Options in the OP;
1) Mk6 GTI
2) Mk6 GTD
3) 1 series Sport
4) Seat Leon FR
5) Alfa Guiletta Cloverleaf
Hmm... some great and some not so great cars in that list. The best approach for me would be a process of elimination and the first one to eliminate for me would be the Alfa. Loads of people rave about Alfa styling but it doesn't do anything for me. I personally find almost all of the other cars better looking with the Golf looking cleaner, the Leon more stylish and the 1 Series more muscular. Personal preference so don't feel compelled to agree. As for Alfa ownership... similar boat really as the styling. I prefer something solid and dependable and I just wouldn't have that piece of mind with an Alfa.
So that leaves the other 4.
Next up is the BMW simply because it represents a different style of motoring and thus, if it ticks the boxes, then the other options could be dismissed. There are the inevitable (and seemingly never ending) debates between FWD vs RWD, quality vs price, and, of course, image. Personally I like the 1 series (more so the coupe than the hatch) but I am a FWD man and I prefer the practicality of a Golf shaped hatch back for now.
If by now you haven't departed and ordered a BMW, then there's 3 options left which, quite ironically, are essentially the same car.
Making no qualms about it, the Leon is cheaper than the Golf. It does however offer the same practicality, the same engine, a similar drive and similar economy. Insurance will likely be the same and so will road tax (they may actually be identical but I've not looked it up so can't confirm).
A no brainer then? Not quite. The catch is that the Leon also feels cheaper. This comes across in a lot of the reviews of Seats vs VWs and having spent a fair bit of time in the mk2 Leon I can confirm that it does feel a good 10-15% lower quality than the Golf. The interior design isn't as classy in my opinion and the plastics are just that bit more scratchy. Switchgear is obviously shared between the models so nothings going to fall off any quicker on the Leon than in the Golf. And then there is the styling. The Leon is a good looking car with nice lines and a lot of style, but it does look big and in some ways looks more like an MPV than a hatch. A minor criticism I know.
Turning now to the 2 Golfs, the difference is in the engine. Both variants are expensive for what they are but that seems to be the way of the car market now. Of the two models, I plumped for the GTI. Although the economy of the GTD impressed me, I'm not a diesel convert. Furthermore, I'd wanted a GTI since I was a small kid so I wasn't really considering a diesel anyway.
The mpg of the diesel is great. So is the torque and, from what I've gathered on this forum, the engine has come a long way in terms of refinement. So it looks all good.
The performance of the petrol is better though and the mpg is still quite impressive. On my own I regularly get 40mpg+ which is pretty good I reckon. Certainly doesn't break the bank.
"What about a remap?" I hear someone cry. Yes a remap is a possibility and will increase the performance of any car. But for exactly that reason I wouldn't concern yourself about it at this stage. Whilst a mapped GTD will match standard GTI levels of performance, a mapped GTI will then pull ahead again in performance stakes.
So what's my verdict then?Well you may notice that I haven't picked a "winner" from the list (although I have dismissed the Alfa). This is for two reason. Firstly, the BMW offers a different ownership experience to the SEAT and VW options. It's more prestigious, higher quality and arguably more sporty (RWD and BMW's perfect driving machine recipe) but will be more expensive and less practical. For these reason's you'll either buy or dismiss the BMW.
As for the VAG group cars, it's more close run but again impossible to definitely pick a winner. For me the GTI is the best all rounder offering iconic status, great quality and refinement and strong performance. For others the GTD's blend of increased economy is the winning formula. And for others both the GTI and GTD are simply overpriced (and at £28k for an average spec you can't really blame them) so the FR offers the must have ingredients for a better price.
Apologies that I haven't given you a winner, but hopefully in not picking one I've given you a fairer outlook on the cars.
EDIT I just wanted to add a bit about the prices of the Golfs. Back when the Mk5 was released, the GTI was priced just under £20k which is a great price. The Mk6 increased in price and mine was around £23k brand new from the dealers with only the DSG as an optional extra. For the me the GTI spec came with everything I needed and some more so I found the car very well equipped (things like dual zone climate control, heated mirrors and auto dim mirrors were still optional extras on cars 2 years ago). A 2011 GTI however, spec'd identically to my own, would cost £27k. So in other words £4k more.
There's two ways to look at this. Firstly, is the 2011 car £4k more car than my 2009 (comparing them both brand new). For me it's not. Fancy lights and a colour display are not enough to justify the increase. There has also been an economic shift which accounts more for the increase but it's still a bit on the ridiculous side.
The second way to look at it is to see what the Golf is up against. For under £30k I can't find another car which for me, offers as well rounded a package as the GTI. With the optional DSG box and ACC (I would spec this on my next car) there is no situation which the Golf can't shine in. It is very practical with a great boot and very comfortable seats. The quality of the materials inside are pleasant. In every situation the ride is refined and, when driven hard, the car performs very well indeed. And the best thing is that with the DSG, when I'm not in the mood for a hot hatch, I just select 'D' and relax and the cars brings me home with the same class and composure as say a Mercedes C class or similar.
And to further reiterate my point... I will be buying another GTI based upon my experience with this car. It has impressed me thoroughly both in terms of performance, but also in just how far a humble car like the Golf has come.
If only VW dealers were as impressive.
