Golf Mk7 - Sweetspot for price, spec, performance?
Discussion
Posted in GG but thinking about it I guess there's more chance of feedback from owners if I post here too, hopefully this won't be too frowned upon so..
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 smile
The only things I'm pretty much fixed on is a sunroof and DSG ideally with flappy paddles.
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 smile
The only things I'm pretty much fixed on is a sunroof and DSG ideally with flappy paddles.
I've got a Gti and it's brilliant, mines is basic spec as I got a cracking deal on it being in the dealers stock.
It's a very well equipped car if I got another all I would add is keyless and the bigger wheels the PP is probably a good option to add but I didn't notice any performance gain and don't think how I drive need the trick diff.
You can get some good deals on the R at the moment but it lacks(for me) the heritage of the gti.
It's a very well equipped car if I got another all I would add is keyless and the bigger wheels the PP is probably a good option to add but I didn't notice any performance gain and don't think how I drive need the trick diff.
You can get some good deals on the R at the moment but it lacks(for me) the heritage of the gti.
Although it won't effect your decision making process the VED on a DSG GTD is £110 a year. On long motorway runs that 62mpg is achievable too.
I don't think you can go too wrong with one of the GTD/GTI/R triumvirate. They're all very well spec'd as standard so you don't need to go mad on options. I personally had a GTI but changed it recently for a GTD because I wanted a better balance between performance and economy. I have driven an R and felt it only really matches the GTIs nimbleness when driven quite fast. It definitely livens up with speed which is great but I'd probably go for a Performance Pack equipped GTI. My work colleague has an R and complains incessantly about fuel economy. I think he's averaging low 20s!
I don't think you can go too wrong with one of the GTD/GTI/R triumvirate. They're all very well spec'd as standard so you don't need to go mad on options. I personally had a GTI but changed it recently for a GTD because I wanted a better balance between performance and economy. I have driven an R and felt it only really matches the GTIs nimbleness when driven quite fast. It definitely livens up with speed which is great but I'd probably go for a Performance Pack equipped GTI. My work colleague has an R and complains incessantly about fuel economy. I think he's averaging low 20s!
Basil Hume said:
Lease prices for the GTD are commonly less than lesser models. Likewise, lease prices for the R are typically less than the GTI.
That would tell me all I needed to know.
Well to me that says VW UK realise the GTI is their best model and they don't want to dump a load of them on the market. Its an incredibly strong brand compared to GTD and R which are relative newcomers. As I say none are bad cars, but having owned one the GTI is an exceptionally talented all rounder That would tell me all I needed to know.
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 s
t and usually they have a lot of additional options so there isn't even a significant saving.
Any more thoughts on where the sweetspot 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.
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 s
t and usually they have a lot of additional options so there isn't even a significant saving.Any more thoughts on where the sweetspot 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.
No sunroof but doesn't look too bad on spec for the price vs. everything else.
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...
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...
Edited by bhstewie on Saturday 27th September 16:04
hstewie on Saturday 27th September 16:04Edited by bhstewie on Saturday 27th September 16:17
hstewie on Saturday 27th September 16:17The value for money choice...
http://www.dmkeith.com/seat/used-cars/search/6197/...
If definitely going for a Golf, I'd go for the Gti over the diesel GT, noticable performance difference and more refined engine.
As said before I fully believe the GTD is the sweet spot. I've done 3500 miles in mine now and I love it. I don't understand the GT spec, add niceties like xenon headlights and climate control and it comes within a few hundred pounds of a GTD.
By the way, the DTD price for a 5 door DSG car with Dynaudio is £24900.
By the way, the DTD price for a 5 door DSG car with Dynaudio is £24900.
andrewparker said:
As said before I fully believe the GTD is the sweet spot. I've done 3500 miles in mine now and I love it. I don't understand the GT spec, add niceties like xenon headlights and climate control and it comes within a few hundred pounds of a GTD.
By the way, the DTD price for a 5 door DSG car with Dynaudio is £24900.
Presumably with any vehicle DTD assume you're buying from scratch i.e. you have the hassle of getting rid of your existing car?By the way, the DTD price for a 5 door DSG car with Dynaudio is £24900.
The Leon would indeed be worth a look unless of course there's something about the car/brand you don't like. We've just ordered a Leon 1.4 TSI FR ST (Estate) for just over £19k with a couple of options (dealer matched the DTD price) so a hatch would be achievable for ~£1k cheaper. That gives you the latest 150bhp TSI engine with cylinder deactivation to save fuel when not under load, £20/year car tax, Sat Nav, DAB, Full LED headlights, dual zone climate, MFSW, regular cruise (adaptive cruise/front assist is ~£500 option), bluetooth, front/rear parking sensors, folding mirrors etc. The Golf was out of our price range so I'll admit we didn't look at it closely but both the Leon and the Octavia seem to be very capable alternatives in significantly lower price bands.
Edited by LocoBlade on Wednesday 1st October 19:56
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