Golf TSI v GTI?

[dontfollowme]

Currently trying to decide between a newer lower mileage TSI ACT 150 and old leggier GTI. Both mark 7.

TSI pros
- lower running costs
- never car for money
- cheaper

GTI pros
- heritage
- performance
- first exciting car

Has anyone else had this dilemma and if so which way did you go?

[AI1601]

There won’t be THAT much of a difference in running costs than you think. Get the GTI.

[Dr G]

Given the option? Buy a GTI.

That you're even considering the faster car suggests you'd be bored with a regular 1.4 very quickly.

[missing the VR6]

It's not even a question, GTI.

[citizen smith]

If you purchased the TSI, then you will always be wondering what it would be like owning and driving the GTI.

Save the wondering and buy the GTI, performance wins hands down.

[Luke.]

I'd go GTI, or perhaps even stretch to an R.

What's the year/mileage on the ones you're looking at?

[acme]

I had a 1.4 150 ACT as a company car for 4.5 years/86k miles. A great car for its use and decent MPG. Due to it being light and the small engine over the front you could hussle it quite well on B roads.

However I replaced it with a MK7 Fiesta ST3, which is superb but uncomfortable in comparison, no real surprise.

The Golf was superb to live with and I’ll probably be getting a GTI next, the ACT was great but no GTI.

[p4cks]

Indeed. Despite being the same car, they're miles away in performance. I had the 1.4 TSI Audi A3 (S-Line which made it all the nicer) which was great because I never put my foot down so was exactly what I needed at the time and the MPG was almost unbelievable.

I did also have a MK7 GTI and whilst the engine was wonderful and even had decent MPG when you didn't have it in Sport mode, the interior build quality was not great and it rattled (dash, rear view mirror and somewhere else) and squeeked to the point of me hating it.

If I were offered either of them now, I'd go for the A3 in a heartbeat

[shtu]

My advice would be to look at the spec sheets of each - by the time you find a TSI with all the "nice bits" on, you may as well just have the GTI.

[dontfollowme]

Luke. said:

I'd go GTI, or perhaps even stretch to an R.

What's the year/mileage on the ones you're looking at?

Definitely set on a GTI over the R if I go that way. Budget creep has started to set in with hope a VW dealer will want to do a deal.

Mileages range from 70K - 115K - the latter I'm less enthused about.

[dontfollowme]

to conclude I bought a GTI which I'm chuffed with.