Octavia vrs or Golf gti???
Discussion
Hi all, this is my first post on a forum so excuse my beginners style 
An informed opinion would help me greatly in my situation!
I'm recently looking into the purchase of a new car and I think I've managed to narrow it down to two choices, in a vw golf gti or the octavia vrs. Im looking to spend anything upto 9k, maybe 9.5k at a push. I have a work vehicle so this will purely be for pleasure, so a car that has plenty of feedback and a joy to drive on days off and the odd evening is a must. Plus a fair bit of poke won't go a miss
The only thing I'm not keen on is a boy racer image so something that has all the nesessary spec without that tag.
Any opinions are very welcome and even alternatives two the two I have narrowed it down to
An informed opinion would help me greatly in my situation!
I'm recently looking into the purchase of a new car and I think I've managed to narrow it down to two choices, in a vw golf gti or the octavia vrs. Im looking to spend anything upto 9k, maybe 9.5k at a push. I have a work vehicle so this will purely be for pleasure, so a car that has plenty of feedback and a joy to drive on days off and the odd evening is a must. Plus a fair bit of poke won't go a miss
The only thing I'm not keen on is a boy racer image so something that has all the nesessary spec without that tag.
Any opinions are very welcome and even alternatives two the two I have narrowed it down to
The Octavia certainly isn't what I would call a fun car. I own a face lift model and it's my family car, it's quick enough, comfortable and has loads of room, but fun? Throw it into a set of bends and it wallows, doesn't change direction very well and doesn't really give you much feedback.
Out of those 2, I'd go for a golf, but if it's a second "fun" car, I would look elsewhere
Out of those 2, I'd go for a golf, but if it's a second "fun" car, I would look elsewhere
Well for the 9k I would like as new as pos so a tvr etc would have to be older for the budget. I know I won't get spanking new but a 09/59 at oldest would be great. Also I would like it to be a tad practicle as well as fun, but something that won't look too dated a couple years down the line, so maybe the golf would be best? Does anyone rate the focus St (facelift)?
Also is the vrs interior really that bad? Thought it looked quite smart with the touchscreen etc.
Does the golf have a much more planted and stiffer are up than most others?
Also is the vrs interior really that bad? Thought it looked quite smart with the touchscreen etc.
Does the golf have a much more planted and stiffer are up than most others?
vaney69 said:
Well for the 9k I would like as new as pos so a tvr etc would have to be older for the budget. I know I won't get spanking new but a 09/59 at oldest would be great. Also I would like it to be a tad practicle as well as fun, but something that won't look too dated a couple years down the line, so maybe the golf would be best? Does anyone rate the focus St (facelift)?
Also is the vrs interior really that bad? Thought it looked quite smart with the touchscreen etc.
Does the golf have a much more planted and stiffer are up than most others?
The only thing I didn't really like about my vRS interior was the grey patches on the seats. They easily absorbed the colour from your clothes especially jeans. I had this choice myself in 2009 and went Octavia as you get newer, lower milage and more toys for your money. Also is the vrs interior really that bad? Thought it looked quite smart with the touchscreen etc.
Does the golf have a much more planted and stiffer are up than most others?
I prefer the look of the original Mk2 shape with the square headlights that I owned. Find a decent one and you would also have cash spare to spend on maintenance and upgrades. As mentioned the boot is huge!
Always fancied one of these though:
http://type-r-owners.co.uk/cl7.html
Don't look sporty at all and are quite rare!
http://type-r-owners.co.uk/cl7.html
Don't look sporty at all and are quite rare!
As a former vRS owner, I'd echo the comments that, whilst an unquestionably excellent car, I wouldn't buy one for fun. I wouldn't buy the Golf either, nor any hot hatch. For fun, it would have to be something gloriously impractical.
If the question was would I choose a vRS or a GTI for that budget though, I'd choose the vRS in a heartbeat.
If the question was would I choose a vRS or a GTI for that budget though, I'd choose the vRS in a heartbeat.
Fair analysis. Certainly if there was not a price consideration, I'd have the Golf (especially as I have a Golf on order ATM). All being said and done, the budget would go further on a vRS (and the vRS is probably a bit better equipped and practical, but I guess that's not too relevant on a fun weekend car as a daily driver).
I think I'd aim for something a bit more "raw" for weekends...
I think I'd aim for something a bit more "raw" for weekends...
If you're looking at hatches, then the Focus will be a much, much better drive than the Golf, but will fall foul of the 'boy racer' image. It depends which you'd rather put up with.
I can't imagine the Octavia in any flavour would be a 'fun' car - even if it is based on the Golf.
Interestingly (you can be the judge of that) I followed a new VRs yesterday and I have to say it looked the bizz.
I can't imagine the Octavia in any flavour would be a 'fun' car - even if it is based on the Golf.
Interestingly (you can be the judge of that) I followed a new VRs yesterday and I have to say it looked the bizz.
Edited by Kell on Wednesday 15th October 11:09
Focus ST for me is a much more fun car. The noise it makes is a big winner over your other choices which are good every day vehicles but certainly nothing to use purely for fun.
A hatchback impreza STI would be better if you need practicality and some fun too.
why does it have to be modern? Older cars are usually more raw and more fun to drive.
A hatchback impreza STI would be better if you need practicality and some fun too.
why does it have to be modern? Older cars are usually more raw and more fun to drive.
No experience of the Octavia but the golf does not cut it as a weekend car, it's too well rounded, great as an everyday car with a bit of pace that's reasonably fun to drive but there are better options if you have a car for work already. If it needs to be a hatch, look at a Civic Type R, Clio 200 or Megane R26. These are all more fun to drive than the golf.
the-photographer said:
Try and find a steel grey ED30
+1Get the boost increased to 1.4 bar and fit 8P S3 console bushes and you've got a 330-340hp weapon. If that isn't 'fun', I don't know what is.
vRS is no comparison to a GTI. Silly ride height, which is both crashy over bumps and under damped / sprung when pushing on on B roads.
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