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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: matchboy on 06 August 2013, 13:22

Title: GTI Rivals
Post by: matchboy on 06 August 2013, 13:22
In my book, the "rivals" to the GTI are:

BMW 125d M Sport
Ford Focus ST-3
Audi A3 1.8 FSI Quattro
Mercedes A250 Eng by AMG

I was just wondering if anyone has driven any of these?  I've driven the 125d and the A3 but I'd be interested to know views on the other two (particularly the ST as the cheapest).  Thanks (RunningMan  :wink:) in advance!
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: monkeyhanger on 06 August 2013, 13:59
What about Seat Leon Cupra? My local Seat dealership wanted me to sign on the dotted line for one before he would give me a test drive. Needless to say, he didn't get my business, I got a Scirocco instead.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: matchboy on 06 August 2013, 14:24
What about Seat Leon Cupra? My local Seat dealership wanted me to sign on the dotted line for one before he would give me a test drive. Needless to say, he didn't get my business, I got a Scirocco instead.

The new one has 300bhp so its in a different league ie. Golf R, A45, S3, M135i league!
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Bill_the_Bear on 06 August 2013, 14:30
The new one has 300bhp so its in a different league ie. Golf R, A45, S3, M135i league!

Whut? No lie?

Why is everyone obsessed with dumping 300+ horses into these cars?  Call me crazy but isn't it something of a niche market?  I mean even the GTI, the everymans car, is somewhat exclusive.  What possible benefit can there be other than winding up the greens?

Actually scratch that.  Winding up the greens enough reason on its own! :evil:
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: monkeyhanger on 06 August 2013, 14:35
What about Seat Leon Cupra? My local Seat dealership wanted me to sign on the dotted line for one before he would give me a test drive. Needless to say, he didn't get my business, I got a Scirocco instead.

The new one has 300bhp so its in a different league ie. Golf R, A45, S3, M135i league!

Price-wise it's comparable, but it does have a sh!te interior.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: matchboy on 06 August 2013, 14:37
What about Seat Leon Cupra? My local Seat dealership wanted me to sign on the dotted line for one before he would give me a test drive. Needless to say, he didn't get my business, I got a Scirocco instead.

The new one has 300bhp so its in a different league ie. Golf R, A45, S3, M135i league!

Price-wise it's comparable, but it does have a sh!te interior.

Has the price been released yet?  I'd be very surprised if its £25k for 300 horses.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Ricepop on 06 August 2013, 14:39
In my book, the "rivals" to the GTI are:

BMW 125d M Sport
Ford Focus ST-3
Audi A3 1.8 FSI Quattro
Mercedes A250 Eng by AMG

I was just wondering if anyone has driven any of these?  I've driven the 125d and the A3 but I'd be interested to know views on the other two (particularly the ST as the cheapest).  Thanks (RunningMan  :wink:) in advance!

Sorry but I think you are wrong,

The GTI has only got one real rival, it's called the GTD
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: matchboy on 06 August 2013, 14:41
In my book, the "rivals" to the GTI are:

BMW 125d M Sport
Ford Focus ST-3
Audi A3 1.8 FSI Quattro
Mercedes A250 Eng by AMG

I was just wondering if anyone has driven any of these?  I've driven the 125d and the A3 but I'd be interested to know views on the other two (particularly the ST as the cheapest).  Thanks (RunningMan  :wink:) in advance!

Sorry but I think you are wrong,

The GTI has only got one real rival, it's called the GTD

I disagree I'm afraid - same price, completely different performance levels.  I don't see the GTD as a GTI rival at all (that's not dissing the car in anyway as its a brilliant motor!)
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Squit on 06 August 2013, 15:30
Surely 125i rather than 125d, which is more of a GTD rival?
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: domrees on 06 August 2013, 15:34
Yes.

And don't call me Shirley.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Hawaii-Five-O on 06 August 2013, 15:40
What about the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf 5 door?

0-60 mph 6.6 secs
150 mph
231 bhp
340 Nm (251 lb-ft)
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: CraigW on 06 August 2013, 15:49
What about the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf 5 door?

0-60 6.6 secs
150 mph
231 bhp
340 Nm (251 lb-ft)

Should that not be 0-60 days in 6.6 breakdowns?  :grin:
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: drisser on 06 August 2013, 16:25
How about a USED

Porsche 911 (997)
Porsche Cayman S
Aston Martin Vantage
Audi TT RS
Audi RS3
Merc AMG various models
BMW M3 / M5 / M6

 :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: matchboy on 06 August 2013, 16:34
Surely 125i rather than 125d, which is more of a GTD rival?

Yes, agreed!
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Snoopy on 06 August 2013, 20:23
What about the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf 5 door?

0-60 6.6 secs
150 mph
231 bhp
340 Nm (251 lb-ft)

Should that not be 0-60 days in 6.6 breakdowns?  :grin:
Nope, only 1 cloverleaf engine has gone bang so far unlike VW and Audi TSIs which are dieing like flys...

Plus Alfa sent engineers from Italy to diagnose and strip the engine down to find out why. VW and Audi just create a new engine to the dealers and brush issues under the carpet...
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Snoopy on 06 August 2013, 20:33
What about Seat Leon Cupra? My local Seat dealership wanted me to sign on the dotted line for one before he would give me a test drive. Needless to say, he didn't get my business, I got a Scirocco instead.

The new one has 300bhp so its in a different league ie. Golf R, A45, S3, M135i league!

An FR normally is the direct rival to the GTI using the same engine
The cupra from what ive read thats due next year will get 270ps and the current scirocco R manages fine with a similar output. The CupRa will have the GTI diff to help too.

The CupRa R could be an interesting car with 300ps and rumour s of 4wd therefore an S3

SEAT always had more powerful engines than VW versions since the mid 90s and so they should as they are under the Audi arm of the group and classed as a more sporty brand in the group because of it.

The mk1 leon cupra Rhad 210/225ps from 2003 the golf GTI got 150!
Its only took the GTI 10 years to catch up lol ;)


I think I know which dealership that was they tried that one on me once.
I think if your face and dress sense does not fit or you look too young and they think your just wasting their time its there line to get rid of you.
Salesmen are on 13k and sales meen bonus money so time to them is money.
I went back in a week or so later and got a test drive no problem but I spoke to someone else.

I actually like the look of the new 3 door leon.

Skoda octavia vRS is anothe GTI rival.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: monkeyhanger on 06 August 2013, 21:17
I think I know which dealership that was they tried that one on me once.
I think if your face and dress sense does not fit or you look too young and they think your just wasting their time its there line to get rid of you.
Salesmen are on 13k and sales meen bonus money so time to them is money.
I went back in a week or so later and got a test drive no problem but I spoke to someone else.

I actually like the look of the new 3 door leon.

It was the one on Scotswood Road Newcastle who also have/had a Ford dealership (Jennings or Patterson?). I was looking to trade a Golf in that had an RRP comparable to the Cupra when it was new, so I don't think I looked like I couldn't afford it. It was late in the day so maybe he couldn't be arsed so close to hometime. Either way he didn't seem that keen to follow through.

I always like the look of Leons for a year, then they start to look old to me - they seem to age quickly IMO.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: DougL on 06 August 2013, 21:19
I always like the look of Leons for a year, then they start to look old to me - they seem to age quickly IMO.

Agree completely. I like the current one outside, but think the dash looks very plain and dated already.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: SRGTD on 06 August 2013, 21:20

I actually like the look of the new 3 door leon.

Snoopy, I quite like both the 3 and 5 door versions. Interior quality is also massive leap forward compared with the mk2 version too; probably not quite up to the mk7 golf, but a significant improvement over the previous version.

When the time comes for me to change, I'll at least go and look at one and take a test drive. After all, it shares much of its underpinnings with the Golf, but arguably wears a sharper suit, so for me, it's worth consideration as an alternative to the Golf.

Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Snoopy on 06 August 2013, 23:59
Ive owned quite a few SEATs in my time as VW with the mk3 golf made me move over to the ibiza GTIs and Leon Cupras as they were more like a GTI than a VW GTI of mk3 or 4 types.
I still own a SEAT leon mk1 and in the previous 8 years of family ownership its had no issues. Unlike my newer supposedly superior previous and also my current  VW GTIs.
The SEATs may not have the touchy feely plastics but I have found them better screwed together with better basic engineering principals.
The looks of the mk2 leon is why I moved back to VW GTIs but im quite liking the look of the mk3 leon and have not been impressed by VW ownership.
This is why ive not bought a mk7 GTI yet as current and previous model ownership experience is making me a bit worried  im waiting to see how it all pans out with reliability, assembly quality, silly design issues etc as ive not been too impressed by the 5 or 6 in this regard.
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: Jimble on 07 August 2013, 07:07

I actually like the look of the new 3 door leon.

Snoopy, I quite like both the 3 and 5 door versions. Interior quality is also massive leap forward compared with the mk2 version too; probably not quite up to the mk7 golf, but a significant improvement over the previous version.

When the time comes for me to change, I'll at least go and look at one and take a test drive. After all, it shares much of its underpinnings with the Golf, but arguably wears a sharper suit, so for me, it's worth consideration as an alternative to the Golf.


Seen a few of the new Leon now and while it's an attractive car it just doesn't look finished to me for some reason? Can't put my finger on it.. :-\
Title: Re: GTI Rivals
Post by: matchboy on 07 August 2013, 09:16
The top of the range Leon FR we drove was very nice - all finished off nicely and was planted and very nice to drive.  It was just missing something.  I can't put my finger on it either.  Interior was better than expected but certainly felt cheap compared to the golf or the audi.  But then its a lot cheaper so that's to be expected.  It was a very nice car though.