e46 330i manual or mk5 golf gti, what would you do??
e46 330i manual or mk5 golf gti, what would you do??
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Discussion

willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,384 posts

175 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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Hi guys, planning what to get next after my fabia vrs tdi. These are the too i've worked it down to, both would be manual. The bmw would cost me up to £2000 less! but use more fuel (31mpg vs 35mpg). What do you guys think i should get?? thanks

mike-r

1,539 posts

220 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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I have a 330 and couldn't really see myself rolling round in a MK5 Golf lolol

willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,384 posts

175 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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Haha, is it good then?? keep seeing them and love how they look and sound

steve_bmw

1,591 posts

204 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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330.

philmots

4,665 posts

289 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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330...

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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Used to have a 330ci and now have a mk5 GTI. 330 is more of a GT car, comfortable, etc but not very sporty (engine is great however). GTI is a hot hatch and more fun to drive IMO. Depends what you want I guess.

rich85uk

4,334 posts

208 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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would probably go for the 330, ultimately will be faster but the golf will have a slightly lighter front end and better low down power thanks to the turbo.

budget for replacing worn bushes with powerflex ones and some decent tyres and you will be suprised how quickly you can cover ground on a quiet a road or even a b road so long as its smooth

M sport suspension and powerflex combo will cause the car to almost skip over bumps etc if your local roads are bad for potholes

willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,384 posts

175 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
St John Smythe said:
Used to have a 330ci and now have a mk5 GTI. 330 is more of a GT car, comfortable, etc but not very sporty (engine is great however). GTI is a hot hatch and more fun to drive IMO. Depends what you want I guess.
hmmm interesting, this is my worry with the 330. I do lots of dual carriageway driving and feel the low down grunt of the gti would be good

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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willmagrath said:
St John Smythe said:
Used to have a 330ci and now have a mk5 GTI. 330 is more of a GT car, comfortable, etc but not very sporty (engine is great however). GTI is a hot hatch and more fun to drive IMO. Depends what you want I guess.
hmmm interesting, this is my worry with the 330. I do lots of dual carriageway driving and feel the low down grunt of the gti would be good
For B road fun I'd say GTI. However for motorway driving the 330 is probably a better bet. They are quite different, don't forget the 330 is a car that was designed and developed in the 90s and the MK5 GTI 10 years later. Best idea would be to drive both and make your own mind up smile

rich85uk

4,334 posts

208 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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i found my 330 was probably at its best on dual carriageways and motorways, also the 330 has more torque with 221lb ft where the gti has 207lb ft. Just the gti will deliver it all at once through the turbo as opposed to the linear delivery of the straight 6


va1o

16,113 posts

236 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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Love my Mk5 Golf GTI as its a superb all rounder so I'd definitely recommend. I think the running costs on the 330i would be quite a bit more and it feels notably older as its a generation behind.

mocca

348 posts

184 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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130i

JackReacher

2,277 posts

244 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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I really liked my Mk 5 Gti, power delivery is also pretty linear on the 2.0T. They are quick as standard, and remapped it should be a bit quicker than the 330i but it will never sound as good as the beemer. The golf does everything so well, but is going to be a different drive to the BMW, give both a good drive!

willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,384 posts

175 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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JackReacher said:
I really liked my Mk 5 Gti, power delivery is also pretty linear on the 2.0T. They are quick as standard, and remapped it should be a bit quicker than the 330i but it will never sound as good as the beemer. The golf does everything so well, but is going to be a different drive to the BMW, give both a good drive!
yeah you're right, just need to drive both

Hub

7,130 posts

227 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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I went from a Fabia VRS to a Mk5 Golf GTI via a similar thought process, well 130i, Focus ST or the Golf. Went for the Golf despite the less characterful engine due to the slightly better running costs, classless image, turbo poke, practicality, and also holding its value pretty well.

FamilyDub

3,587 posts

194 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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I've had a MK5 GTI for five years. It is a great all rounder. Don't bank on 35mpg combine though...

As another few posters have said, if you're considering a 330, consider a 130 too.

There was a grey 3-dr with tan leather in the classifieds for £10k that looks good... Xenons, 'nav, etc..

willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,384 posts

175 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
FamilyDub said:
I've had a MK5 GTI for five years. It is a great all rounder. Don't bank on 35mpg combine though...

As another few posters have said, if you're considering a 330, consider a 130 too.

There was a grey 3-dr with tan leather in the classifieds for £10k that looks good... Xenons, 'nav, etc..
yeah i wont bank on it dont worry. i'd love a 130 but its way out of budget for me. looking more around £4-£5k

AlonzoHarris

121 posts

153 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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MK5 Golf R32 as a compromise between the two?

rb5er

11,657 posts

201 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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I`d have a 130i or focus ST over either.

DaveyBoyWonder

3,875 posts

203 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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I had an Octavia vRS (with the 2.0TFSI engine) and have gone to a 330I (albeit an E91, not an E46).

The 2.0TFSI didn't feel like a turbo'd engine to me. Very little lag but like all older TFSI engines are meant to suffer from, it sounded tappety, almost diesel like. That said, never let me down - unfortunately the car that was wrapped around the engine was pretty crap.

The 330I in comparison is every bit as good as the stuff I've read. Really smooth, lovely noise when you bury your foot and feels a hell of a lot quicker than the Skoda did (on paper its not but the extra power and extra torque makes you grin).

The Golf is a good car but for me, the build quality, the engine and the fact I reckon the E46 is a damn pretty car (much nicer than a VW hatchback), I'd be going for the BMW.