Golf Mk7 - Sweetspot for price, spec, performance?

[MC Bodge]

wormus said:

MC Bodge said:

Then it went BANG?

Nope, they've owned it since new and it's now done 45k miles with no issue. Don't believe everything you read!

Can't be true. I've read the internet.

[va1o]

SpeedBash said:

IMHO, think this pretty much sums it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detai...

Couldn't agree more. As an every day all round car you simply can't beat the Golf.

MC Bodge said:

wormus said:

MC Bodge said:

Then it went BANG?

Nope, they've owned it since new and it's now done 45k miles with no issue. Don't believe everything you read!

Can't be true. I've read the internet.

Not all of them go wrong but a big proportion of them do with that particular engine. Its enough that makes them a high risk used buy with warranty essential.

[timberman]

Driver101 said:

timberman said:

i think you need to stop quoting manufacturers times.

I've found Vw to be pretty conservative most of the time when it comes to the DSG model and in the real world beating the quoted figures is not that difficult,

there is no skill involved and just about anyone could get a DSG golf r to 60 in well under 5 seconds,

most people on the other hand would probably struggle to beat 6 seconds in the manual version
because most people aren't as you put it "professional" drivers

in the real world I would imagine the difference from a standing start with 2 average drivers would be quite significant

once on the move then I agree that any advantage is mostly gone
and a "professional " driver may get better results with a manual, but these are every day cars for average people

I keep hearing that performance figures are conservative, that cars put out more power than the manufacturer suggest and the engines are bombproof for many cars.

Most turn out to be untrue.

Often press cars have a little tweak or two.

Ever spend a day or two at a drag strip and you often find most people can't get the times they would expect, DSG or not.

At rolling road days most cars are close to claimed figures give or take small amounts that could be for various reasons. People only take notice of the one random high reading.

Fuel consumption rarely gets close to the figures the cars are tested to. The Golf R being the example here. Claimed 41mpg average with guys in the real world getting mid 20s.

Figures sell cars. Manufacturers aren't likely to undersell their cars.

I can only go by my own experience, and yes I have been to the drag strip but that was in my AMG.

We have 2 Vw's both DSG

the manufacturers 0-62 time for my scirocco is quoted as 6.9 secs, yet when I tested it, albeit 0-60 I consistently managed 6.2,and this was on a less than perfect surface.

I haven't tested the other car yet, ( a tiguan but with the same engine and power ) but would be surprised if it didn't at least match the quoted times,

even if this wasn't true I would still prefer it as I believe it' gives the best of both worlds, either full auto or switch to paddles when the mood dictates

that's not to say I wouldn't swap back to a manual in the future,

there are days when I miss the clutch pedal and being able to slot the gears by hand just that at the moment I'm quite happy with the set up i have.

as for fuel consumption, I cant really argue with you on that one as I'm nowhere near the quoted figures.

[MC Bodge]

bhstewie said:

It's more that I'm a little bit of a badge snob in that I still would be daft enough to overlook some cars simply because of the badge on them - stupid but mea culpa.

I went to Derby today to look at VW and Lexus and I must admit I thought of this post whilst walking around the massive VW dealership there looking at a row of about 15 white TDIs.

Lexus chucked me the keys to a CT which I had for a couple of hours and I'm pretty damned impressed tbh so that's thrown a bit of a curve ball.

You would expect to find a lot of VWs at a dealership or factory, but my point was that I feel that that the prestige and image angle has been built by the marketing depts, but is actually of very little substance or importance when considering big-selling, runabout cars of similar ability.

The "brand" is selling a "dream" that becomes just a "car" (that cost more than a very similar equivalent) a couple of days later.

The Lexus sounds interesting and not the default UK choice of German hatch.

[Mr SFJ]

MC Bodge said:

bhstewie said:

It's more that I'm a little bit of a badge snob in that I still would be daft enough to overlook some cars simply because of the badge on them - stupid but mea culpa.

I went to Derby today to look at VW and Lexus and I must admit I thought of this post whilst walking around the massive VW dealership there looking at a row of about 15 white TDIs.

Lexus chucked me the keys to a CT which I had for a couple of hours and I'm pretty damned impressed tbh so that's thrown a bit of a curve ball.

You would expect to find a lot of VWs at a dealership or factory, but my point was that I feel that that the prestige and image angle has been built by the marketing depts, but is actually of very little substance or importance when considering big-selling, runabout cars of similar ability.

The "brand" is selling a "dream" that becomes just a "car" (that cost more than a very similar equivalent) a couple of days later.

The Lexus sounds interesting and not the default UK choice of German hatch.

The CT is a damn good car, my dad has one. but it's not a drivers car at all. he drives up VERY steep hills to work and back (where you need 3/4 throttle to maintain 20mph) and still manages 55mpg.

I took it to work for a week (with slight inclines) and got near 70mpg, and I was driving normally (no full throttles and not driving like Miss Daisy)

[OGR4M]

I've just been onto the VW configurator and 'realistically' specced up a Golf GTD, for me.

Didn't put silly kit on it - just the stuff that I would want my car to have, the bigger wheels; tartan interior from MK1; uprated stereo.

£30,000!!!

Call me skeptical, but that doesn't seem like a sweetspot to me... especially as a friend has just bought a 991 C2S for significantly less than that...

[timberman]

OGR4M said:

I've just been onto the VW configurator and 'realistically' specced up a Golf GTD, for me.

Didn't put silly kit on it - just the stuff that I would want my car to have, the bigger wheels; tartan interior from MK1; uprated stereo.

£30,000!!!

Call me skeptical, but that doesn't seem like a sweetspot to me... especially as a friend has just bought a 991 C2S for significantly less than that...

the simple answer is to buy through a broker, the prices are much cheaper

my wifes car priced through the vw cofigurator came out at over 35k, we ordered it through DTD and paid less than 29k.
If the configurator prices actually reflected what people were paying I don't think Vw would be selling too many cars.

Also if your friend managed to get a 991 for less than 30k please tell us where, I'm sure we'd all like a deal like that

Edited by timberman on Monday 29th September 10:14

[bitchstewie]

Mr SFJ said:

The CT is a damn good car, my dad has one. but it's not a drivers car at all. he drives up VERY steep hills to work and back (where you need 3/4 throttle to maintain 20mph) and still manages 55mpg.

I took it to work for a week (with slight inclines) and got near 70mpg, and I was driving normally (no full throttles and not driving like Miss Daisy)

A Freelander 2 which is what I have now isn't a drivers car either

I had the Lexus for a couple of hours and went on a drive to try to mimic a mix of driving conditions, most importantly as similar to my daily drive to/from work as I could get - I reset the on board computer at the dealers and when I arrived back on their forecourt it was averaging 65mpg.

Even allowing for some optimism from the on board computer that seems pretty damned impressive.

Build quality seemed impeccable and (obviously nothing to do with the vehicle itself) the dealer was night and day compared to every VW dealer I've been in so far.

[bitchstewie]

OGR4M said:

I've just been onto the VW configurator and 'realistically' specced up a Golf GTD, for me.

Didn't put silly kit on it - just the stuff that I would want my car to have, the bigger wheels; tartan interior from MK1; uprated stereo.

£30,000!!!

Call me skeptical, but that doesn't seem like a sweetspot to me... especially as a friend has just bought a 991 C2S for significantly less than that...

Ignoring the Porsche bit, that is the part that keeps sticking with me - I had a Boxster, from new, and the idea of spending close to what it cost new on a Golf irritates me - I don't know if it's simply that cars cost more now or if it's because have gone a bit "Apple".

[Mr SFJ]

bhstewie said:

A Freelander 2 which is what I have now isn't a drivers car either

I had the Lexus for a couple of hours and went on a drive to try to mimic a mix of driving conditions, most importantly as similar to my daily drive to/from work as I could get - I reset the on board computer at the dealers and when I arrived back on their forecourt it was averaging 65mpg.

Even allowing for some optimism from the on board computer that seems pretty damned impressive.

Build quality seemed impeccable and (obviously nothing to do with the vehicle itself) the dealer was night and day compared to every VW dealer I've been in so far.

The Lexus dealers are among the best IMO. The servicing dept are brilliant, the sales team are fantastic. They couldn't help my Dad enough, everything was taken care of from his private plate transfer all the way down to dropping the car off after a service. They we're brilliant, I cannot fault them at all. Lexus Bristol (only experience, but heard all are good) are one of, if not the best main dealers I've seen. Closely followed by Toyota, and well, Mercedes are just laughable.

whereas Fiat MD's were just as bad (phoned up about a replacement key, promised a call back, got one 12 days later. Oh and a gearbox seal went on my car, and they used the wrong bolts for the gearbox and used so much silicone that you were able to scoop it out with your hand.

[superlightr]

bhstewie said:

Ignoring the Porsche bit, that is the part that keeps sticking with me - I had a Boxster, from new, and the idea of spending close to what it cost new on a Golf irritates me - I don't know if it's simply that cars cost more now or if it's because have gone a bit "Apple".

but it doesnt cost £30k. We got our GTD at the what car target price. Have you driven one yet?

[andrewparker]

OGR4M said:

I've just been onto the VW configurator and 'realistically' specced up a Golf GTD, for me.

Didn't put silly kit on it - just the stuff that I would want my car to have, the bigger wheels; tartan interior from MK1; uprated stereo.

£30,000!!!

Call me skeptical, but that doesn't seem like a sweetspot to me... especially as a friend has just bought a 991 C2S for significantly less than that...

Perhaps it's a generational thing but I honestly think it's worth that. Our family only has room for one car so it was important that whatever we bought represented a point of least compromise, so it had to be big enough to ferry myself, wife and two young children around in comfort, be economical in town and on long runs, but also offer an element of fun when I want it. And the GTD does all those things - if you want a car that covers all bases then it does it very well. I drove the A-Class, 200H and A3 and didn't think any of them felt as competent dynamically. I also don't think it needs any options, bar the rear airbags.

I drove 70 miles back from the in-laws last night, got on the motorway and put the adaptive cruise control on and didn't press the brake or accelerator all the way. On the motorway it is very quiet and comfortable, and 4-up with a boot full of bikes and suitcases it did 58mpg. My driving is probably weighted 75% urban and 25% motorway journeys and the £63 of diesel I put in 2 weeks ago has got me 450 miles so far, and the refill light has just came on. But it's also great fun on a fast A-road. It's not the most refined car when you push it, but I don't believe any 4-cylinder diesel is.

[neil1jnr]

ShaunTheSheep said:

Driver101 said:

I think you need to question those doing the gear changes.

The DSG makes fractions of a second difference to professional drivers even when there is numerous gear changes taking place.

On the move where speeds are higher and less gear changes, DSG becomes even less beneficial.

Looking at some of the other VAG cars, they quote the same acceleration times for DSG and manual.

Personally I think you are vastly exaggerating the benefits of DSG. If is was a race, I'd take the car with the extra 60bhp.

Looking back at previous magazine tests DSG cars have often lost to manual cars with the same power.

I've often seen the same down the drag strip too.

I can only relay to you what I experienced first hand by actually going out and doing it.

My last car was a DSG, great for what it was but racing side by side with another Leon exactly the same there was barely anything in it.

I have a manual now and I don't think I'd go back to DSG just for how quickly it changes gear. It is brilliant for a while then gets pretty boring.

I think the main disadvantage of DSG is when braking hard and going down the gears, you just don't feel that you are in much control as you would in a manual.

[neil1jnr]

St John Smythe said:

MC Bodge said:

St John Smythe said:

DSG is much faster at changing gear than 99% of drivers.

But....

Does it matter in the commuter racing world?

I imagine more efficient gear changes can save a few mpg so it probably does.

I don't know about Golfs but my Leon with DSG was quoted at doing 5mpg LESS than the equivilant manual.

[neil1jnr]

Juanco20 said:

Get a fully specced ST-3, use some of the money saved to get the mountune upgrade and the rest of the money saved leaves you not having to care one jot about how many miles to the gallon you're managing

THIS

[va1o]

neil1jnr said:

I don't know about Golfs but my Leon with DSG was quoted at doing 5mpg LESS than the equivilant manual.

It depends on the model, my GTI was more economical than the Manual but the 2.0 TDI is (slightly) less economical than the manual.

[MC Bodge]

OGR4M said:

I've just been onto the [url=http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/configurator]Didn't put silly kit on it - just the stuff that I would want my car to have, the bigger wheels; tartan interior from MK1; uprated stereo.

£30,000!!!

How Much do each of those options cost?

I would ditch the big wheels.

What is the stereo upgrade?

[andrewparker]

The 19" wheels are £985.

[ORD]

There is simply no justifying £30k for a diesel Golf. You can try, but it just isn't going to happen! VW pricing is lunacy. VW is the middle brand with the VAG and yet demands prices that are on a par with the higher end marques.

[scherzkeks]

I'd have to say the Golf R/S3. Pricy yes, but as an object I really think they offer the best compromise of the range to someone who enjoys driving, wants something classy, but also needs practicality.

To nullify the price difference, I'd either wait and get a 1 year old MK7 R/S3 or get a previous late-model MK6/8P. The difference in performance/handling and the overall feel in quality between the top-spec models and the std. Golfs, GTIs, and GTDs is very noticeable.