Interesting Conundrum ? Golf GT TDi or Merc C Coupe 220CDi AMG for same £

[drisser]

Been playing around online all afternoon and pondering about new motor where I will do a fair few miles and have therefore decided diesel and auto / dsg are a given.

Want something fairly sensible / practical, well built, reliable etc.

Golf TDI / GTD DSG is obviously up there, but an interesting conundrum - huge deposit contribution and discounts on the outgoing Merc C class coupe which is a decent 4 seater and looks not bad in my view.  Long and short of it can get well over 8 grand off a new one, bringing it it at similar price to a decently specced GT TDi or GTD - around £27k.

Anyone driven one of these Mercs ?   I know its not a direct comparison, and is more of a cruiser, but it seems an awful lot of car for £27k new .. the AMG sport edition too has every option you could want - only thing I could find to add was dark rear glass and auto box.

[itavaltalainen]

My colleague got the C220 Diesel (not AMG thou) and I have a well specced GT Golf estate with the 2.0 TDI... they are very different beasts.

Test drive both and pick whichever feels better to you... they are complete apples and pears, though I like the Merc for some of it's features. The Golf has other features I like.... on 7 days a week I'd go for the Golf 3 days, the Merc 3 days and the other day I'd end up not driving cos I couldn't make up my mind.

Both are sensible and reliable and all else you want (or not).

[Duroo72]

 GTD every time! Had the C220 for 6 months at start of 2013 and have the GTD since Jan'14 and have covered 34k so far.
They are 2 different cars really - the Merc sedate and smooth with power a little under whelming mine was an auto and felt a little uninvolving to drive good none the less with sleek looks.
The GTD a better more powerful and exciting car to drive imho, may not have the instant sex appeal of the C220 but more than makes up for it in all the places - for me it's a complete car.
 
 

[corgi]

the outgoing Merc C class coupe which is a decent 4 seater and looks not bad in my view.  Long and short of it can get well over 8 grand off a new one, bringing it it at similar price to a decently specced GT TDi or GTD - around £27k.

Anyone driven one of these Mercs ?

Yes, my girlfriend had an AMG one a while ago. They look good and they are quite smooth with the auto on good roads. I think the 220CDI engine is a little coarse and not that responsive, the ride was poor (crashy) and the handling numb. Her's wasn't that economical either.

If it were my money, I know where I'd be putting it... Think about a new 3-Series as well... some good discounts to be had there from what I've read. With the sport-auto...very good...

[drisser]

Hi Corgi

thanks for the info, good to know.  I had heard there were some very big discounts in the order of 20% + on the current 3 series, is that the same ballpark you heard ?

The golf is a really compelling all round car its hard to look past it, but at knocking on £30k you do start to see some other tempting mile munchers..

[monkeyhanger]

Drisser: HUKDs had some heavily discounted new BMW 3 and 5 series, including 335D M-Sport x-drive for 28% off list price, worth a search on there.

[Rhyso]

Be warned that BMW 335'd have a silly waiting list because apparently Brembo (who supply the brakes) can't make the parts quick enough.......

I know someone who ended up in a 5 series because he got fed up of waiting for the 3 series.  Weirdly the 5 series comes with Brembo brakes too......

[charv94]

Hi Corgi

thanks for the info, good to know.  I had heard there were some very big discounts in the order of 20% + on the current 3 series, is that the same ballpark you heard ?

The golf is a really compelling all round car its hard to look past it, but at knocking on £30k you do start to see some other tempting mile munchers..

The only thing with that C class is that it will be soon replaced, hence the huge discounts, its the old shape C now, something like a 4 series is more of a direct rival for that rather that 3 series. i understand the discounts might not be available on the 4 compared to the merc and 3 series. For me though, that C class is a no, it would bother me that it will be out dated in a few months.

[corgi]

I had heard there were some very big discounts in the order of 20% + on the current 3 series

Yes, in that ballpark...

[Jammy1]

Throwing mpg to the wind...What about the revised M135i 5dr for £26k?  Or a 328i M Sport Business Media for £25.5k?

Both at coast2coast cars.  Goodness, they do have some good prices on BMWs at the moment.