Golf Replacement ??

[Booth11]

Why does nearly everyone think an SUV is the answer these days?

Comfort!

Without a doubt. The vast majority of people couldn't give two hoots about emissions and handling dynamics.

Since having my Amarok, I hate our Golf with a passion. Not just because it's a 1.6 diesel Match, I don't even like getting in it to move it on the drive to clean it. Once you have become accustomed to the high up driving position, the space, comfort and practicalities of a SUV type vehicle, going back takes some doing. 

As someone also with an Amarok and a (performance) Golf on the drive, have to say the Amarok hasn’t had such a profound effect on me.  Whilst it’s great to have both at my disposal, horses for courses and all that, if I could only have one, it would, without shadow of a doubt be the Golf. 

[Exonian]

The T-Roc is Polo based is it not? Therefore the savings will have to come from somewhere as there's a lot more metal involved in its manufacture. Hence the interior has been hit by the accountants.
I'm also going to take a wild guess (I don't read motoring publications anymore so am way out of the loop) that the T-Roc is built somewhere with a lower labour cost and production costs than the halo VW models. The old Scirocco factory maybe? The T-Roc is pretty much the niche model that takes over from the out of fashion coupe and has stolen both its name and wheel arch gaps.

Doesn't the high driving position get negated if everyone drives one? I used to occasionally blast around in commercial vehicles in work and can definitely vouch for the high up position of a lorry but I was always glad to get back to the driving dynamics of a hot hatch afterwards.

It does seem a bit odd that on this forum, named after VW's iconic hot hatch, there's a lot of hankering after "comfy" SUV's.
I'll take a guess here and say the GTI moniker is mostly bought nowadays by those that like the heritage of the GTI badge rather than actually enjoy using the performance and the R's are bought by those that still have a bit of fire in their belly.
A shame really as the R isn't as much fun to drive as a GTI and yet GTI (and GTD) drivers would prefer to be sat on a large mattress on wheels.

[Watts]

It does seem a bit odd that on this forum, named after VW's iconic hot hatch, there's a lot of hankering after "comfy" SUV's.
I'll take a guess here and say the GTI moniker is mostly bought nowadays by those that like the heritage of the GTI badge....

Or could it be, just a guess, that the average age of forum users on here is quite high?

[Sootchucker]

Well ahem....cough....that certainly applies to me 

[Exonian]

When I just clicked on this thread again the little ad at the top of the page was for Stannah Stairlifts! 

I'm no spring chicken but I certainly don't hanker after something that you need a Stannah for to clean the roof.
Mind you looking at the prices of VW's these days I suppose your average owner can afford to pay someone else to clean their car roof.

I just don't think I'm VW owner material anymore, I have nothing in common with 99% of the R Forum owners and it looks like GTI enthusiasts have matured into SUV lovers.
I'm the opposite of an Audi owner, I still remember the first time I saw an A1 and wondered why anyone would pay £2k more for exactly the same dashboard as an Ibiza.
I don't like any of the Skoda range.
SEAT offer some interesting things in Cupra guise but I'm probably too old for that image now...

Only another ten years until I get my free bus pass.
(which will no doubt have stopped by then having followed my works pension down the pan)


F**k it, I'm off to drive my manual GTI in some rose tinted specs to remind myself why I'm even on here...

[fredgroves]

Exonian... I think I know what you mean. I'm no spring chicken either!

I guess the age thing is simply that whilst the young desire performance cars, those with the ability to buy them are somewhat older.

I'd doubt if a Porsche forum would have an average age of user under 60.

Oh and whoever it was that asked, the T-Roc is built on the old Scirocco production line in Portugal.

[Watts]

F**k it, I'm off to drive my manual GTI in some rose tinted specs to remind myself why I'm even on here...

I think we are both of a similar age then, I'm enjoying my manual whilst my knees are still up to the job

Horses for courses though plus there are many on here who are in need of a change having had so many Golfs. I'm on my first and have never bought the same make let alone model of car in a row provided you ignore my second Capri which I bought to restore (but never got round to doing). Could be tempted though this time but being very near to retirement by then I may have more of a downsized budget to play with....

[Guzzle]

You don't get the same standard kit in a Skoda as you do with a VW so once you've ticked a couple of extras boxes the cheap Skoda isn't that cheap any more.

I agree to an extent, although that surely ought to be judged on the basis of the equipment that you actually want, rather than simply comparing standard car vs standard car.

For example an Octavia vRS 245 has alcantara and 19 inch alloys as standard, whereas the Golf GTi PP has neither despite being £2k more expensive at list price.

Pre FL Mk7 GTi's and GTD's had KESSY as standard at one point. That was something i'd rather not have at all rather than have it given to me for free. I simply didn't want it.

[Sootchucker]

Just been out for a "spirited" drive at lunchtime (had to get somewhere and back quite quickly), and it reminded me of how good dynamically a Golf really is. Sure mine is only the devils juice GTD, but she can still put a smile on your face despite "only" having just over 180ps (mine was actually dyno'd last year at 187bhp standard), so can only imagine how good a GTI or R must be.

TBH, over the holidays, our good friends from south wales came up and spent 3 days with us, and the GTD was used to ferry us all about for that 3 days, and it took all 4 of us (all grown adults - some like me grown more than others) in great comfort and the the car had ample performance. Maybe this thread has been a bit of a wake up call for me. I'm not ready for the scrap heap yet so maybe an SUV isn't for me (yet).

If it wasn't for the supreme uncertainly over the future of diesel taxation, pump prices and resale value, I'd even consider keeping the GTD for a few years more (buying it outright at the end of the PCP), as it's a great all rounder with an average 45mpg to boot, but that uncertainty is pretty big at present. Maybe plan 2 is a GTI - best of both worlds ?

As an aside, are we becoming the dumping ground for VW's diesel engines ? It seems that we in the UK have a much greater choice from the marque of diesel variants rather than the petrol equivalents, or is this just VW UK not really in touch with what's happening in the UK with regards to Diesel's fall from grace ?

[Daz Auto]

When I just clicked on this thread again the little ad at the top of the page was for Stannah Stairlifts! 

I'm no spring chicken but I certainly don't hanker after something that you need a Stannah for to clean the roof.

I just don't think I'm VW owner material anymore, I have nothing in common with 99% of the R Forum owners and it looks like GTI enthusiasts have matured into SUV lovers.

I'm the opposite of an Audi owner...

... My ad was for insulated wellies

... Even though the Audi Q2 was a loan car, I gave it a wash before it went back. I could reach the middle of the roof at a stretch an I'm not tall. I would think the Troc is a similar size. I tried the roof of the Tiguan at the dealers - not a mission of me washihng that. Would have needed a milk crate or similar.

... I can see why people like SUVs. However, I doubt if I would buy one for myself to drive. I love driving my GTI. Though I can see our other car being change for an SUV for the best of both worlds.

... I personally prefer VW to Audi, but my wife prefers Audi.