Golf GTI v GTD?

[RBrown]

Looking to change the wife's car. Had planned for GTD, but PCP price for GTI is about the same. Obviously GTD is cheaper to run. But will only be doing 10k miles per annum.

Does anybody have any views on the differences?

Many thanks for any feedback.

[Jonwm]

I was tempted by the GTD when i got my A5, from what I read pretty much just the engine is different!

[JackReacher]

GTI if only doing 10k a year.

[RammyMP]

+1 for the GTI.

[Pablo16v]

+2

[chr15b]

I had similar dilemma, went gti.

[StangGT]

Please explain why chaps?

[rich83]

Gti.

Diesels are prone to going wrong unless you are doing long journeys.

[Frik]

What they said. GTD won't be vastly cheaper to run at that mileage, if it's all shorter journeys then definitely not. I've been running mine 11 months and the 19k I've done is mostly long journeys. I'm averaging under 48mpg.

[SuperchargedVR6]

GTI, just because I hate diesel. The putrid, thick stench they belch out pisses me off when I'm running and cycling.

[illmonkey]

We got a GTD due to leasing deals at the time. I also drove a GTI.

I don't like the stinky diesel, and it only gets 38mpg. If we had the choise it would have been petrol.

Although I was underwhelmed at the pull in the petrol.

[va1o]

GTI

I'm running the diesel currently only due to the fact I'm doing big mileage and need the extra MPG. The GTI is much more fun and characterful, miss mine!

[Cudd Wudd]

I think the GTD is great, but based on 10k and assuming that isn't all motorway where the torque might help, I'd opt GTI (with PP) too.

I think the GTI looks (marginally) better and the sound/driving experience will be much nicer in comparison.

I used to do 25k p/a and had a diesel then, but since dropping to 12k I've gone to petrol. I don't miss the engine start up noise, but it was a necessary evil at the time and once underway was never an issue.

I test drove a GTI Mk7 non-PP when they first came out. I loved it, although in all honesty it didn't feel noticeably quicker than my Polo GTI (I'm not doubting it is a much better car), but I couldn't justify the cost to change up at that time, and I would have liked to have tried one with the PP.

[NBirkitt]

Volkswagen Driver magazine did a big comparison on Mk 7 Golf GTI vs Mk 7 Golf GTD in the March 2014 issue – in fact it was on the cover :-) covered all the pros and cons and gave performance and economy figures etc Might be useful to get hold of a copy ... ;-)