High mileage Golf GTD or...?
Discussion
Mr Tidy said:
If petrol is an option I'd avoid a 320i!
My BMW Indy recommended straight 6 petrols, so I've stuck with them for the last 5 years or so.
I wouldn't get too hung up on mileage - I had a 325i that had done 139K when I sold it but it still drove as new.
But I needed a bit more grunt so I got a 330i that had done 108K.
Whats the reasoning for avoiding the 320i? Guessing 320d shares the same opinion?My BMW Indy recommended straight 6 petrols, so I've stuck with them for the last 5 years or so.
I wouldn't get too hung up on mileage - I had a 325i that had done 139K when I sold it but it still drove as new.
But I needed a bit more grunt so I got a 330i that had done 108K.
Unfortunately any 5-6 year old straight 6 models are way out my budget so I can't really look at any of them.
I had the same dilemma. Ended up going with the GT and every time I saw a GTD on the road, I just wanted it and made me feel s
t about the GT that I settled on.
I traded the GT in within a year and got the GTD. Far superior in every way and gives you a more satisfying driving/ownership experience.
t about the GT that I settled on. I traded the GT in within a year and got the GTD. Far superior in every way and gives you a more satisfying driving/ownership experience.
Timoo said:
Whats the reasoning for avoiding the 320i? Guessing 320d shares the same opinion?
Unfortunately any 5-6 year old straight 6 models are way out my budget so I can't really look at any of them.
The 320i had the N46 engine from 2005 to 2011 and seems prone to cam-chain tensioner issues, as well as stretched chains. Unfortunately any 5-6 year old straight 6 models are way out my budget so I can't really look at any of them.
The 320d from 2007 to 2011 used the N47 engine, which also suffers from cam-chain issues. And as BMW fitted them to the back of the engine it's an engine out job if they need attention.
But to be fair they sold loads of them, and you only read about the ones that have problems so you could be OK.
Personally I just felt more comfortable going a bit older so a 6 cylinder one was in budget - plus it sounds better!
Mr Tidy said:
The 320i had the N46 engine from 2005 to 2011 and seems prone to cam-chain tensioner issues, as well as stretched chains.
The 320d from 2007 to 2011 used the N47 engine, which also suffers from cam-chain issues. And as BMW fitted them to the back of the engine it's an engine out job if they need attention.
But to be fair they sold loads of them, and you only read about the ones that have problems so you could be OK.
Personally I just felt more comfortable going a bit older so a 6 cylinder one was in budget - plus it sounds better!
Thanks, what about the post 2012 320's as it would be a 2014/15 that I would be looking at if I were to get a 320i/d?The 320d from 2007 to 2011 used the N47 engine, which also suffers from cam-chain issues. And as BMW fitted them to the back of the engine it's an engine out job if they need attention.
But to be fair they sold loads of them, and you only read about the ones that have problems so you could be OK.
Personally I just felt more comfortable going a bit older so a 6 cylinder one was in budget - plus it sounds better!
Timoo said:
Personally not so keen on the Leon, however the Ocatavia vRS I definitely am. The only doubt I’d have again with getting one is that my budget would only allow for a higher mileage one again in the region of 70k+ miles.
I should also mention I wouldn’t be opposed to petrol options if anyone has any suggestions, particularly been looking at a 320i.
I've run a diesel vRS as a company car for the last four years and its been a bloody great car; its not interesting, sexy of that fast but it's been really easy to live with over 83k.I should also mention I wouldn’t be opposed to petrol options if anyone has any suggestions, particularly been looking at a 320i.
It's comfy, well spec'd, the infotainment is easy to use, brisk, economical when needed and bloody cavernous inside. It's managed the 'family' thing with aplomb and has lugged me and mountain bikes around the country, swallowed vast amounts of timber for DIY projects and was really useful moving last summer.
It's not a bad car to drive and after four years it doesn't annoy me. I don't get excited about it, but equally other than the slight faff for inputting post codes into the sat nav it doesn't annoy me.
It's been reliable - only a dead air con compressor a few years ago to blot the copybook. It goes through front tyres (c.18k) but aside from that the servicing costs looked reasonable whenever I saw an invoice although I don't know if the lease company got preferential rates. The paint is a bit thin on the front end but other than quality is more than fine. I'm genuinely going to miss it when it goes back in a few weeks.
I'd be tempted my a DSG personally - the power band is typical VAG and pretty narrow so you are often rowing the gears a bit.
I own a 2016 GTD, in estate guise, my previous car to this was a 2014 GTD in hatchback guise. I am that boring.
They are an excellent car. MPG is OK, my estate is DSG, the previous was manual, manual was so much better on MPG (about 52mpg over 80,000 miles) whereas the DSG is about 43mpg over 20,000 miles.
The only bad thing I would say about them is they are so much of an all rounder that they are actually boring! You see a lot on the road, so you are not special, they seem to go forever, they're quick but not hugely quick, and they seem to do everything I want.
I genuinely think I shouldn't have bought the 2016 estate, and gone for Octavia VRs instead, less of them, think the estate looks slightly nicer.
You cannot go wrong with the GTD, and they are so much better than a GT.
They are a little dull though! But maybe that is because I have done four years of GTD ownership.
They are an excellent car. MPG is OK, my estate is DSG, the previous was manual, manual was so much better on MPG (about 52mpg over 80,000 miles) whereas the DSG is about 43mpg over 20,000 miles.
The only bad thing I would say about them is they are so much of an all rounder that they are actually boring! You see a lot on the road, so you are not special, they seem to go forever, they're quick but not hugely quick, and they seem to do everything I want.
I genuinely think I shouldn't have bought the 2016 estate, and gone for Octavia VRs instead, less of them, think the estate looks slightly nicer.
You cannot go wrong with the GTD, and they are so much better than a GT.
They are a little dull though! But maybe that is because I have done four years of GTD ownership.
joestifff said:
I own a 2016 GTD, in estate guise, my previous car to this was a 2014 GTD in hatchback guise. I am that boring.
They are an excellent car. MPG is OK, my estate is DSG, the previous was manual, manual was so much better on MPG (about 52mpg over 80,000 miles) whereas the DSG is about 43mpg over 20,000 miles.
The only bad thing I would say about them is they are so much of an all rounder that they are actually boring! You see a lot on the road, so you are not special, they seem to go forever, they're quick but not hugely quick, and they seem to do everything I want.
I genuinely think I shouldn't have bought the 2016 estate, and gone for Octavia VRs instead, less of them, think the estate looks slightly nicer.
You cannot go wrong with the GTD, and they are so much better than a GT.
They are a little dull though! But maybe that is because I have done four years of GTD ownership.
Mines a DSG, and the economy has gone up quite a bit since I hit 70k-ish. I’d say it’s improving all the time really.They are an excellent car. MPG is OK, my estate is DSG, the previous was manual, manual was so much better on MPG (about 52mpg over 80,000 miles) whereas the DSG is about 43mpg over 20,000 miles.
The only bad thing I would say about them is they are so much of an all rounder that they are actually boring! You see a lot on the road, so you are not special, they seem to go forever, they're quick but not hugely quick, and they seem to do everything I want.
I genuinely think I shouldn't have bought the 2016 estate, and gone for Octavia VRs instead, less of them, think the estate looks slightly nicer.
You cannot go wrong with the GTD, and they are so much better than a GT.
They are a little dull though! But maybe that is because I have done four years of GTD ownership.
Would agree though that they can be a tad boring, ride is a bit firm at times which can irritate.
I’m tempted to try and buy it when I get a new company car in January, but not sure I will want it when it’s over 100k.
The only downside to the Skoda/Seat is they generally run the last gen audio/nav etc to the equivalent age VW.
mattfuey said:
Mines a DSG, and the economy has gone up quite a bit since I hit 70k-ish. I’d say it’s improving all the time really.
Would agree though that they can be a tad boring, ride is a bit firm at times which can irritate.
I’m tempted to try and buy it when I get a new company car in January, but not sure I will want it when it’s over 100k.
The only downside to the Skoda/Seat is they generally run the last gen audio/nav etc to the equivalent age VW.
In the case of this generation Golf/Octavia/Leon they don't. The Octavia has a direct equivalent of the VW Discover Nav - Skoda Amundsen, and the upgraded Discover Nav Pro = Columbus.Would agree though that they can be a tad boring, ride is a bit firm at times which can irritate.
I’m tempted to try and buy it when I get a new company car in January, but not sure I will want it when it’s over 100k.
The only downside to the Skoda/Seat is they generally run the last gen audio/nav etc to the equivalent age VW.
The Octavia also has the option of a 10 speaker, amped and subwoofer in boot audio system called Canton (German brand). It's about 600w and rather good.
Virtual cockpit was also an option on newer ones as well, though this came about slightly later than it did on the Golf. From what I've seen that also looks virtually the same as what you'd get on a golf, just different skins for the layout.
If you want to be totally different then how about one of these??
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... New&onesearchad=New&make=PEUGEOT&page=1&modal=photos
Engines on the diesels are very reliable though, would stick to more frequent oil changes than the stated 20k miles. Satnav and xenons were optional extra's and avoid the sport model as its not as well equipped as the GT or the limited edition models.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... New&onesearchad=New&make=PEUGEOT&page=1&modal=photos
Engines on the diesels are very reliable though, would stick to more frequent oil changes than the stated 20k miles. Satnav and xenons were optional extra's and avoid the sport model as its not as well equipped as the GT or the limited edition models.
Timoo said:
Thanks, what about the post 2012 320's as it would be a 2014/15 that I would be looking at if I were to get a 320i/d?
N47 was in use in the 320d until the LCI was introduced in the F30 3 series late 2015, then it swapped to the B47. Easy to tell... N47 is 184ps and B47 is 190ps. All 14 and most 15 variants should still be N47. Not sure if the i variants have chain issues.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff