[NoRegrets78]

Hey guys, long time. I know I promised pics and what not but certain circumstances beyond my control prevented taking pics...

For the bad...week owning the car, flat tire drivers rear...doing 80 at the time, wound up shredding the tire. Changing to the spare the rim (optional 18's) fell on its face and got scratched and chipped. Take rim to get fixed order new tire. $300 bucks. Take newly fixed rim and tire to a shop recommended by a friend. He scratches the rim and refuses to admit it. Pissed but ok, pay and leave. Next day new tire is flat. Was next to a Mavis at the time so they check it out. All around the bead is leaking and the valvestem. Turns out when they took the tire off they discovered the installer tore the bead ruining the tire and cracked the valvestem. Another tire and valvestem 210 bucks. Call the guy and say listen, the tire was leaking I'm at mavis they said you tore the bead. Again, refuses to take responsibility. Going to DMV to report his sorry ass then taking him to small claims court. Been on a doughnut for 2 of the 3 weeks I had the car.

Cliffs: 2 tires, rim scratched twice, shop being sued.

Driving impressions:

If any of you are on the fence with the Si and GTI I HIGHLY recommend you drive the GTI. While the Si style and function are top notch...the pure race handling is better, and the fun factor in high RPMS is one of honda's best...for a daily driver I am finding a very hard time saying it is better than the GTI.

DSG is the sickest piece of technology I have ever driven. Absolutely love the way it functions, feels, drives. The car as a TON of standard features that I am still learning about, and the ability to have so much more for very little money. Handling on the optional 18's with summer tires is sick, the feel of the overall ride is one of fit and finish, class, and power. Low end grunt is something I was definately not used to having owned so many hondas but I have to say, around town, its so nice to be able to get up and go without screaming the engine for everyone to hear.

This is by no means an Si bash. The Si IMO is definately the more capable track and race car so if that's your goal, by all means I think you'll be more happy with the Si assuming you leave stock with stock.

Aftermarket:

As with my Type-S and Hondata, there are actually the big 3 ecu upgrades available at this time for the GTI. All provide around 250whp/300tq at the crank and ALL are extremely smooth in making power...think stock.

My goal is the APR Stage 1. For $750, you get a 91 or 93 octane tune, a security lock out code, and the stock tune. You can switch between the tune and stock using the cruise control stalk, and have it set to not be able to be switched without the lockout code. There are other options avail like kill mode and valet mode (detuned). Granted exhaust options are on the pricey side, intakes don't do much, but the flash is a very economical way to get your car into the low 14's high 13's, not to mention you have the option of going back to stock if you so choose for whatever reason.

The aftermarket is booming already for this vehicle...vag-com is one work of art...for 250 bucks you get the cable for diagnostics and ECU changes that can unlock a myriad of features only euro GTI's get, and make changes to suit your own driving style like how may blinks the quick blinker feature uses, and how much assistance the electric steering gives you.

Conclusion:

The two vehicles, both the Si and the GTI serve similar purposes but aim to please two different kinds of people. Racers will definately be happier with the SI IMO, those looking for more features with good low end daily driving power, might be better off looking at the GTI.

*Disclaimer* - the preceeding is the opinion of NoRegrets78 and should be taken as such...after all, opinions are like a-holes, everyone's got em and they all stink!