Standard Gtd or PP Gti or remapped Gtd

[mcmaddy]

Been down to my usual vw dealer this morning and sat in the gtd and R, also looked at the new Tiguan and it's nice but not what we need. My jaw hit the floor when the mrs said 'the seats were more comfortable in the R so why don't you get one of those, it'll be better for your back'!!
I thought the seats were more comfortable even though they are the same shape etc but it must be the alcantara cloth that makes them feel more comfortable.
Done some rough figures and the R comes out about 80 a month more than a gtd and about 50 a month more than a gti without including fuel. Called into Audi dealer too to look at an S3 and they didn't even have any!! If I've got green light for an R I may aswell look at an S3 

[monkeyhanger]

Been down to my usual vw dealer this morning and sat in the gtd and R, also looked at the new Tiguan and it's nice but not what we need. My jaw hit the floor when the mrs said 'the seats were more comfortable in the R so why don't you get one of those, it'll be better for your back'!!
I thought the seats were more comfortable even though they are the same shape etc but it must be the alcantara cloth that makes them feel more comfortable.
Done some rough figures and the R comes out about 80 a month more than a gtd and about 50 a month more than a gti without including fuel. Called into Audi dealer too to look at an S3 and they didn't even have any!! If I've got green light for an R I may aswell look at an S3 

So there's only £30pm between the Golf and the GTI in PCP terms? Considering your 8k miles PA, i'd expect you to average 45mpg in the GTD, 33mpg in the GTI and 30mpg in the R (all manual). Based on the current fuel prices I get locally of 106.9p/L for petrol, 107.9p/L for diesel and 112.9p/L for RON 99 petrol (Tesco Momentum 99), you're talking:-

£879 pa fueling costs GTD (£73pm)
£1186 pa fueling costs GTI (£99pm)
£1379 pa fueling costs R (£115pm)

All in then, over and above the GTD, the GTI is going to cost you about £70pm more inc car tax, and the R is going to cost you £136pm more than the GTD.

If I were you, i'd get a test drive in both (might be hard to get a test drive in a manual R, but you could always have another look at mine) - you don't want to end up in a GTI and wishing you spent the extra for an R a year down the line. I can't see the R seats being any more supportive Chris - the Alcantara bolsters are probably a bit better at gripping the behind and torso - that may add up to more comfort.

If you are looking to chop the Tiguan in for an Audi, prepare for fun and games - they're not very receptive to haggling locally (Silverlink/Scotswood Road) - it was hard work cutting them down to size for the wife's A1, despite having nothing to chop in.

[mcmaddy]

The fuel prices are slightly higher through here Matt but we're in the same ball park. They've got 2 manual Rs at Durham but Mick wasn't that keen to organise a test drive in September so I may look elsewhere. As much as I'd love an R were talking nearly 600 quid a month all in (that's without me putting anything in mind). It's an awful lot for a car. I've been getting more discount quotes for a Leon Cupra 290 and the ST version but they don't do dynamic chassis from what I can see.

[Exonian]

I think dynamic chassis is standard on the Cupra. It was on my friend's Dynamic Grey one. That was one handsome car too.


I don't think there are any particular arguments about which of the GTI/D/R is best.

I've driven all three and each have their strengths.

Justifying a GTI when you can get an R for similar money might be hard but the GTI is very underrated.
Having used a standard, then tuned, then standard GTI and GTI PP, then a standard and a tuned R I can happily say that plenty of warm Diesels give the 360 BHP R a good hiding at traffic lights unless you really drive anti socially due to the Diesel's longer gearing and torque delivery. Also at motorway speeds the Diesels perform as well as can be sensibly used and as a point to point car there would be little to nothing in it.
I've spent enough time in all three performance models now to know that it's more how you get your kicks that justifies your choice.
Use 300bhp for more than a few seconds and you're in licence losing territory.
The petrols are smoother, faster revving and sound better with a broad power band. Plus when you take into account the power available they're pretty fuel efficient too.
However the TDI's have their own charm and aside from the obvious cost savings the actual power delivery is quite satisfying with a good shove in the back making them fun to drive in their own right, without having to really Rev them hard.

Which is best? Toss a coin!

[mcmaddy]

You're right Exonian dcc is standard on the Cupra. Didn't see that anywhere, makes it even more attractive now.

[GTD1414]

If I had the choice it would be GTI over GTD.

I'm a GTD owner - GTD is really just a GTI wannabee, its nothing special. Just think how common on the roads the 184 TDI engine is over the VAG range as opposed to the GTI PP?

I don't think the GTI is anything special these days either - 220ps is pretty low for a current hot hatch (although the MK7 performance Golfs all drive very well), the only reason for it's rarity is the opportunity people have had to run an R for less via lease or very high GFVs (before Nov 14) when PCPing. Before the NOx scandal, VW were incentivising the GTI to shift them (now they are incentivising everything). With a chassis as capable as the MK7, refinement and linear power delivery, a lot of the excitement is now gone from performance Golfs, they don't feel half as fast as they are. The clubsport is pretty much where the GTI should have been all along.

Suppose you're right there about the GTI but its obviously still fast enough for some.

I remember when I had my EP3 Type R (197hp) I was looking to trade to a mk5 GTI (197bhp) now the new Type R is 300bhp, with the mk7 GTI only at 220/230. But then suppose that why we have the R and the CS...

[dubber36]

Has anyone here considered something older and more interesting?

I know quite a few people that prefer to buy older cars. You really do get the pick of something that would have been completely out of reach new, but now can be extremely affordable. Granted, these sort of cars will cost more to run and maintain, but when you take the deprecation (or lack of) into account, they can make a lot of sense and provide much more fun than a mundane new hatchback.

[monkeyhanger]

If you're talking about something like a 10 year old Porsche 911 or 6 year old Audi R8, that's a serious fuel bill and a remortgage to fix anything major.

A neighbour of mine had a 2003 911 for a few years, looked lovely, did 14mpg.

[Watts]

Has anyone here considered something older and more interesting?

I know quite a few people that prefer to buy older cars. You really do get the pick of something that would have been completely out of reach new, but now can be extremely affordable. Granted, these sort of cars will cost more to run and maintain, but when you take the deprecation (or lack of) into account, they can make a lot of sense and provide much more fun than a mundane new hatchback.

I'm always looking at interesting classics and would love to own one but current parking arrangements mean I can only have one car. We do quite a few holidays by car and what with shift work I must have something reliable. The funny thing about depreciation is you don't see it, it just creeps up on you so I just ignore it. The problem with an older car is they have a habit of hammering your pocket constantly for fuel, repairs etc and you see those costs coming out of your pay every month which soon gets tedious. Having previously owned an older Alfa and Lotus, both great cars but a pair of right royal pains in the backside.

[dubber36]

If you're talking about something like a 10 year old Porsche 911 or 6 year old Audi R8, that's a serious fuel bill and a remortgage to fix anything major.

A neighbour of mine had a 2003 911 for a few years, looked lovely, did 14mpg.

I'm not talking 911 or R8, more RS4/6, C63. Something that still works for daily duties.