Mk V GTi or R32

[rhubarb]

I'm in the market for a new car, and have been reading quite a bit about both the R32 and GTi's. Planning to go and test drive both on Saturday. I can't find any articles that really comapres the two. Just wondered if anyone else had test driven both and what their thoughts were. From what I've read the R32 is great, but a bit fat and bloaty with the GTi a bit more agile? Anyone know what the depreciation would be like on the R32, would be planning on keeping it for 3-4 years I would think. I'll be using it to either drive to the station (12 miles each way) daily or driving down to Windsor (100+ miles each way) once or twice a week.

[rhubarb]

Hey guys, thanks for all your replies, mixed opinions as I thought, so I'm just going to have to go and test drive them. Popped down to my local VW garage today. There's a 9 month waiting list for an R32 - yikes, and the sales guy reckoned there was 5-6 months for a GTi, just so happened he had an ex-demo GTi he could do me a deal on (yeah right). Anyway thinks I'm going to have to do a bit of shopping round too. Looking forward to test drives (if I can find an R32 to test drive).

[rhubarb]

I finally got round to organising my test drive. The nice people at the VW garage in Norwich (closest one to have 3 in stock) lent me an R32 for an hour or so. So we had a blat round some Norfolk country lanes. To be honest I thought it was ace, it did feel heavy, especially compared with the Mini which we drove up in, but boy is it quick - and yes the noise does sound fantastic (not a good reason on it's own to buy a 26k car though). I didn't hammer it like I do the mini, but it felt really sure footed - possibly a bit bulky, but there was certainly no roll, and it seemed like you could chuck it into any corner - regardless of the state of the road and you'd emerge unscathed. And best of all it gave me huge confidence over taking, knowing it had low end grunt. I was also astonished at the brakes, the demo car had done 7k miles, but there was a massive bite there - something I'l;l have to get used too. The other thing I found strnage - and somethijng I'd have to get used to is that you don't need to floor it to make progress, it's got so much power - and all quite low down, which was nice.

I think I'd tend to agree that it wasn't the most fun I've ever had in a car, and in fact driving back home away from the garage in the mini that was much more fun (although as that's owned by me, my driving style was probably a little less cautious). I didn't test drive the GTi - maybe I will - not sure yet. But I'm not really after a fun car (I've got a mini that we're keeping and a caterham for that). What I want is something that is sure footed and a bit more practical, something I can use everyday on country lanes and motorways, don't get me wrong it has to bring a smile to my face - it certainly did.

So what's the downsides? I guess the biggest is that engine - or rather it's thirst, once a week I have to go to Windsor - 250 mile round trip (once I've moved), and the other 4 days a week it'll be a 12 mile hack across Suffolk to the station - probably at some pace to get the train. Is it really going to be practical to do this or will it just end up costing me an arm and a leg?

Anyway thanks for all the feedback so far it's been really useful.

Oh and btw, my wife is totally sold on it result