) Safety Honda Reliability Helical Limited Slip Differential LSD 6-Speed Manual Transmission (One of the smoothest shifting manual transmissions I have ever used. Effortless shift throws) 8,700-RPM Redline Exhaust Note 2-Tier Digital Speedometer / Tachometer Display Steering Feel Maintenance Minder System Styling (Inside and Out) Clutch Feel and Travel Comfort (Racing seats are firm, supportive, and plush. Is that possible to have all 3?) Interior Room (Front) Cons: Drive-by-Wire (DBW) Throttle System (RPMs do not immediately drop when you shift gears sometimes) Low Torque Numbers Black Interior (Only comes in Black, which is what I wanted, but every piece of lint or dog hair shows) No Leather Option (Would have been nice, but the cloth/suede material is excellent in feel. Wears pretty easily as well and starting to see some fade spots) No Heated Seat Option Interior Plastics scratches easily A/C Vent right behind Steering Wheel (Not a real Con, but I’m starting to run out of ideas) Interior Room in the Rear (A bit cramped in terms of leg room in my Coupe, but maybe that is because I am 6'1" and my driver seat is way back) That’s pretty much it… it's one of the best cars I have ever owned. I am not a hatch fan so I will never put a GTi on my list of cars to get. As for the GLi, I don't think it has the performance I am looking for. I am a coupe guy so I'm crossing the GLi off my list as well. To each their own, but you know how I feel about my Si. Nothing bad to say about VW though...

#69 of 70: Re: What???? [goose] by chris_tx; Jan 15, 2009 (8:27 am)

Replying to: goose (Jan 15, 2009 7:26 am)

I have owned Hondas (Civic EX, Accord V6, S2000) up until buying my 06 GLI new (my first VW), which I use as a daily commuter car. It has a sweet 6-speed, 18" wheels, gets great gas mileage (though on premium

), and has all the luxury accesories I could want. And while the regular maintenance on it is pricey at the VW dealer, it has been completely trouble free. And at 30k miles, it feels more solid than my old Hondas, which had rattles galore by this time. To me, it is more grown up, providing additional luxury, but still allowing me to unwind the engine and have fun when I want to. I grew tired of having to rev rev rev all the time with my Hondas.

I also like the little "German engineering" details. I love that after reading the manual, I learned that the headlamp washers only spray every 5th time the windscreen washers spray (everytime would be excessive

), and how the wipers adjust where they park on the windscreen to lengthen the life of the wiper blades, and how nearly everything can be adjusted inside the trip computer, even the brightness of the dome lighting!

Of course, one could argue that this type of thing just means more can go wrong, and I agree, but I haven't had a single problem, save a rattle, in 30k miles. So IMO I have Honda reliability with German soul. Now if only VW could replace my dealer with my old Honda dealer!

ghetto2315 (Aug 11, 2009 7:17 am)

#70 of 70: Re: What???? [chris_tx] by ghetto2315; Aug 11, 2009 (7:17 am)

Replying to: chris_tx (Jan 15, 2009 8:27 am)

PLEASE do not compare the current Si (FG2) to previous years. This current Si is leaps and bounds far superior than previous years. This is the only Si that drives and feels like a solid German car. I am employed by Mercedes-Benz, the best automotive company in the world, let alone German manufacturer, and I can't stop driving my Si. The MotorTrend article comparing the Si to the GTi says it all. Need a 4-Door to compare to the GLi? Honda has you covered with the FA5 (4-Door Si).

For my commute to work, I originally leased an 07 Honda Civic LX Coupe 5-Speed and although it served it's purpose of getting me excellent fuel economy, the performance I craved wasn't there. 9 months later, I made the switch to an 08 Si Coupe and it was the best decision that I have ever made. My co-worker was driving a 2006 VW GTi and he wanted an Si. He asked me to email him my pros and cons on the Si and I emailed him with:

Pros:
Good gas mileage (I do 60-miles round trip every day to work and I average about 31-mpg)
Handling (One of the best handling cars I have ever driven. I can pull 0.91 G on the skid)
The Price
Performance (0-60 in 6.3 secs and the 1/4 in 14.8 secs)
i-VTEC Powerband (Power and engine note sounds spectacular. "Wow! What an engine note! Equal parts angry hornet and formula bike" - MotorTrend)
Safety
Honda Reliability
Helical Limited Slip Differential LSD
6-Speed Manual Transmission (One of the smoothest shifting manual transmissions I have ever used. Effortless shift throws)
8,700-RPM Redline
Exhaust Note
2-Tier Digital Speedometer / Tachometer Display
Steering Feel
Maintenance Minder System
Styling (Inside and Out)
Clutch Feel and Travel
Comfort (Racing seats are firm, supportive, and plush. Is that possible to have all 3?)
Interior Room (Front)

Cons:
Drive-by-Wire (DBW) Throttle System (RPMs do not immediately drop when you shift gears sometimes)
Low Torque Numbers
Black Interior (Only comes in Black, which is what I wanted, but every piece of lint or dog hair shows)
No Leather Option (Would have been nice, but the cloth/suede material is excellent in feel. Wears pretty easily as well and starting to see some fade spots)
No Heated Seat Option
Interior Plastics scratches easily
A/C Vent right behind Steering Wheel (Not a real Con, but I’m starting to run out of ideas)
Interior Room in the Rear (A bit cramped in terms of leg room in my Coupe, but maybe that is because I am 6'1" and my driver seat is way back)

That’s pretty much it… it's one of the best cars I have ever owned.

I am not a hatch fan so I will never put a GTi on my list of cars to get. As for the GLi, I don't think it has the performance I am looking for. I am a coupe guy so I'm crossing the GLi off my list as well. To each their own, but you know how I feel about my Si. Nothing bad to say about VW though...