Golf Mk7 - Sweetspot for price, spec, performance?

[bitchstewie]

I fancy a change from what I currently have (Freelander 2) and had something smaller and more economical in mind but with reasonable performance (real world not stuff I'd never use) and found myself looking at Golf Mk7's today.

I'm fortunate in that I could say balls to it and go pull the trigger on an R, but there are so many levels of trim, engine, options that I'm trying to work out just where on earth the sweetspot lies?

I know I was quite shocked that even the GTD claims 62mpg combined with £30 VED, though equally I know that fuel and VED is the thin end of the wedge if you're looking at a new or nearly new car

The only things I'm pretty much fixed on is a sunroof and DSG ideally with flappy paddles.

[ORD]

There's a lot to be said for the GTI, in my view. Plenty fast, not AWD and has a bigger boot than the R. Cheap compared to the weaker-engined Golfs (as it barely any more expensive than a 1.4 with similar spec).

[NotAnotherTrader]

If your not doing a lot of miles I'd go gti if your doing 20k plus gtd

I'd say that's more than enough performance and just go for a high spec car so parking sensors, rear view camera, say nav, xenons and dsg...

[dalzo]

I have a mk7 R and it is a tremendous car, I don't know about lower trim level cars but the R has a very good standard spec, the only options I choose were dsg and leather.

I average 22mpg which is no where near VW's claimed 40 mpg albeit I have a heavy right foot.
The r is a great daily driver.

[bitchstewie]

I do around 45 miles a day mostly dual carriageway broken up with some urban bits so whilst fuel economy isn't a deal breaker obviously stuff like 22mpg is mildly terrifying vs. 45-50mpg if that's achievable.

Incidentally and this is obviously subjective but what do people think of the aesthetics of the 3 door vs. the 5 door?

[Petrol Only]

Or look at the vrs and fr offerings?

[kambites]

The sweetspot in the mk7 Golf range for price spec and performance is probably the Octavia VRS.

[bitchstewie]

OK still looking and so far it seems that as I'm pretty set on DSG with paddles it has to be a GT upwards.

It appears that a GT with those options, plus Dynaudio (which appears to be a must) is around £26.5K and a GTD with similar spec around £29.5K.

Trying to find something pre-registered with those options is a bit like looking for rocking horse st and usually they have a lot of additional options so there isn't even a significant saving.

Any more thoughts on where the sweets pot is between those three?

Being blunt affording it isn't the problem (as I think I said I could just get an R) it's simply trying to maximise VFM and feel "right" about it.

[LasseV]

No sweet spot in this case....

[bitchstewie]

This may be worth a look I guess no sunroof though

http://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/Golf-GTI/GTD/R/2....

and:

http://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/Golf/2.0-TDI-GT-1...
http://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/dealer/Golf/2.0-T...

Dealers are chimps, the VW online search lets you specify "Sunroof" which shows "0" cars in my search radius yet if I don't tick it guess what? Cars with sunroofs...

Edited by bhstewie on Saturday 27th September 16:04

Edited by bhstewie on Saturday 27th September 16:16

[Petrol Only]

If you really want value for money from VAG. Then it's not VW . Any reason it must be a golf .

[bitchstewie]

Petrol Only said:

If you really want value for money from VAG. Then it's not VW . Any reason it must be a golf .

I like the Golf is the short answer. Not a fan of Seat or Skoda aesthetics and being totally honest there's a little badge snobbery in there somewhere I guess.

The thing that is a little surprising is that the Audi A3 almost appears cheaper at first glance.

[loskie]

I've been looking at similar cars. Cost is important to me. I've come to the conclusion that A3 nearly new is on a par cost wise with the equivalent nearly new Golf and both are maybe £1500 more than a similar Leon. I am looking at 150 tdi. There are many more 5dr than 3dr A3's. Seem to be a lot of ex hire.
And yes I too would like a sunroof and they are uncommon.
I much prefer the A3 over the Golf looks and interior wise. I absolutely HATE rattling trim so hopefully they would be superior in that respect to the Seat.

[rix]

Those prices you quote are mental - try drivethedeal.

[superlightr]

We went for the GTD and when we priced up a new v used there was not a lot in it plus we then go exactly what we wanted on it in the colour we wanted. So we now have a super tornado read GTD get about 45mpg on twist country road and its a lot of fun.

[Driver101]

People used to buy Golfs as they were sensible cars for a sensible price. The price to buy a Golf is just far too much now.

I don't personally understand why they've become so desirable. Everyone seems to want them.

Good cars, but seriously too much money.

The Golf R is a good car, nowhere near as fast or good as many suggest, but as above, fuel consumption is dreadful in the real world.

I guess the trade off is they also hold their value well.

How long can that continue though?

They've pumped too many cars out on cheap leases also the Golf and Polo is now the boy racers car of choice.

It won't long before that harms their clean image.

[greggy50]

GTI Performance Pack is probably the sweet spot I would say

[bitchstewie]

Driver101 said:

People used to buy Golfs as they were sensible cars for a sensible price. The price to buy a Golf is just far too much now.

I don't personally understand why they've become so desirable. Everyone seems to want them.

Good cars, but seriously too much money.

The Golf R is a good car, nowhere near as fast or good as many suggest, but as above, fuel consumption is dreadful in the real world.

I guess the trade off is they also hold their value well.

How long can that continue though?

They've pumped too many cars out on cheap leases also the Golf and Polo is now the boy racers car of choice.

It won't long before that harms their clean image.

I'll admit I do have similar thoughts. I'd liken them to the Apple of the car world I guess.

I had a Golf from new in 2002 and it cost £11k which is mildly depressing when looking what they cost now.

[Matt100HP]

Driver101 said:

...the Golf and Polo is now the boy racers car of choice.

This. It seems the mk4 Golf is a particular chav favourite around here. I always find it amusing that such people always seem to drive around everywhere far too quickly, yet choose to do it in cars which aren't exactly known for their handling prowess (see: mk4 Golf, Audi A3s of similar age and the Corsa C).

[timbo999]

carwow recently offered me £3.6k off an R... worth trying them