Repair costs are higher due to more complicated design and specialty tools. The intake ports will get carbon buildup. Electrical system can be eccentric.
Other than that, they are great. Probably the best hot hatch at that price point. If you want a sedan is between the civic and the WRX obviously.
The civic transmission is beautiful one you flash the ecu to kill the rev hang.
Civic si is good, so is the ST. However, the gti beats it in ergonomics, build quality, and styling. The st is crap on the interior and both the si and st look like ricer cars. If you're getting a daily, it's either gti or Mazda3.
I don't care about sedan vs. hatch. So Golf GTI vs. Civic SI vs. WRX (2.0) for fun?
Wrx is the funnest but also the worst of the three as a daily. Ask yourself what do you really need. If you really want fun, you'd get a 2 door rwd car. Gti is a perfect all around vehicle. That may or may not resonate with you
WRX is the best daily in Northern climates since it winters a lot better.
snow tires and fwd great
Hyundai i30 N
Snow tires and AWD is better and more fun. Bigger issue with the SI is ground clearance.
Fantastic car all around and by far best hatchback for the money with tons of legroom for power, I have a 15 DSG running 404hp and can not have any better.
Civic Si is way more practical and overall nothing to knock, WRX is fantastic but closer to its rally roots then needed for a daily
Focus is shit
Ford is shit
GTi all the way for anything but rallycross WRX comes up ahead there
New i30N/Veloster N looks promising but honestly at 400+ on the Golf I would only ever trade up to a A3/RS3 platform with awd
I have a Polo GTI and it’s pretty good, it’s so cute and tiny and fast. As with any fwd car you’ll want a nice stiff rear sway bar for the twisties