High mileage Golf GTD or...?

[Timoo]

Hi all,

Currently driving a 2001 VW Golf 1.6 with 170k miles on the clock and have decided it's time for a new car.

Would love to stick to a golf and only heard great things about them, seem like very robust cars that are reliable however I am also open to other options. My budget is around £10-11k at the top end therefore have been looking at cars from 2014 onwards, ideally don't want anything older then that.

The main two cars I have been looking at is a Golf GTD and a 2.0 TDI GT however I am leaning towards the GTD purely because it has more of a 'wow' factor. However my dilemma is with my budget only really being able to afford a high mileage 2014 GTD with 80k+ miles on the clock (this would be from an approved VW dealer with Das WeltAuto used car warranty).

For the same price, there are also 2015 2.0 TDI GT's with much lower milage at around ~35k and would be a year or even two newer. Would I be better off going for this or are there generally not many problems that come with buying a higher mileage diesel?

Thanks

[Cylon2007]

80k miles is not really high especially for diesel however if you can get (effectively) the same car but 2 years newer with half the miles why would you not? OK so it's not as 'showy' as the GTD but it does the same job.

[Timoo]

Cylon2007 said:

80k miles is not really high especially for diesel however if you can get (effectively) the same car but 2 years newer with half the miles why would you not? OK so it's not as 'showy' as the GTD but it does the same job.

Thanks for your reply.

This is exactly what I've been thinking as well as the TDI seems to perform very similarly in terms of 0-60 etc with only 34 less bhp, I could also possibly look at a stage 1 remap taking the TDI to close to 200 as well.

However despite this I still keep swaying back to the GTD for some reason so thought I would get some opinions from here to try and convince me otherwise.

[Mo28]

Timoo said:

Thanks for your reply.

This is exactly what I've been thinking as well as the TDI seems to perform very similarly in terms of 0-60 etc with only 34 less bhp, I could also possibly look at a stage 1 remap taking the TDI to close to 200 as well.

However despite this I still keep swaying back to the GTD for some reason so thought I would get some opinions from here to try and convince me otherwise.

Buy the GT and put the GTD kit on it. Problem solved.

[RazerSauber]

It may be due to the popularity of the model but I see plenty of these with issues. Petrol, diesel, all sorts. Most important thing is service history. Check MOT history too and ensure those advisories have been sorted when you go to buy it.

EGR's are popular on these, and several bits of electronics.

[jam_up]

Won’t be vastly different performance wise but I’d go with a GTD still if you can find a nice example due to having more kit as standard (xenon’s, climate control, XDS, bigger alloys etc to name a few).

[Scottchester]

Having owned (well it was a company car but same difference) the GT but driven a gtd I can say that the latter feels a bit more special.
It should also hold its value better as it will always be more desirable

[keo]

If it was me I would always want the GTD if I “settled” for a GT.

[mattfuey]

RazerSauber said:

It may be due to the popularity of the model but I see plenty of these with issues. Petrol, diesel, all sorts. Most important thing is service history. Check MOT history too and ensure those advisories have been sorted when you go to buy it.

EGR's are popular on these, and several bits of electronics.

Only issue on my GTD in 86k has been a wheel bearing, which to be fair, was from hitting a crater of a pothole..

[ZX10R NIN]

Alternatives that will be as reliable & swift as the GTD, the Infiniti & Volvo have better engines than the VAG unit with the Ford & Alfa on par with it:

2016 Infiniti Q30 Premium FWD/AWD Mileage 23-47k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2015 V40 R Design Lux Nav D4 190 max 50k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2016/17 Alfa Giulietta 175

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2015 Focus ST-2d 185

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2015 DS5 Prestige/Elegance 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2014 GTD under 60k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2015 under 50k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

For me the Ford Infiniti & V40 are better options than the GTD.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 4th August 10:59

[edthefed]

GTD Golf "showy," ?
Common as muck German hatchback

[anonymous-user]

If you’re set on a Golf then I’d go for the GTD. 80k miles in 5 years really isn’t that much, and suggests that it’s been used as it was intended (i.e. cruising up and down motorways), and is therefore less likely to have DPF issues and the like.

Just make sure it’s been serviced properly and on time, and be aware of any expensive work that is likely to be due soon, and factor this in.

[XLYC]

Oil change every 10k / 18k if it’s on distance

DSG at 40k and 80K is a MUST

Cam belt should have been done too

If all that is done you’re good

[Drive Blind]

Leon FR 184 ?

For the Golf money you'll probably get one 2 years newer and half the miles

Mechanically it's the same car, no ?

[iphonedyou]

edthefed said:

GTD Golf "showy," ?
Common as muck German hatchback

Nobody's claiming it's rare, in fairness.

[Alan9127]

One thing to consider is 65 plate onwards Golf MK7s are euro 6 compliant. As more people are informed about the diesel emissions i think it will hurt the values of the Euro 5 cars and will make them hard to sell on. I could be wrong but that's just my thoughts. Try find a GTD with full leather it was a £2k extra at the factory and adds a touch of class to the interior.

[Timoo]

Thanks for all the replies especially ZX10 suggestions which I will definitely be taking a good look at.

No matter which car I buy I will definitely be looking thoroughly through both the mot and service history and making sure that the car is bought without any issues and I'm aware of any work that may need to be carried out in the immediate future.

The main concern is the likelihood of issues arising on a car with 90k+ milage, I know it can vary given the situation but surely on a car with 90k milage vs a car with 30k, then the former is more likely to have unexpected issues arise with it?

I should also mention I wouldn't be getting any DSG versions.

[Mr Tidy]

Drive Blind said:

Leon FR 184 ?

For the Golf money you'll probably get one 2 years newer and half the miles

Mechanically it's the same car, no ?

On the same theme, how about a diesel Skoda Octavia VRs that is also fundamentally the same car?

Or maybe a BMW 125d - it's a bit more powerful than the VAG diesel options.

[Timoo]

Mr Tidy said:

On the same theme, how about a diesel Skoda Octavia VRs that is also fundamentally the same car?

Or maybe a BMW 125d - it's a bit more powerful than the VAG diesel options.

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.

[Mr Tidy]

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.

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.