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IMO, a stock GS-T is in some ways more "fun" because of the immediate throttle response of the tiny turbo it has. As you might know, most car manufacturers tailor cars for regular people that do not care much for top end power, but low end grunt.
A stock GS-T with it's instant spooling characteristics gets its max torque right away at close to ~3000rpm's. So it's a really fun car to zoom around in for around town driving. It's not scary fast or anything, and once the turbo is spooled, that's about all the power you're going to see.
A turbo'ed 420a with a typical kit comes with a larger racing type turbo. These are the type of turbos that stock turbo people upgrade to, and in some sense may never use, because they may be "too large." When you jump on a 420a (let's say powered by a HRC kit), you start to feel a gradual onset* of power and boost at 3000rpm's until say 4000 to mid 4000 rpm's and then you really just take off like a bat out of hell. If you compare the max torque pull in the turbo'ed 420a with a stock GS-T, it's no contest, the 420a really feels like a rocket. But compare which has more immediate torque response, and again, it's no contest, the GS-T prevails.
So choose your poison. What's more important to you. Think about what your goals will be for your car and what you want with it. If you really love your current car, don't want to risk CW, will contend with FWD, willing to spend time and money on a turbo-conversion and like what I told you in regard to a turbo 420a, there you have it. If you like the idea of immediate "fun" boost in a FWD car, willing to part with your current ride for a unpredicable used one and want a hassle free life in regards to attaining a 200HP car while understanding the risks of CW, get a GS-T. If you want a street terrorizing turbo machine, and still won't mind the risk of CW, and willing to take on the necessary upgrades of a bigger turbo, clutch, and their associated drivetrain problems, get a GSX.
*When I say "gradual onset", it's still SO much more powerful than is a n/a pull, but when compared with a stock 2g GS-T, it's gradual.
_____________________________________ Jason ESi-T
04' BMW 325Ci 91' Nissan 240SX 98' Eagle Talon ESi (sold)
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