RE: VW Golf GTI: Review

[Kawasicki]

kambites said:

Kawasicki said:

You really have to hate the BMW image to buy a Golf over the M135i.

I can't help but feel that if the 1-series wasn't so pig ugly, it would pretty much obsolete the rest of the hot hatch market overnight.

You might have a point.

[greggy50]

kambites said:

I can't help but feel that if the 1-series wasn't so pig ugly, it would pretty much obsolete the rest of the hot hatch market overnight.

I don't think it looks that bad. at all myself in M Spec and certainly is a lot better in person than in the photos

If the 235i coupe looks good and is sub £35k I can see it becoming a very popular car!

[kambites]

greggy50 said:

I don't think it looks that bad. at all myself in M Spec and certainly is a lot better in person than in the photos

Each to their own I suppose. I never liked the old 1-series and wouldn't have believed that BMW could make the new one look worse but they somehow managed it.

[Roma101]

kambites said:

I can't help but feel that if the 1-series wasn't so pig ugly, it would pretty much obsolete the rest of the hot hatch market overnight.

I think its better in real life than pictures and in certain colours but not others. Also, I think over time it will become less offensive. For me, the only issue is the headlights (like the pre-face lift Jag XK). Maybe the facelift will "correct" these and all will be well.

[kambites]

Roma101 said:

kambites said:

I can't help but feel that if the 1-series wasn't so pig ugly, it would pretty much obsolete the rest of the hot hatch market overnight.

I think its better in real life than pictures and in certain colours but not others. Also, I think over time it will become less offensive. For me, the only issue is the headlights (like the pre-face lift Jag XK). Maybe the facelift will "correct" these and all will be well.

Re-designing the front end would certainly help a lot, but the proportions would still be ungainly (probably inevitable if they're going to stick a longitudinal inline-6 in the nose of such a small car).

Anyway, this is getting rather off-topic.

[red355]

As we are just about to pass 60k in our 2008 GTI Mk5, and didn't bother with the mild refresh that was GTI mk6, very keen on the MK7.
The MK5 has been a great commuter car for us, certainly better than the BMW335D coupe we previously ran and about the same MPG (when the diesel/petrol offset is factored in)

currently just over £2k discount is available thru the normal routes on the new car .... which will pay for leather which is essential as they keep sticking in those dreadful tartan seats.

looking forward to a test drive......... but the new S3 sportback is also on the agenda...BMW are off because that means BMW steelers

[Kawasicki]

kambites said:

Roma101 said:

kambites said:

I can't help but feel that if the 1-series wasn't so pig ugly, it would pretty much obsolete the rest of the hot hatch market overnight.

I think its better in real life than pictures and in certain colours but not others. Also, I think over time it will become less offensive. For me, the only issue is the headlights (like the pre-face lift Jag XK). Maybe the facelift will "correct" these and all will be well.

Re-designing the front end would certainly help a lot, but the proportions would still be ungainly (probably inevitable if they're going to stick a longitudinal inline-6 in the nose of such a small car).

I think that the proportions are the one thing that saves it.

[anonymous-user]

I wonder if this thread will go the way of all the other Golf GTI ones? For example, '25k for a Golf!' or 'you'd be mad to buy this over an M135i!'.............oh, I see it has already

[kambites]

St John Smythe said:

I wonder if this thread will go the way of all the other Golf GTI ones? For example, '25k for a Golf!' or 'you'd be mad to buy this over an M135i!'.............oh, I see it has already

I agree it gets a bit tiresome, but the fact that so many threads do go that way probably doesn't bode especially well for VW's sales. Mind you, I suppose many people will buy it just because it's a Golf GTi.

[rob.e]

Seems the performance pack is listed as an "option" rather than a separate model, so for any company car drivers out there your BIK is going to be based on the regular model.

How does that work - surely the emissions would be higher on the performance car? Good way to bypass the rules!?

[kambites]

rob.e said:

Seems the performance pack is listed as an "option" rather than a separate model, so for any company car drivers out there your BIK is going to be based on the regular model.

How does that work - surely the emissions would be higher on the performance car? Good way to bypass the rules!?

Surely so is the gearbox and that's always effected the BIK rate of cars.

[Phoenixcat]

The golf gti is supposed to be all things to all men, but not at that price. Spec it up properly and it's near £30k! For a golf!

[Dracoro]

St John Smythe said:

I wonder if this thread will go the way of all the other Golf GTI ones? For example, '25k for a Golf!' or 'you'd be mad to buy this over an M135i!'.............oh, I see it has already

It goes the same way for a lot of what car or car review threads.

The silly people on PH seem to think ONLY ONE car can be the best and all others MUST be forsaken for it. You're not allowed to buy #2 in the pile.

People have different priorities, many may prefer the looks/interior/comfort/economy/etc. of one car over another and so on.

I would guess thathe M135 is probably the better drivers car (for many of us) than the Golf but if having the best drivers car was REALLY the priority, then we'd not buy the M135 either, we'd all be in Caterhams. Why don't many of us do that, because (as I say above) people have OTHER and different priorities, in this case some form of practicality so no Caterham. So in the case of the Golf (and other cars for that matter), buyers have some different priorities than those that would buy the M135. Doesn't make the Golf (or M135) the "better" car no-matter-what.

To summarise, different people like different things. Does that suffice for those silly enough to ask "why would you buy a Golf GTI over an M135" in a rhetorical fashion?

[Kawasicki]

Dracoro said:

St John Smythe said:

I wonder if this thread will go the way of all the other Golf GTI ones? For example, '25k for a Golf!' or 'you'd be mad to buy this over an M135i!'.............oh, I see it has already

It goes the same way for a lot of what car or car review threads.

The silly people on PH seem to think ONLY ONE car can be the best and all others MUST be forsaken for it. You're not allowed to buy #2 in the pile.

People have different priorities, many may prefer the looks/interior/comfort/economy/etc. of one car over another and so on.

I would guess thathe M135 is probably the better drivers car (for many of us) than the Golf but if having the best drivers car was REALLY the priority, then we'd not buy the M135 either, we'd all be in Caterhams. Why don't many of us do that, because (as I say above) people have OTHER and different priorities, in this case some form of practicality so no Caterham. So in the case of the Golf (and other cars for that matter), buyers have some different priorities than those that would buy the M135. Doesn't make the Golf (or M135) the "better" car no-matter-what.

To summarise, different people like different things. Does that suffice for those silly enough to say "why would you buy a Golf GTI over an M135" as a statement rather than a question.

Yes, people have their reasons for buying certain cars, and we must not discuss the reasons for doing so, on an automotive enthusiasts forum, as that would be silly.

[the-photographer]

urquattroGus said:

I've specced one up to £34,500 and that's without the leather! (£1200?)

Very dissapointed that the DSG has HIGHER C02 with DSG than as a manual, the reverse of what seems to be true with most other cars at the moment. Maybe its because its got 6 instead of 7 speeds etc.

It's the high torque wet clutch system with only 6 speeds, these boxes have always been worse in the CO2 tests.

[the-photographer]

kambites said:

rob.e said:

Seems the performance pack is listed as an "option" rather than a separate model, so for any company car drivers out there your BIK is going to be based on the regular model.

How does that work - surely the emissions would be higher on the performance car? Good way to bypass the rules!?

Surely so is the gearbox and that's always effected the BIK rate of cars.

Check the official price list, there is no impact on CO2, so go for it!

[aka_kerrly]

Gosh some of you are worse than a broken record.

£25k for a base Golf GTI or £30k for a base M135i - add options to the golf and it can cost as much as a base M135i - WE GET IT!

How about the Focus ST at £25,495 when you can also spend £26k on a Ford Focus 2.0TD estate which you still have to spend an extra £700 on leather

Anyhow, the GTI got a glowing review in both of the road tests I have read and Autocar said it was better than the Focus ST in back to back driving tests in terms of handling, dynamics, FUN and speed - even with marginally less HP and marginally more weight.

[the-photographer]

Other points of view in comparison to Chris;

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/63631...

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/volkswagen-golf... (skip to 1:30 for active diff and exhaust noise).

Autocar test it against the much cheaper ST this week and it narrowly wins (most complete hot hatch).

[greggy50]

People are moaning about it being compared to the 135i on price but I don’t understand why when it’s the most obvious rival and offers better vfm it just shows VW are taking the piss with the prices of hot golfs. It’s the same with the R model GTI a cabrio is getting on for £40k which is ludicrous for a fwd hatchback!

Also the Focus ST deserves a mention it comes very close in reviews I have read and yet can be picked up for £20k ish new with discount so a dam site cheaper than the golf. Also I actually own a golf GTI so not like I dislike the brand either just don’t understand why anyone sane would pay 5/6k more over a focus ST for one or not choose a superior 135i instead.

I have read that a new hotter one with circa 260bhp will come out soon this will most certainly be getting on for circa £30-£32k at a guess and at that point you have to look at the A45 AMG as well!

Edited by greggy50 on Friday 3rd May 12:25

[Tomatogti]

greggy50 said:

Schnellmann said:

I see what Chris is saying about not loading the GTi up...but the problem is, you can get an unloaded 135 with three doors and manual gearbox and no toys for £30k, which is just £4k more than the Golf. And as he accepts, the BMW is in a different league performance wise. And is rearwheel drive. And is a BMW. And I think the 135 even comes with leather as standard.

BMW comes better specified really take the golf then add £500 for the stereo, £1k for the performance back and then £1200 for the leather and you end up at circa £28k for a car that is similar specified to a bog standard 135i accept that it is 100bhp down!

Also I believe you can get a circa 2k discount on the BMW and at this point the Golf just looks a bit of a joke really at that price imo

The golf R will also be a waste of money as well as if a performance pack golf is £28k the R will be most certainly more than the 32k an Audi S3 costs and I can't see why anyone would pay more to own a VW over the Audi equivalent...

True - however it's BMW's M135 which is cheap (£30.5k) rather than the Golf GTI being expensive. Yes it's down on power versus competitors but if compared to say the Megane 265 you get a far nicer interior - horses for courses really.

Minor point but not sure why you're adding £500 to the golf for the stereo. Golf stereo is just as good.