Test Drive – WRX vs BRZ vs Golf R

First up I had to check out this NSX which I’ve seen in the window of this dealership for years. It’s a targa (boo). Lovely though, really, what a car.

Low km’s (I thought it might have been brand new with no km’s but I was wrong).

STI in the showroom looking pretty damn aggressive.

The WRX Pou was testing.

Inside with Charlie at the wheel.

The BRZ we tested.

Golf R looking great in red.

Race mode please!

Yesterday I tagged along with my soon to be flatmate Pou (pronounced ‘Poy’) who has a $50k budget to buy a new car. He’s been driving a manual Toyota RAV4 forever (it’s his first car) and what makes all of this more interesting for me is that Pou’s not a ‘car guy’.

Initially Pou asked me about the new Toyota 86, but that wasn’t going to have any more power than his RAV4, and I thought he’d definitely enjoy something that would whip people off the lights so after some help from Facebook friends we booked in a WRX and a Golf R too.

First up we visited my old mate Charlie at Tynan Subaru in Sutherland. Pou got a big drive in this car, in all sorts of conditions. Being passenger in the WRX as Pou threw it through some 15km hairpins in the twisties scared the shit out of me (pretty sure Charlie would have been scared too lol), but the WRX was a champ, so much grip. I’m truly impressed. The car is so quiet and super comfy too (quite softly sprung), 1st gear is short and doesn’t really go anywhere but grab 2nd and power comes on mid to high which was surprising to me (I thought it would have been more low to mid range power). Pou had a blast driving the WRX.

Next up was the BRZ, which Charlie thought we might as well test considering it’s what Pou originally wanted. Both Charlie and I had to remind Pou not to drive it like he drove the WRX in fear of us crashing! Pou instantly felt more connected to the car, he felt he was sitting lower in the car and he loved the meatier clutch feel and notchy gear shift too. He even compared it to a go kart. A few times when I caught him just cruising around I got him to smash the accelerator through the floor in 3rd gear and yup, no power at all, nothing. I just felt that it was important he realise how truly gutless these cars are in comparison to a WRX and R (turbo vs NA).

We thought he might take the backroads to work in the BRZ, more corners, more fun, but then again he could take the backroads in the WRX too, it’s a tough call.

Next up was Barloworld in Mascot but by the time we got there they were shutting. I opened up my mouth though and next minute we were handed the keys to a new Golf R, in red too of all colours. She looked stunning and took Pou by surprise. Pou instantly realised the interior is a much nicer place to be than the WRX or BRZ. Unfortunately for Pou the car was DSG, which confused him (as expected for all first timers to DSG). Driving an R in auto mode just sux as the car tries to grab 6th gear as soon as possible. We understeered on a big roundabout, tyres protesting quite loudly, the R definitely doesn’t grip as well as a WRX (short wheelbase on the R doesn’t help here). Unfortunately the R is way over the $50k budget and there is no manual until later this year so Pou is booked in the test drive the GTI in manual next weekend (which I think he’ll like more than the R anyways as the GTI’s lighter and should feel a lot more fun to drive than the R). So until next weekend, all is on ice!