Golf GT Sport 1.4 170bhp TSi
Discussion
Boxing day greetings to you all.
Just a quick question - does anyone here drive one of these, or at least driven one/lived with one for a period of time?
My wife is changing company cars and we are thinking that this ticks an aweful lot of the right boxes - 4 door hatch, nippy, A/C, 17" alloys, solid build quality/reputation, right price, etc, etc...it has a good list of standard options that are at additional cost with most other makes!
All comments appreciated.
Cheers all,
DTC.
Just a quick question - does anyone here drive one of these, or at least driven one/lived with one for a period of time?
My wife is changing company cars and we are thinking that this ticks an aweful lot of the right boxes - 4 door hatch, nippy, A/C, 17" alloys, solid build quality/reputation, right price, etc, etc...it has a good list of standard options that are at additional cost with most other makes!
All comments appreciated.
Cheers all,
DTC.
Hi DTC,
Not got the 1.4 TSi jobbie, but have got on order (well get it the 4th Jan!!!
) the 170bhp TDi - as you say loads of standard equipment etc, the diesel drives brilliantly - well from the test drive anyway.
Clarkson drove the TSi version and reviewed it in his Times motoring column HERE
If you can wait a couple of week's I'll let you know what the TDi's like to live with - got a few long motorway/country road journeys planned.
Chris
Not got the 1.4 TSi jobbie, but have got on order (well get it the 4th Jan!!!
) the 170bhp TDi - as you say loads of standard equipment etc, the diesel drives brilliantly - well from the test drive anyway.Clarkson drove the TSi version and reviewed it in his Times motoring column HERE
If you can wait a couple of week's I'll let you know what the TDi's like to live with - got a few long motorway/country road journeys planned.
Chris
Clarkson did not like the GT TSI, but Piers Ward in Top Gear Masgazine thought it was great. These are just subjective views and it depends on what you are expecting. If you are looking for a cheap GTI then this is not it - buy a second hand GTI instead. However, if you want a reasonably well made, well equipped, quickish, roomy hatchback then this will fit the bill.
I bought one in April and have done over 18,500 miles in it. I test drove it back to back with a GTI and was clear that the GTI is much quicker and handles better. You have to work the 1.4 TSI engine fairly hard to get the performance, and if you do then the fuel economy will suffer. You need to change down to overtake and 6th gear is just an overdrive. But it will overtake most things and it will happily cruise at high speed with 5 passengers in reasonable comfort. I chose the GT TSI because I only wanted it for shopping, commuting, etc and did not need the full GTI performance. I did not much like the GTI front grill, red brake calipers or wheels and I preferred the GT wheels, but these are highly subjective comments - many will disagree. Pretty much everyone, including the VW salesmen, said the TDI was a better car - but I like the way the TSI revs to 7,000 rpm and power is available from 3,000 rpm all the way up to 7,000 rpm. The engine does not sound particularly pleasant, with the direct injection generating a sort of diesel clatter at low rpm. Fuel ecomomy will not match the TDI - I get 35 mpg on average and it drops to 30 mpg if you keep the boost guage over to the right. The mpg read out from the computer is at least 10% too optimistic. The suspension is OK and the car can be hustled along, but I find it a bit soft. If you need to improve the performance the engine can be chipped to over 200bph and the suspension can be improved, but then you might as well buy a GTI.
Contrary to some comments about current VW build quality mine has been perfect, and much better than recent BMWs and M-Bs I have owned. There have been no faults in 9 months/18,500 miles and it goes in for its first service tomorrow. The front tires are just about shot, but this is OK for a 168bhp front wheel drive hatchback. I went to Spa in it during the summer and to Paris recently. On both occasions it was very impressive. In fact the more I use it the more impressed I am. Negative points - it needs revs to pull away from a standstill (it is only a 1.4 after all) and I wish I had ordered the 'Winter Pack'.
To sum up, it is a competent, understated, practical car and it will happily double as a daily runabout or a long distance cruiser. But, it is not a hot hatch and it is not a GTI.
Hope this helps.
I bought one in April and have done over 18,500 miles in it. I test drove it back to back with a GTI and was clear that the GTI is much quicker and handles better. You have to work the 1.4 TSI engine fairly hard to get the performance, and if you do then the fuel economy will suffer. You need to change down to overtake and 6th gear is just an overdrive. But it will overtake most things and it will happily cruise at high speed with 5 passengers in reasonable comfort. I chose the GT TSI because I only wanted it for shopping, commuting, etc and did not need the full GTI performance. I did not much like the GTI front grill, red brake calipers or wheels and I preferred the GT wheels, but these are highly subjective comments - many will disagree. Pretty much everyone, including the VW salesmen, said the TDI was a better car - but I like the way the TSI revs to 7,000 rpm and power is available from 3,000 rpm all the way up to 7,000 rpm. The engine does not sound particularly pleasant, with the direct injection generating a sort of diesel clatter at low rpm. Fuel ecomomy will not match the TDI - I get 35 mpg on average and it drops to 30 mpg if you keep the boost guage over to the right. The mpg read out from the computer is at least 10% too optimistic. The suspension is OK and the car can be hustled along, but I find it a bit soft. If you need to improve the performance the engine can be chipped to over 200bph and the suspension can be improved, but then you might as well buy a GTI.
Contrary to some comments about current VW build quality mine has been perfect, and much better than recent BMWs and M-Bs I have owned. There have been no faults in 9 months/18,500 miles and it goes in for its first service tomorrow. The front tires are just about shot, but this is OK for a 168bhp front wheel drive hatchback. I went to Spa in it during the summer and to Paris recently. On both occasions it was very impressive. In fact the more I use it the more impressed I am. Negative points - it needs revs to pull away from a standstill (it is only a 1.4 after all) and I wish I had ordered the 'Winter Pack'.
To sum up, it is a competent, understated, practical car and it will happily double as a daily runabout or a long distance cruiser. But, it is not a hot hatch and it is not a GTI.
Hope this helps.
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