Buying Decision..GTI v GTD with remap? - Page 1 - Car Buying

redchris

Original Poster

35 posts

124 months

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Friday 9th August 2019

Hi all,
Long time lurker as the saying goes. I'll try not to make a fool of myself....

So I've been driving the family wagon, a Honda CRV, for 5 years and the kid's old enough now where pushchairs and associated crap no longer needs to be hauled around the country. After 5 years in a Honda CRV I'm definitely ready for something more engaging shall we say.

Up to 20k to spend, still needs 4 seats. I've been looking for a while and my shortlist seems to have been whittled down to either a 3 series 330i or 330/335d, Golf GTI or Golf R. Until today when I start looking at Golf GTD's and see that 20k will get a 2018 car as opposed to 2017 in a GTI and 2016 in an R (generally speaking). And this got me thinking that perhaps a decent option which I haven't considered until now would be to spend 18/19k on a GTD and get it remapped to provide a bit more ooomph and enjoyment.

So my (long winded) question is: what kind of performance increase can I expect from a GTD remap, what are the options/costs and do you think it worthwhile. If so, anyone in particular I should talk to?

Any other suggestions for relatively quick and engaging family cars up to 20k also gladly accepted.
Thanks in advance...

Torquey

1,956 posts

257 months

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Friday 9th August 2019

Would you really want to remap and 2018 car and void the remaining 2 years of warranty?

This would be my preference for an engaging car:

Edited by Torquey on Friday 9th August 13:58

nuttywobbler

349 posts

91 months

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Friday 9th August 2019

If you’re thinking about a 335i or Golf R, a Golf GTD will be slow and agricultural in comparison.

The civic above would be hugely more fun!

redchris

Original Poster

35 posts

124 months

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Friday 9th August 2019

Torquey said:

Would you really want to remap and 2018 car and void the remaining 2 years of warranty?

This would be my preference for an engaging car:

Edited by Torquey on Friday 9th August 13:58

Yes, that's a good point.

Ok, we've ruled out the GTD option,thanks for making me see sense.

I love what I read about the Type R but I don't think I could live with the way it looks. I'm exceedingly middle aged nowadays, at least when it comes to car styling...

Belle427

11,835 posts

262 months

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Friday 9th August 2019

I too like both the Gti and the R and would find it very hard to choose between them, although i think the 4wd would just sway it for me.
Pity they didnt do something better with the seats in the R.

redchris

Original Poster

35 posts

124 months

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Friday 9th August 2019

Belle427 said:

I too like both the Gti and the R and would find it very hard to choose between them, although i think the 4wd would just sway it for me.
Pity they didnt do something better with the seats in the R.

I like the thought of 4wd and the extra power of the R but comparing what 20k buys you when up against a GTI I'm also attracted to the idea of a GTI that's got lower mileage and is a year or two newer...

I'm going to try and test drive both tomorrow which will make things clearer.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

227 months

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Friday 9th August 2019

redchris said:

I like the thought of 4wd and the extra power of the R but comparing what 20k buys you when up against a GTI I'm also attracted to the idea of a GTI that's got lower mileage and is a year or two newer...

I'm going to try and test drive both tomorrow which will make things clearer.

In this weather it will flatter the R much more so with slippery / gale force

b19rak

402 posts

246 months

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Saturday 10th August 2019

Get the GTi. Can be frugal if driven with a light foot. I spent 6 months in one and massively regret changing it for my Mini JCW.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

227 months

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Saturday 10th August 2019

b19rak said:

Get the GTi. Can be frugal if driven with a light foot. I spent 6 months in one and massively regret changing it for my Mini JCW.

Not much £ difference between a used GTI and R

redchris

Original Poster

35 posts

124 months

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Saturday 10th August 2019

Welshbeef said:

Not much £ difference between a used GTI and R

20k gets you a 2015 R, 2016 at best, whereas you can get a 2017 with lower miles, facelift model with digital dash etc

Josh-B

6 posts

85 months

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Sunday 11th August 2019

Having owned a Mk7 GTI and driven a R, I can honestly say there isn’t much in it day to day.

Don’t get me wrong, the R is a much more capable machine but only if you drive the wrong side of the law.

I would regularly get over 40mpg in my GTI.

redchris

Original Poster

35 posts

124 months

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Sunday 11th August 2019

Josh-B said:

Having owned a Mk7 GTI and driven a R, I can honestly say there isn’t much in it day to day.

Don’t get me wrong, the R is a much more capable machine but only if you drive the wrong side of the law.

I would regularly get over 40mpg in my GTI.

Thanks for your reply. I test drove an R today and was very impressed. Seriously quick (to me) and very smooth. But... As I said before, I am attracted by the idea of a newer GTi for my money and yes, the improved economy would be a bonus although not decisive. I am getting a bit paranoid though reading stories of folks getting their R's stolen, but then my bro had his GTi stolen years ago so anything is possible.

I'll drive a GTi and decide between them.
Cheers

clarki

1,366 posts

248 months

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Monday 12th August 2019

My brother has a mk7 R and my best mate a 7.5 GTI.

Both are remapped and both are quick. Personally I prefer the gti. Looks better, nicer to drive and much better image IMO.

The R is an everyday car for my brother, the auto box and awd deffo make it a great daily. And the speed is really quite impressive.

The gti is a weekend toy, the lighter weight and manual box deffo make it a great fun. Not as quick down the straights, but on a back-road blast i'd argue, a faster tool.

The interior in both is crap, plastic, plastic and more plastic. But the seats are nice, the tartan ones in the gti are a nice touch as is the golfball on the gearstick, it's the small things.

I'd love a Golf GTI.

ZX10R NIN

30,525 posts

154 months

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Tuesday 13th August 2019

redchris

Original Poster

35 posts

124 months

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Tuesday 13th August 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

Thanks for the reply. 20k really is top of my budget annoyingly, there really are some nice options just over that mark.

I wasn't even aware of the Infini. Reviews aren't that encouraging and I'm really looking for something a bit quicker. I've had my eye on Cupras but there never seems to be one to test drive around me (Hants/Surrey border).

There are a couple of nice looking S3s below 20k I've seen in AT today....

And now my bro says I can buy his 330D from him which is mint but a 13 plate and a bit older than what I ideally want.

Too much choice...

ZX10R NIN

30,525 posts

154 months

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Tuesday 13th August 2019

redchris said:

Thanks for the reply. 20k really is top of my budget annoyingly, there really are some nice options just over that mark.

I wasn't even aware of the Infini. Reviews aren't that encouraging and I'm really looking for something a bit quicker. I've had my eye on Cupras but there never seems to be one to test drive around me (Hants/Surrey border).

There are a couple of nice looking S3s below 20k I've seen in AT today....

And now my bro says I can buy his 330D from him which is mint but a 13 plate and a bit older than what I ideally want.

Too much choice...

Always makes me smile with Infiniti reviews especially when you read the review on an A250 as they're the same car but as I said these are more of a warm hatch.

Maybe take a look at the Seat, also remember haggling can get you down to your 20k limit.

redchris

Original Poster

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124 months

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Tuesday 13th August 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

Always makes me smile with Infiniti reviews especially when you read the review on an A250 as they're the same car but as I said these are more of a warm hatch.

Maybe take a look at the Seat, also remember haggling can get you down to your 20k limit.

Sound advice. Cheers!