Thoughts on the GTD

[ffrank]

One more GTDer reporting in.

Some of you may have seen my recent thread where I was thinking of switching to a GTI from the GTD. My mileage has reduced and with the new contributions the GTI could have been cheaper, and would have been a fun change - I really enjoyed driving one. One thing led to another and I started considering spending more on a car, and test drove an R, a Jag XE S V6, and hunted for a BMW 340i.

In the end I couldn't stomach paying off my negative equity (thanks VW), when I could keep the car and no doubt see the equity improve.

However, aside from the financials the real realisation for me was leaving the Jaguar garage after having a hoot in the Supercharged 3 litre XE. The salesperson had given us the keys for an hour, and it was an awesome engine to put through it's paces.

But when we came to leave, and we slunk back into the GTD - I gave it some welly round the nearby roundabouts and dual carriage way - with sport mode on - and we just burst out laughing. This little diesel Golf is not only an animal when you want it to be, but it has so many other things going for it as said so well already in this thread.

I was lucky to be ordering my GTD around the time the first Sport and Sound packs were arriving in the UK, so despite dealers still telling me the wrong info I took the plunge and boy I'm glad I did. 4 New Tyres + Sport and sound + a DTUK box + DCC + and for me a manual, makes for a very sporty drive.

And then conversely, on a drive back from the welsh coast on twisty A-roads last weekend, driving in comfort and staying in 3rd and 4th gear - the car just so effortlessly plants power and grip.... it still brings me great driving enjoyment.

I also still think it's one of the best looking cars around, I can't think of a car I prefer the look of (at this level )

Although I'm sure the new car temptations may raise their head again at some point, I won't be entirely surprised if I get to 4 years ownership and the car is still sitting outside. Not in a Stephen King fashion, I hope.

[kalimon]

Nice little report and spot on.
I've said it before, if I did anywhere close to 10,000 miles a year, I would have ordered a GTD instead of a GTI.
I've driven diesels for years and love the way they drive and the GTD is certainly a looker.

[Exonian]

Indeed, great summary ffrank and like kalimon I can't think of a better everyday car for someone who does average miles than a GTD in that spec: S&S, DTUK and decent tyres.
Looks.
Performance.
Dare I say value?
And running costs.

I do a lot of short journeys which stops the GTD from hitting a nailed on top spot in my car shortlist.

For the many of you on here who were early GTD adopters coming up to the end of your three years this summer and autumn with the low monthlies and therefore high GFV, where do you go from here to find a car as good with similar running costs that isn't a BMW barge?

[kalimon]

That's what I forgot to mention, the short journeys, of which I do many.
That more than anything is what unfortunately rules out the GTD for me.