Day of testdrives - The feedback (hope you are sitting comfortably !)

[monkeyhanger]

Drisser: If you're keeping it for more than 3 years, i'd suggest you pay for the extended warranty - quite cheap for an extra 2 years peace of mind, or makes it easier to sell privately down the line at 2-4 years old.

Golf R residuals have always been good previously, especially R32 - it'll be interesting to see the impact of leasegate this time around. Audi GFVs were always cautiously low vs actual p/x value down the line, not sure if VW are now going the same way with the R's £3k drop in GFV in November, or whether they expect leasegate to hammer it that much (doubtful). Most should still expect £18k for a 3 year old R, which means zero equity above GFV for those who PCP'd on the old terms.

[drisser]

Just one other comment regarding the RS3 and its price...

I specced one up to a decent level, at about £45,500.   A similarly specced TTS running on S3 /Golf R mechanicals is a similar price, so in that respect the RS3 is far higher in the desirability stakes in my mind due to the powerplant..

[drisser]

totally agree re the ext warranty.  If I go down the Audi or VW route its first box ticked for sure and would make resale much easier I bet..

For some reason (unless I am wrong) I don't think BMW offer the same factory warranty extension, which is strange..  I think that's why a lot of M135 values take a hit in year 4 when people chop them in out of warranty..

[RobS23GTI]

I wouldn't be too overly worried about GTI pp residuals. Looking on Autotrader there isn't a 4yr old GTI with avg mileage for less than  £14k. With the discount and contribution it's a great cheaper option and it is a hoot to drive as well.

[am1w]

Whichever car you choose, you won't be disappointed.

The S3 Sportback does look like a hearse (estate!). But I rather somehow like it.

The R, as I said previously, is the best driver's car and comes very well equipped. But the Touchscreen Nav is so yesterday.

The 330d is the most comfortable, has great performance and economy and comes with superb BMW tech. Unfortunately, the car is worth beans after 2-3 years.

BTW, it is 330d and not 330D.

[remlapeel]

Good reviews!

I test drove a lot of cars before getting my R and apart from the interior the car is brilliant. My previous car (Mk7 GTI PP) I did 27k in and chopped it in for pretty much one single reason.....traction. It rain around 290 out of 365 days a year in this country which means you only 75 days a year to fully enjoy a GTI, because you try and stamp down first gear in the rain, ESP lights up and the car starts tramping. In the R, you can plant your foot at any point and it will just take off, no wheel spin, no ESP lights and no tramping. So as I was happy with a GTI otherwise, I took the next logical step. (After testing some jags, BMWs, Mercs and audis).

All the cars I test drove had there good and bad points but the R had the right good and bad points to suit me.

[fredgroves]

One hell of a day you've had there. At least whatever you choose you can't sit there thinking "what if I had tried that?" lol

Were all of these cars with an auto box?

I'd be interested to hear how BMW auto compares to VAG's DSG.

[am1w]

I'd be interested to hear how BMW auto compares to VAG's DSG.

I drive both a 330d sDrive M Sport with 8AT and a Golf R with DSG.

The two gearboxes are as good as each other. However, the BMW has a mechanical hand brake whereas the R has an electronic brake with Hill Hold which one can disengage. I far prefer the electronic handbrake/gearbox set-up in the VW as one can either have the auto box creep with the Hill Hold disengaged or with the Hill Hold engaged, one can remove one's foot from the brake pedal which one cannot in the BMW. 'Hill Hold' wih the BMW is working the mechanical handbrake brake and the accelerator the old fashioned way. Very clunky compared to the VW.

[corgi]

I don't understand all this wariness of rear wheel drive.

I've had a few over the years. I had a Honda S2000 for two years as a daily driver (> 60K miles), no traction control and at that time lived on the Yorkshire Dales. I had no problems at all in the winter and I didn't run winter tyres on it. Yes, there were times when you needed to be ultra careful but I doubt at those times that 4WD with the same tyres would have been much different.

Unless you live in some of the more remote areas I see little value in 4WD on a normal road car. A two wheel drive car with appropriate tyres will serve you just as well in almost all situations.

And remember, in slippery conditions 4WD might help you get moving but it certainly doesn't help you stop any quicker...

[fredgroves]

I think the waryness is caused by people having seen that when it snows even slightly, the roads (and ditches) are full of big BMW's and Mercedes... the combination of wide tyres, auto boxes and probably idiot drivers makes certainly me wary of owning something like that given that I have to be out in all weathers for work...

Its clearly not a "rear wheel drive" problem - I used to own RWD cars when nearly everything was RWD... but we didn't have fat tyres and auto boxes and huge supertanker sized cars...