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.

[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?

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[bitchstewie]

andrewparker said:

What do we think the Golf competes against these days? Still the Focus etc or the 1-Series, A-Class, A3?

Whilst I don't personally like the 1-series and A-Class those are what I would be comparing it to, along with the A3 (which actually appears to work out cheaper) and a bit of a wildcard in the Lexus CT 200h which I'm going to take a look at tomorrow.

Comparisons to Skoda and Seat are "interesting" as I really don't know if it's just "same quality different badge" or if there's more in it.

Just my two penneth.

[bitchstewie]

Thing is in the real world 99% of my driving is very boring i.e. end of the road, through town then down a bypasses before braking for a roundabout and repeating the process several times.

My current car (Freelander 2) is automatic because it suits that sort of car, and whilst I haven't yet driven a Golf 7 (DSG or manual) I just get bored of changing gears but on the odd occasion I want to go for a spin it would be nice to have the option via paddles (I believe the ones on the Golf are "awake" all the time you don't have to put the box in a certain mode?).

Regards DSG shift times vs. manual, well really is it something that is even vaguely an issue in the real world vs. on a track?

I had a Boxster before I had the Freelander and the debate always used to be Boxster vs. Cayman and my view was that I'm not a good enough driver for the car to be the limiting factor.

[bitchstewie]

Diderot said:

Get the R because if you don't you'll be always wondering whether it would have been better. Which it probably would. 4WD useful too.

I''d also consider testing the M135i with the auto and adaptive suspension.

If I were to look at GTi/GTD new I'd be tempted as there doesn't seem to be that much in it - used they all seem north of £30k plus nobody seems to have one in to even look at.

I just don't like the 1-series enough.

I'm still curious how drive the deal and other discount sites work since someone mentioned "Yes you get full dealer facilities" yet their FAQ clearly suggests no part-exchange.

I'd also be open to leasing an R but again it's how the p/x would work?

EDIT: Case in point on pricing http://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/Golf-GTI/GTD/R/2....

Edited by bhstewie on Sunday 28th September 09:48

[bitchstewie]

MC Bodge said:

Is VW worthy of snobbery?

I appreciate that I may not be typical, but I just don't get the whole "image" and "prestige" thing with every-day, mass-produced cars.

Do people really pay that Much attention to other people's brand of car?

Does my Mondeo mark me out as poor, lacking intelligence or unsuccessful in comparison with somebody driving a Passat or 3-series?

Would bigger wheels redress the balance?

It's more that I'm a little bit of a badge snob in that I still would be daft enough to overlook some cars simply because of the badge on them - stupid but mea culpa.

I went to Derby today to look at VW and Lexus and I must admit I thought of this post whilst walking around the massive VW dealership there looking at a row of about 15 white TDIs.

Lexus chucked me the keys to a CT which I had for a couple of hours and I'm pretty damned impressed tbh so that's thrown a bit of a curve ball.

[bitchstewie]

Mr SFJ said:

The CT is a damn good car, my dad has one. but it's not a drivers car at all. he drives up VERY steep hills to work and back (where you need 3/4 throttle to maintain 20mph) and still manages 55mpg.

I took it to work for a week (with slight inclines) and got near 70mpg, and I was driving normally (no full throttles and not driving like Miss Daisy)

A Freelander 2 which is what I have now isn't a drivers car either

I had the Lexus for a couple of hours and went on a drive to try to mimic a mix of driving conditions, most importantly as similar to my daily drive to/from work as I could get - I reset the on board computer at the dealers and when I arrived back on their forecourt it was averaging 65mpg.

Even allowing for some optimism from the on board computer that seems pretty damned impressive.

Build quality seemed impeccable and (obviously nothing to do with the vehicle itself) the dealer was night and day compared to every VW dealer I've been in so far.

[bitchstewie]

OGR4M said:

I've just been onto the VW configurator and 'realistically' specced up a Golf GTD, for me.

Didn't put silly kit on it - just the stuff that I would want my car to have, the bigger wheels; tartan interior from MK1; uprated stereo.

£30,000!!!

Call me skeptical, but that doesn't seem like a sweetspot to me... especially as a friend has just bought a 991 C2S for significantly less than that...

Ignoring the Porsche bit, that is the part that keeps sticking with me - I had a Boxster, from new, and the idea of spending close to what it cost new on a Golf irritates me - I don't know if it's simply that cars cost more now or if it's because have gone a bit "Apple".

[bitchstewie]

ORD said:

There is simply no justifying £30k for a diesel Golf. You can try, but it just isn't going to happen! VW pricing is lunacy. VW is the middle brand with the VAG and yet demands prices that are on a par with the higher end marques.

It's the bit I'm struggling with.

With the CT200H it's weird as it costs less than the equivalent Prius despite Lexus being the "premium" brand.

[bitchstewie]

Ever feel like you're in an Apple vs. Android vs. Windows Phone thread?

[bitchstewie]

andrewparker said:

bhstewie said:

Ever feel like you're in an Apple vs. Android vs. Windows Phone thread?

You swayed towards a Mazda3 yet?

Blackberry

[bitchstewie]

Not a fan of the A-Class or 1-Series just off looks.

I do keep finding myself looking at the Lexus CT as it would cost peanuts to run and you don't see many of them (which of course you could read various ways ).

[bitchstewie]

Petrol Only said:

So OP picked one yet

Just got back from..... Lexus

Haven't pulled the trigger I actually visited a different dealer to a) have another look and b) get a feel for what that dealer is like.

[bitchstewie]

ToothbrushMan said:

I can foresee where the OP will finally end up....quite possibly the decision was made moments before fingers hit keyboard but it makes for another lively discussion about Golf "Arse".

Ended up coming very close to having a Lexus CT actually I'll probably keep my Freelander 2 over the winter since I'm not 100% convinced by either.

[bitchstewie]

So believe it or not I am still looking for a new car, still an indecisive bd

Spotted a few low mileage cars locally and just wanted a little feedback:

http://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/%7Brgen%7D/%7Bder...

Perfect colour, sunroof which I would use, and DSG - seems on paper to tick every box and be a £28K car configured as new.

No idea if it's a demo car or pre-registered but as they're 30 minutes away I'll probably go take a look - any thoughts appreciated.

[bitchstewie]

Just twigged - no nav. So many fking options to try to sift through!