RE: BMW M235i v VW Golf R: Delivery miles

RE: BMW M235i v VW Golf R: Delivery miles

Author
Discussion

cerb4.5lee

30,169 posts

179 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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dinz said:
I'm sure the M235i would be a more thrilling drive... if you could cope with hurting your eyes every time you see it.
I think they look a little better in the metal though...and to be fair what recent BMW is pretty to look at? you buy a BMW for the way they drive I think and not the way they look...well that's what I have always done anyway.

X5TUU

11,907 posts

186 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
quotequote all
genuinely, for a 30k price point, I wouldn't have either ... I don't know what I would have instead mind!!

These 2 are a bit vanilla for me, not saying that they aren't very accomplished or good at what they do though, but I drive passed a BMW and VW dealership twice a day and all the metal behind the glass (incl. 1 of each of these) just looks so bland...that maybe the point though and I may be expecting too much.

Amizade

284 posts

224 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Re low mileage M235's - be wary as although a nice car, they sometimes have a less than ideal start to life... ignore the co-driver's comments he's a pillock!
http://youtu.be/8a1v1F5YeB8


Edited by Amizade on Thursday 15th January 15:30

TobesH

550 posts

206 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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I was loaned an M235 for a day by BMW a couple of months back. I have to say it was one of the nicest road cars I've ever driven. Fab smooth and punchy engine, driving position low and snug with the steering wheel coming towards you, great seats, excellent hi-fi and sat-nav, just enough power to be properly fast without be corrupting. This was a manual version yet even though it only had 2000 miles under its wheels and was a demo for the dealer (no doubt hoofed by everyone) it had averaged +30mpg since new!

My next car it will be but I'd have the 8 speed auto. Love the Golf R too.

OldBob

290 posts

158 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Depends what you want from the car. As talked about on the 7R forums re our 7R

".....Are there faster better handling sports cars - Yep, easy, lots to choose from, size and price dependent.
Track cars - Don't buy this car as an exclusively track car, although it is very good on track. (M235i See below)
Are there better people carriers, 5 in comfort - Yep, get a barge (M235i is worse)
Are there larger booted stuff carriers - Estate (M235i is worse)
Safe, reliable, all weather four wheel drive - 4x4 (M235i is worse)
Lots of motorway, mpg etc - get a boggo repmobile deisel. (M235i not a lot in it)
If you want a hot hatch which remember offers all round ability. Which covers most of the criteria above averagely if not better across ALL areas - there's nothing better out there currently. (if you can stand the price)...imo......."

The M235i is not a hot hatch and doesn't do most of the above any better than the Golf.
I'd agree some would find the bimmer track stuff more "involving" (keeping the back end in check)however I reckon the Golf is as fast round track - esp if there's some dampness lol.
The bimmer might have some prestige / more high rent feel interior wise too.
Golf looks better too imo.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Would there be a big drop in values of the Golf R as the significant amount of cheap lease deals come to an end? A possible used bargain at three years old.

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Amizade said:
Re low mileage M235's - be wary as although a nice car, they sometimes have a less than ideal start to life... ignore the co-driver's comments he's a pillock!
http://youtu.be/8a1v1F5YeB8


Edited by Amizade on Thursday 15th January 15:30
Nice footage! Car certainly nips on a fair bit as does your co-pilot!!!

TNH

559 posts

146 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Surprised that some people think the Golf is a better looking car. Its still a corporate VAG with some big wheels. At least you can tell the difference between all of BMW's models...

Matthew Clarke

301 posts

138 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Had my new Golf R delivered today! Woohoo! Ordered in July...

Not had a chance to really test it yet but it feels like a quality steer. It is still a 'Golf' so not quite as premium as the BMW but really not far off tbh. I am coming from a 335i and test drove the 235i before ordering the Golf. The thing that swung it for the Golf was the quality of the ride and poise on poorly surfaced roads. M-Sport BMWs just arent set up for the rough stuff and so it was ruled out for my Peak District A and B road en-joy rides.

Only thing Im not 100% about at the moment (after 17 miles..) is the Manual gear change between 1st - 2nd and 2nd to third. 2nd gear seems to be the culprit and a little notchy, hopefully it will ease with use.

Noise is really good for a 2L 4 pot, got a lot of Scooby about it. Not sure how much is down to the sound actuator mind (a lot probably) Still a good laugh though without the stigma of a true Rally Slag smile







Edited by Matthew Clarke on Thursday 15th January 20:17

rtz62

3,340 posts

154 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Anyone care to share where one can get these £247/mth finance deals, and what size deposit is needed?
Only asking as SWMBO had a BMW 320d mSport touring via DriveTheDeal, which we collected from a BMW dealership in the South West, and which got her around £6k off the list price (back in 2007) and she is potentially looking for something like the Golf R

Matthew Clarke

301 posts

138 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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rtz62 said:
Anyone care to share where one can get these £247/mth finance deals, and what size deposit is needed?
Only asking as SWMBO had a BMW 320d mSport touring via DriveTheDeal, which we collected from a BMW dealership in the South West, and which got her around £6k off the list price (back in 2007) and she is potentially looking for something like the Golf R
I dont believe you can anymore, pretty sure the deals are over

Deposit would have been circa £1480 over 2 years at £247 a month (std car with metallic)

Neil_M

694 posts

183 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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mwstewart said:
Because its a Golf. As nice as a Golf is, it is just that: a Golf. It's a car that is brilliant at most things but exceptional at none - which is no bad thing - but it is trying to be somethng it isn't. The GTD is perfect in my book: great mid-range performance and incredible MPG, which if looking at a Golf rather than something more 'premium' is probably something of consideraton.

The M235i is a RWD coupe with a 6 cylinder engine and a 4cyl FWD biased Golf does not compare in my book, and for the record I love Golfs. I am genuinely surprised the price points are so close.
Funnily enough I would agree with the other Neil, but I do see where you are coming from.

However I would say the GTI is the better buy now in my opinion. The MPG figures for it are astounding.

The real world MPG figures are very close. You get a nicer car to drive, sounds better and a very refined power delivery.

iloveboost

1,531 posts

161 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
quotequote all
Neil_M said:
Funnily enough I would agree with the other Neil, but I do see where you are coming from.

However I would say the GTI is the better buy now in my opinion. The MPG figures for it are astounding.

The real world MPG figures are very close. You get a nicer car to drive, sounds better and a very refined power delivery.
There's no 'better' car really. The GTD is slightly cheaper, about twenty percent lower on power but has about twenty percent better fuel consumption. Probably slightly less 'adjustable' handling but similar torque, now the petrols have valvelift.

MadDog1962

890 posts

161 months

Friday 16th January 2015
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If you have to choose one as your only car, as both a daily driver and weekender, it has to be the Golf on practicality grounds fir most of us I reckon. As a second car the BMW wins.

P4ROT

1,219 posts

192 months

Friday 16th January 2015
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As much as I want one of the m35i cars I can't help but think I would always secretly be annoyed I didn't buy the full fat M car.

n4aat

457 posts

211 months

Friday 16th January 2015
quotequote all
Matthew Clarke said:
rtz62 said:
Anyone care to share where one can get these £247/mth finance deals, and what size deposit is needed?
Only asking as SWMBO had a BMW 320d mSport touring via DriveTheDeal, which we collected from a BMW dealership in the South West, and which got her around £6k off the list price (back in 2007) and she is potentially looking for something like the Golf R
I dont believe you can anymore, pretty sure the deals are over

Deposit would have been circa £1480 over 2 years at £247 a month (std car with metallic)
Pats £1,400 + £207 x 23.

TobesH

550 posts

206 months

Friday 16th January 2015
quotequote all
n4aat said:
Matthew Clarke said:
rtz62 said:
Anyone care to share where one can get these £247/mth finance deals, and what size deposit is needed?
Only asking as SWMBO had a BMW 320d mSport touring via DriveTheDeal, which we collected from a BMW dealership in the South West, and which got her around £6k off the list price (back in 2007) and she is potentially looking for something like the Golf R
I dont believe you can anymore, pretty sure the deals are over

Deposit would have been circa £1480 over 2 years at £247 a month (std car with metallic)
Pats £1,400 + £207 x 23.
Problem I have is that I do 30k miles per year so leasing gets pricey. Purchase for me, BMW offers 10-20% off list if you haggle... otherwise there are plenty of well spec'd demo 235's about. The seems to be less Golf R's and with spec they're pricey. I like spec so want every box ticked, sunroof, sat-nav Pro, HK sounds, electric seats, adaptive lights and so on. Will try a Golf to keep an open mind, a colleague has ordered one - he is a Golf man having had pretty much every incarnation. For Mr Harris the 235 'just' pips it but you can't go wrong with either. What fun biggrin

TWPC

838 posts

160 months

Friday 16th January 2015
quotequote all
X5TUU said:
genuinely, for a 30k price point, I wouldn't have either ... I don't know what I would have instead mind!!

These 2 are a bit vanilla for me, not saying that they aren't very accomplished or good at what they do though, but I drive passed a BMW and VW dealership twice a day and all the metal behind the glass (incl. 1 of each of these) just looks so bland...that maybe the point though and I may be expecting too much.
Staying within the realm of tin top sanity, maybe consider a BRZ or GT86 and if more excitement is needed get the Litchfield or Fensport upgrades...?
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2928...

Lozw86

871 posts

131 months

Friday 16th January 2015
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P4ROT said:
As much as I want one of the m35i cars I can't help but think I would always secretly be annoyed I didn't buy the full fat M car.
A new M car is twice the price, or twice the monthly payment..So they tend to appeal to people in different budget ranges

chrispmartha

15,358 posts

128 months

Friday 16th January 2015
quotequote all
Lozw86 said:
A new M car is twice the price, or twice the monthly payment..So they tend to appeal to people in different budget ranges
Exactly, Maybe if you did get the M135i just think of the £350 per month your saving and in reality if its your day to day driver you're probably getting 90% of what the full fat M car is anyway.

I could have probably afforded a 'full fat' M car but as its just my daily commuting car its just not worth it, I didn't actually go to BMW with a view to leasing an M135i (I actually wanted a M235i as it happens) but the deal they offered me was so good it was a no brainer as they say.