BMW 125d vs VW Golf GTD vs ??
Discussion
small family sized
very economical, probably diesel
fairly quick and relatively easily mappable to make it more so (and ideally no less economical)
less than 5 years old
less than £15k
decently equipped
decent handling (relatively)
I've shortlisted the BMW 125d and VW Golf GTD... am i missing anything?
cheers
very economical, probably diesel
fairly quick and relatively easily mappable to make it more so (and ideally no less economical)
less than 5 years old
less than £15k
decently equipped
decent handling (relatively)
I've shortlisted the BMW 125d and VW Golf GTD... am i missing anything?
cheers
Probably not, although there are other VAG options like the Diesel Skoda Octavia VRs, A3 and Leon Cupra.
I had a 123d that I bought as a pre-reg in 2008 for over 6 years and it was a great car. Pretty quick and significantly more powerful than any rivals at the time, as well as reasonably economical.
I only sold it because I wasn't doing too much mileage (and none for business) and I had read some N47 engine cam-chain horror stories!
But if you like RWD there is only 1 option.
I had a 123d that I bought as a pre-reg in 2008 for over 6 years and it was a great car. Pretty quick and significantly more powerful than any rivals at the time, as well as reasonably economical.
I only sold it because I wasn't doing too much mileage (and none for business) and I had read some N47 engine cam-chain horror stories!
But if you like RWD there is only 1 option.
Even though the bhp figures on paper for the GTD is around 184 they're really pushing around 200. BMW are known to also lower output as well. If you're looking for a car with a lot of standard kit then the Golf wins by a mile. I'd say that 75% of the equipment which is standard on the GTD are an option on the BMW.
I went from a 120d X Drive to a Golf GTD estate and the Golf beats it by a long way. Deceptively fast and the estate makes it very practical too. I have had BMW tourings (320d and 330d) and a well loved Volvo V50 but looking back the Golf is the one car for all seasons and is a joy to drive and own.
I was considering the 125d a few years back and I remember a lot of feedback saying it was very petrol like. Think it has two turbos (correct me if I’m wrong!), the second of of which kicks in at higher revs meaning there isn’t so much of the “slump” in power as in most diesels. Pre facelift have the N47 engine which are known to have issues. Newer (2015 onwards) have the B47 but they maybe be above your budget.
The GTD is the better all round car when considering equipment. The 1 series lacks a LOT as standard (even cruise control!) whereas the GTD is loaded. That will give you a lot more choice on the used market. Tuning on the 184 engine is pretty established now too.
The GTD is the better all round car when considering equipment. The 1 series lacks a LOT as standard (even cruise control!) whereas the GTD is loaded. That will give you a lot more choice on the used market. Tuning on the 184 engine is pretty established now too.
Blown2CV said:
interested to know of those that think it is, what's better about the Golf? Does a small diesel suit FWD more?
My apologies.I'm quite a VAG fan but it'd be the 125d for me. If i'm gonna have a diesel, i'd fancy something with a bit more to the chassis, so RWD would be a good trade-off, i suppose. Saying that. I'm not really keen on the looks of the 1-Series tbh. Would a 2-Series be in budget?
Edited by culpz on Friday 11th May 16:49
Blown2CV said:
...fairly hairy mountain roads as a one-way commute so 4WD was really what i'd be wanting in the Winter...
It's not a 125d, but with a remap.......https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
underphil said:
Not as overtly performance orientated as those but The Mazda 3 Sport has tonnes of kit and the 2.2 Skyactiv engine is a sequential twin turbo set up, which is pretty rare in this size of car, only others I can think of are the 125d and Astra GTC. Maps to about 210
Although for the kind of mileage you're doing I'd go for the most refined option which won't be the Mazda, probably will be the Golf/BMWI bought a new 125d when they came out in 2012. As a hot hatch fan boy forced to drive a long commute I thought it would be the ideal car.
I lasted 18 months and bought my way out of the deal I was that disappointed in the car.
It was just slightly too cramped for our family (2 adults and 2 kids under 5 at the time). The N47 is rough as anything, it never felt like it had anywhere near the claimed power (when it broke down I was given a 320d courtesy car and it felt quicker). The manual gearbox is like stirring a bucket of golf balls with a wilted daffodil stalk. The EPAS to this day remains the numbest I have ever experienced and the suspension is just not well judged for the average British B road (the car never felt planted and seemed to emphasis uneven surfaces at speed by slowly wallowing from corner to corner). To give it some praise. The seats were the best I've ever sat in, the stereo was brilliant, idrive is miles better than touch screens and it did average 50mpg over my 30k mile ownership (due to me never driving it fast due to it's unrewarding nature).
A few years later I had a mk7 Golf R. Ignoring the performance difference the Golf is a more useable family car. I found it a more comfortable place to spend my time and if the R is anything to go by the chassis, steering and suspension are miles better than the BMW was.
In your circumstances I'd definitely take the Golf.
I lasted 18 months and bought my way out of the deal I was that disappointed in the car.
It was just slightly too cramped for our family (2 adults and 2 kids under 5 at the time). The N47 is rough as anything, it never felt like it had anywhere near the claimed power (when it broke down I was given a 320d courtesy car and it felt quicker). The manual gearbox is like stirring a bucket of golf balls with a wilted daffodil stalk. The EPAS to this day remains the numbest I have ever experienced and the suspension is just not well judged for the average British B road (the car never felt planted and seemed to emphasis uneven surfaces at speed by slowly wallowing from corner to corner). To give it some praise. The seats were the best I've ever sat in, the stereo was brilliant, idrive is miles better than touch screens and it did average 50mpg over my 30k mile ownership (due to me never driving it fast due to it's unrewarding nature).
A few years later I had a mk7 Golf R. Ignoring the performance difference the Golf is a more useable family car. I found it a more comfortable place to spend my time and if the R is anything to go by the chassis, steering and suspension are miles better than the BMW was.
In your circumstances I'd definitely take the Golf.
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