That all makes sense. Especially the 10 speed auto. However, I still question the ability of this particular build to get anything near decent mileage.

I am curious about the driveability if they do plan on boosting it that much, though. Since this is a luxury car aimed at America, it will be interesting to see how…

See my previous comment about this being a cobbled together Sema special that won't hit mileage cause of that. But you have a good point otherwise. I'd just love to see what the real world numbers are for those two cars. I think they'd be a lot closer than the epa would lead you to believe just because if you drive a…

Fair enough. But an engine that is designed for high boost is going to be crap down low and force you into boost to get anywhere. With the larger engine you can coast on torque. Your argument definitely stands if this were, say, a detuned civic type r engine kind of like in the new accord. But a tuner special like…

I’m pretty happy with what we did to our chalkboard beetle before the trick or treaters showed up this year.

A tuned to the gills 4 banger won’t be getting any better mileage than that BMW.

It might be your pet peeve, but by your very definition a lot of legitimate forms of racing that aren’t wheel to wheel would cease being racing. You try telling hill climbers or rally racers that they aren’t doing real racing either.

Torque...

That seems like a silly high gear. I could totally see that kind of test in third gear, though. Or like everyone else is mentioning, 30 to 70 but in a set gear.

It wasn’t necessarily for sale, but if it was I’m sure you could get this Porsche-engined MK4 GTI for under $30k and having something the VW kids would drool over everywhere you went!

There are lots of good cars that are under $5K you just have to be flexible. Like... maybe (GASP!) buy American!

Thank you!

I’m going to toss the B5.5 VW Passat into the mix. There’s just something incredibly classy about these cars and even though they are nearly 20 years old now they still have a kind of timelessly classy German look. Of course I’m a bit partial. Mine:

Oh the irony of you writing this story!!

I really can’t wait for this to make its way into the Elantra hatchback. I drove the GT model and was really impressed with it. With Hyundai’s continued aggressive pricing you could end up with a legitimate GTI competitor.

I have a feeling that underneath those cloth seats are just fine. Toyota seats seem to hold up remarkably well.

Those who are voting CP haven’t been shopping for a caddy lately. These things are a darling of the VW scene right now and the prices are creeping up accordingly.

For a car like this with a boost in power and no body rot you’ve got a nice price and plenty of room to customize. The fixes that are mentioned are really…

Euro pricing because of exchange rates and whatnot... in Europe your GTI would be over 30K Euros I’m sure.

To get started in first gear in a manual transmission - with the clutch in, in first gear just floor it and pop your foot off the clutch. Works every time.

The gulf in price between a traditional sedan or hatchback and it’s CUV counterpart could be a sticking point. However, there is the possibility that eliminating the less profitable sedan versions of those CUVs will allow them to make their CUVs even more price-competitive. But then again... crapitalism will push them…

Fair enough. But there’s a similar compartment in the NC Miata that you wouldn’t have a clue about unless you go digging around or are short enough to pull the seats forward a fair amount.