I blame you lot...

[James75]

I had a dealer say to me they expected the bi turbo diesel from the Passat to appear in the GTD or a version of, I realise that's dealer talk, but nonetheless, interesting.

In it's present form the Golf performance would have to be re jigged to accommodate a GTD R, one of the greatest threats and rivals to the current GTI is the GTD

It's speculation of course but I wonder what the Golf Mk8 GTD will have in terms of bhp, surely it's going to be 200bhp+ - then some people feel the current quoted bhp for the Mk7 GTD is 'conservative'

Will there even be a GTD MK8?  Will they manage to turn the GTE into a performance Golf?

I wonder if the Golf R400 and Golf Clubsport aren't little hints about the next gen of the GTI and the R and where they will sit power wise, a toe in the water so to speak.

A GTD R would be interesting though.

James

[Exonian]

@mjh_056

Why a Standard S3 but a DSG R?
Reason I ask is I'd agree that of all the models in the range the DSG possibly suits the R engine the best but if you're prepared to compromise the DSG on the S3 then I'd suggest having a go in a manual R.
With a DSG it's just *snick* *snick* *snick* with the changes and you loose that lovely turbo spool you get with a manual where you can feel the torque build that is soooooo satisfying when you see an overtaking opportunity and want to gradually build up for the move before blasting past using all the revs. With a DSG all you get is *snick* and a "Blaaaaaaaaaart!"

On a more serious note, what sort of miles do you do?
I'm probably the worst person to give any feedback for your choices as I don't get a company car allowance so tend to buy with different criteria in mind and I also run an old banger to take the knocks and do the dump trips that I'd just not want to do in my newer car. The way I look upon it is I work rubbish hours in a not particularly well paid job, but I enjoy my job and work with a great bunch of people (in general) so am not looking for a high flying career and being a billy no mates. The way I think of it is if I had a proper hobby it'd cost money and I'd still need a car anyway so I just combine the two and bankrupt myself every few years... 

Of your options I'm not sure what I'd go for. Depending on how itchy my feet were for a new car too.
The option of keeping the GTD and buying a mk6 GTI is a non starter for me. The mk7 GTD is a great car and can do all a mk6 GTI can do. Having owned two mk6 GTIs and spent a lot of miles in a mk6 GTD or three I can honestly say the GTD is the better day to day car in mk6 guise unless you modify the engine. Then I'd still pick the GTD and modify that engine. So basically, bearing in mind what you already have, I'd keep my mk7 GTD and modify that engine giving it a whole new lease of life. Especially with a DSG with good spec like yours - the manual GTD can run out of revs a bit quickly when modified but the DSG can just *snick* into the next gear very quickly in Sport mode on the days you have horns growing out of your head.

Have a good drive or two in both manual and DSG R's. I my short tenure so far I must admit I do get a bit of a wicked grin on my face when I practice the above mentioned turbo spool as I know what lurks beneath my right foot. I can't (or at least won't as I'm running it in) use 300PS very often but I sure know it's there and the car reminds me as it's pretty eager to go chasing after the hare all the time.

However the mk7 GTI is a pretty amazing car in PP spec. The brakes are great and it feels a lot more light footed than the R. With the 6.5" nav it comes with a pretty comprehensive spec too so if you can get one at a good price then it might be worth going with the tech pack if you can't live without your 8"er or just spending a bit on the 19" alloys being as you want DCC anyway. The GTI is pretty cheap to run as it's better than the R on fuel and runs on 95RON.

They're all pretty great cars for what they are and on different days you'd wish you were in a different model.

[Booth11]

with DSG all you get is a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!"

Some of us like a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!" 

[Exonian]

with DSG all you get is a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!"

Some of us like a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!" 

Yeah, we're all different.
It's just that mjh mentioned a standard S3 which means he's open to a manual under certain conditions, and I'm guessing that's down to budget ceiling. So I was just saying don't discount something off hand until you've given it a fair go.
Playstation vs. tactile.
I can't be arsed with DSG vs. manual debates. It's just like GTI vs R vs GTD, on any given day you'd have preferred to be in one rather than another, and on another day...

[Booth11]

I can't be arsed with DSG vs. manual debates. It's just like GTI vs R vs GTD, on any given day you'd have preferred to be in one rather than another, and on another day...

Me neither, just teasing.  I couldn't care less what people choose:  DSG; manual; GTI; GTD; R.....and so on.  Just get whatever suits you most of the time or as you suggest elsewhere get 2, or even 3 cars that all do different things.  I used to know a guy that did that with women, several on the go at any one time.  He had one for looks, one for intelligence, one for cooking skills, and one for.....  

He's still single so far as I know 

[mcmaddy]

I had a dealer say to me they expected the bi turbo diesel from the Passat to appear in the GTD or a version of, I realise that's dealer talk, but nonetheless, interesting.

In it's present form the Golf performance would have to be re jigged to accommodate a GTD R, one of the greatest threats and rivals to the current GTI is the GTD

It's speculation of course but I wonder what the Golf Mk8 GTD will have in terms of bhp, surely it's going to be 200bhp+ - then some people feel the current quoted bhp for the Mk7 GTD is 'conservative'

Will there even be a GTD MK8?  Will they manage to turn the GTE into a performance Golf?

I wonder if the Golf R400 and Golf Clubsport aren't little hints about the next gen of the GTI and the R and where they will sit power wise, a toe in the water so to speak.

A GTD R would be interesting though.

James

I wouldn't bother taking anything a dealer says as most know very little about what's coming and usually even less what they actually sell!

[James75]

I had a dealer say to me they expected the bi turbo diesel from the Passat to appear in the GTD or a version of, I realise that's dealer talk, but nonetheless, interesting.

In it's present form the Golf performance would have to be re jigged to accommodate a GTD R, one of the greatest threats and rivals to the current GTI is the GTD

It's speculation of course but I wonder what the Golf Mk8 GTD will have in terms of bhp, surely it's going to be 200bhp+ - then some people feel the current quoted bhp for the Mk7 GTD is 'conservative'

Will there even be a GTD MK8?  Will they manage to turn the GTE into a performance Golf?

I wonder if the Golf R400 and Golf Clubsport aren't little hints about the next gen of the GTI and the R and where they will sit power wise, a toe in the water so to speak.

A GTD R would be interesting though.

James

I wouldn't bother taking anything a dealer says as most know very little about what's coming and usually even less what they actually sell!

Or the options you choose....

[monkeyhanger]

Shame they not produced a GTD-R with the 4WD

Give it time 

With the BiTurbo and 4WD comes extra thirst. You might pick an R over a GTD to scratch an itch (like I did) and pay the fuel penalty, but if someone offered me a 240PS GTD with 4WD that was good for a real 40mpg, losing 60ps and only saving £500 a year in fuel over a regular R might not be a hugely convincing argument to get a GTD R. Make that 270PS and a decent torque advantage over the petrol R then I might be convinced enough to go for one. Even with all that rationale in mind, I bet a 240PS GTD R will sell.

Just got in from work and stretched the R's legs tonight leaving work a little later and missing the Doxford Park traffic. It really felt looser today, like it held it's speed better with your foot off the accelerator, and felt a bit more responsive mid-gear acceleration (or maybe i'm just dropping that extra gear?).

[monkeyhanger]

Not wanting to reignite the DSG vs Manual arguments, but I have absolutely no regrets with the manual.

The gearbox feels smoother and sharper to change than that on my GTD, quick changes from a standstill are a piece of cake, as is dropping 6th to 3rd sat at 45mph and then hoofing it to 80.

If your budget has constraints, no need to discount the notion of driving a Manual R and save yourself £1450 by thinking you are missing out on something, although already being in a DSG GTD suggests to me you are a fan of the technology.

Despite the official figures stating the contrary, I do think that DSG is significantly  thirstier than a manual, my dad's GTD is a lot harder to crack 50mpg in than my manual one ever was.

[am1w]

Off topic. Sorry Andy. Hope you don't mind.

Hello from Bankless Greece, rapidly becoming a Hell on Earth.

Getting things in perspective, all our car issues are very first world minor problems and of no significant consequence in the grand scheme of things. DSG or Manual, DCC or not, 18" or 19" Wheels, 5.8" or 6.5" or 8" Sat Navs or not, Bridgestone tyre changes, Diesel or Petrol, mpg levels, FWD or 4WD, Leather or Cloth, Red or White or Blue or Black, etc. One has to smile.

The problems here in Greece have brought me down to earth with a huge bang and are really grounding. Things get worse on an hourly basis. It is not nice at all and is now quite stressful even though I have plenty of cash and can draw more than the 60 Euros if I wish because I have a foreign bank card. Unfortunately, many ATMs are running out of money rapidly plus there is not enough money to pay the salaries of Public Sector Workers who account for 50% of the employed. Shocking number.

Our first world problems are so much easier to solve and much more 'fun'. Quite boring (relatively) UK with no real serious problems has much in its favour and I appreciate it hugely. I miss it a bit, even with the really bad food quality, excessive prices, morose people and the lousy and changeable weather, because it is safe.

Carry on!

And pray for the poor Greek people. They don't deserve this.