GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: dovey on 31 January 2010, 14:04
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Hi,
I was wondering what people thought about whether the new Golf GTi is worth the extra money when compared to something like an RS Clio 200 / Pug 207 GTi etc etc.
It'd be extra good to hear from Golf owners who have owned or test driven something else :smiley:
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The Clio and 207 are a class smaller in size and should really be compared with a Polo or Ibiza Cupra.
The Golf isn't anywhere near as lively as the smaller cars but has much nicer quality of plastics inside and feels very solid and well made.
Do you want lighter weight and sharper steering or the feeling of something more grown up with the build quality of a premium brand? That's the basic difference.
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Your not going to get much of an unbiased opinion on a dedicated GTI forum :wink:
I spent far too many years working part time fixing french cars to ever saddle myself with one.
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I'm not sure you're comparing like with like. I had a Pug 306 GTi6 before I got the Golf. Although I looked at the 207, it was really too small for me. Only the Golf had the carrying capacity to match the 306. The 207 is a bit like getting a Polo GTi - nice, I'm sure, but a different horse for a different course.
Rolfe.
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I'm not sure what the cost of a Clio or Peugeot are at present so I cannot give a real comparison, what I can say is that the build quality on the Golf is excellent with decent plastics throughout the cabin.
Peugeot although improving have never been as good as VW and Renault? well let's not go there!!
Is the GTI worth extra? of course it is! a class car, speedy when you need it and a comfortable ride the rest of the time.
If you have the dosh get a Golf.
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Hi,
I was wondering what people thought about whether the new Golf GTi is worth the extra money when compared to something like an RS Clio 200 / Pug 207 GTi etc etc.
It'd be extra good to hear from Golf owners who have owned or test driven something else :smiley:
There is no comparison.
Firstly, forget the Pug 207 GTi. A horrid mess.
I have driven the Renault Cleosport 200 with a fully loaded specification + the optional Cup chassis. The car has truly excellent ride, handling and roadholding but feels really cheap compared to a Golf GTi or Polo. It is too small, too cramped, has an ugly snout and unfortunately, being French, will have reliability or build problems. Also, Renault are not renowned for their customer service.
Go for the Golf and be happy and proud!
I get my GTi delivered third week of March.
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(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/simonpolly/peugeot-rcz-1.jpg)
New Peugeot Rcz starts at £19,500 upto £24,000 looks pretty good to me
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(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/simonpolly/peugeot-rcz-1.jpg)
New Peugeot Rcz starts at £19,500 upto £24,000 looks pretty good to me
Still a Pug.
Now with less room.
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10/10 for design,take a look at the mk5 mk6 and now mk7 golf the VW designers are getting abit lazy imo(I own a mk6 gti by the way)
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10/10 for design,take a look at the mk5 mk6 and now mk7 golf the VW designers are getting abit lazy imo(I own a mk6 gti by the way)
I wouldn't call them lazy - restrained, yes. Unadventurous - definitely. Successful - well, I'll let you work that out!
I like the Peugeot TT above - the French are sometimes good at styling (and chassis dynamics), but bad at most nearly everything else.
I was wondering what people thought about whether the new Golf GTi is worth the extra money when compared to something like an RS Clio 200 / Pug 207 GTi etc etc.
It depends what you place value on. If you don't really rate refinement, reliability (maybe) or interior finish for example, you won't miss them on a cheaper car like the Clio.
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I think that Pug is supposed to be their Audi TT / Scirocco attempt - it does look very good.
I had a 57 reg Pug 207 diesel last year, and this year test drove a Golf Diesel and really wasn't impressed! I thought the engine in the Pug was far better. The Golf didn't feel overly well built to be honest with a stupidly bodged join between carpet and plastic in the n/s/f footwell. There was also vibration through the clutch pedal, as well as the radio skipping at the start of every track when playing the iPod (not a problem with the iPod either).
The above was really the reason to ask the question on here - is a Golf worth the extra. I'm not convinced - are VW living on reputation and cutting corners? Probably! :cry: Are the French trying to clear a bad reputation and putting in the extra effort? It seems so!
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No, VW diesels aren't great for noise, vibration and harshness - sorry to all you GTD/TDI owners. Was it a Mk5 or a Mk6 Golf you drove dovey?
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As a new MKV GTI owner (4 weeks now) I've still not been fully indoctrinated into the VW "clan" so I'll pass on my opinions before I do !!
Whilst I'm definitely enjoying the GTI I'd honestly say that build quality in VW's isn't quite the "quality" as the advertising (& some owners) would lead you to beleive, this alone certainly doesn't justify the premium over other marques like it once did - this from an ex-Hyundai Coupe owner !!
What's immediately obvious to me though is just how well the Golf does pretty much everything - great roadholding & ride quality, decent build quality, decent image (not a CHAV car like many hot hatches) & it holds value well too(not something you'll find with a french car). I test drove the new Megane Coupe 2.0TCE & was completely underwhelmed by it - the Golf immediately felt much more "special"
I think many of the reviews I read before I bought it were spot on - whilst some competitors have strengths & weaknesses in different areas the VW just does everything very well
Would I pay new Golf GTI MK6 prices...not a chance, too expensive now. In a year or two I may well consider another "nearly new" one though - although that RCZ looks very interesting, I'll certainly be checking out the reviews !!
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I actually thought that RCZ was pretty awful looking up to a point.
To add (hopefully) my final comments in this thread; Golfs are mass produced the same as Pugs and Renaults. So you can expect faults and if you read forums and JD Power type surveys they seem to have more than their fair share of those. BUT if you've paid top dollar for a VW you will pick at every fault because you are buying a product that is marketed in this country as being a cut above the rest. If you buy a French car you expect electrical gremlins and naff plastics so you won't be disappointed if that's what happens, and if you don't get too many problems then you're well happy.
There is no right and wrong anwer to the OPs questions really and I wonder if it's all a bit of a wind up? Ya pays yer money and all that.......
As we've said, the Golf is a much bigger car than a 207 or Clio and should be squared up against a Megane or 307/8 or whatever it's currently called. The price of Golfs has gone up a lot in recent years, but so has the price of a Focus, Astra, Megane etc.
I've owned VWs for about 23 years and they've always been a bit dearer than the competition.
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I'll try and be objective Dovey. Before I bought my Mk 6 I test drove the Astra VXR and the Civic Type R, both direct competitors.
I really liked the VXR. It's a bit mad but enormous fun and the build quality I thought was very good. In fact I've owned several Vauxhalls (as well as a Mk 3 GTi and 2 Mk 4 GT TDi Golfs) and the Vauxhalls have been far more reliable. I think the Mk 6 interior is better but that's a new model compared to the Astra which was nearly at the end of it's life. I suspect the next VXR will feel just as good inside as the Golf.
The Type R didn't really float my boat. It didn't feel remotely as quick as the VXR (even though on paper I know it pretty much is) and you had to murder it for it to do anything. On a test drive this was ok fun but longer term I thought I'd tire of having to drive like that. I also thought the interior was cheap feeling too.
Bearing in mind I also had £1000 worth of GM points as an extra discount on the Astra the Golf had to be special for me to go for it. And it was. The test drive was on country roads but we had to toddle through suburbia to get there and the two types of road just confirmed why this is such a superb car. Totally brilliant on both. The Astra was a bit hard core for town driving and not as fluent on the country roads.
So overall I thought it was worth paying the extra. But then again I ordered mine last May with VAT at 15% and before the price rises and got around £1000 off it. My Golf would now cost me £27k plus so I'd be struggling to justify that over a VXR next time round which I might be able to get for £5k less with 4 years interest free credit on top.
As for image friends and work colleagues also reckon the Golf is a winner. I'm 42 and they all said I was too old for a VXR as it's a bit of a yoof's car. The GTi is a more mature, classy car. However, only you can decide whether all that is worth the extra money.
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(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/simonpolly/peugeot-rcz-1.jpg)
New Peugeot Rcz starts at £19,500 upto £24,000 looks pretty good to me
Weighs the same as a Council Waste Truck!. Performance once again shocking as ALL peugeots are.
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10/10 for design,take a look at the mk5 mk6 and now mk7 golf the VW designers are getting abit lazy imo(I own a mk6 gti by the way)
I didnt realise the mk7 had been revealed, can you point me to some images, VW ones.
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I think that Pug is supposed to be their Audi TT / Scirocco attempt - it does look very good.
I had a 57 reg Pug 207 diesel last year, and this year test drove a Golf Diesel and really wasn't impressed! I thought the engine in the Pug was far better. The Golf didn't feel overly well built to be honest with a stupidly bodged join between carpet and plastic in the n/s/f footwell. There was also vibration through the clutch pedal, as well as the radio skipping at the start of every track when playing the iPod (not a problem with the iPod either).
The above was really the reason to ask the question on here - is a Golf worth the extra. I'm not convinced - are VW living on reputation and cutting corners? Probably! :cry: Are the French trying to clear a bad reputation and putting in the extra effort? It seems so!
This sounds like a hire car I had recently and was not a good advert for a Mk5 Golf Diesel as it was nothing like mine. i.e. clutch doesn't vibrate and the carpet fits well. Don't have an iPod so cant comment on that.
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No, VW diesels aren't great for noise, vibration and harshness - sorry to all you GTD/TDI owners. Was it a Mk5 or a Mk6 Golf you drove dovey?
Hi, it was a MK6. I've got a MK3 VR6 at the moment, and to be honest it feels better built which was what surprised me the most! Progress and all that. As regards the diesel engine, again I expected that to be better than the 57 reg Pug diesel I had but it wasn't - 2 years of engine development and a 'better' brand should have made it noticeably better I thought.
There is no right and wrong anwer to the OPs questions really and I wonder if it's all a bit of a wind up? Ya pays yer money and all that.......
Nope, no wind up. I'm a VW fan (have had 2 MK3 Golfs and also a Transporter van). I went along to test drive the MK6 Golf ready to sign the paperwork basically but was so un-impressed with the quality that I drove away in my MK3 again! I'd have taken the Pug 207 over the Golf - I surprised myself!
andykram, thanks for your post it was really helpful :smiley:
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Is it worth the WAIT and the higher £ per bhp???? YES!
Do you really want that car? Can you afford it---factor in >50% depreciation in just 3 yrs! If the answer is yes, go for it! You only live once!
The Focus RS, Mazda MPS and the Renault Megane RS might be faster and cheaper but I am glad that I spend the extra £££ on the Golf. The GTI does everything so well!
Decent performance, economy, comfort and interior space. The interior looks more sophisticated than its rivals. It also look discreet enough for me to leave it anywhere in my neighbourhood without generating envy but still look sporty and attractive enough to attract compliments esp. members of the opposite sex.
It's a bit like why people still spend silly money on a F430, R8 or 911 when the cheaper Nissan GTR will give these cars a bloody nose for track performance. Unlike buying a house, buying a car make no financial sense. Maybe it is about fulfilling a dream or giving one some sort of reward for working hard.
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A Golf GTI is for the discerning consumer... :laugh:
I basically thought of other cars I would consider, then used the facts to rate them in order. Intangibles also count! :afro:
Golf won hands down OVERALL. There will be faster, cheaper, sharper, etc, but I wanted a GTI.
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You buy a gti because it is a fast car not the fastest car. Its not about 0-60 / bhp but how its feels driving it and how it feels owning it. You can save alot of money and buy the cheaper faster alternatives but will always want a gti deep down and when you come to sell that car you bought instead of the gti you wish you had never asked yourself the question.
Simples really
Compare the meerkat.com
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10/10 for design,take a look at the mk5 mk6 and now mk7 golf the VW designers are getting abit lazy imo(I own a mk6 gti by the way)
I didnt realise the mk7 had been revealed, can you point me to some images, VW ones.
Golf mk 7 in chat off second page
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The mk7 hasn't been revealed yet, as they haven't fixed the styling yet. Any pictures you see of it are speculative.
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all french motors depreciate like a hole in your pocket. i have lived with 5 golfs and 1 polo and i have to say that golf's hold their value very well. not only that but the buid quality is naff especially the interior, reliability is also questionable.
only plus point is u are outlaying less money for a french car. even if the gti is 23 grand- one would expect it to keep most of its value yr in yr out. well all the previous golf's have.... also the gti is iconic :smug:
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when you come to sell that car you bought instead of the gti you wish you had never asked yourself the question.
Simples really
Compare the meerkat.com
When money is tight and you want to get rid of your 3 years old motor with 50,000miles on the clock. I am sure it will takes less time to get rid of a Golf GTI privately than a Megane RS or a Mazda MP WHAT!
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yes it is probably worth it... but if you test drive an R32 you probably wouldn't bother (and they're less money...)
obviously the interior isn't as great (mk6 gti has easily the best interior in its class) but the roar of the V6 and 4wd more than make up imo.
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As you all know by now....
I was looking for a replacement for my Pug 306 GTi-6, which was pushing 12 years old and 120,000 miles. I was always very very happy with that Peugeot, and indeed chose it in preference to a MkIII Golf GTi at the time. I'd happily have had another, but there was no such animal. I haven't seen another Peugeot I'd have given garage space to, though the 206 GTi might have had its points if you have no luggage and no friends!
The Golf in its Mk VI incarnation has admirably fitted the bill. I'm thrilled to bits with it, for exactly the reasons several others have stated - it's such a great all-rounder, does everything well and doesn't look like boy racer while it does it. It's a class act.
Rolfe.
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Hi Simonpolly,
I'm intrigued by your signature "Always remember the golden rule...the man with the gold makes the rules". This was on a plaque made up by and found hanging on the wall of the home one of the Brinks Matt bullion robbers [I think his name was Michael White] in 1983 [£26M of gold bullion taken], whilst one of his cohorts [John McAvoy, the alleged gang leader] was in the slammer. Obvious implication was - don't try to control what I do with this gold as you are in no position to.
One slight difference is, I recall it as saying "Always remember the golden rule...the man with the gold calls the tune", perhaps my memory fails me.
Anyway, good news is I should get my GTi early March, and I certainly expect it to be worth the money and be a much better all round car than a Pug or Renault.
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Hi Simonpolly,
I'm intrigued by your signature "Always remember the golden rule...the man with the gold makes the rules". This was on a plaque made up by and found hanging on the wall of the home one of the Brinks Matt bullion robbers [I think his name was Michael White] in 1983 [£26M of gold bullion taken], whilst one of his cohorts [John McAvoy, the alleged gang leader] was in the slammer. Obvious implication was - don't try to control what I do with this gold as you are in no position to.
One slight difference is, I recall it as saying "Always remember the golden rule...the man with the gold calls the tune", perhaps my memory fails me.
Anyway, good news is I should get my GTi early March, and I certainly expect it to be worth the money and be a much better all round car than a Pug or Renault.
Remember the Golden Rule - He who has the gold makes the rules!
- Lyndon Forman
p.s i have no idea who he is :wink:
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Is it wrong that I quite like these?
(http://www.morangodoce.com/cars/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/renault-megane.jpg)
(http://www.autosnewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/megane-rs-new-photos-of-renaults-golf-gti-contender-2.jpg)
New Megane RS
247bhp :cool:
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Yes! :grin:
Rolfe.
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:sick:
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Worth the money ?
I'm sure it was Hammond that said. 'It's the only car I would buy with you're money'
As an owner, I'd buy it all over again in a heartbeat.
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Is it wrong that I quite like these?
New Megane RS
247bhp :cool:
Oi! I got this p!ss taken out me for saying that a couple of weeks ago!
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Quote's from Magazines :
Car Issue 564 Focus RS, Renault Megane R26R, VW GOLF GTI : "The Golf isn't the fastest or most powerful car here, nor even spectacular value for money compared with it's real oppoosition the focus ST and Civic Type R. But it doesn't do a single thing Badly."
What Car August 2009 GTI Vs lots of stuff including clio 200Cup and Focus RS it came 1ST : "how can you resist a car that one minue Does everything you want of a hot hatch one minute yet has the gravitas to pass as a business car the next and is built as though it's creators lives depended upon it ?"
CAR Issue 568 PCOTY : "Better than the suprisingly quick Impreza 330's? if your confused, remember that lap times are just part of the picture here etc... Supple suspension,well contained torque steer, the best driving environment etc.. Sweet engine loves to rev"
So basically it's the best all rounder according to the magazines. So if that's what you want then it's probably worth the extra money.
If you want an out and out racer with more power and you are willing to compromise on quality, space etc.. then maybe look elsewhere.
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To be honest, the Golf GTI has slipped since those reviews. Its now behind the Megane and the Focus RS. GTI was ahead of the RS at first, but the RS always comes back with its monster looks and power.
Not that I care too much about this. The Megane is a good attempt to be an all-rounder in a "sexy" body, but I just can't get used to those looks. Its more of a rival to the Scirocco rather than the more family orientated Golf (in 5 door anyway). RS is just a yob's machine.
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To be honest, the Golf GTI has slipped since those reviews. Its now behind the Megane and the Focus RS. GTI was ahead of the RS at first, but the RS always comes back with its monster looks and power.
Not that I care too much about this. The Megane is a good attempt to be an all-rounder in a "sexy" body, but I just can't get used to those looks. Its more of a rival to the Scirocco rather than the more family orientated Golf (in 5 door anyway). RS is just a yob's machine.
Could you show me some articles stating the GTI has slipped since those articles and also I assume the monster looks was a joke, as its nothing but a f**kin chav mobile and thats exactly how it looks.
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Not that I care too much about this. The Megane is a good attempt to be an all-rounder in a "sexy" body, but I just can't get used to those looks. Its more of a rival to the Scirocco rather than the more family orientated Golf (in 5 door anyway). RS is just a yob's machine.
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I agree with you 100% and cannot get used to the Megane's looks. I find both the Focus RS and Megane look very much like kit cars.
The fit of the plastics on the Megane is quite horrible.
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To be honest, the Golf GTI has slipped since those reviews. Its now behind the Megane and the Focus RS. GTI was ahead of the RS at first, but the RS always comes back with its monster looks and power.
Not that I care too much about this. The Megane is a good attempt to be an all-rounder in a "sexy" body, but I just can't get used to those looks. Its more of a rival to the Scirocco rather than the more family orientated Golf (in 5 door anyway). RS is just a yob's machine.
Could you show me some articles stating the GTI has slipped since those articles and also I assume the monster looks was a joke, as its nothing but a f**kin chav mobile and thats exactly how it looks.
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/246988/ford_focus_rs_v_renaultsport_megane_250_cup_v_seat_leon_cupra_r_v_vw_golf_gti.html
some people like monsters...
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some people like monsters...
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Just imagine looking at those monsters every day .....
Ford RS for monster yobs, Renaultsport Megane for monster pimps ......
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Must be a stage of life thing. Ie kids think monsters (RS) are cool, their parents would prefer a nice labrador (GTI).
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Must be a stage of life thing. Ie kids think monsters (RS) are cool, their parents would prefer a nice labrador (GTI).
Strange analogy, Keelaw, but fairly accurate! :smiley:
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Is it wrong that I quite like these?
(http://www.morangodoce.com/cars/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/renault-megane.jpg)
(http://www.autosnewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/megane-rs-new-photos-of-renaults-golf-gti-contender-2.jpg)
New Megane RS
247bhp :cool:
No ... [goes to find out more]