Thursday 21st February 2013

Golf GTD announced

'A useful turn of speed for sensible shoes Monday to Friday transport' we say, before ducking for cover

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Now, we’ll tread carefully here because the last time talked about diesel Volkswagens it seemed like the whole of PH was going to explode in a gigantic fit of righteous indignation.

Sensible shoes, GTI-esque looks

Bear with us, though, these things do exist and, ahead of the new Mk7 Golf GTI, Volkswagen has announced that the first of the hot ‘new’ Golfs out of the blocks (that Mk6-based Golf R cabrio doesn’t count) will be the GTD. Indeed, VW is claiming a decent headstart overall in the warm-to-hot diesel hatch, having “introduced European car drivers to an intoxicating blend of practicality, high performance and abstemiousness” 30 years ago now.

The new GTI promises much, a trick active locking differential included, but it seems the GTD is more a spec option than a true GTI-TDI. True, it gets a significant power boost to 184hp and 280lb ft over the current range-topping 2.0 TDI GT with its 150hp and 236lb ft. It’s also usefully more potent than the Mk6 GTD, which had 170hp and 258lb ft. It’s not slow either, 0-62 taking just 7.5 seconds (8.1 in the previous GTD) and topping out at 142mph. As you’d expect, the figures that’ll really interest many are the CO2- and mpg-related ones, which come in at a very impressive 109g/km and 67.3 for a manual three-door as opposed to 139g/km and 53.3mpg on the Mk6.

34hp hike over the 2.0 GT TDI is useful

This being from the posher >120hp end of the new Golf range, the GTD also gets the fancier multi-link rear suspension set-up and a smattering of GTIesque fixtures and fittings including the traditional plaid cloth upholstery, 18-inch Nogaro wheels, smoked rear lights and ‘sports suspension’ among other things.

VW has confirmed a European starting price of 29,350 euros, a 2,500-euro hike over the next most expensive diesel in the range. In the UK that equates to a GT 2.0 TDI, which starts at £22,810 for a three-door manual. Call it £25K by the time you’re done then; a 218hp BMW 125d M Sport that’ll do 0-62 in 6.5 seconds, by comparison, is yours from £27,500. Slower, then, but potentially more attractively priced, the GTD brings a useful turn of speed for sensible shoes Monday to Friday transport. Which you can, with luck, exorcise at the weekend with something noisy and more fun.

[CraigyMc]

It might be the wrong shape, but a 320d is a better comparison for this in terms of CO2, power, speed etc.

[pSyCoSiS]

I like the shape of this new Golf.

To be fair, it's not that much better in terms of economoy than the original (Mark 4) GT TDi?

[funkyrobot]

I still can't get my head around a diesel Golf costing £25k.

[Sten J]

It looks perfectly acceptable.. ZZZzz...

[Roma101]

Surprised the article didn't mention the 120d M Sport (rather than the 125d), starting at £25,605. It has suspiciously similar power and MPG levels.

[GroundEffect]

funkyrobot said:

I still can't get my head around a diesel Golf costing £25k.

£25k is £20k 10 years ago.

[toppstuff]

Dear PH

It is fine to talk about diesel Golfs. Really, it is.

But we really don't need to read about them all the time. The last time you had one on the fleet, even emptying the sweet wrappers in the ashtray seemed enough news to merit a 400 word article.

PH copy is prone to excess hyperbole at times ( TT Tdi / Scirocco Tdi article was a really low point ) so please try and keep it in perspective. A Golf is a fine car, but they are ultimately not much more than shiny appliances.

Lots of love,

TS

[kpb]

funkyrobot said:

I still can't get my head around a diesel Golf costing £25k.

For private buyers I agree - but company car drivers can offset the relatively high list price against the low Co2 rating and keep their company car tax reasonably low, especially for a car with decent performance and quality.

I might be handing back my 125d in the next few months and would be tempted with the Leon FR over the Golf though.

[Repent]

[tankplanker]

Should have been over 200 BHP for that price

[hyperblue]

Nonsense to compare it with the 125D. If you spec up a 120D to the same spec as the Golf, it'll be a good few grand more expensive, let alone the 125D.

[Motorrad]

May I be the first to suggest buying a used 911 instead?

I'd also like to get mention of the Nazis out of the way nice and early as well.

Other than that there isn't much to say is there?

[bicycleshorts]

Needs to cost £12k and do 0-60 in 5 seconds

Looks a nice car though, some might say bland but it looks better than the last couple of models. Not sure on those wheels. Agree with the poster above, there's not much to say, it's a bit "meh".

[Ali_T]

I am not afraid to admit I had to Google "abstemiousness". I still don't want the boring car though.

[rtz62]

Motorrad, you took the words right out of my mouth (with a suitable 'nod' to Meatloaf).

I agree,ridiculous money for a car of this size etc; I always think that the true barometer of a car is when it appears at British Car Auctions in 3 years time; what will it be worth then I wonder? the thought of the chunk of depreciation I'd lose on this, or any new car would have me on my (arthritic)knees.

And I agree, I'd buy a used 911 or similar rather than this euro-snotbox, warm in the knowledge that depreciation will be lower, and excitement levels considerably higher.And hopefully, servicing at a specialist wont empty the coffers too much either, although I stand to be corrected (which I usually am, by members of GreenPeace, SaveTheShrimp, Save The Morris Minor etc...)

[StottyZr]

hyperblue said:

Nonsense to compare it with the 125D. If you spec up a 120D to the same spec as the Golf, it'll be a good few grand more expensive, let alone the 125D.

Care to speck one up to prove the point?

I had the same initial thoughts as you "nonsense to compare it with the 125d" but I thought that because the 125d is substantially faster and it would be much better comparison with the 120d

[Frimley111R]

GroundEffect said:

funkyrobot said:

I still can't get my head around a diesel Golf costing £25k.

£25k is £20k 10 years ago.

Really? 10 yrs ago I bought a new, fully loaded Lexus IS200 Sport for £22,000. If I'd had the choice between that an a Golf....

[funkyrobot]

kpb said:

funkyrobot said:

I still can't get my head around a diesel Golf costing £25k.

For private buyers I agree - but company car drivers can offset the relatively high list price against the low Co2 rating and keep their company car tax reasonably low, especially for a car with decent performance and quality.

I might be handing back my 125d in the next few months and would be tempted with the Leon FR over the Golf though.

Yes, I agree. As a company car driver, it's all about the tax I suppose.

[Hellbound]

For 95% of the time, this is all the car I'd ever need.

[kritter86]

As a company car driver it will be a massive consideration when I get to change my current A3. The lower tax is a massive plus.

Does anyone know when this is due to be released?