So my contract at my current job is about to end and I'm prepared to move on to a bigger and better one. My current daily driver is a super clean 2005 RX8 with 85K miles on it. It's mechinaclly 100% but I've had it for 8 years and I'm ready to move on to something with more trunk space, better mpg!!!!, but still very fun to drive. I love this car and I've done all the best bolt on mods there are for it but again, it's time to move on.

Iniitally I was thinking a Mk6 GTI. Test drove one and it's a fantastic automobile, no other way to put it. Easy clutch, fun tubo, nice interior, good fuel milage and was really fun to drive. Now that the Mk7 is out (initally limited in America) I'm also looking at one of those. Has anyone here driven both a Mk6 and Mk7? The online reviews between the 2 aren't that detailed. Of course I'll go and look/test drive one when I get a chance.

The other vehicle I was looking is surprisingly different and similar to the GTI. A C5 has a huge trunk (the whole back half of the car), gets about 30 mpg, roomy interior though it doesn't have anything on the GTI's in terms of styling and quality, but is probably more fun to drive than even a GTI. The removable roof is a plus for me too a good conditioned car goes for right around $10K less than a new and laoded GTI. I trust a Corvette's mechanical reliablity as well since they're so simple yet effecient. I've never owned a VW before but I have worked on my friends Jetta before and it was a bit of a pain/on the pricey side for normal parts.

I literally have no idea where I'll be living at my next job, but the GTI should be better in bad weather and cheaper on insurance. I would have to spend a good amount of my savings on the Corvette on the interior with a better stereo and seats. Running costs are kind of split. Just looking for some more insight. If I found the right C5 I would take a serious look at it, it would have to be every bit as clean as my current car, not a run down and highly modded C5 that's been beat at the track it's whole life. The convenience of being able to order a brand new Mk7 with all the options I want is appealing too.

I can speak for the GTI they are great cars, the new 7 generation is very refined.

Not sure if you have this option or would consider it but I have just done 2 years and 40K miles in a Golf GTD

It drives much like a GTI, bit more lower down, bit less up top but handles and looks the same. It did 45MPG even driven hard, was fun to drive and nothing at all went wrong. I really liked it even though it was my first Diesel.

really??? vw vs corvette?? the vw is probably cheaper to own but ....cheaper....
The corvette has old tech under the shell...
bmw 535d on the other hand, comfort, style, milage and power
but from the two above i would go for the vette, a little cooler than a golf

The vette has old tech yes, but it's very reliable in it's simplicity. I've always loved Corvettes and if I had the money to buy the new C7 I would do it in a heart beat. But a great condition C5 fits perfectly in my budget. A C6 actually costs as much as a fully loaded new GTI but it has the same problems as the C5 (crappy wheels, interior, etc) so I may as well save $10K to put towards fixing those issues.

The GTI interests me because I've never owned a 100% new car before. I don't go through cars very fast, I've had 2 cars and I'm 25. I'm looking to keep my next car another 10ish years like my RX8.

I ran a Monaro for a while and the 6 litre v8 is epic, would def have another one, I think you must be a little confused to be considering. 2 cars that are so different, I'd suggest getting a test drive in both and deciding from there.

I've driven a C5 before, although it had a slushbox 4-speed auto that was terrible. I would definitely only go for a 6-speed manual. The GTI and C5 are indeed very different but they are both great daily drivers and check all the blocks in what I'm looking for: bigger trunk, great gas milage (both around 30 highway), engine won't grind itself to death (rotary), both are very fun with room for decent mods, and I could see myself owning either car for a long time.

A new car is a great feeling except for the first scratch, first dent the first damage of anything and the fact that it's expensive, my personal belief is that petrol cars are a going to be very expensive to own, not that diesels are cheap.
I wish I could hold on to a car for ten years

I had vettes for decades, starting in 1968. I sold my black convertable last Fall because my blood pressure went up just looking at it due to the fact that I lost a small fortune when GM went bankrupt. I will never own a General Motors vehicle again. They cost me a big part of my retirement. I also own a VW CC six cylinder AWD and a chipped and lowered VW Eos. My wife has a Mini Cooper Countryman S AWD that she flogs unmercifully.

We have two VWs. Wife's 2011 golf family wagon,(comfort line), and my 2007 Rabbit ,( 2door sport package),with 5 speed.
Wife's wagon is the vehicle of choice for family taxi, errands, and trips. Rabbit is my daily commuter that gets it's fair share of taxi and errand duty.
Golf is just pleasant and does everything no fuss. Wheels are soft and needed replacing.
Rabbit is a bit fun to drive. Gripes about the rabbit are that the keys bother my knee in an annoying way and that it is front wheel drive. The front wheel drive issue is what spoils it for me during winter driving fun and summer back road misbehaving. VW rust prevention on my 2007, while better than my earlier golfs, still leaves something to be desired. So far it has had the hood and two fenders replaced and a quarter panel repaired and painted under the 12 year rust warranty.

Hope the newest VW versions have learned lessons from the previous incarnations as it's likely we'll be replacing them with newer models when the kids inherit these ones.

Sporting rear wheel drive cars are more fun? Never felt love or attachment for a front wheel drive car.
That being said, a corvette might be overboard for a daily driver depending on where and how much you drive.

I'll throw in something different to the mix…Subaru WRX STi

Had both the standard WRX w/2.0L & auto trans (wife's car) and a STi….Wonderful cars, very underrated and fun to drive.

Also owned a new C4 Corvette way back when…was disappointed to say the least.

Enjoy your vehicle search.