Golf R... Why buy a Golf GTI?

[kelvyn29]

Reading this nonsense makes me so glad that I buy my vehicles outright

To be honest its not that convoluted, you get an allowance which you can down (money back) or uplift (to set amount) depending on car select - so that's a clear cost right at outset

You have to work the potential fuel spend whether lease or purchase, so that's an equivalent

The BIK cost is pretty clear really at circa £160 a month for the R and about £130 GTD

You not have to worry on insurance so that is a  pain removed and the saving depending on how much would have to pay does offset the BIK cost mentioned above

If only I knew wtf BIK meant I would be a bit wiser
Only joking, please don't tell me


BIK = Benefit In Kind 

[GeoBog]

Omg 10 pages in 3 days, you lot have been productive 

Right why I chose GTI over R? A few reasons really:

1. First of all styling, in my eyes the GTI looks better than the R and when some say: "Yes but R has quad exhaust and looks better from behind" I say that my Remus quad exhaust and Rieger diffuser looks better than the R exhaust and it's also louder.
2. I have PP so same brakes as the R but as a plus the LSD compared to the standard XDS+ on the R.
3. Better fuel economy (however not really fussed as I haven't bought a performance car to worry about fuel consumption)
4. Cheaper than R back when I got mine.
5. Hate the gloss piano black interior on the R and no tartan seats and I believe the GTI carbon like interior and the silver inserts in the steering wheel look better.

Overall I prefer the GTI to the R, don't regret getting the GTI this being the reason why I have a second GTI PP on order due for october delivery. In real world for our roads I don't think there is such a big difference from R to GTI and I find the power of the GTI more than sufficient to keep up with most cars and also have fun on a B road and have your share of adrenaline. Unless you track the car or take part in traffic lights grand-prix, I don't see a reason for me to get an R.

On the other hand I understand the reason why a lot of people chose the R when VW had cheap PCP deals a few years ago.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Omg 10 pages in 3 days, you lot have been productive 

Right why I chose GTI over R? A few reasons really:

1. First of all styling, in my eyes the GTI looks better than the R and when some say: "Yes but R has quad exhaust and looks better from behind" I say that my Remus quad exhaust and Rieger diffuser looks better than the R exhaust and it's also louder.
2. I have PP so same brakes as the R but as a plus the LSD compared to the standard XDS+ on the R.
3. Better fuel economy (however not really fussed as I haven't bought a performance car to worry about fuel consumption)
4. Cheaper than R back when I got mine.
5. Hate the gloss piano black interior on the R and no tartan seats and I believe the GTI carbon like interior and the silver inserts in the steering wheel look better.

Overall I prefer the GTI to the R, don't regret getting the GTI this being the reason why I have a second GTI PP on order due for october delivery. In real world for our roads I don't think there is such a big difference from R to GTI and I find the power of the GTI more than sufficient to keep up with most cars and also have fun on a B road and have your share of adrenaline. Unless you track the car or take part in traffic lights grand-prix, I don't see a reason for me to get an R.

On the other hand I understand the reason why a lot of people chose the R when VW had cheap PCP deals a few years ago.

Agree with you points of view, except the R for track days. I wouldn't want AWD, especially VW version of AWD on track days. Both are great cars and glad we can choose between them though

[mjh_056]

Omg 10 pages in 3 days, you lot have been productive 

Right why I chose GTI over R? A few reasons really:

1. First of all styling, in my eyes the GTI looks better than the R and when some say: "Yes but R has quad exhaust and looks better from behind" I say that my Remus quad exhaust and Rieger diffuser looks better than the R exhaust and it's also louder.
2. I have PP so same brakes as the R but as a plus the LSD compared to the standard XDS+ on the R.
3. Better fuel economy (however not really fussed as I haven't bought a performance car to worry about fuel consumption)
4. Cheaper than R back when I got mine.
5. Hate the gloss piano black interior on the R and no tartan seats and I believe the GTI carbon like interior and the silver inserts in the steering wheel look better.

Overall I prefer the GTI to the R, don't regret getting the GTI this being the reason why I have a second GTI PP on order due for october delivery. In real world for our roads I don't think there is such a big difference from R to GTI and I find the power of the GTI more than sufficient to keep up with most cars and also have fun on a B road and have your share of adrenaline. Unless you track the car or take part in traffic lights grand-prix, I don't see a reason for me to get an R.

On the other hand I understand the reason why a lot of people chose the R when VW had cheap PCP deals a few years ago.

Your logic is pretty sound with the differences in the day to day driving being minimal

My GTD pretty much gives me all you describe too and really am sad to see it go

The R styling has grown on me though do think the front end is a little bland, but as understated is very much the preference it has grown on me and do take point on the piano black as think prefer my GTD carbon effect, but again has grown on me as a change of environment

It was very very close for me to choosing the GTI. It really was resolving the getaway with AWD and just wanting to experience this car for myself that swayed it and no reflection on the MK 7 overall as soon dismissed other makes and became straight shoot out between the GTD > GTI > R

So I have taking a punt, a risk even, and its a 3 year lab experiment for me and we will see if R is compelling enough to keep me or have me going back to the GTI or even a GTD. (if AWD one appears it would be a lock if honest)

Did forget to make one other point from business lease perspective in that my company pricing for the Audi and BMW was equal or above for lesser models than the R

[GTD1414]

The 40% is only applicable if you already in that pay bracket, if the car element (allowance) takes you over the £43k threshold (£45k 2017/18) and into that bracket you obviously then have pay extra on that portion but it will not be the full 40% figures

I meant that you're probably a higher earner if the company is giving you a £30k Golf R and not making you drive an Astra 1.6... ;-)

I'm in the 20% tax bracket and I have a 28k GTD,

And the GTD does not do 50mpg in real world, more like 40-42mpg.

[mjh_056]

The 40% is only applicable if you already in that pay bracket, if the car element (allowance) takes you over the £43k threshold (£45k 2017/18) and into that bracket you obviously then have pay extra on that portion but it will not be the full 40% figures

I meant that you're probably a higher earner if the company is giving you a £30k Golf R and not making you drive an Astra 1.6... ;-)

I'm in the 20% tax bracket and I have a 28k GTD,

And the GTD does not do 50mpg in real world, more like 40-42mpg.

The R for my company lease scheme was coming out cheaper than Audi and BMW for really nice, but far lesser models IE S Line 2.0 TDi 184 BHP with lesser options such as not being able to select Magnetic Ride etc

The book price value of these cars were much lower than the R but what the lease company was looking for in lease costs for the R was less

So just presume its something similar to the PCP deals in that you are just getting great value on the R and maybe its because its just a Golf and flies under the radar.

When you go into my car tracker on my salary package all you see is VW Golf Diesel 1968 and no mention of the GTD and imagine that be same for the R - So anyone looking at that would think he just has a boring old golf,

So you get a set amount, the cars available for that monies are displayed and you select.

On a long run you can get high 50's on GTD but overall its definitely around the 40 MPG mark due to shorter journeys, so expect the R to come out 30-34 on same journeys - certainly not going to tailor my driving so it will be what it will be and we shall see, but that's thinking

[drisser]

The 40% is only applicable if you already in that pay bracket, if the car element (allowance) takes you over the £43k threshold (£45k 2017/18) and into that bracket you obviously then have pay extra on that portion but it will not be the full 40% figures

I meant that you're probably a higher earner if the company is giving you a £30k Golf R and not making you drive an Astra 1.6... ;-)

I'm in the 20% tax bracket and I have a 28k GTD,

And the GTD does not do 50mpg in real world, more like 40-42mpg.

IF that is true - only 40-42mpg that is really shocking for a 2.0 4 cylinder ?!  Are people really only getting that from a GTD I would have thought it would be much better..

I have honestly never had less than 40mpg and I average 46-47 from my 330d, week in week out over a range of A, B and dual carriageway commute, with a best of 53mpg from a tankfull (623 miles)

[Jackie Treehorn]

Yeah they aren't that great on fuel compared to BMW equivalents,  thats why I never understood the GTD as i wasn't sure what the stand out feature that makes it a good purchase, the one area it needs to excel at its not that significant. I understand the Diesel range but not sure i fully got the GTD as i thought it really needed to be great on Eco.  Best looking of the 3 though.

But it might be a mute point in a few years as the diesels have clearly struggled to meet the existing targets and the new ones which will be even more strict in 2017 (I think) may kill off a portion of the oil burning industry. Renault/nissan saying they may stop making some small to medium Diesels, Bosch now being sued in America for the Scandal as well as VW.  The standards for diesel just got tougher (Greg Wallace style) 

[mjh_056]

The 40% is only applicable if you already in that pay bracket, if the car element (allowance) takes you over the £43k threshold (£45k 2017/18) and into that bracket you obviously then have pay extra on that portion but it will not be the full 40% figures

I meant that you're probably a higher earner if the company is giving you a £30k Golf R and not making you drive an Astra 1.6... ;-)

I'm in the 20% tax bracket and I have a 28k GTD,

And the GTD does not do 50mpg in real world, more like 40-42mpg.

IF that is true - only 40-42mpg that is really shocking for a 2.0 4 cylinder ?!  Are people really only getting that from a GTD I would have thought it would be much better..

I have honestly never had less than 40mpg and I average 46-47 from my 330d, week in week out over a range of A, B and dual carriageway commute, with a best of 53mpg from a tankfull (623 miles)

It climbs to high 50's on a long run as recently proved

But as an overall average of all journeys its circa 42 MPG

Think mine is definitely down to lots more short commutes has mileage has halved since selected the GTD and hence the R may not be as much as a hit as the shorter journeys are killing the GTD benefits

Imagine many here who do longer commutes similar to yours will post better figures, so think its not so much the car capability but the varying demographics of use.

[drisser]

saying that I shouldn't be so surprised, I had an A3 170 tdi before the BMW and it did no better than about 43-44 on a good day !  I think the combination of the torque of the 330d and auto gearbox which sits the engine around 17-1800 rpm @ around 80 mph gives it good long range mpg once up to temp.

Agree on shorter runs it might be hitting the GTD consumption..