Golf First drive Golf GTI mk7

[Deckhook]

If the experience I had selling the wife's Mk6 GTI is typical of the UK then I'd still say without any discount it would still be the better buy, that said I'm convinced that buying straight from a dealer you'd get a reasonable discount on the Golf though nowhere near what's being given off Beemers.

 

[klier]

Does this make the GTi a bargain over the M135i? To me, of course the BMW brand is superior but the GTi is right up there.

A GTI being right up there with an M135i??? Whaaaa?

 

[Human]

A GTI being right up there with an M135i??? Whaaaa?

I will be the last member on GCF to give any negative comment on VAG's iconic and brilliant Golf GTI. It does too many, too perfect.

But let's stay real and on track, not get carried away. Even if it shares a truck load of parts with it's Premium sister the A3 or Steve Sutcliffe had us believe you can pitch it against a BMW M135i, you cannot be fooled or tricked into believing pure BS.

The GTI does not pretend being a Premium car or anything else than the Hot Hatch King in the non-Premium segment of the market and it is that. So let's keep real here and keep the ST's, Megane's and OPC's as rivals to our beloved Icon.
The RWD i6 Premium, shortened F30 wheelbase offering from BMW and the A3 is playing in a different league, I hate to admit we have to include the A45 AMG even though it's cabin is sub-standard Golf But lets stay fair in that regard.

^
All I said there I regard as fair comment. Yet if you read it again...and...again, one starts to realize that being a F30 derivative the F20 BMW's is THE ONLY real McCoy, being actually, factually PREMIUM. Ja, it is
And before anyone reading this tear their panties, next gen BMW 1er is going FWD, then the honeymoon will be over and gone. Thanks BMW

 

[bmwownage]

in terms of premium, no way the VW is on terms of BMW or Audi or MB, but i guess the point is the GTI is charging non-premium money for something that isn't that non-premium, making it appear as a strong cheaper alternative, ie a bargain buy vs the other two but then of course, the discount is justified for design/quality/brand etc.

 

[Deckhook]

Everyone may perceive premium differently, for me I have always viewed the GTI model above that of the regular Golf in the same way as I view the M3 to the regular 3 series. In my opinion I easily see the GTI on level pegging with either the Audi or BMW equivalents and as for image I actually think it has a bit more kudos too.

 

[Deckhook]

^Klier I wouldn't have expected anything different than you disagreeing with one of my posts. Good to see nothing has changed since I was away.

 

[Soup]

 

[DeDe]

In the latest issue of Sport Auto the Golf GTi Performance is only 1 second slower around the Hockenheimring than the new Audi S3 (1:17,8 and 1:16,8 min). Also 2 seconds quicker than the Golf Mk6 GTi.

Very impressive!

 

[Deckhook]

^Not sure but I don't think the S3 has the front LSD that comes with the Performance pack GTI, if that's correct then chances are its the thing that's making all the difference.

 

[bmwownage]

^must be, they claim the front LSD makes it 8s quicker around Nurburgring right?

 

[DeDe]

Manual vs DSG

 

[Rainer271]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Laptime2014]

When this car comes to North America in the fall, I will be taking one for a test drive. Maybe it will finally temp me out of my MK V. The MK VI was not much of an improvement on the MK V in my opinion. I agree 100% about it being the most well rounded car. We have a 335I Bimmer and just sold my SRT8 Challenger. I always found myself picking the VW whenever we would do a last minute road trip somewhere or just to go for a cruise. My other cars have their perks, but for me, the GTI brings the biggest smile behind the wheel and that's why it still has a spot in our garage.

 

[Deckhook]

Too true, though the wife likes her X1 and misses the S4 it's the GTI that her heart still belongs to.

 

[Cashmere]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Merc1]

I gotta drive one of these when they arrive, especially the R version They look like so much fun.

M

 

[SKY]

Been driving one each day since August.

FANTASTIC at every level.

 

[Soup]

 

[Rolf]

I will be the last member on GCF to give any negative comment on VAG's iconic and brilliant Golf GTI. It does too many, too perfect.

But let's stay real and on track, not get carried away. Even if it shares a truck load of parts with it's Premium sister the A3 or Steve Sutcliffe had us believe you can pitch it against a BMW M135i, you cannot be fooled or tricked into believing pure BS.

The GTI does not pretend being a Premium car or anything else than the Hot Hatch King in the non-Premium segment of the market and it is that. So let's keep real here and keep the ST's, Megane's and OPC's as rivals to our beloved Icon.
The RWD i6 Premium, shortened F30 wheelbase offering from BMW and the A3 is playing in a different league, I hate to admit we have to include the A45 AMG even though it's cabin is sub-standard Golf But lets stay fair in that regard.

^
All I said there I regard as fair comment. Yet if you read it again...and...again, one starts to realize that being a F30 derivative the F20 BMW's is THE ONLY real McCoy, being actually, factually PREMIUM. Ja, it is
And before anyone reading this tear their panties, next gen BMW 1er is going FWD, then the honeymoon will be over and gone. Thanks BMW

The interior build quality of the GTi is better than the M135i, I sat in both cars on the same day and compared, the plastics used on the BMW center console, doors and dash is less premium than the Golf, the same with the A45 AMG, its much better than the BMW and on par with the GTi, especially the seats and steering wheel which are amazing. The only difference to call it premium or non-premium is the badge and prestige tied to that badge. The GTI has got a huge heritage and each generation is a sought after car. In South Africa it is the top selling Golf model. The M135i is in another league regards to powertrain for sure. The A3 is for me just a classier looking Golf wearing an Audi badge, I actually prefer the Golf to the A3 cause it is a better all rounder, it is cheaper and powertrain is virtually identical and so is build quality, maybe Audi fraction better than the Golf, but styling wise the A3 is boring, looks just like the previous version

 

[Human]

The interior build quality of the GTi is better than the M135i, I sat in both cars on the same day and compared, the plastics used on the BMW center console, doors and dash is less premium than the Golf, the same with the A45 AMG, its much better than the BMW and on par with the GTi, especially the seats and steering wheel which are amazing. The only difference to call it premium or non-premium is the badge and prestige tied to that badge. The GTI has got a huge heritage and each generation is a sought after car. In South Africa it is the top selling Golf model. The M135i is in another league regards to powertrain for sure. The A3 is for me just a classier looking Golf wearing an Audi badge, I actually prefer the Golf to the A3 cause it is a better all rounder, it is cheaper and powertrain is virtually identical and so is build quality, maybe Audi fraction better than the Golf, but styling wise the A3 is boring, looks just like the previous version

I cannot agree with you regarding the interior quality comparison and how you perceive the Golf to be better than the BMW. For sure the A-class IMHO cannot compare with neither the 1er nor the Golf that's a given, it has nasty bits and exposed paint everywhere. That said as good as the Golf is and it is the perfect all rounder in it's respective segment! The overall perceived quality ambiance as well as the exposed paint on the B-Pillars makes it still far less premium than that of the 1er and A3 IMO.

PS: Nice to have a conversation again here on GCF. I am so utterly busy at work and spend more time in Johannesburg than in my hometown.