Decision time... ?

[Sootchucker]

OK guys, it's fast approaching the time when I usually start to look for my next vehicle. Based upon delivery times last time (about 7 months) and I don't think it's got much better, that would be approaching the full 3 years with the GTD by the time any new replacement arrived (if I ordered a new one by September).

Now usually I get itchy feet and there's plenty out there to tempt me, but to be honest, I really like the Golf. I have it on PCP, so there's the small matter of the GMFV to pay off, but I have the money for that already sat in my account, so it would not be a problem to pay it off. To be honest, at about £14.5k to pay it off, for a very well equipped (then it would be a 3 year old) GTD with low mileage (i will be about 25k miles at the time), would be a very good buy if sourcing privately I think.

Then there's the option of getting another Golf - either another GTD or possibly a GTI, and get the benefit of the MIB II infotainment system with the Mirrorlink (with Apple Play and Android Auto), and also take the opportunity to add a few extras I missed off (heated steering wheel and windscreen and perhaps the 19" Santiagos or sunroof option).

I could pay a big chunk off as a deposit (think VWFS will let you pay a maximum of 25% of the value of the car as a deposit), and looking at the deals on Orangewheels, it looks like a discount of between 8-10% is fairly easily achievable, which would keep my repayments similar to what I'm paying now.

I suppose the question I'm posing (eventually), is am I just better (if I still want to be driving a MK7 Golf), paying my current one off and driving it for a further couple of years until the MK8 comes along, or chop it in for a new MK7 on a PCP over 3 years.

I've been back and forwards many times and the wife is now sick of talking about it, so I thought I'd bore you lot 

[2014GTi]

I would wait for the Golf GTI Edition 40 or Golf R420 

[Mark V GTD]

Its a very personal decision - for me, paying 300 plus a month it has to be a car less than two years old so I start to get itchy feet shortly in to the second year!

Prices - you can get 12% off via drivethedeal.

Options - well I am always tempted too - but this time I don't think I would go for built in navigation again - its just too expensive and I am not at all sure I am getting much back from the 2 grand plus spent on Discover Pro and Dynaudio... not sure there is a heated steering wheel option for GTI/GTD/R yet but these things do seem to be in a constant state of change at the moment....

Your first decision is going to be petrol or diesel....

[mcmaddy]

Pro nav is only 1200 this time with tech pack and heated steering wheel is now an option. I'm going either gtd/r estate out waiting for the tiguan r line, at the moment haha

[Mark V GTD]

I don't think I would go for it even with the reduced price in the future....

[mcmaddy]

The 6.5 is ok but I just feel the 8”one looks better. I know it's expensive but you can't even retro fit them so that's another reason I'd go for it..

[monkeyhanger]

I'd keep the GTD (considering all the toys it has on it), unless you're going to make a radical change like getting an R - for me it was as much about gaining traction as it was for the extra ponies, and the MK7 is so refined, the GTD doesn't feel quick at all to me compared to my Scirocco 170TDI (I mean that as testament to how good the MK7 chassis is, not a criticism of the GTD).

To swap your GTD for a newer one just to get faux-leather door cards and a slightly better head unit seems crazy to me - the MK8 isn't that far away if you're prepared to keep your car almost the full 5 years.

Swapping for a GTI when you could get better in gear performance (not so much off the line) by putting a box or remap on your GTD and still getting good mpg also seems a bit crazy. Unless you get an order in for an ED40.

Did you take out the extended warranty on your GTD or would years 4 and 5 be squeaky bum time? As a loyal VW customer, you should be due plenty of goodwill towards remedial work, should the worst happen.

On paper it seems a daft time for me to swap a GTD for an R, my commute is about to double to 24 miles each way with my new job i'll be starting sometime in June - but i'm trying to think about more than the extra cost and almost certainly getting the missus a Polo GTI so we can swap on a weekly basis to keep the miles down on both (again the head says "buy her a TDI and reap the fuel savings when it's my turn driving it to work" - might've been tempted with a 2.0TDI 150 under the bonnet).

[Sootchucker]

Thanks guys. Monkeyhanger, to be honest your appraisal is about where my head is at the moment. I know a couple of guys including McMaddy have the new Carbon Tuning map on and apparently it makes the car into a flying machine, so that may well be an option.

Your right of course, it's crazy to spend £30k plus on pretty much an identical motor just for a few extra toys, but I guess I just needed someone to say it out loud 

As to warranty, that's the crux. No I don't have an extended warranty and I have a DSG box, which to be fair so far has been bullet proof, but I know they cost a fortune to fix if they go wrong. I do have a friend that works for warranty direct and can get me a really good deal on a full warranty for much less than VW would have charged. Guess that might be something else to consider.

[monkeyhanger]

Thanks guys. Monkeyhanger, to be honest your appraisal is about where my head is at the moment. I know a couple of guys including McMaddy have the new Carbon Tuning map on and apparently it makes the car into a flying machine, so that may well be an option.

Your right of course, it's crazy to spend £30k plus on pretty much an identical motor just for a few extra toys, but I guess I just needed someone to say it out loud 

As to warranty, that's the crux. No I don't have an extended warranty and I have a DSG box, which to be fair so far has been bullet proof, but I know they cost a fortune to fix if they go wrong. I do have a friend that works for warranty direct and can get me a really good deal on a full warranty for much less than VW would have charged. Guess that might be something else to consider.

My dad kept his MK5 170TDI DSG for almost 6 years and did 123k trouble-free miles in it. The only work he had done was have the Piezo-electtric injectors replaced FOC under a recall at 4.5 years old. He did say the difference afterwards was remarkable. Most things that aren't going to last mechanically will fail under warranty, but there's always that little doubt that something costly could go.

[caprigreen]

I have only had my GTI PP 6 months and was going to wait for the MK8, now the ED40 is going to be out in 2017 I am temped to change early. So much for me buying a 4 year service plan and 5 year warranty ! A good buy for someone in two years