RE: PH Fleet: Golf GTI Edition 35

[frosted]

What iffy fuel consumption , they all drink the same ffs . Whoever gets 40mpg out of a GTi is telling porkies

[Ved]

MPG really puts me off too. My R32 gets 29 on average and I'm over the moon with that.

[carllll]

Too many varibles to compare mpg's with other cars. All i can say is 70mph on the motorway, 4 adults 37-38 mpg i get but its a manual. Not too bad for a hottish hatch. I know you won't get that out of a R32, ive had two. I don't know any other hot hatch that is much better for mpg other than the standard GTI.

[Ved]

70 on motorways gets 34 to 35 for me, also a manual. 21 to B&Q on a Sunday morning though

So are you saying Riggers is a bit binary when it comes to his pedals?

[carllll]

No im saying everyone drives different, slight differences can make big differences to mpg. 34 mpg in a R32 at 70 mph, is that what the computer says as these can be out by 4-5 mpg. i could only get 34mpg at 50 mph in a r32 and that was trying. Ed35 mpg was worked out brim to brim etc.
P.s yes i know there not as much difference as people think between a R32 and a GTI around town but on a run at 70 it seemed a bit better 7-9 mpg. Worth it for the noise tho

Edited by carllll on Sunday 22 July 18:49

Edited by carllll on Sunday 22 July 18:50

[Ved]

Brace yourself then.... Luton airport run and back at 55mph with some stop, start.... 38.6

[carllll]

Like i said slight differences in styles make big differences in mpg as id wouldn't be surprised if you got 46 mpg on that same Luton run in a ed35 then.

Edited by carllll on Monday 23 July 16:41

[Pistonwot]

Aids0G said:

aka_kerrly said:

Riggers said:

Pistonwot said:

Who cares?

Its just another boring VW bland "world car".
The English translation for "world car" = Soul-less yet cheap to manufacture metal box with few redeeming features yet adorned with barely enough gimmicky flash and stuffed chock full-o-tat, OR just enough nonsense to confuse most buyers into believing the Marketing dross VW bland spend Billions producing.

If I wanted a good Golf Id buy a Mk 1, its the only decent Golf ever made.

Not a leading question this, but have you spent 12k miles and seven months in an Ed 35?

Because I think I could fairly safely call my self a car enthusiast, and probably not sufficiently gullible to buy VW's 'marketing dross'.

And yet I was not exaggerating when I wrote that it's "the best car I have ever had the privilege of driving on a daily basis". And that includes my old Caterham Seven. And the M3 we ran on the PH fleet in 2009.

Riggers - don't waste your time.

A quick browse through Pistonwot's contribution history would suggest he goes out of his way to post negative comments about cars he has no interest in.

Agree with - aka hugely negative and dosent show what he drives in his profile? how can anybody say Golfs are bad they are incredibly good cars as proven by the huge number of people that have them, not quite right for me but i like things a bit different haha!!

Great write up's over the months Riggers!!

Ive updated my profile just for you,,,,,, I can see how nothing I have to say is genuine due to the fact I hadnt posted the correct details in my profile.
Problem solved,, boooo yaaaahhhhh

[Pistonwot]

I think the Golf fails miserably to provide sports car levels of performance so at least it returns a reasonable MPG, the buyers need something interesting to talk about.

Is that all the pleasure you get from this supposed sports car,,, the MPG it returns? Should it not be stupendously impressive considering its stupendous price rather than being so dull the MPG is the "best topic of discussion"?
Why would anyone who cares about MPG buy a sports car anyway?
Is that not being as contradictory as one could possibly be just for the sake of it?
If MPG is the defining factor in a car then why not buy a diesel or a hybrid or a bike and leave sports cars to be sporty instead of hyping up this half arsed attempt?

Golf GTI
ox·y·mo·ron
noun, plural ox·y·mo·ra  [ok-si-mawr-uh, -mohr-uh], ox·y·mor·ons. Rhetoric .

a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “Golf GTI” or “to make haste slowly.”

[toppstuff]

Pistonwot said:

I think the Golf fails miserably to provide sports car levels of performance so at least it returns a reasonable MPG, the buyers need something interesting to talk about.

Is that all the pleasure you get from this supposed sports car,,, the MPG it returns? Should it not be stupendously impressive considering its stupendous price rather than being so dull the MPG is the "best topic of discussion"?
Why would anyone who cares about MPG buy a sports car anyway?
Is that not being as contradictory as one could possibly be just for the sake of it?
If MPG is the defining factor in a car then why not buy a diesel or a hybrid or a bike and leave sports cars to be sporty instead of hyping up this half arsed attempt?

Golf GTI
ox·y·mo·ron
noun, plural ox·y·mo·ra  [ok-si-mawr-uh, -mohr-uh], ox·y·mor·ons. Rhetoric .

a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “Golf GTI” or “to make haste slowly.”

I think the problem is that the Golf is not a sports car, or a particularly thrilling drive, which means that the only role it has to fulfil is to be good to drive while being relatively economical to run. It fails at this. Hence the debate !

[Pistonwot]

toppstuff said:

Pistonwot said:

I think the Golf fails miserably to provide sports car levels of performance so at least it returns a reasonable MPG, the buyers need something interesting to talk about.

Is that all the pleasure you get from this supposed sports car,,, the MPG it returns? Should it not be stupendously impressive considering its stupendous price rather than being so dull the MPG is the "best topic of discussion"?
Why would anyone who cares about MPG buy a sports car anyway?
Is that not being as contradictory as one could possibly be just for the sake of it?
If MPG is the defining factor in a car then why not buy a diesel or a hybrid or a bike and leave sports cars to be sporty instead of hyping up this half arsed attempt?

Golf GTI
ox·y·mo·ron
noun, plural ox·y·mo·ra  [ok-si-mawr-uh, -mohr-uh], ox·y·mor·ons. Rhetoric .

a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “Golf GTI” or “to make haste slowly.”

I think the problem is that the Golf is not a sports car, or a particularly thrilling drive, which means that the only role it has to fulfil is to be good to drive while being relatively economical to run. It fails at this. Hence the debate !

I think you make a good point, this very un-GTI vehicle is failing on many levels.

[0a]

article said:

Had it been 10 per cent fuel efficient and it would have been perfect...

I assume you mean "more fuel efficient". In any case 26mpg is pretty appalling, the whole purpose of having to put up with a 4 cylinder engine with a turbo is to get good mpg for the power.

I don't believe anyone ever paid that list price either.

[masermartin]

Pistonwot said:

I think you make a good point, this very un-GTI vehicle is failing on many levels.

Define a "GTI vehicle" then, please?

[sjg]

This is what I like so much about the 1.4 TSI hatches (Polo GTI, Fabia vRS, Ibiza, A1). With the creeping sizes these are now not superminis but more like the size family hatches used to be, my Fabia is bigger in every dimension than a mk2 Golf, and carries 4 adults just fine, with a boot only 50 litres smaller than a current Golf. The engines deliver a useful 180bhp and 184lb/ft and they have DSG, normally with paddles. Bit less power, but less weight than a GTI too - they don't feel that far apart in terms of pace. Difference is that on a run they'll easily exceed 40mpg, I've been into 48s on a cruise back from Scotland, and am still over 38 overall with a lot of London driving.

I thought long and hard about buying Golf GTI but in the end, just couldn't see enough to justify the several thousand extra pounds I'd have to pay, the doubling of insurance (North London, parked on street), or the extra running costs. The class below is really worth looking at if you're after that blend of everyday ease of use, discreet looks and low running costs while still being a fun thing to cover ground quickly in.

[toppstuff]

sjg said:

This is what I like so much about the 1.4 TSI hatches (Polo GTI, Fabia vRS, Ibiza, A1). With the creeping sizes these are now not superminis but more like the size family hatches used to be, my Fabia is bigger in every dimension than a mk2 Golf, and carries 4 adults just fine, with a boot only 50 litres smaller than a current Golf. The engines deliver a useful 180bhp and 184lb/ft and they have DSG, normally with paddles. Bit less power, but less weight than a GTI too - they don't feel that far apart in terms of pace. Difference is that on a run they'll easily exceed 40mpg, I've been into 48s on a cruise back from Scotland, and am still over 38 overall with a lot of London driving.

I thought long and hard about buying Golf GTI but in the end, just couldn't see enough to justify the several thousand extra pounds I'd have to pay, the doubling of insurance (North London, parked on street), or the extra running costs. The class below is really worth looking at if you're after that blend of everyday ease of use, discreet looks and low running costs while still being a fun thing to cover ground quickly in.

Great post.

I was a HUGE fan of the Mk1 and Mk2 Golf GTI, but the Mk5 and especially the Mk6 show that VW have long forgotten the whole point of the Golf GTI. The latest versions are not very affordable, not very economical, not very small...

It is the Polo/Fabia/Ibiza category that offers the most interest now. You can get a cracking Fabia VRS or Ibiza Bocanegra for half the price of the bloated Golf. It is these smaller cars in the range that have inherited the legacy of the Golf GTI. The Golf has become something else...

[Colonial]

toppstuff said:

Great post.

I was a HUGE fan of the Mk1 and Mk2 Golf GTI, but the Mk5 and especially the Mk6 show that VW have long forgotten the whole point of the Golf GTI. The latest versions are not very affordable, not very economical, not very small...

It is the Polo/Fabia/Ibiza category that offers the most interest now. You can get a cracking Fabia VRS or Ibiza Bocanegra for half the price of the bloated Golf. It is these smaller cars in the range that have inherited the legacy of the Golf GTI. The Golf has become something else...

By that same logic cars like the Lotus Elise are the true inheritors of the 60s and 70s Supercars.

Every car is getting larger and heavier. Much of that is down to safety regulations and progress in technology.

The MkV and MkVI are a return to form for the GTI after the abysmal MkIII and IV. They are not going to be as fun to drive as the afore mentioned Elise or similar. But they are still a good compromise for someone who can only run one car.

Mine has been on track and it is a blast. Yep, other cars would be more fun. So be it. That is always going to be the case. But as a compromise car it achieves a lot of what it sets out to do with ease.

It seems to me that you are lambasting it for being a modern car. The Mk 2 GTI was up against the 205. The Golf was the more luxurious, under-stated and "classy" choice. The 205 was the more "fun" car. Nothing has changed. The Renault Megane Sport is the more fun car. The Golf the more luxurious etc etc

[Pistonwot]

Colonial said:

Every car is getting larger and heavier. Much of that is down to safety regulations and progress in technology.

"as a compromise car"

Why are cars getting so much heavier though?
The safety gear is purportedly around 75 kg so what is the other 400-1000 kg from? (Id say left over Bull-Sheit from the Marketing department a-holes)
Perversely we have available the lightest materials and best processes so why cant we use them effectively.

What is causing modern engineering to reliably produce such heavyweight puddings with such lightweight technology?

That 1 word sums up everything about this type of VW AG blandness, including ownership,, compromise.
I dread VW buying Lotus for this very reason, they will comprehensively ruin it by stuffing the cars full of compromise.
1800kg Elise anyone?

[HBFS]

sjg said:

This is what I like so much about the 1.4 TSI hatches (Polo GTI, Fabia vRS, Ibiza, A1). With the creeping sizes these are now not superminis but more like the size family hatches used to be, my Fabia is bigger in every dimension than a mk2 Golf, and carries 4 adults just fine, with a boot only 50 litres smaller than a current Golf. The engines deliver a useful 180bhp and 184lb/ft and they have DSG, normally with paddles. Bit less power, but less weight than a GTI too - they don't feel that far apart in terms of pace. Difference is that on a run they'll easily exceed 40mpg, I've been into 48s on a cruise back from Scotland, and am still over 38 overall with a lot of London driving.

I thought long and hard about buying Golf GTI but in the end, just couldn't see enough to justify the several thousand extra pounds I'd have to pay, the doubling of insurance (North London, parked on street), or the extra running costs. The class below is really worth looking at if you're after that blend of everyday ease of use, discreet looks and low running costs while still being a fun thing to cover ground quickly in.

I have the same car as you, bought on the same premise really. Another cost saving is insurance, the 180 tsi's for me (@ 22) are always at least £700 cheaper than the Golf GTI, Clio 200, Civic Type R, Cooper S etc.

The other week I got over 50mpg out of mine doing 150 mile round trips every day for a week. OK, so I drove at 56mph but I found it relaxing and it maximized my margin on the 45 ppm!

[the-photographer]

Colonial said:

toppstuff said:

Great post.

I was a HUGE fan of the Mk1 and Mk2 Golf GTI, but the Mk5 and especially the Mk6 show that VW have long forgotten the whole point of the Golf GTI. The latest versions are not very affordable, not very economical, not very small...

It is the Polo/Fabia/Ibiza category that offers the most interest now. You can get a cracking Fabia VRS or Ibiza Bocanegra for half the price of the bloated Golf. It is these smaller cars in the range that have inherited the legacy of the Golf GTI. The Golf has become something else...

By that same logic cars like the Lotus Elise are the true inheritors of the 60s and 70s Supercars.

Every car is getting larger and heavier. Much of that is down to safety regulations and progress in technology.

The MkV and MkVI are a return to form for the GTI after the abysmal MkIII and IV. They are not going to be as fun to drive as the afore mentioned Elise or similar. But they are still a good compromise for someone who can only run one car.

Mine has been on track and it is a blast. Yep, other cars would be more fun. So be it. That is always going to be the case. But as a compromise car it achieves a lot of what it sets out to do with ease.

It seems to me that you are lambasting it for being a modern car. The Mk 2 GTI was up against the 205. The Golf was the more luxurious, under-stated and "classy" choice. The 205 was the more "fun" car. Nothing has changed. The Renault Megane Sport is the more fun car. The Golf the more luxurious etc etc

Agreed, its still the best compromise hatch.

Although the MK7 will be even more expensive, I hope they can really target the 100Kg reduction that is widely rumored with an alminium roof and other bits and pieces.

[va1o]

Overall I think its a good package, would consider buying one in the future. BMW 125i does run it close for value though.