"hot/warm" family hatch / saloon -Golf GTI vs polo vs A4? - Page 1 - Car Buying

KARL-v5ofl

Original Poster

19 posts

21 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 28th April

I currently have a Caddy maxi life, (niche 7 seater), super low miles (6000), used with my wife and family for a couple of holidays last year.

MPG is great but lets be honest is not designed for the school run and its still worth good money (18-20k) as its a rare spec 150 DSG.

It's a tricky period, car prices havn't changed much in the last 2 years, everything is holding its money well, I had considered the i20n, but they are silly money £20k with 40k mileage (£22k with sub 20k miles) , its now too close to base golf mk8 GTI money.

I almost convinced myself to get a polo GTI facelift, but part of me wants to go back to a manual, I have fears of DSG maintenance and long term reliability.

I started looking at a golf GTI mk8 manual and comparing value vs money over a polo, the Audi A4 popped up as a manual 2.0 tfsi (guessing its a ea888 gen 3).

2022+ Polo GTI, must have sunroof +heated seats, upgraded alloys less than 20k miles = seen a few for £22,000
Golf GTI mk8 manual,

2021 32k - 38k miles £23,500 or if I want sub 20k mileage £26500, - Skoda VRS seem to be the same money as golf gti (based on year and mileage)

Golf will have better rear suspension, larger boot, feel newer due to screens (tech is not to everyone's taste). downsides, will have twice the mileage at the same / slightly higher price, probably poverty spec.

I also wonder if I should get a clean Audi a4 and remap it - they seem to get 260bhp from a stage one, and be around £18k with low mileage. I like a saloon but perhaps the A4 is a little long in length? ..

What to I want?
Something for 60-80 mile motorway holiday trips, sometime sporty "feeling" for the weekend trips to the coffee shop with the mrs.

Less than £200 road tax, low mileage, 40mpg combined.

Ideal budget £22500, but maybe £24k with a push.

Tickle

6,164 posts

229 months

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[news]

Tuesday 28th April

These are well regarded, certainly feel special

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604101...

AddyT.

483 posts

118 months

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[news]

Tuesday 28th April

Haven't checked the current prices but a Golf 7.5GTI is surely a better option than the Polo?

jam_up

176 posts

99 months

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[news]

Tuesday 28th April

AddyT. said:

Haven't checked the current prices but a Golf 7.5GTI is surely a better option than the Polo?

+1.

Would go for a mk7.5 GTI Performance over a mk8. MY19 and newer models were well specced - rear camera, keyless and adaptive high beam were all standard.

My Dad has a regular mk8 Golf and it feels much cheaper than my old mk7.5. The doors for one feel so flimsy! I also prefer the tech of the old one - less intrusive but still modern looking.

KARL-v5ofl

Original Poster

19 posts

21 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 28th April

"Haven't checked the current prices but a Golf 7.5GTI is surely a better option than the Polo?"

I did have a look,
cheapest under 40k miles, is a 2017, 35,514 miles (non PP), @ £18000, I could get a 2022 polo GTI facelift for that money. 5 years newer.. 7 speed dsg (not that I want DSG, ea888 gen 4).

Because the 7.5 is so well regarded, the cheapest sub 40k mileage 7.5PP is around £20k (37k miles, 18 plate) based on the figures I would rather pay £3k more and get the mk8 manual on a 2021/22 plate.

Edited by KARL-v5ofl on Tuesday 28th April 19:05

Tarmack

50 posts

21 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 28th April

I wouldn’t avoid auto purely for reliability concerns or go for a polo instead of a golf. What about S3 saloon? S5, 128ti or Merc equivalent

stevemcs

10,039 posts

118 months

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[news]

Tuesday 28th April

If you want Polo size buy the Fiesta ST, if you want Golf size buy the Focus ST.

ninepoint2

3,967 posts

185 months

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[news]

Tuesday 28th April

Octavia vRS maybe?

Kuwahara

1,436 posts

43 months

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[news]

Wednesday 29th April

Tickle said:

These are well regarded, certainly feel special

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604101...

Great shout…

hengti

214 posts

242 months

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[news]

Wednesday 29th April

.. unless it needs a gearbox every 26000 miles!

66HFM

821 posts

50 months

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[news]

Wednesday 29th April

Sounds as if you wanted to stay within the VAG group... as mentioned above Audi S3 either saloon or hatch, Octavia VRS estate or hatch or Cupra Leon either hatch or estate.

If it was my own money I'd be putting it in an S3.
Good luck

CSR Performance

485 posts

13 months

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[news]

Wednesday 29th April

Sounds to me like you want a Golf. Don't overthink it.

I would have a look around for a late Mk7.5 as well as an 8 and buy the one you fall in love with.

ZX10R NIN

30,213 posts

150 months

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[news]

Wednesday 29th April

WTDMM

264 posts

9 months

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Wednesday 29th April

Id keep the Caddy if you have a family if im honest.

KARL-v5ofl

Original Poster

19 posts

21 months

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[news]

Wednesday 29th April

WTDMM said:

Id keep the Caddy if you have a family if im honest.

Situation is my kids,* aren't really kids, most are young adults

21 year old never wants to come with us.

18 year old just passed her test.

So only need something for me , Mrs and 12 year old.

Caddy is a cool motor, I just got an itch, I do low annual mileage so fancied something with a little more engagement.

Edited by KARL-v5ofl on Wednesday 29th April 13:49

KARL-v5ofl

Original Poster

19 posts

21 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 29th April

ZX10R NIN said:

I did consider the i30n, I actually like the sport back, but I heard they are really poor on fuel?

ZX10R NIN

30,213 posts

150 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 29th April

KARL-v5ofl said:

I did consider the i30n, I actually like the sport back, but I heard they are really poor on fuel?

Compared to what/

For example the Golf's mpg figures were achieved with the DSG version not the manual.

A lot of car makers do this because a manual can only change at certain RPM when doing EPA/WLTP testing whereas an auto is allowed to do it's thing.

In the real world the manual GTI will be 1-2mpg better than the i30N which is a small sacrifice to pay for having the better car.

stevemcs

10,039 posts

118 months

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Wednesday 29th April

VW group is rubbish on fuel my Skoda is between 18 and very low 30's ( like 31) long term average is 21mpg. If your looking for something more engaging then anything out of the VW group will provide that - i30 being a much better hot hatch