Fully-optioned TSI 118 v Fully-optioned GTI - Worth $12K extra??

[iBoost]

Two very different cars and really you need to test drive them both to see if the difference is worth it for you. Both very good cars in their price bracket, but one is distinctly more performance oriented than the other and only you can decide if that is an important requirement for you or not.

I guess they are not priced that far apart from each other and are both Golfs, but I never thought that the buyers would really consider a GTI over a 118 or vice versa as I imagine they are normally distinctly different buyers. In my mind the GTI buyer would be comparing with the R or other hot hatches, where as a 118 buyer would be comparing with other similarly priced hatches.

[Corey_R]

Although I would have agreed with you iBoost when talking about the MKV, I think that things have certainly changed with the MK6 though.

MKV it was either a 2L NA car with only 110kw and not much hope of an upgrade. The MK6 118TSI is Turbo/Supercharged and with a $1550 ECU update will have equal power to the GTI and more torque (unless you do an ECU update on the GTI that is).

Sure, the 118TSI doesn't have the GTI badges or exterior and interior upgrades associated with the GTI, nor does it have the same suspension or wheels etc. But a 118TSI with the 'Sport' upgrade and especially with Dynamic Chassis Control can narrow this gap a fair way.

The only thing is, by the time you get a 118TSI, add the sport pack, add the DCC, you're also narrowing the price between it and the GTI as well.



Anyway... as everyone has said - go and drive both, and make the decision on what is right for you

[triode12]

Also one reviewer of the MkV GTI said that the it's steering wheel was the best he has even tried and was worth the price of admission. AFAIK, the design of the MKVI GTI has only changed cosmetically not ergonomically.

The 118TSI with it's 1.4L engine will be cheaper to run long term as you will be able to fang it more often w/o suffering costly fuel bills. The GTI on the other hand is almost a third more expensive to run.

As the others have already said... the best thing to do would be to test drive both vehicles then decide if the difference is worth $12K to you.

[Corey_R]

The 118TSI with it's 1.4L engine will be cheaper to run long term as you will be able to fang it more often w/o suffering costly fuel bills. The GTI on the other hand is almost a third more expensive to run.

Actually, the MK6 GTI has big improvements in fuel efficiency over the MKV GTI, so the difference is much less than 1/3 now.

6.5L/100km 118TSI Manual
7.7L/100km GTI Manual (18.5% increase)

6.2L/100km 118TSI DSG
7.6L/100km GTI DSG (22.6% increase)

[tinto]

I think I had more >controllable< fun in my 125kw 1.4TSI than I do in my 200+ kw GTI.
Its like that power is so nicely matched to the car that you don't overwhelm the handling if you drive like a goose.
I love that engine too. Revvy, instant torque.. great sounds.

I also remember that my first drive in a GTI was confusing as hell with that lumpy/flat steering wheel.

But having said that... on a Mk6 I would be opting for the GTI on looks alone and upping the wheels to 18".

I'd also take the 6 speed DSG over the 7 (there's got to be a good reason they kept the 6 speed in the GTI), but that is just my own FUD.

[iBoost]

Yep I agree Corey, there are big improvements in the Mark VI so you're right.

I think that once you start adding that many options though, you're better off going for the higher spec base car. That's just my opinion.

If I was to go option crazy on the GTI I'd be getting towards R money.

[Corey_R]

I'd also take the 6 speed DSG over the 7 (there's got to be a good reason they kept the 6 speed in the GTI), but that is just my own FUD.

The main difference is:
The 6 speed using a wet-clutch which allows much higher torque handling, although will be more expensive to service.
The 7 speed uses a dry-clutch and cannot handle as much torque, but will be cheaper to service.

[roy]

The main difference is:
The 6 speed using a wet-clutch which allows much higher torque handling, although will be more expensive to service.
The 7 speed uses a dry-clutch and cannot handle as much torque, but will be cheaper to service.

+1 it's true