Latest Golf GTI or 330d?

[Philz4mc]

Hi

The wife is pregnant with our first so need a car with 4 doors. Car needs to be big enough to accommodate baby paraphernalia, comfy, be reasonable on juice (I do about 6k to 10k pa) and fun to drive. Oh and it has to be something that the mrs would find ok so no big spoilers and skirting, as she calls it, which rules out the sensible choice of a WRX.

Currently driving a 2011 A5 coupe 3.0 tdi (240 bhp) which I’ve had since new – is a nice smart car but not much of a driver’s car so would like next one to be a bit more dynamic while retaining the comfy factor which the A5 is good at.

Went to Audi, BMW and VW on weekend. We shortlisted to Golf GTI (can’t have R as need to stick a towbar on car to take motorbike to trackdays), a 3 series and a 4 series gran coupe. Originally also had the A7 biTDI on there but I think I’m bored of audi and an rs4, which I do really like, is just too pricey for the little use I get out of the car.

Upon reflection I think the 4 series is too big a premium over the 3 series (I’ll get something 6 months to say 1.5 years old and not many used 4’s about) so I’m now down to a Golf GTI performance pack or a 330d or 335d.

Test drives booked for this Friday but I’m keen to hear any thoughts on pro’s and con’s or other suggestions and yeah I know I could wait until after I’ve driven the cars but I’m bored at work hence the post.

[Al U]

I may be wrong, but without looking into it surely a 330D would be more economical when driven gently than a petrol GTI? Did you perhaps mean a golf GTD?

Edited by Al U on Monday 8th December 20:37

[Philz4mc]

Nope i meant a GTI. Yeah the 330d is probably a little better on juice but i don;t think they're a million miles apart + i don't do that many miles

[Al U]

I'd probably say go for the golf then if having a petrol car isn't a problem. I've just got back into a petrol after 3 years in a diesel and it's made me realise how much I've missed it. Also on the days where you feel like it, personally I'd have more fun on a B-road in the golf than a 3 series saloon. Golf can do the civilised thing as well when necessary which is good.

[Philz4mc]

good advice. i've got a little bored of diesel too and really missed the fun i had in my z4mc which i owned before the A5. I know the GTI won;t be the same but its probably a good compromise between cost, practicality etc whilst also getting some of the fun back.

[Al U]

Wow, I've just bought an S2000 but I really wanted a Z4MC. They're roughly double the price of what I paid for my S though so it was the more sensible choice for now but I will get one in the future. Must of been a tough choice to go from that to a diesel! I've just come out of a golf tdi and although I love the S I do miss the way the golf does "normal" driving so well.

I don't think you will regret getting a GTI.

[Philz4mc]

z4mc was a great car. not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but that's what made it feel special. the 3.2 straight 6 has to be one of the best engines. if i didn't need 4 doors and something bigger then given how little i use a car i wouldn't hesitate to buy it again. never been in a s2000 but always fancied a go. enjoy.

[McSam]

I was interested in the fuel economy difference since you mentioned it, so I took a quick look on Spritmonitor. It seems the average for all 2013-on GTIs is 32.6mpg, while the 330d returns 38.4mpg. That's about £250 a year less on your fuel bill at 10kpa.

[Chris Hinds]

I have a 330d and the only thing I'd change would be the engine for a 335i because whilst the 330d engine is excellent it's just not as involving as driving a petrol would be because it rumbles like you'd expect at low speed. Would I say it wrecks the car? Absolutely not, it's still a great drive and the 335i would not do 60+ mpg on a long trip up the M1.

[Philz4mc]

Hmm 330d might be too close to my current A5. Anyone had any experience of real life economy out of a 335i? Bmw were quoting approx 50mpg for 335d and 34 for the i from memory. Everything I read about the two always made me gravitate towards the diesel. 50% my driving is around town

[anonymous-user]

petrol all the way on that mileage isn't it?

[Trfcok]

have had my F30 330d Msport for almost 2 weeks and love it! 258bhp and 0-60 in 5.5 seconds allied to 45mpg has to be the perfect car? Mine has 19 inch alloys and the variable damper suspension which makes the car handle much nicer than either of my previous E60 and F10 5 series Msports. Feels like a go-cart and I think it makes a great noise when pushed.

Haven't had a Golf GTI since my 1.8 Mk1 but I can't believe the 330D would be inferior to a new GTI in any way.

[Philz4mc]

Hmm 330d might be too close to my current A5. Anyone had any experience of real life economy out of a 335i? Bmw were quoting approx 50mpg for 335d and 34 for the i from memory. Everything I read about the two always made me gravitate towards the diesel. 50% my driving is around town

[Trfcok]

I see you had a Z4M previously. I have a late Z3M roadster with the S54 engine and although it's current SORNED and wrapped in its carcoon, the 330D feels almost as quick in sport mode and the big plus is that fabulous 8 speed auto.

Do try one.

[McSam]

Forgot to check the 335i while in Spritmonitor, that comes in at 27.8mpg across all owners. A lot of the data is from German drivers who seem to get worse results than we do over here, but it should be a reasonable comparison.

[Chris Hinds]

I come over more negative on the 330d than I meant to - I'm very happy with the car and have averaged 45mpg over 14k miles, which I'm happy with given the performance it offers. It is not a bad engine to drive hard and really good with the gearbox in sport mode so that it keeps it within normal turbo operating range. If I was doing 10k a year not 20k a year then it would be a 335i regardless of mpg. Based on my current driving (getting 20% or so less than book) you'd be getting

~45mpg from a 330d = 1010 litres @ £1.27 = £1282.70 in fuel
~30mpg from a 335i = 1515 litres @ £1.20 = £1818.00 in fuel or about £45 a month more... given the cost of the car nothing terrible I'd say!

[Philz4mc]

Out of the A5 im getting 34mpg with a fair amount of that being Central London driving. Think you guys might be right and maybe 335i is the way to go so I'll give that a test drive. Will be interesting to see how that compares to the gti. Will blow it away I'm sure but I like the idea of having something small and sporty and I was really impressed by quality of the gti interior and the leather

[Gruber]

JPJPJP said:

petrol all the way on that mileage isn't it?

This exactly.

If space isn't too big an issue, I'd go for the Golf of those two.

[g7jhp]

Golf GTI is a perfect family car my wife has one and we have two kids.

Worth considering the family car does tend to get quite dirty as kids have a habit of dropping food etc all over it.

Does your wife have a separate car when you're using your car?

Maybe worth considering a Mk5 GTI for the wife and something else for you.

[Philz4mc]

We live and work in london so she gets a tube and I cycle to work. So just need a car for weekends and she'll use it when she's off with the baby occasionally hence need just the one car and I'm thinking black leather in the golf or 3 series as it should be child friendly.