BMW 328i xDrive or VW GTI

Hello car enthusiasts.

I have been driving a VW Jetta (2.0 turbo) for the past 7 years and have racked up 92k miles. It has irritated me on occasions (with check engine lights mostly, all fixed under factory warranty). But, the joy of driving a turbocharged Jetta at 25k price point has been fantastic. The car is getting to a point, where it will be unreliable and would need a lot of maintenance very soon. I have done very well professionally and would not mind splurging a little bit on my next car purchase. Here is why I am conflicted on it. I have narrowed my choices down to BMW 328i xDrive (coz of snowy winters) and VW GTI. Here are my arguments for and against both:

BMW
For - I would like to experience the benchmark of balanced performance/luxury that they (and every reviewer on the planet) claim(s) to offer.
Against - Once I buy a Bimmer, most people I know will think I bought it to show off. By that I mean for most people that I know BMWs/Mercs are schmucki-ness indicators. For them, a man can't buy a BMW just for sheer driving pleasure.

VW
For - I know I would enjoy it since I have enjoyed a Jetta, the reliability of a VW notwithstanding.
Against - I can't drop the idea of a Bimmer, just because of what people think!!

So, my question is where does GTI (current generation) fall on a driving experience/enjoyment scale of 1-10 if the 328i (current generation) is a 10? Test drives can only tell you so much. That will help me avoid a social experiment and may be save some money (10k).

Thanks

Your "for and against" are based mostly on others options and/or assumptions. Go do detailed test drives for yourself in each and decide factually what car best suits your needs.

I have a 2013 GTI Autobahn manual. If I had to do it again, I'd go with a Cadillac ATS 2.0T Performance.

You should really try the Cadillac ATS, forget age, most I know are under 55 and they had caddys. Remember that GTI is a cop magnet and the latest reliability information on VWs is not great. If you really have to pick between the two, I would recommend the BMW but they have problems as well. You'll be covered for 5 years with a bimmer.

mrmonty said:   Thanks for the responses. I have test driven the BMW, but to capture the essence of a car in 15 mins is probably too much to ask. I know the GTI will be better than the Jetta, coz I can extrapolate my experience of last 6 years. Golf R is too expensive and comes manual (drawback for any femininas in my life). Finally, I am not 55 yet; so, no Cadillacs.

How is a Golf R too expensive relative to a 3 series? A stripper 3 series new with automatic should set you back close to 40k before TTL.

I had a similar decision to make, and I decided on the GLI Autobahn. I figure with the new bmw style warranty for the first 3 years/36k that should give me peace of mind and time to make a decision whether I want to keep it for > 3 years.