Dissapointing GTD Reviews

[Jimble]

I’m just driving a Focus TDI at the moment so either car would be a big step up for me. Looking back at the mark 6 GTD the reviews are very good 5 stars in most cases, I was just surprised with the mark 7 reviews, but I guess that’s because VW really nailed the new GTI. 

The biggest problem is that most of the reviews are compared to the GTI rather than other performance diesels in the class which imo is probably top of!

[Gordor]

Quite right Jimble... why the reviewers test the GTD against the GTI makes no sense.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

I’m just driving a Focus TDI at the moment so either car would be a big step up for me. Looking back at the mark 6 GTD the reviews are very good 5 stars in most cases, I was just surprised with the mark 7 reviews, but I guess that’s because VW really nailed the new GTI. 

The biggest problem is that most of the reviews are compared to the GTI rather than other performance diesels in the class which imo is probably top of!

Couldn't agree more with this. It's extremely unfair to pit the GTD against the GTI. Nuts! And very lazy journalism thats really starting to bug me.

This new Mk7 GTD needs to compared to its peers;

BMW 120d M Sport 181 bhp
Merc A220 AMG Sport 167 bhp
Alfa JTDM Veloce 167 bhp
Mini Cooper SD 140 bhp
Vauxhall GTC Coupe CDTi bi-turbo 192 bhp
Ford Focus TDCi 163 bhp
Seat Leon FR 181 bhp

Now the above would make a great group test!

Should I email it to AutoExpress

[Exonian]

I think there will be a hell of a lot of private buyers who will consider both the GTI and GTD. They both have their strengths and weaknesses but at least the higher torque of the GTI should give it a bit better 'feel' on the road than the mk6 GTI (and mk5 and mk4 and mk3 etc) needing far less gear shifting to make progress.

For company car drivers then yes, the other Diesel cars in roughly the same price segment will be the ones considered, but private buyers are a different kettle of fish. I'd be happy with either but the GTI stirs the heart for me more.

[tuscan]

I wanted a diesel car.  I choose the top of the range diesel.  If I wanted a petrol I would of choose the GTI.  They are like night and day and in my opinion should never be compared to each other.  And as for poor reviews I havent seen anyone drive one yet.  The build quality will be superb and it will drive lovely.  It just wont set your pants on fire!

[Exonian]

I wanted a diesel car.  I choose the top of the range diesel.  If I wanted a petrol I would of choose the GTI.  They are like night and day and in my opinion should never be compared to each other.  And as for poor reviews I havent seen anyone drive one yet.  The build quality will be superb and it will drive lovely.  It just wont set your pants on fire!

As standard no, but a remapped GTD would certainly light up the tarmac!!! 

[Gryzor]

Part of the problem (and the appeal) is that they made the GTD far too similar to the GTI in terms of appearance and specification.  So, it quite naturally gets compared to the GTI, and I actually don't see anything wrong with that given how closely they are related.  You just have to read the reviews with a different perspective, and take notice about what actual owners and those who have driven it in the real world say.  I'm sure that those who bought the GTD did so because of the lower entry cost, better fuel economy, lower road tax, and higher residuals.  To that end, I highly doubt anybody who buys one will be disappointed, but when it comes to reviews, they are always going to have some bias.  The GTD is obviously going to be a lovely car to drive, but it's also not going to have the "pep" of its petrol-powered sibling, or the street-appeal.

[monkeyhanger]

Part of the problem (and the appeal) is that they made the GTD far too similar to the GTI in terms of appearance and specification.  So, it quite naturally gets compared to the GTI, and I actually don't see anything wrong with that given how closely they are related.  You just have to read the reviews with a different perspective, and take notice about what actual owners and those who have driven it in the real world say.  I'm sure that those who bought the GTD did so because of the lower entry cost, better fuel economy, lower road tax, and higher residuals.  To that end, I highly doubt anybody who buys one will be disappointed, but when it comes to reviews, they are always going to have some bias.  The GTD is obviously going to be a lovely car to drive, but it's also not going to have the "pep" of its petrol-powered sibling, or the street-appeal.

The GTD being a carbon copy of the GTI in everything but the engine under the bonnet is the biggest appeal to me. You essentially get a GTI with the vast majority of the performance in everyday driving (torque makes up for losses in off the line acceleration), and 30% more economy in a package that will cost the average miler around a grand a year less overall to run it for 3 years than an actual GTI.

If the GTD had been nothing like a GTI in spec and styling then i'd happily cop for the extra. The list price difference is not really a factor on it's own - it's barely more than the cost of metallic paint, but factor in the fuel and tax savings and slightly better residuals accumulatively it makes a difference you will notice in your pocket for not much difference in performance you can use every day.

That said, comparing a GTI to a GTD in performance terms isn't a great comparison.

A meaningful comparison would be to find out whether the GTD is the best Hot Diesel hatch at it's pricepoint. Most people buying a GTD are doing so in preference to other diesel competitors, not as a compromise to a GTI (although the huge improvement in fuel efficiency on the MK7 GTI  does blur the lines a bit - a 55mpg ACT version of the GTI engine would be a GTD killer for me).

[mjh_056]

All good points and you can add to them that for those leasing (depending on scheme) there is also possibility of additional C02 concessions (more ££ to spend) - Standard 3 door manual GTI at additional and high cost to me + BIK or my GTD 5 door DSG selection with all options listed below at zero cost aside from BIK to me.

So we all vary here in how we balance our selection be it private or lease - my selection was very easy as have plenty of other demands for my ££ elsewhere!

Actually thinking of selling our present 2nd car and getting a MKV GTI being here for a while at about £6-7k but the main car has to be an all rounder that wife will drive as regularly as me and will have regular passengers.

Think the performance aspect is getting underrated due to the GTI comparisons as my present 170BHP very much holds its own in day day driving with a ready surge of power/speed when needed and having to do regular lanes as rat runs to Motorways, I can vouch for fun factor there to

GTD will have more power, is lighter and if GTI reviews are anything to go by the handling is superb so I am expecting a pretty good experience performance wise as use my present as a guide (expecting GTD to better all round except maybe in wet)

[RikWebb]

All good points and you can add to them that for those leasing (depending on scheme) there is also possibility of additional C02 concessions (more ££ to spend) - Standard 3 door manual GTI at additional and high cost to me + BIK or my GTD 5 door DSG selection with all options listed below at zero cost aside from BIK to me.

So we all vary here in how we balance our selection be it private or lease - my selection was very easy as have plenty of other demands for my ££ elsewhere!

Actually thinking of selling our present 2nd car and getting a MKV GTI being here for a while at about £6-7k but the main car has to be an all rounder that wife will drive as regularly as me and will have regular passengers.

Think the performance aspect is getting underrated due to the GTI comparisons as my present 170BHP very much holds its own in day day driving with a ready surge of power/speed when needed and having to do regular lanes as rat runs to Motorways, I can vouch for fun factor there to

GTD will have more power, is lighter and if GTI reviews are anything to go by the handling is superb so I am expecting a pretty good experience performance wise as use my present as a guide (expecting GTD to better all round except maybe in wet)

Mine is a company car - and yes, although the GTi is cheaper on the face of it, the BIK is a deal breaker, the GTD comes out a lot cheaper and thus why I chose the GTD - well, that coupled with the possible milage I may do