Good time to buy a Golf GTI? Is there a better alternative?
Discussion
Since splitting with my ex 18 months back I've lost my 'fun' car and have been stuck with only my Focus (2014 TDCI Titanium) which, while being a decent car faultlessly racking up nearly 80k... It is incredibly boring!! The urge is now overwhelming for a change.
What I'd really like is a RS, but £35k for a Focus, bit more than I can stomach.
The current Golf is due for replacement, so outgoing stock is hugely reduced. It seems that a performance pack & Nav equipped GTI can be had for around £24,500. Which seems a bargain!
Are they a bit out gunned these days though? Does a better option exist at that price? Focus ST seems an obvious choice, but I can't help thinking the Golf would be a much stronger buy (and I think I prefer the look of them).
Any options please?
What I'd really like is a RS, but £35k for a Focus, bit more than I can stomach.
The current Golf is due for replacement, so outgoing stock is hugely reduced. It seems that a performance pack & Nav equipped GTI can be had for around £24,500. Which seems a bargain!
Are they a bit out gunned these days though? Does a better option exist at that price? Focus ST seems an obvious choice, but I can't help thinking the Golf would be a much stronger buy (and I think I prefer the look of them).
Any options please?
The only concern i would have is the arse falling out of the value due to the number of mk7 Rs that will be for sale over the next few years.
I had an R and now have a Cupra and I don't feel the Cupra is out gunned. Granted it does have a bit more power than the PP GTi but If anything I would say it would possibly be more enjoyable and usable with a little less power. The golf was a nicer thing to be in and the GTi looks better than the R in my opinion. I'd say it's pretty much the best option of the VAG sporty hatch offering.
I had an R and now have a Cupra and I don't feel the Cupra is out gunned. Granted it does have a bit more power than the PP GTi but If anything I would say it would possibly be more enjoyable and usable with a little less power. The golf was a nicer thing to be in and the GTi looks better than the R in my opinion. I'd say it's pretty much the best option of the VAG sporty hatch offering.
[quote=nunpuncher] the GTi looks better than the R in my opinion. quote]
This is definitely an opinion I share. Something about the R I'm just not keen on looks wise. Other thinking is that the GTI with LSD could be fun to drive, whereas the R might encourage me to push my luck license wise.
The Cupra Leon is an idea too mind.
Skoda Fabia is a bit small I think, meanwhile not sure if the Octavia is a bit of a lump.
Am I right in thinking Renault no longer do a RS Megane?
This is definitely an opinion I share. Something about the R I'm just not keen on looks wise. Other thinking is that the GTI with LSD could be fun to drive, whereas the R might encourage me to push my luck license wise.
The Cupra Leon is an idea too mind.
Skoda Fabia is a bit small I think, meanwhile not sure if the Octavia is a bit of a lump.
Am I right in thinking Renault no longer do a RS Megane?
I reckon its highly unlikely that you'll go wrong with a Golf GTi.
The only one I wouldn't recommend is the MkIV, but as your budget is significantly higher than even the most expensive MkIV, you've nothing to worry about.
To be fair, you could buy a nearly-new one with your eyes shut, and not cock it up.
I have one piece of advice, mind you. If you can, buy an ex-dealer demonstrator. They are usually loaded to the gunwales with (normally expensive) optional extras, and have been cleaned and polished to within an inch of their lives (dealers like demonstrators to be shiny). Such vehicles are nearly new, will have loads of warranty left, and are likely to sport low mileages (test drives don't usually run into the hundreds of miles per hit).
The only one I wouldn't recommend is the MkIV, but as your budget is significantly higher than even the most expensive MkIV, you've nothing to worry about.
To be fair, you could buy a nearly-new one with your eyes shut, and not cock it up.
I have one piece of advice, mind you. If you can, buy an ex-dealer demonstrator. They are usually loaded to the gunwales with (normally expensive) optional extras, and have been cleaned and polished to within an inch of their lives (dealers like demonstrators to be shiny). Such vehicles are nearly new, will have loads of warranty left, and are likely to sport low mileages (test drives don't usually run into the hundreds of miles per hit).
As others have said I too prefer the look of the GTI, I think a lot of it is the standard wheels, which are so much better IMO on the GTI.
I'm sure there was a link on Evo's site to Mk7's being listed at 21.5k, they include nav as standard now I believe, so add £1k on to that for the PP.
Makes 3 year old PP's with 30k miles at 16-18k seem very pricey!
I'm sure there was a link on Evo's site to Mk7's being listed at 21.5k, they include nav as standard now I believe, so add £1k on to that for the PP.
Makes 3 year old PP's with 30k miles at 16-18k seem very pricey!
Ive had my mk7 GTI (non performance pack) for over a year now and 20k miles - genuinely one of, if not the best car ive owned
It absolutely will not feel out gunned, they go far better than you would expect, with even my lowly 220bhp car doing 0-60 in the 6's and due to its revving nature and weight it keeps up with cars far more powerful (a good mate has a stage 2 Mk5 GTI with 260 odd horsepower and it keeps up with that)
The performance pack for me with the power and diff advantage I would wager is more fun than an R and goes extremely well. Lovely place to sit too, i think you would be chuffed with one.
Its also a car you can go anywhere in, nobody dislikes it, from my mid-20's mates to my dad...
It absolutely will not feel out gunned, they go far better than you would expect, with even my lowly 220bhp car doing 0-60 in the 6's and due to its revving nature and weight it keeps up with cars far more powerful (a good mate has a stage 2 Mk5 GTI with 260 odd horsepower and it keeps up with that)
The performance pack for me with the power and diff advantage I would wager is more fun than an R and goes extremely well. Lovely place to sit too, i think you would be chuffed with one.
Its also a car you can go anywhere in, nobody dislikes it, from my mid-20's mates to my dad...
MorganP104 said:
I have one piece of advice, mind you. If you can, buy an ex-dealer demonstrator. They are usually loaded to the gunwales with (normally expensive) optional extras, and have been cleaned and polished to within an inch of their lives (dealers like demonstrators to be shiny). Such vehicles are nearly new, will have loads of warranty left, and are likely to sport low mileages (test drives don't usually run into the hundreds of miles per hit).
Not sure i'd agree with that on the Golf GTi. They come with pretty much everything as standard apart from the one big thing that most dealers just don't spec on demonstrators, the performance pack.Comparing how my cupra with the same diff as the pp GTI corners compared to my R (haldex with a similar XDS diff like the non PP GTi) i'd definitely be wanting the PP model.
All pretty much sounding like what I hoped to hear regarding the choice of model over the R!
To clarify, the £24.5k I mentioned is for a brand new car.
Yes I know as pointed out that I could buy a 2015 for £5k less, but I enjoy a new car and don't think that's an excessive premium really.
So, I have a test drive booked Saturday afternoon, I will also try and get a go in a Cupra to compare, but there's not much else really swaying me. Feel a bit excited now!
To clarify, the £24.5k I mentioned is for a brand new car.
Yes I know as pointed out that I could buy a 2015 for £5k less, but I enjoy a new car and don't think that's an excessive premium really.
So, I have a test drive booked Saturday afternoon, I will also try and get a go in a Cupra to compare, but there's not much else really swaying me. Feel a bit excited now!
Focus ST? the RS is the competitor to the R, not the GTI
I dont think a GTI is ever a bad choice, but it isnt exactly the most exciting or fun option. Neither would be a Focus ST by the way, but its a step in the right direction, if only because it can be specced in a non monochromatic colour
I dont think a GTI is ever a bad choice, but it isnt exactly the most exciting or fun option. Neither would be a Focus ST by the way, but its a step in the right direction, if only because it can be specced in a non monochromatic colour
Chr1sch said:
Ive had my mk7 GTI (non performance pack) for over a year now and 20k miles - genuinely one of, if not the best car ive owned
It absolutely will not feel out gunned, they go far better than you would expect, with even my lowly 220bhp car doing 0-60 in the 6's and due to its revving nature and weight it keeps up with cars far more powerful (a good mate has a stage 2 Mk5 GTI with 260 odd horsepower and it keeps up with that)
The performance pack for me with the power and diff advantage I would wager is more fun than an R and goes extremely well. Lovely place to sit too, i think you would be chuffed with one.
Its also a car you can go anywhere in, nobody dislikes it, from my mid-20's mates to my dad...
Snap. 11 months and 15000 miles in and I'm still smitten. Brilliant car. And mines a bog standard red one. It absolutely will not feel out gunned, they go far better than you would expect, with even my lowly 220bhp car doing 0-60 in the 6's and due to its revving nature and weight it keeps up with cars far more powerful (a good mate has a stage 2 Mk5 GTI with 260 odd horsepower and it keeps up with that)
The performance pack for me with the power and diff advantage I would wager is more fun than an R and goes extremely well. Lovely place to sit too, i think you would be chuffed with one.
Its also a car you can go anywhere in, nobody dislikes it, from my mid-20's mates to my dad...
Vitorio said:
Focus ST? the RS is the competitor to the R, not the GTI
I dont think a GTI is ever a bad choice, but it isnt exactly the most exciting or fun option. Neither would be a Focus ST by the way, but its a step in the right direction, if only because it can be specced in a non monochromatic colour
+1I dont think a GTI is ever a bad choice, but it isnt exactly the most exciting or fun option. Neither would be a Focus ST by the way, but its a step in the right direction, if only because it can be specced in a non monochromatic colour
Golf GTIs do seem to depreciate relatively slowly.
They seem a good all rounder - including resale value.
I like the GTI PP, I prefer it to the R in terms of looks and although I appreciate that there is a deficit in performance the GTI is still the one I'd go for, they are a cracking every day car and I know it's a cliche but they really are the full package in terms of fun, speed and usability - I'll take a three door manual with the performance pack in grey or red, please!
Never really got the hype over the Golf GTi until a mate bought an ex demo 2013 car. It was fantastic, great fun when hooning about but also chilled and practical when you want it to be. I'm sure I'm just a late comer to the show but it did impress me massively. We done a couple of trips to Germany in his, wonderful car for long trips too, got out after 6 hours feeling relatively fresh. The money being suggested here for a new car sounds like a good deal to me if the car takes your fancy. I've always been a Skoda fan though so would have to take an Octavia out too, they appear bigger than they really are tbh.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff