Golf GTI - big enough for young family?

[zach]

I woUld not call it tiny,just not as big as the Jetta,much bigger than the GTI...I have the base model,which has a big 17 inch full size alloy spare,which takes up a bit of room...

Another Euro plus is that it always looks so good...IMHO.

but tiny compared to Octavia hatch/wagon. euro is a nice car but lacks low down grunt and thirsty compared to any VAG engine.

[mazstar1980]

Could someone clarify whether the Golf has space for two baby seats in the back?

[Corey_R]

Could someone clarify whether the Golf has space for two baby seats in the back?

Again, not wanting to repeat what has already been said, but since everyone is already repeating the other thread...

I think that you'll find there is as many opinions as *cough*holes on this subject.
In any case, it's already been done here:
http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...car-48094.html

The only difference is that the Golf GTI has a 10cm DEEPER boot (as in the floor of the boot is 10cm higher in the R).

Have a read through there, and you'll find different people have different opinions on the boot space, the rear seat space, whether you can fit prams or not, whether it fits baby capsules, etc etc etc. It went on for 9 pages...

[hooba]

Could someone clarify whether the Golf has space for two baby seats in the back?

Yes, there is plenty of width just don't expect to be to squeeze a 3rd passenger in there as well.

[kaanage]

Did anyone else see the OP's point about the XR5 Focus only being sufficient for boot space?

A Golf has less boot space than a Focus (except for the new ones with the jumbo wheels and full sized spare). Corey_R, you should be able to verify this.

[mazstar1980]

I'm the OP - yeah Id say the Focus does have a marginally bigger boot - bit wider but not as deep I think.

I was reading a review of the Golf from Topgear UK and it's funny what passes as a hatch in Oz is actually a legit family car - the review even said "big boot". So I guess if families in the UK can manage we can.

[kaanage]

Sorry,I was referring to all the others who were commenting in isolation about the Golf's suitability for a family.

Did the XR5 have a full sized spare with a built up floor? Maybe that's why you're saying you think the Golf's boot is deeper. If you, so may find the GTi OK since it has a space saver spare. Plus you will need less baby stuff as the kids grow older.

With the standard Focus and Golf, the Focus has a much longer boot while depth and width are about the same. Rear seat space is almost identical so 2 kiddie seats/boosters can fit in the back but as hooba said, no one else would fit in between.

[DionM]

My two cents ... when we went shopping for our Jetta years ago, it was the "kid stuff" factor that swayed us from GTI/R32 to Jetta.

Our Jetta is great. Daytrips away with a pram, gazebo, fridge, camp chairs ... the boot swallows the lot. The Golf couldn't do that.

Having said all that ... we now have a 4WD to do all that ... so if you ditch the enormous pram and go for an umbrella style one ... i.e. simplify ... you could use a Golf.

[Brycem]

But jetta lacks hatchback practicality ie no height above boot.

I have Gti and Octavia rs wagon. And with two young kids the rs is the default choice for family trips. The boot is absolutely huge and difficult to fill. The Gti boot is ok size and the golf is bigger than all of its rivals with back seats folded but I reckon it will struggle with family trips.

Go the rs wagon. A q car extraordinaire. 8/10ths Gti with 580 litre boot compared to 350 in the golf.

[GTREA]

We have a MKVI GTi and vRS Wagon.

The vRS is noticeably bigger obviously when it comes to boot space.

What I do find a PITA though is trying to click the seatbelt in when a baby seat is fitted, it may be the bolster on the seat itself or just narrowness of the vehicle but I always have to pull the seat over towards the door so as to be able to access and click the seat belt in.