GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: drisser on 07 March 2015, 14:33
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GTi or GTD ?
Sound familiar ?
I find it quite funny that after originally driving a gti and really liking it then changing my mind, am now in the market for a sensible and fun daily driver as I have a nice BMW 330ci for weekend driving.
So I had pretty much settled on a golf, or maybe an A3 or scirocco. I was pondering maybe a golf GT tdi 150 or maybe 1.4 TSi. The main criteria was sensible running costs, fun to drive, something I will keep as a long term car as the BMW mig get moved on for a mother weekend car at some point, so basically a fun car that does it all.
Today I went and drove a GT tdi 150 and quite liked it, but it was a tad short of grunt and I thought the basic nav looked a bit cheap, did like the alcantara seats though. I was going to go and drive the TSi but decided the tdi 150 was the minimum grunt I would need..
Then I had a thought.. Why not try the GTD ? Can't believe I didn't really consider it before but maybe I thought it lived a little in the shadow of the GTi ( I still do to be honest) in terms of image. Luckily the dealer has a demo GTD so took it out for a couple of hours, and I have to say I LOVED it. It really does steer and handle like the GTi and was a world away from the GT 150 tdi. So much tighter chassis, firmer ride, more grunt. Do prefer the GT alcantara seats though.
Just loved the ride quality of the GTi and GTD I have to say, it's a great compromise and I was constantly telling myself, GTi or GTD !?
S now I have to go through
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Sorry posted by mistake before finished !
So basically I need to decide between the 2. It's the trade off of lower running costs v slightly better performance.. But I have to say I think in the real world the GTD can't give much away in on road performance. I do wish you could get the GTi wheels on the GTD I do much prefer them..
How many others went through this decision ? What made you make the final decision ? The GTD computer was showing long term 41 mpg am guessing the GTI does 30.. Ok lower tax and running costs, but higher purchase price, gti has 750 deposit contribution.. My dealer has promised me 10% off list minimum so am assured of a good deal anyway.. Aaaggghhhh help !
Will I look greenly at a GTI PP if I have a GTD !? I guess it's easier for me to spec a GTD at lower cost as I would only really want the pan roof as a main option ( can't have it with the 19 inch wheels can you ?). He GTD tempts me as a really sensible fun daily driver given i have the bmw anyway..
Am going to need therapy I think coming to a decision ! Help !
I guess one thing, it shows that the golf in Gti or GTD format is a compelling choice..
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I am new to this forum this will be my first post :smiley:
I bought a new MK7 GTI just over a month ago and coming from a MK6 GTD I couldn’t be happier. The GTD was a great motor and I could easily get over 55mpg on a 30 mile trip. I am lucky to see 35mpg in my GTI but that’s not a concern as I have changed jobs and my commute is much shorter.
Final decision for me is that the MK7 GTD was not enough of a change and with the shorter commute the GTIs mpg wasn’t a concern.
I know my situation will be different to yours but I hope I have helped :smiley:
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Best piece of advice is stop procrastinating and just make a decision :grin: :grin: They are both excellent cars and you won't be disappointed with either.
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Tell me about it Craig, I thought I was nearly there, then driving the GTD threw me into confusion !
I was convinvced it wasnt for me, it was GTI or go for basic model, but driving the GTD felt very similar to the GTi..
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For me, it all depends how many miles you're doing.
If you are all short(ish) journeys, got for a GTI - if the GTD is regenerating a lot, the MPG will drop to near GTI levels.
Both good cars though but if you can't decide and the MPG doesn't bother you too much, it's gotta be the GTI!
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Tell me about it Craig, I thought I was nearly there, then driving the GTD threw me into confusion !
I was convinvced it wasnt for me, it was GTI or go for basic model, but driving the GTD felt very similar to the GTi..
It really does come down to mpg then Andy. Both are pretty much identical in price and looks. Whatever one you go for you won't regret it :smiley:
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I had a GTI performance pack until I traded it in a week early. The dealer lent me a GTD and initially I loved it but by the end of the week the novelty had worn off and I was hankering after the GTI again. I personally would have regretted not having the GTI if I had chosen the GTD a year ago.
It's your call but I know what I would do !! :whistle:
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I think if it comes down to just MPG and the fact diesel is a bit of a lazier drive, need to get my excel sheet out..
I reckon in my new job I will be doing about 30 miles each way commute + there is a chance I will have to be out and about a bit with work, hence the GTD is certainly worth considering.. so I would be doing minimum 12k a year just getting to work and back based on 4 days a week (BMW 1 day a week ) + some other work driving..
I worked out based on 30 MPG v 42 for GTD and 50 for a GT TDi 150, the GTi would cost about £1k a year more in fuel than a GT 150, and about £450 a year more than the GTD, so not huge amounts..
I am off to work out the other costs of buying and owning one v the other :rolleyes:
Maybe I should just but an older Mk5 GTi and not worry about it !!
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For what it's worth, over 4500 miles my GTI has averaged 37.4 mpg (manually calculated) on regular shell unleaded. A shade over 14p per mile which I think is pretty good. Having said that, my 12 mile commute is done during off peak hours and I reckon it would drop significantly if I was regularly caught up in crawling traffic.
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For referance our GTI with 4800 miles has done 35.6mpg. Mixed driving.
Ken
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I reckon for most people not driving like Lewis Hamilton, the GTD will give you 10mpg more than the GTI.
Remember to factor in the extra cost of diesel... and the extra cost of a diesel engined car to buy (maybe chuck something in about residuals too) but a lower road tax.
Without getting the calculator, I think there's not much in it unless you are seriously stacking up the miles. The difference will be between when the money comes out of your pocket.
In terms of performance, the GTI obviously has the edge, but in the real driving world, the GTD is no slouch and will kiss goodbye to most other things on the road in most scenarios if you push it hard.
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I reckon for most people not driving like Lewis Hamilton, the GTD will give you 10mpg more than the GTI.
Remember to factor in the extra cost of diesel... and the extra cost of a diesel engined car to buy (maybe chuck something in about residuals too) but a lower road tax.
The GTD is cheaper to buy than the GTI, but the fuel is more expensive, so it comes down to which one you prefer and how many miles you are doing each year.
I'm getting just under 35 mpg from my GTI, and over the whole time I had my A3 1.6 TDI, got 47 mpg with similar driving - so I would probably have got similar from a GTD had I gone down that route.
I don't do that high a mileage and I preferred the image of the GTI which is why I chose it.
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With those figures and the 10p per litre difference between petrol and derv, its actually about 1-3p per litre cheaper to be burning petrol.
You'd have to add in all the other costs, but I still think its probably about the same per annum on someone doing 12k...
The only time it makes a massive difference is if you are a company car driver, when the derv CO2 figure makes a HUGE difference in BIK tax.
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Tell me about it Craig, I thought I was nearly there, then driving the GTD threw me into confusion !
I was convinvced it wasnt for me, it was GTI or go for basic model, but driving the GTD felt very similar to the GTi..
Craig says it all as think as all those having same dilemma are happy with the final choice be it either the GTi or GTD and that mainly comes from the driver experience being so good for both that you never felt like cheated self in making the wrong choice.
Running costs took my priority so it was GTD but in normal driving conditions I am hardly left slouching in the GTD especially when use Sport with the DSG.
Looks good to, the Nogaro wheels really stand out and when you ever see old model Audi A3 like personally had you realise how baulky and dated it looks. Still genuinely gets looks now (maybe more if ever get to clean the winter grime off it)
90% of time though am in 'comfort' and just moving around in the traffic like everyone else and it excels in these conditions.
GTi will give the bigger smile when pushing it but maybe not by as much as would think and does have the badge kudos but most of the time they both perform quite equally day to day, except in MPG (though GTi is very good really when see numbers put up here)
I call the GTD the 'perfect compromise' when ever asked about it. But think from this forum and honesty within it you can be quite assured that there is no real wrong decsion you ever be cursing.
Keeping the GTD long term as the family needs a comfortable 5 door with long distance capability and economy and can see it doing that for me next 10 years +
In 2016 will be going the R/S3 3-door route for that weekend driving you alluded to.
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Thanks for all the thoughts guys it actually really helps me keep it in perspective !
I am also looking for this purchase to be a 5 year plus car as I can swop the 330ci for something else if needs be andy that respect I agree with you MJH the GTD really is a great all round compromise.
It doesn't sound like the running costs over the life of the car will really be at much different unless doing mega miles, I was thinking the gti would be returning 30mpg but it sounds like some are getting much better. More than half my drive to work is a nice free flowing dual carriage way so ought to be good for economy..
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I have had quite a few cars in my time, am early 40's and to me there is just something about a Gti.....I grew up with a Gti and I have had a few, Mk3 & Mk4. I came from an Audi a3 Sportback Black Edition 1.8T and I was looking at a Mk6 Gtii n 5 door.
Then the Dealer said have you seen the new Mk7Gti, and I said no just in mag's and the web. Once I was in it and the wife said do you want one and that was it, I havent looked back despite the problems I have had with it, it hasnt put me off getting my new replacment......it's a Gti thing and they will always be the No1 hot hatch :wink:
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For the average 10k miles pa motorist, a new GTD will cost about £45 a month less to run than a GTI in fuel savings and tax disc savings (based on a solid average 35mpg on the GTI in the summer vs 50mpg on the GTD). It used to be £110 a month including residuals, but I was quite surprised to see the GTD residuals drop right off after just looking. The £750 deposit contribution on the GTI more than cancels out the fact that the GTI costs £565 more than the GTD, and eats into 1/2 the GFV difference between the 2 cars as it has shrunk to just £350ish (from about £1500). Looking at both on finance, there is only £2.50 a month premium on the GTIs finance.
Looks like VW have tweaked the residuals to get people buying GTIs again (as they were tempted by the R). So you had the R cannibalising GTIs sales, and now VW wants the GTI to cannibalise GTD sales.
I was all for saving £110 a month buying the GTD over the GTI at launch, but £47.50 a month extra all in? I'd get the GTI now unless I was doing a lot more miles.
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Just had a look at the finance and with the same deposit the GTD and GTi are almost identical in terms of both monthly payment and final GFV.
So it really just comes down to running costs and I guess there isn't much in unless doing mega mileage..
I think to be honest the gti image just swings it for me and is probably worth the slightly extra running costs.. Am visualizing one in tungsten silver with pan roof and PP :drool:
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First poster here....I am also going through a similar dilemma and I was hoping you guys could help me straighten this out.
If I am doing 6000 miles a year. and I could buy the Golf GTI or GTD for pretty much the same price (around £22k). Does it really work out more economical to just buy a GTI? I will be keeping it for around 6 years and then selling it. Thanks!
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On 6 k a year I would def be buying the gti
I am leaning that way for 12k a year..
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On 6 k a year I would def be buying the gti
I am leaning that way for 12k a year..
I am going to lease a GTD and only do round 7000 miles a year. It is £60 a month more for the GTI so not an option for me.
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Thanks. When you say that, is this because at around 6k miles a year it is cheaper to actually run a Gti? Or are you saying that a Gti would only cost marginally more to run and you would be willing to pay that little more for the added fun of a Gti?
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Thanks. When you say that, is this because at around 6k miles a year it is cheaper to actually run a Gti? Or are you saying that a Gti would only cost marginally more to run and you would be willing to pay that little more for the added fun of a Gti?
I wouldn't say it was cheaper to run the GTI at 6k a year, but the differences would be minimal.
Also, running a GTD for that small amount of mileage (especially if a lot of it is town driving) won't do it any good - DPF regens etc. will also ruin the economy.
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Thanks. When you say that, is this because at around 6k miles a year it is cheaper to actually run a Gti? Or are you saying that a Gti would only cost marginally more to run and you would be willing to pay that little more for the added fun of a Gti?
The GTI will always cost more to fuel than the GTD, but the residual differences that used to really sway the balance are now gone. On only 6k miles a year, that GTI will cost £25 a month more than a GTD, but on only 6k miles pa you might suffer DPF issues if it doesn't get a few long runs over a fortnight, which will really clobber your mpg. As a GTD owner myself I would say get the GTI.
The winter mpg dips a lot more on a GTD than a GTI too.