Poll -Owners ages & a question

[Mutley75]

Evening. I’m a mere whippersnapper at 45. Agree with most comments. The GTI is a timeless, classless classic. It’s all things to all people. I’ve lost count the number of reviews I’ve seen which have asked if you could only have one car for all tasks, what would it be? The answer is nearly always a GTI. I also think that despite pcp, there can’t be many under 35s who can afford a GTI, or at least, not a new one.

[P6GTD]

Sooooo....just as an excuse to keep this string “alive”, from their own casual observation does anyone think the age profile of GTD drivers and R drivers differs from GTI drivers?
There’s no point to be made other than I suppose I wonder if the “GTI heritage”, ( horrible phrase but I can’t think of another one), makes a difference to buying decisions?
Go on someone, shoot an old guy down!

[Mutley75]

I think the R is a little more niche and isn’t that more expensive. I ruled it out as I read the GTI was more fun, I prefer the looks (the R looks like an SE) and I don’t need AWD or the risk factor (more nickable).

The GTD didn’t really appeal because I don’t do the mileage to get any benefit. But it’s certainly not the cool option so I can’t see any under 30s opting for it through choice.

[Hehfu]

I'm late thirties (very late thirties!) and when I first passed my test I really fancied getting a Golf GTI mk 2 however, as with most 18 year old's they were simply out of my price range.

I guess that wanting a GTI has never really left my system and I'm now lucky enough to be in a position where I own a mk 7. It definitely gives me a sense of nostalgia and it makes me proud and extremely happy to be driving a car which I've worked hard for and wanted for so long.

I really don't care what other people think, the car put's a smile on my face whenever I see if from my window and I guess that's all that counts for me.

[Panelpin]

I’m 67 on my 3 rd gti in 6 years 

[rajb]

I'm 46 and still heavily modding so maybe I'm at the tipping point to just buying a newer GTI soon and leaving it stock  .

Tbh I am surprised at the poll results but think as someone mentioned earlier in the thread that forums tend to be more for the older generations as they are what we are used to as I do tend to think the youth lean towards the likes of FB and others.

I think the big thing for me and seems to be the trend here is that those that frequent forums are petrolheads at heart and so the GTI sits really well in terms of the out the box performance hatchback that is also practical and not in your face.
Plus the GTI is heading up to near double figure generations so we've all grown up around them too from the stunning Mk1's introduction.

[Philip]

Based on nothing more than casual observation the R demographic seems generally younger and in this poll would have dropped in the 26-35 group at the lower end.

Many on here, myself included, could have gone with an R but chose the GTI because of the very different way they drive and of course the badge and heritage. If neither of those are a factor then for similar cost 306 bhp and AWD over 230 bhp and FWD probably seems a no-brainer.

[Kingy25]

I think the 'R' is the better platform for modding as its easy to get cheap bhp gains from an already good enough start point. In that respect many will sadly end up like the numerous bastardised Mark 2 GTI's that were ruined once they became affordable to the slam it and chip it brigade. With PCP and loans easy enough to come by nowadays entry level of +/- £15k is doable for an out of warranty car ripe for stage 1 for a few hundred quid.

At the end of last year I test drove a Golf GTI PP with 19" Brescia's. Loved it. Then tried a Golf 'R' with 19" Spielbergs. Both 2019 models with no DCC and both very "spirited" test drives in damp conditions, plus some 'real world' driving. Loved the R more. A lot more - so bought that.

Have just had the R detailed (2 stage paint correction then Feynlab ceramic coating) which is money well spent and intend to keep it as it is (no lowering or chipping) and for a very long time. It's the perfect all rounder to me.

[Paul larter]

Hi would just like to say that at nearly 60 years of age I still love driving this gti? it puts a smile on my face! My gti is 2013 pp early model love the colour grey carbon metallic. just done 57000 miles! Service buy my-self as only let me down once! Deaded waterpump Essue thermostat. I will keep this car for a long time! Cleans up well and looks great?

[Phil245]

I bought a Mk7 GTD at the end of 2014.   We wanted a sporty Golf, new, and there were bigger discounts on the GTD.

It was a fabulous car and we had it a couple of years but it never really scratched the itch of a GTi.

The red accents to the GTi and the petrol refinement just give it the edge for us.

It's a second car, we do less than 2k miles a year in it and I reckon we will keep it until it becomes socially unacceptable to drive anything that isn't electric......