Good base specification... Or not?

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Started looking at the standard specifications for the equivalent A Class, BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. Just to see what the competition are offering.

I think we've done pretty well with the base spec of the Mk7 GTI/GTD (well, here in the UK anyway - sorry IRE peeps).

The key things you get as standard (some of which we almost taken for granted):

Bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRL's & Fog's
Automatic Distance Control (+ adaptive cruise)
18" Alloys
Progressive Steering
Climate Control (dual-zone)
Unique Tartan sports seats
Parking sensors front and rear
DAB radio
Telephone prep
Heat insulating glass (65% tint)
Auto wipers and lights
Electric folding mirrors

Lots off the list are optional extras on the A Class, BMW and A3. This would put their base + extras through the roof towards 30k and over. That's a shed load of money for a C-segment hot hatch!

For instance the A Class A250 BLUEEFFICIENCY ENGINEERED BY AMG AUTO 5DR charges:

£420 DAB
£570 Bi-Xenons
£530 Climate Control
£880 Radar Distance Control
£310 Dimming Mirror & Folding Wing mirrors
£360 Telephone prep
£340 Pre-safe (which we get with ADC)

That little lots comes to a whopping £3,410!!! Add the base price £28,805 and it comes to £32,215. Hell-fire!

I know some will say that the other marques are premium, even so, a VW Golf GTI is hardly a low-rent

Just wondered if you agreed or not?

[Bill_the_Bear]

Also the A class is crap.  Just sayin.

My experience with A3s are that they are awesome.  Can't comment on the 1 series other than I don't like its looks.

[AAddict]

The standard UK Spec GTI is awesome compared to competitors and especially to the MK6 GTI.

[master_hayabusa]

I think it is very good, particularly the top three in your list

[Gryzor]

Personally, if VW took away all the options, I'd be very happy indeed with the base spec.  It's a lot of cash, but then you also get a lot for it.

[p3asa]

That is a phenomenal amount of standard extras. Just having a standard GTI would probably be enough for quite a few folk.
It makes the MK6 GTI look poverty spec.

No wonder VW keep changing the configurator, they are probably worried they have given too much away.

[Sootchucker]

Oh sh1t........

My GTD with all the options came to over £32k list (gulp) although I obviously didn't pay that. But to be fair, the A3 sportback (2.0TDI 150ps) I was looking at (with a similar spec) was just under £34k !

[Exonian]

I've just got to agree with the comments about it making the mk6 look poor value.
It's far from cheap but at least reasonable value.
The only thing I'm dreading is a very protracted lead time and a very late delivery bearing in mind the Leon Cupra will be previewed soon... I hope I haven't made a big mistake!!

[Bill_the_Bear]

The only thing I'm dreading is a very protracted lead time and a very late delivery bearing in mind the Leon Cupra will be previewed soon... I hope I haven't made a big mistake!!

Cupra smoopra... hold strong dude!

Anyway they always get carried away with the styling of the cupra and it ends up looking like a pigs arse.

[Gryzor]

Have to agree, never been a fan of the later Leons in any flavour really.  If would also seem that the Cupra is also going more for performance first.