So, why did we go go for the GTI over the 135i?

[Gung-Ho]

Wowza!!!! You really have raided the options bin!!! No wonder you got a cracking deal... All that lot must have pushed the total cost to around £35k?? (just a guess).

Total price including petrol (cheeky buggers add £40 on the bill for petrol) and tax was £35775 (forgot to include black panel display in the options I listed before), but the deal I got brought it down to £32,200.

The golf spec I was looking at comes to £33,255 (before any discount), hence it was a pretty easy decision. Yes, the M135i has more in common with the Golf R, but that just highlights the relative bargain that is the M135i and the expensiveness of the new GTI, particularly if you go for 5 door DSG and a few options, especially leather.

This has been my argument all along... The two cars are worlds apart in terms of performance, but are evenly matched when it comes to pricing!

[am1w]

@Squit: Nice one. That car is a real rocket. Frightened me when I first drove it. Colour in and out? Did you not spec the Pro Nav? It's pretty awesome.
I managed a bit more ..... near 15%! 

[am1w]

I think when people start driving their GTIs they will will be dumbstruck by its brilliance.
I'd like to try an R or even an RS if they make one.

[AAddict]

The £1500 vw ask for an automatic box makes it look expensive for people that need auto.

[dubber36]

The £1500 vw ask for an automatic box makes it look expensive for people that need auto.

Need auto, or prefer?

[AAddict]

The £1500 vw ask for an automatic box makes it look expensive for people that need auto.

Need auto, or prefer?

Ok, Ok, old people and Americans. 

[Jimble]

The £1500 vw ask for an automatic box makes it look expensive for people that need auto.

Need auto, or prefer?

Ok, Ok, old people and Americans. 

Oi!! I'm neither old or American!!

[CraigW]

Sorry, im still not buying this that they are comparable in price. Forgetting any negotiated discounts the 3 door GTI vanilla is £25,845 book value. The 3 door 135 is advertised at £30,555. That's still nearly a price differential of £5k which is not insignificant. 

[AAddict]

Sorry, im still not buying this that they are comparable in price. Forgetting any negotiated discounts the 3 door GTI vanilla is £25,845 book value. The 3 door 135 is advertised at £30,555. That's still nearly a price differential of £5k which is not insignificant.

Also, the GFV on the M135i is only the same as the GTI (even though the price is £5k higher).

[Bill_the_Bear]

Sorry, im still not buying this that they are comparable in price. Forgetting any negotiated discounts the 3 door GTI vanilla is £25,845 book value. The 3 door 135 is advertised at £30,555. That's still nearly a price differential of £5k which is not insignificant.

The figures quoted above where the cars are the "same" or "similar" in price (£32k for 135i and £33 for GTI) are for a cars with options and a large discount on the BMW and no discount on the GTI... 

I think I can summaries this thread by saying:

• The 135i has better performance
• Whereas the GTI is more versatile
• The 135i is pretty cheap when you consider performance
• The GTI is pretty expensive when you consider performance
• If your budget is between £25 and £30 (i.e. you spec a GTI with a few options) then the GTI is several grand cheaper, which can easily be the difference between a sale or not

I've gone for the GTI and I'm paying quite a packet for it with the options.  Yes I could get a 135i (with a few less options that I kinda would want) but do I really want to do that for 1-1.5 seconds faster to 60?  In my case I will be very happy with the GTI performance, the history of the brand and the "can do anything" nature of the car... especially with a young family that I have to consider!

EDIT:
zerotosixty tells me that the 135i gets there in 4.8 which is 1.6 seconds faster than the GTI, but anecdotally the GTI can knock at least 0.4 off that... whatever.
Thats brutally fast for the BMW, but that alone won't sway me this time round.