There - I was dared to create this thread and so I have. I'll sit back and wait for the flaming to begin
Seriously though, as the other two performance Golf's have their thread, what about one for us (although it will most likely be moved into the TDI section
)
Why did I buy, well I'd had two VW TDI's before the Golf (a MK5 GT TDI and a 2011 Scirocco GT), and both were brilliant and faultlessly reliable. At the time I went looking, I was going around 15-17k per year and so a diesel just made more sense.
I purchased blind so to speak as at time of ordering, as the GTI/GTD had only just been made available to order and there wasn't a single one in the country, so it was really based upon catalogue specs and pictures and a good dollop of faith. The thing was essentially vapour ware and VW UK were clueless as to what the UK spec would be at time of ordering.
I read and read about the car (from German forums etc, where they took delivery a little earlier than the UK) and starting piecing the missing bits of spec together that VW UK had not a clue about. Standard equipment (like the GTI and the later R) was quite generous with Xenons, 18 Alloys, electric folding mirrors, Radar cruise control, parking sensors front and rear and ambient lighting to name but a few. With my spec I added Discover Nav Pro, Dynaudio, Adaptive Chassis Control, rear view camera, auto park assist, winter pack and Keyless entry.
What made me choose the GTD was that to the uninitiated it looked like a GTI (minus the slightly different exhaust arrangement), and to compliment the GTI - that was fine by me as it was a very handsome car inside and out. As it was (and this is a very personal opinion), I did slightly prefer the non red accents in the grill and lights as well as the more "sombre" grey interior, but aside from that it was the same parts bin for both models. I actually do also prefer the GTD's Nogaro alloys to the ones on the GTI (although to be fair, the GTI alloys have since grown on me).
For me the GTD is then a masterful exercise in practicality, decent performance and decent fuel consumption all wrapped up in a tidy looking package. Sure the GTI and R are faster, although as has been pointed out many times before, standing starts are not really a true measure of a car's performance but the ability to overtake, and whilst a non mapped GTD still doesn't have the legs on a R or a GTI, in the real world it wouldn't be too far behind.
For me in over 2 years of ownership the car has been brilliant aided by the immensely capable (and controversial) DSG gearbox, which I love. Sure the manual is more economical and a more "purist" box, but for my driving (lots of town driving) the DSG just suits, and more importantly suits the power and torque characteristics of the diesel engine.
My overall fuel consumption over the period of ownership is just under 46mpg, with 55-60mpg very easily attainable on a run (with a best ever over nearly 200 miles of 64.5mpg - calculated). Obviously miles off what VW's brochure said it would do, but who ever really takes those figures seriously (from any manufacturer) ? For me a a DSG equipped family hatch with over 180ps, capable of 0-60 in just over 7 seconds and a top speed of over 140mph, that will still return over 45mpg - AS AN AVERAGE, is nothing short of witchcraft.
I know some people just hate diesels full stop, and nothing I or any others say will change that, and to them having a diesel version of the GTI is sacrilegious - but I guess these are the times we live in, and I for one am not going to have a go at them or get them to change their mind - it's our money and we buy what WE like, not what everyone else says we should like.
Would I have another - Yes and no. If I was doing the miles still absolutely in a heart beat. As it is with my annual mileage dwindling, probably not
if I was purchasing new again, as the running costs between a GTI (or even an "R") over small annual mileages does narrow the financial gap considerably. As it is, I'm not in the market for a new car, as I will wait a few years for the MK8 GTI/GTD/R's to appear and mature for at least a year before considering, and in the meantime I'm going to do something I've never done before. When the PCP is up later this year - I'm buying the car outright.
That's how good an all rounder I consider the GTD to be - and I don't care if I'm ridiculed or if this thread is moved - yeah, I've said it now
