Thinking about it...

[Peskarik]

I have to say the thing that did it for me was the colour coded rear bumper!
I'd never really considered a Golf before I went into the showroom.  They had a white GTI sitting in the middle and I really wasnt impressed by the half black bumper or black sideskirts.
I spoke to the salesman about a test drive anyway (I had my heard set on a new Civic Type R), but after driving it I loved it.  I was then told about the Ed30 for an extra £2k and when I saw it, I knew I wanted one of them instead!

Like Hurdy said - Could you drive a standard GTI knowing that you could have had an Ed30 instead?!

I couldn't!  Hence why I ordered one!!!

Had the same experience,  only Ed30 was white and GTI was black (and still I did not like the bumper).

[SteveS]

one garage near me who state they sell golf gti inc e30 for less:

Re: Golf
From: Drivetime

Dear Steve,
 
Thank you for your enquiry.
 
Volkswagen Golf 2.0T GTI Edition 30 3 Door Manual
Metallic Paint
Bi-xenon headlights
Luxury pack 1
Price £22,295.
 
Price includes 12 months road tax and full VW warranty. Add £50 for Multifunction computer - Highline. (calculates average MPG, distance to empty etc). All cars are ordered from a main VW dealer in Germany, and are full UK specification, the only difference being a 2 year warranty as apposed to 3. Delivery time is approx 8 weeks from date of order.
 
 
 Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is anything else I can help with.

[Phil mcavity]

Some people prefer the look of the standard GTi, Also 2 grand buys you a lots of extra bits, Monza 18's rather then the pescaro type, Xeon lights, maybe some luxary pack which has some nice touches.
Depends on how much you wanna spend on Either model which are BOTH great cars.One DOESNT totally outshine the other like some may think.
My advice is to do this.....

Buy a year old or near as GTi,Same as anything brand new, you dont loose thousands driving it off the forecourt ( ask illyan, ollie82,goap)
Find one with lots of xtras, there are Hundreds available on Volkswagen.co.uk's website.
You can find a car of with what your after and save yourself thousands of pounds.
i saved £5000 buying a 12 months old car, mint condition from a dealer, which if i wanted it new would of set me Back £27800!. as much as i do like the edition 30, getting a basic version just to me makes absolute no sense, after having one with all the extras already , i wouldnt want one without it.Im sure in a years time, the same will be with lots of edition 30's available at the same price as 1 yr old GTi's are currently.

It is your decision after all, what ever it is, get a GTi, its class and not much betters it imo  

[SteveS]

no xeons on e30, they are extra

[athol]

Totally agree with Phil. Get a good spec GTI with 5000 miles on it and go for a really nice holiday with the saving. ED30 is very nice but is it 3K nicer than a new GTI or 6k nicer than a 6-12 month old GTI. I don't think so.

I got a brand new GTI with sunroof, ipod armrest, highline and 18" Monzas for 19.5K. Spent a few quid on nav and BBS Ch etc but i'm still in the money compared to an ED30. Also I reckon my car is still worth the lion's share of what I paid.

Got it from a main dealer in Glasgow (Verve) who I can put you in touch with if you like. They are always willing to deal.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

As others have stated, it is down to personal preference.

The Ed30 wasn't available when SWMBO ordered her GTI - we were just choosing between the standard GTI and the R32.  We obviously went for the GTI, but colour-coded all the bumpers and sills as part of the deal, long before the Ed30 was out.

However, even if we were ordering now, I'd still go for the standard GTI - mainly because I don't like the Pescaras, and I do like the Monza IIs, and full leather.  OK, the 30 extra ponies would be nice, but in the "real" world, I doubt you would really notice, or be able to use them.  Afterall, a standard GTI with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 boots will easily out-handle an Ed30 (or standard GTI or R32) fitted with the Dunlop ShyteMaxx !!! 

Another way to better use the performance you already have, without the need for bolt-on go faster bits, would be to get some coaching from Don Palmer - of "the wetter the better" !!!

[Peskarik]

Totally agree with Phil. Get a good spec GTI with 5000 miles on it and go for a really nice holiday with the saving. ED30 is very nice but is it 3K nicer than a new GTI or 6k nicer than a 6-12 month old GTI. I don't think so.

Yes, it is.
And mine cost me equivalent of 19.4K quid.

[Peskarik]

Some people prefer the look of the standard GTi, Also 2 grand buys you a lots of extra bits, Monza 18's rather then the pescaro type, Xeon lights, maybe some luxary pack which has some nice touches.
Depends on how much you wanna spend on Either model which are BOTH great cars.One DOESNT totally outshine the other like some may think.
My advice is to do this.....

BTW. Phil, those are called ziiinons, not Xeons. You mix'em up wiz Pentiums, maybe. Bi-Xenon.

[Phil mcavity]

thanx for being my mr spell check piscarick    opps sorry i think ive spelt that wrong aswell! 

[sharpie]

thanx for being my mr spell check piscarick    opps sorry i think ive spelt that wrong aswell! 

lol piscarick's wrong as well mate... it's xenon eh!!