Golf R Line

[mcmaddy]

I suppose it becomes a different car in a better climate and surroundings instead of the dreary uk 

[monkeyhanger]

I never was a fan of driving the original shape mini when I passed my test early '93. Tiny, cramped, noisy, and you could feel every stone on the road. Might've been top of it's game in the 60s, but 30-odd years of tech hadn't moved the mini on all that much. When it was a choice between taking my mam's mini out or my dad's Granada Ghia 2.8i Estate, it was the Ford every time for me.

The new one really only shares a badge. I'll be willing to give it a fair go when the missus is picking a car that i'll be paying for.

[CraigW]

My girlfriend had the Mini Cooper S a few years ago and it was a cracking little car. It handled brilliantly and it had enough punch to keep you happy. However, it suffered from carbon build up after only 2 years and the engine had to be stripped and rebuilt. The ride was also rock hard due to the insufferable run flat tyres.

[isleaiw]

Drisser,

MPG wouldn’t be massively up the list of priorities for the wife’s car if my next job (following redundancy in June) isn’t so far away that I consider splitting the mileages between 2 cars. On the assumption I’m close enough to be driving the R all the time, she’d be going 9 miles to work and back, and maybe popping to her mam’s 16 miles away once a week in it. I doubt it would do more than 7k miles in a year.

I did have a look in a Mini Cooper recently (in the Mini shop by Leidesplein in Amsterdam (we were there for New Year). It looked massive when I was next to it, I had to do a double take and make sure I wasn’t standing next to one of the fat Mini variants. Funky layout, but the one thing that I didn’t like (such a daft little thing) – plastic door catches for opening the door from the inside. From a tactile point of view it felt like it wouldn’t last 5 minutes before it would snap in your hand, opening the door to get out (yes it sounds really daft to me too once I see it typed out). Everything else seemed reassuringly solid, and I’m sure it’ll drive more composed than a Polo that probably isn’t more than 3 years from moving to MQB and all that brings (better handling and composure, but really thin body panels).

I looked into the costs of the Mini at the start of the year, and a lack of decent discount with lower residuals (presumed, based on GFV – perhaps BMW’s have low GFVs but higher equity for actual p/x?) made the Polo GTI look better value (I couldn’t believe the Polo GTI had a GFV of around 50%, Polos used to have quite poor residuals for a German brand car). There wasn’t much in the actual costs of expected depreciation between the 2, but it was like comparing a £16k car to a £19k car and them coming out at the same cost to run…you’d think you were getting better value for money losing £7k over 3 years on a £19k car that cost you £16k (due to discounts and dealer contribution), than losing £7k on a £16k car that cost you £15k (if you’re lucky – I couldn’t find more than £800 off a Mini Cooper, perhaps that has changed 3 months down the line).

I would have to drive both to have an opinion on whether I’d rather be driving (albeit occasionally) the Mini or the Polo. Could the better handling (presumed) overcome the 55ps deficit? Still puzzled by the DCC being a £300 option on the GTI. If it’s as all singing and dancing as the the MK7 version, it may well tidy up the pre-MQB Polo chassis. Been trying to get a test drive in a Polo GTI to find out but absolutely no-one has one as a demo.

We have one as the wife's car - she didnt like the Golf GTi so I had to inherit that and buy her a Mini (she had a 1.6 Cooper before, now the 1.5T). Its a bit more than £15k (Chilli, Media, Pano roof, LED lights etc took the list beyond £20k. Its on the same lease terms as the Golf was and is £15 a month more than the Golf (which was a bit of steal as a stock car at a VERY good discount). Think I managed about £2k off the Mini - but we did buy a car in UK stock and took delivery just before xmas.

Inside I would say that the Mini feels every bit as special as the Golf, I dont think it is built quite as well but the materials are good and it has impressed me. Hoot to drive and pretty nippy. Wife says sat nav is better than the (base) version in Golf.

She is MORE than happy with it, cant see her wanting anything else. We looked at the A1 - not interested. Wasnt bothered about a Polo of any description. If you want a happy wife, best let her choose and I suspect the Mini could be right up there.

I am quite happy to have inherited the Golf - PP, Winter Pack, Discover Nav, 3 doors. Shame at the moment I have a company Volvo (XC60) to get me to work and back on my 700 miles a week commute, the Golf doesnt come out a great deal. Will get more use come June when job change comes along....

Ian

[monkeyhanger]

The wife has always liked VAG cars, her driving instructor years ago had a Lupo GTI for giving the lessons in. She really likes the look of the A1, but as they come with nigh-on no practical  equipment in any guise (you get all the sporty stuff in the S-line, but none of the things you might really need), she’d need a lot of extras, which makes it a poor buy in the residual stakes. She’s always liked the Polo too and a Polo GTI really appeals to her after I dissuaded her from an S1 + £4k options. She likes the look of the Mini, but she’s not hung up on wanting one over a Polo or A1.

[CraigW]

The wife has always liked VAG cars, her driving instructor years ago had a Lupo GTI for giving the lessons in. She really likes the look of the A1, but as they come with nigh-on no practical  equipment in any guise (you get all the sporty stuff in the S-line, but none of the things you might really need), she’d need a lot of extras, which makes it a poor buy in the residual stakes. She’s always liked the Polo too and a Polo GTI really appeals to her after I dissuaded her from an S1 + £4k options. She likes the look of the Mini, but she’s not hung up on wanting one over a Polo or A1.

She'll never know unless she goes for a test drive in one

[MAW73]

The wife has always liked VAG cars, her driving instructor years ago had a Lupo GTI for giving the lessons in. She really likes the look of the A1, but as they come with nigh-on no practical  equipment in any guise (you get all the sporty stuff in the S-line, but none of the things you might really need), she’d need a lot of extras, which makes it a poor buy in the residual stakes. She’s always liked the Polo too and a Polo GTI really appeals to her after I dissuaded her from an S1 + £4k options. She likes the look of the Mini, but she’s not hung up on wanting one over a Polo or A1.

I just sorted out a deal for a new Polo GTi for my mum.

5 door / DSG / Pure White / Jacara Cloth

Options:

Voice activation for audio and navigation - £185.0
Discover navigation + European map data - £700.0
Climatronic air conditioning - £380.0
Rear view camera - £240.0
Winter pack - Polo - £360.0
Electric folding door mirrors - £160.0
Light and sight pack A - Polo - £150.0
Cruise and Park Pack - Polo - £400.0
Front centre armrest with storage compartment - £110.0
Sport Performance Kit with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) - £ 250.00

List price with option £ 23,915
Got 13.4% off this price, saving £3,205 off (note: includes £1,000 VW finance contribution)
So price after discount £ 20,710-00

Used Carwow.co.uk to do the negotiationg! Superb website, would certainly use again. Went with the second best dealer offer which was only 27 miles from home. The best offer was 14.4% off but the dealer was 114 miles from mum and dads house.

I'll be interested in having a shot in the baby gti when mum gets. Delivery is around 3-4 months.

I might have to get one of these for the wife when her A1 PCP comes to an end.

[Exonian]

Nice one Martin, we're looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Polo GTI.
White really suits it from the pics and vids I've seen, I'm sure your mum will love it.

It's a bit of a  moment when you look at the full retail price after options though! Thank goodness for brokers/Carwow!

[dereks]

Even with the discount 21k is a lot for a Polo.

Does look nice though

[monkeyhanger]

MAW73: You  will have to let us know how the £350 DCC system gets on. Whether it is less sophisticated than the £800 Golf system or whether VW are just taking a lend of Golf owners who spec it. I'd say you're more likely to want/need it on a non-MQB Polo than a MK7 Golf.