GTI vs Spec-V

[kcap122]

hey, im trying to narrow down my options for my first car, I'm pretty much down to the following:

VW GTI vr6 or 1.8T (which feels faster?)
Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V.

I only have about 12k to spend on the car upfront, so which do you think will end up bein a better daily driver and weekend racer?
Also, my friend just got his jetta GLI with the 1.8L turbo engine, how do these cars compare in performance??


Thanks really appreciate it

[del]

though not the biggest fan of vw, i say go for the 1.8t. easily upgradable to make faster than the other 2. the 1.8t is just very flexible. plus just feels solid and much more classier.

[BP2K2Max]

I, personally, would look into a used corrado VR6. i really don't like VW all that much but i do like the corrado's quite a bit, smooth, fast and handle very well. of the choices you got listed i'd go VR6 GTI, SE-R, then the 1.8T. i have a friend with a 1.8T jetta(2000 i think) and he got edged out by my buddy in a newer LS integra with just an intake.

[freakonaleash1187]

i would go with the sentra. i don't really care to much for vw and if you haven't noticed, i am a nissan guy. plus, the spec-v is a fast car, i got beat by a non-spec-v se-r.

[kcap122]

Cool... how are each of these on insurance? The 1.8t will probably be pretty bad because of the turbo, but are the other two classified as sporty cars?

[BP2K2Max]

i think they're classifieds as compact sedans. insurance shouldn't be too terrible.

BTW are you taking a poop in your avatar or something?

[kman10587]

I don't really like VW, so I voted Spec-V. But the GTI VR6 is a solid car as well, and the GTI 1.8T is very customizable.

[kcap122]

hmmm yeah seems like most people are voting for the GTI.... i generally like the looks of the spec-v better, and it will cost a few less g's. but on the other hand i think the spec-v has already been tuned pretty heavily by nissan, and with its torque steer issues might be something to steer clear of?

The GTI, i know has ALOT of tuning potential, does anyone have experience putting a turbo on the vr6 model?
And stock for stock, the vr6 is faster, right?


EDIT: and of yeah, in my avatar ist just a picture from a video me and my friends made last year. i have weird control in my face muscles, and we took that picture of what would happen if i pulled everything down. it looks better in high-res.

[kman10587]

Yeah, the VR6 should be the fastest out of all those, stock for stock. You could turbo the VR6, but it would be pretty costly and you don't need that much power for your first car. If you want turbo customizability, get the 1.8T. A lot of people say the 1.8T's characteristics are better suited to the GTI anyways.

[TatII]

i would hardly consider the QR25DE in the SE-R to be tuned to the max from the factory. i mean sportcompact car got 30whp out of thing with bolt ons and using a balancing shaft elimation kit. they said they hardly felt the difference in vibration with the shafts elimated.

[publicenemy137]

sentra spec-v, it looks way better than the vdubs. Not to mention probably a lot more reliable, and it's not turboed yet, leaves room for forced induction

[kcap122]

i went and looked up that article just now, and it makes alot of sense.

Still up in the air though. anyone else?

[del]

Originally Posted by publicenemy137

..... and it's not turboed yet, leaves room for forced induction

you think that's good or bad??? why is being turbocharged from factory a disadvantage? a $500 chip can give the 1.8t up to 40 additional hp. other than nitrous, what will $500 get you on the nissan? dollar for dollar, not much at all. not takin away anything from the nissan, but i don't think being turbocharged from factory is a bad thing for most people.

[kcap122]

is there a chip for the vr6 too?

[kman10587]

I dunno about 'racing chips', but with most turbo cars you can get some hp out of a boost controller, which is a very cheap mod.