Talk some sense into me...

[monkeyhanger]

got to admit the A1 and S1 left me a bit cold, someone said they thought a more door S1 would suit me as a daily but when i priced one up i may as well have a Golf R, i think they also made a mistake on the S1 in not making a dsg version, its a glorified Polo so never going to be up there in the handling stakes, love my Polo but drivers car it is not, all be it the manual is a peach

keep the GTI its a great car

I didn't realise that the S1 is only manual. My Mrs loves auto's now she's been spoilt with the DSG in her A1. The S1 would be a no for me then on that basis.

However, I'm sure they will eventually bring out a DSG version?

Polo GTI, the new 1.8 variant (not the hugely unreliable twin-charge 1.4) - available with 7 speed DSG, a little down on power vs the S1 though - available with generous discounts via a broker.

[monkeyhanger]

So which do you think I should go for next providing I don't stick with the GTi for the time being (can I cope with a baby & 3dr?)

Golf GTD DSG 5dr with options & discount = approx. £29k
BMW Saloon 335D X-Drive M-Sport Auto with options and discount = approx. £35k

Mmmmm 

If they ever get around to making it - GTDR? 4WD, 240PS (or 260PS) depending on where you read, likely to be no more expensive than the regular R, better specced than the Beemer as standard (fewer options needed), better residuals likely too. If I was getting a 335D X-drive i'd buy nearly new as the residuals aren't quite up there with Hot Golfs.

[corgi]

Agreed.... but expect it to corner like a 19th century sailboat 

Only joking of course..... but the handling would be a compromise in comparison to a hot hatch

Mmm, the 3-Series in RWD and 4WD form is a fine handling car, a nicely balanced chassis, plenty of grip, reasonable steering feel... handling better than the Golf? That's a subjective opinion... handling always is... so from your perspective the Golf GTD/GTI might handle better than a 3-Series M-Sport but having driven both, regularly, I'm not sure I would agree in general driving.

Road-holding, on the other hand, is objective and measurable, in terms of grip etc. I doubt that there's much in it.

[wigit]

Polo GTI, the new 1.8 variant (not the hugely unreliable twin-charge 1.4) - available with 7 speed DSG, a little down on power vs the S1 though - available with generous discounts via a broker.

I've been toying with selling the Blue GT for one of these as some good deals around, when specced up there was about £500 between the two

Going to get a demo for a day to see what i think, i want to wait ideally for the new platform as i think the chassis dynamics will make more fun

[monkeyhanger]

Don't lynch me for suggesting BMW, but there are some cracking savings just hit HUKD, including a £10100 saving on the RRP of a 335D X-drive M Sport 4 door Auto (amongst other 3 and 5 series).

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/bmw-530d-se-auto-save-10-246-31150-15-drive-deal-2119028#comments

[matchboy]

Don't lynch me for suggesting BMW, but there are some cracking savings just hit HUKD, including a £10100 saving on the RRP of a 335D X-drive M Sport 4 door Auto (amongst other 3 and 5 series).

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/bmw-530d-se-auto-save-10-246-31150-15-drive-deal-2119028#comments

10 grand off?!  Really?!  That's insane 

[2014GTi]

Don't lynch me for suggesting BMW, but there are some cracking savings just hit HUKD, including a £10100 saving on the RRP of a 335D X-drive M Sport 4 door Auto (amongst other 3 and 5 series).

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/bmw-530d-se-auto-save-10-246-31150-15-drive-deal-2119028#comments

10 grand off?!  Really?!  That's insane 

Its true, I have just spec'd one up with the toys I would want.... Discount coming out to £11,123.94.
I am seriously temped... my GTi is currently on PCP (VW) with about £20,000 remaining to settle.
I could either pay it off or part exchange it via BMW... mmm choices!

It is very premature of me to even consider changing it as I was only considering and thinking about changing once the baby has arrived.... eeeek. My GTi is barely a year old! 

[monkeyhanger]

The 5 series, as comfy as it would be is way too big for my needs, the 3 series screams "rep mobile", although rapid, not sure if they'd feel as dynamic as a Golf R if you started chucking it around. I bet one ordered now would arrive a month before my R though, but I'd be screwed on the GTD, doubt they'd give me more than WBAC money for it (£16k come April/May?).

[ffrank]

Agree about the 3 series Monkeyhanger, I considered it this year but there are so many of them and the hipster in me swayed to the seemingly rarer GTD. A friend had a 335d and it felt quite cramped inside also, but I didn't have my Golf at the time to compare directly.

With discussions mentioning the M235i and obviously the R, have people seen the Chris Harris video on the two? I just saw it in a youtube catch up. The R does fantastically.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtOZNp6GOxI

All this car talk has made me look at cars, but I'll settle for a Trevor-ed GTD shortly!

[wigit]

If that 335 had been a touring i would have been tempted as a daily for that money