Five door fun - 130i or mk5 GTI?

[Funk]

Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXyD1SGaiiE

although it's an R32 and Clarkson's wrong.

Get the 130i!

[bga]

DoubleSix said:

Meh, sounds really dumb to me if I have to totally honest.

Far more important to have the baby behind the passenger seat so you are unbundling on the pavement side and not standing in the road trying to undo baby seats etc
Even in our larger cars we have the baby seat on the nearside for this reason. Common sense tbh.

You seem to be making really poor trade-offs (safety vs conveinience in the latter case). Both in choice of car and reasons for it! Sorry.

Edited by DoubleSix on Friday 10th October 16:17

I spend most of my day working in the rather dull field of risk management. I am happy with my choices. If we parked on the road frequently then your point would be valid. We don't though.

With regard to car choice, it's a moot point. I have 3 in car seats now so neither car is a serious contenter. Let's face it we are talking about warmed up shopping trolleys here. I decided that a 1 series wasn't as good as a Golf GTI as a family car and it seems I am not the only one. Each to their own, if I didn't need the practicality then a 1 series would be a better bet. I do & it wasn't. Life goes on. Be grateful that you aren't stuck with an SMax!

[va1o]

For £8 - £10k you could just about squeeze into an early Mk6 GTI (e.g http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014... ). I'd go with that route myself as the Mk5 GTI is starting to feel slightly dated now, as much as its still a very talented car. I don't have too much experience with the 130i but that generation 1-series is too impractical for me and costly to run.

Edited by va1o on Friday 10th October 18:44

[nbetts]

danp said:

As above, I need 5 doors for family duties etc, but would like something that's as enjoyable to drive as possible. 130i is probably pushing it in terms of practicality, but I can buy a roof box if needed!

So which of the above would you buy? Or is there better.

Budget 8/10k, I don't like big, heavy, inefficient cars so looking at medium hatches. Currently have an EV1 Civic Type-S (the square looking one) which is brilliant but I'd like something quicker.

I have owned a ED30 Golf I currently own a M135i but I did own a 120d Eff Dynamics 3-dr 1 series. I preferred the 120d to the Edition 30 Golf in just about every regard.

The edition 30 GTi is a fast hatchback, no question. The 1-series BMW is a really good driving machine with great steering.

The BMW 130i in LE format is somewhat of a bargain and is so much more rewarding to drive than the ED30 GTi.

If it was my money (and it was) I would get the BMW - I found it to be a better drive than the ED30 GTi

[DoubleSix]

bga said:

I spend most of my day working in the rather dull field of risk management. I am happy with my choices. If we parked on the road frequently then your point would be valid. We don't though.

With regard to car choice, it's a moot point. I have 3 in car seats now so neither car is a serious contenter. Let's face it we are talking about warmed up shopping trolleys here. I decided that a 1 series wasn't as good as a Golf GTI as a family car and it seems I am not the only one. Each to their own, if I didn't need the practicality then a 1 series would be a better bet. I do & it wasn't. Life goes on. Be grateful that you aren't stuck with an SMax!

That your TVR parked roadside?

I agree with all you say EXCEPT; the powerplant in the 130i (N52) hooked up to RWD takes it from warmed up shopping trolley into the realms of genuinely rewarding drivers car. I bought mine for the OH to do her nursing rounds in but when the kid came and I had to ditch my two seater i was properly impressed by it.

I can understand how you might make that assumption coming from a golf though. I'll probably go down the A6 route when space becomes a real consideration.

[Kolbenkopp]

danp said:

A2 is pretty narrow, with the false floor removed it's just about OK for small buggies etc, managed a week away in it with two young children, so trying to convince myself a 1er is fine so that I get that engine ;-) I can buy a roof box for holidays if needs must!

Ah, very true. The boot shape is a bit odd. Short, narrow but very deep. Never loaded kid's stuff in ours, but for passengers plus normal luggage the A2 is rather good IMO. Boot on the BMW should be better for loading wider stuff though and the roof box is a good idea. Sorted, I'd say . Do it.

Not that I find the Mk5 GTI bad at all for what it is. Classless allrounder, MK5 styling also ages well IMO. And running costs should be a bit better compared to the 1er. But as said, FWD hot hatches with FI 4 pots aren't exactly facing extinction. On the contrary, they should only get better (or at least faster) over time.

But the 130i recipe is pretty unique and it won't come back. Tempted myself, but man are they expensive in Germany. Only 110 cars on the used market at the moment, and 10k GBP gets you a 2006er with roughly 70k miles on it. Hmhmhm. Think I need to drive one again at some point.

[Lefty]

Why did you mention the Gti over the r32? R32 a much closer competetitor to the 130 and, IMHO, a much nicer can than the GTi.

I had a mk v r32 for 3 years and my wife has had a mk v GTi for about 9 months now - the Gti is dull, dull, dull. Really wish we'd bought another r32 instead.

[Heathwood]

A few years ago I was considering exactly the same 2 cars as you. Test drove a number of examples of both. I found the 130i to be in a different league; so much more fun and exciting. By chance I also now own a mk5 golf, albeit a diesel. I hate the damn thing, and not just because of the aga under the bonnet. Conversely I still love my 130i.

The other point I would make is that rear seat and boot space are not dissimilar. There is very little you can do with the golf that you can't do with the BMW from a practicality viewpoint. Most people who suggest the boot is useless and you need to saw your legs off to fit in the back have probably never even looked at one and is just spouting Clarkson nonsense.

Bottom line, just get the 130i

[sixpistons]

Clivey said:

Kolbenkopp said:

Room wise I guess you will need to try the 1er out. It's defo not an A2 in that respect. But the engine is IMO worth some compromise, especially as you'll have the rest of your life to drive around in FI 4 pots, while big NA engine in small car is done :-/.

Totally agree. - It seems as if our choices are becoming increasingly constrained so it would be prudent to enjoy something like the 130i whilst you can!

This was precisely my logic for buying a 130i. In many respects the Golf is probably a better car and the chassis is a bit ragged on the BMW; somewhat over sprung and under damped, and could do with an LSD. You'll forgive its shortcomings once you wind the engine out to the redline - it really makes the car. The naturally aspirated 6 pot is all but extinct in new cars; enjoy it while you can.

[danp]

Lefty said:

Why did you mention the Gti over the r32? R32 a much closer competetitor to the 130 and, IMHO, a much nicer can than the GTi.

I had a mk v r32 for 3 years and my wife has had a mk v GTi for about 9 months now - the Gti is dull, dull, dull. Really wish we'd bought another r32 instead.

On paper the R32 seems rather heavy and inefficient (co2/tax/mpg), even compared to a 130i let alone the GTI.

[Lefty]

Yep but both Evo and TG preferred it to the Beemer.

[shoestring7]

danp said:

As above, I need 5 doors for family duties etc, but would like something that's as enjoyable to drive as possible. 130i is probably pushing it in terms of practicality, but I can buy a roof box if needed!

So which of the above would you buy? Or is there better.

Budget 8/10k, I don't like big, heavy, inefficient cars so looking at medium hatches. Currently have an EV1 Civic Type-S (the square looking one) which is brilliant but I'd like something quicker.

Which one did you go for?

SS7