VW Golf GTi and alternatives - Page 1 - Car Buying

Tuesday 21st January 2020

My wife currently has a 1.8TSi Octavia estate which is coming up for replacement. She wants something that's perhaps a bit more compact, that's "perky" (i.e. less than 7 seconds 0 to 100km/h) as well as the must-have quality of reliability. Mid-30s mpg or more would be fine. It must also be petrol-engined (or hybrid) rather than diesel, and have a manual gearbox.

We could buy new or second-hand. At the moment, I think the Mk7 Golf GTi or the Mk7.5 version would fit the bill. Other possibilities include an Octavia VRS and possibly the Hyundai i30N.

With that I'll open the floor to the PH collective. Am I missing any good options? Any thoughts on the vehicles outlined above?

29,366 posts

141 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 21st January 23:05

markymark34

134 posts

210 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Logged in purely to post what a great effort you have put into this post. Awesome.

p4cks

7,173 posts

215 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

markymark34 said:

Logged in purely to post what a great effort you have put into this post. Awesome.

Standard practice for him, it’s absolutely great when he posts too because I always click every link because I see cars that I’d never even knew existed!

I also doff my cap to him!

9xxNick

Original Poster

1,068 posts

230 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

Thanks - there are certainly some ideas I hadn't come up with in your list.

cerb4.5lee

37,937 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

p4cks said:

markymark34 said:

Logged in purely to post what a great effort you have put into this post. Awesome.

Standard practice for him, it’s absolutely great when he posts too because I always click every link because I see cars that I’d never even knew existed!

I also doff my cap to him!

Same. I like to think that I know a bit about cars but he is next level for sure.

He is such a credit to this site for certain.

29,366 posts

141 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

Thanks gents for the kind words, I source for people so why not help PH members with some ideas while I'm at it.

griffter

4,141 posts

271 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Thanks gents for the kind words, I source for people so why not help PH members with some ideas while I'm at it.

ZX10R NIN I too applaud your contributions and value your suggestions.
How come infinity and Mercedes platform share? I know Nissan and Renault have a tie up - how does Mercedes fit in?

29,366 posts

141 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020

It was an easy way for Nissan to get a Premium platform & not have the cost of developing one from scratch & it gave Mercedes access to small capacity powerful (the 1.6T Renault unit) petrol engines as well as small diesel engines, the Q50 shares C Class drivetrains too.

The Q30 is an A Class inside to as they share the same switch gear (as the A250 AMG Engineered models) seats etc but the Q30 has it's own interior.

The Q50 is it's own car only sharing the drivetrain with (2.0T & 2.2d Engines) the C Class but the Q50 comes with it's stand alone & interesting drivetrains too:

360bhp 3.5 Hybrid which comes in RWD & AWD

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

AWD

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

400bhp 3.0TT AWD Q50 Sport

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

cerb4.5lee

37,937 posts

196 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Slightly off topic...but your previous post has got me really thinking about the next Z car, and I really hope that it comes to fruition. smile

29,366 posts

141 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

It's looking that way from everything I've read the new 390/400Z will use the same 3.0TT engine from the Q50 above but ill be RWD only rather than the AWD set up on the Q50/60 the big debate is whether there'll be a manual offering.

cerb4.5lee

37,937 posts

196 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

the big debate is whether there'll be a manual offering.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and I really hope that they offer it with a manual for sure. I don't mind the switch to turbos but I wouldn't really want one as an auto though.

kurokawa

651 posts

124 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

I30N
Probably the best value, my test drive average low 30, found it the most “raw” , interior not as nice as some brand

Mini Clubman JCW
The is the most fun car I have test drive and the one I went for, test drive average a mid 30, more noise than any of those, still retain the go kart feel, but the tail gate have a big blind spot and everything is optional

Megan’s GT
Not available for new, the nearest used was over 150miles away, never test drive it but saw some good review

and A250 AMG
The best interior and most luxury design, tail gate opening have a awkward shape, is fast but steering feel a bit remote

RizzoTheRat

27,011 posts

208 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

If she likes the Octavia but fancies something a bit more compact then surely the Leon has to be a top choice.

Volvo V40?

9xxNick

Original Poster

1,068 posts

230 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Yes, I think the Leon's a possibility, albeit we didn't really want 300BHP. The Golf is still an option, and my eyes have been opened to some other options too, not least the 308GTi - the car two cars before the Octavia was a 306 saloon, so she has "form" in that regard.

Thanks again folks - this has been really helpful!

ForzaGilles

559 posts

240 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

I've just bought a Golf GTi MK7.5 and I love it - it's well built, nicely finished, very nice to drive (love the manual gearbox), has a decent list of equipment, and goes well. What with the decent resale, I think it's all round the best choice from the cars mentioned in this thread.

29,366 posts

141 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

ForzaGilles said:

People always talk about resale on Golfs when the reality is that they depreciate at the same rate as a Focus, remember they cost (between 2-5k depending on the model) more to begin with but they're normally similar money once they get to around 5 years old.

Bungleaio

6,508 posts

218 months