Stiff competition for the Mk7 Golf GTI - First Edition

[Allegiance]

I am loving the look of the CLA - would be interesting to know what the final price for Australia will be, but its a damn sexy car....the AMG version will

I'm loving it as well.


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[clip]

As I've sold the Passat and was planning on waiting for a mk7 GTI, I've been interested in checking out all the reasonably near competition. This weekend I checked out the 1 series beemers (125 in particular). What a disappointment. The finish on the F20 is dreadful. Open up the boot and the inside section of both the boot and the interior panels looks like a thin overspray. In one spot you could see the blue primer through it. When I pointed it out to the sales guy, he said it must have been a one off, so we checked another one, same thing - he was embarrassed and had no explanation. Truly poor for a vehicle in this category. Added to the cheap finish in some of the interior, I was left wondering what else they might be scrimping on that I can't see! BMW needs to look at VW for some tips on how to finish a vehicle in this price range. Biggest issue for me though is the cramped driving position (OK for an auto, no good for a manual).

Did drive the Renault too- wow! What a unit! Loved it, but too impractical. So wait for the A250 and then see if it ticks the boxes, or just wait for the MK7 (which at the end of the day will also be the cheapest option, and probably near the best).

[Dutch77]

M-Benz CLA.. $15k approx above equivalent A class models? To me that pushes it into C class territory, slightly different target markets but I'd probably be leaning towards the bigger car (although the article suggests it's not far off so who knows).

Wanted to go look at the M135i before Xmas and sat in a lower model, so disappointing.. so cramped and my head was brushing the roof lining.. buggered if I could lower the seat further.. stuff all legroom in the back and not much in the boot.. and too many dollars to get into something that is in GTI territory (125i). Dealer was going to get me back in for a drive of a 125i and a M135i when it came in that week but never got back to me.. awesome service not, but I guess maybe he detected I was underwhelmed with the vehicle.

[alebonau]

some interesting perspectives here guys, agree renault I found impractical for me. As with the f20 bmw 1 series I wasnt that taken by interior either. plus 125i is what have to go for coming from a gti its then the bmw is $15k above the benz or golf which is just too much more in price for what is not that much better a car I dont think. I have no doubt bmw will revise pricing though come release of the a class here.

re benz cla from pricing have seen in what was published in greece in euros,

cla 180 is 28.9k, c180 is 32.8k
Cla200 is 31.9k, c200 is 37.15k
Cla250 is 39.9k, c250 is 44.4k

keeping in mind the c250 is about $67k+ here

so yeah theyve made sure to keep pricing below c class and with next c class coming its beleive that is to go up in a bracket price wise as well.

[Dutch77]

I have no doubt bmw will revise pricing though come release of the a class here.

They'd have to.. while the 125i lists for 49k, that shoots north of 60k by the time you spec it up to something I'd want, plus another 5k for on roads minimum.. thats around a 10k premium to the A250 based on all reports. By all accounts there's more room in the A250 and while styling is always subjective I think the target market is going to prefer the cheaper alternative.

At a guess that might make a CLA in A250 spec around 70k, or not much different to the current C250. That's optioned Golf R territory although not likely to be much buyer crossover there (although when I was looking at an R before Xmas I was considering these sorts of alternatives as well.. fortunately I came to my senses and decided better to keep the GTI a while longer).

Anyway will go and check out the A250 when one arrives here, at this stage it's the only viable alternative I'd be considering to a Mk7.

[THE_EGG]

I know this idea might seem a bit daft at first but the Mini Clubman S or JCW could be a reasonable competitor to the Golf GTI. The only downside is really that door and the price. I test drove a 2007 Clubman S - before I got my DS3 Sport - with about 65k kms on the clock from memory and it was a very pointy car. I couldn't compare it to the Cooper though as I have never driven one. The plastics used in it were pretty nasty though, even my Citroen has nicer materials...But it actually had a pretty good boot (also the boxy design helps) and rear legroom was ok as well. It did feel slower than the specs though which disappointed me. Also it was probably because it might still be on the first clutch, but the clutch felt a bit soggy and there wasn't a definate biting point.

I'm surprised to hear the negative reviews on the 1-series though. I would have thought they would have nice plastics and a larger interior than what was described. Disappointing.

So Giulietta, A250, DS4 Racing (if it happens) and Volvo V40 seem to be the closest GTI competitors reading through this thread.

[cktsi]

It does seem strange that the CLA is not much smaller than the C class, yet the wheel base and interior space is comsiderably smaller. Logically one would go for the C class than the CLA.

The CLA probably appeals more to the irrational emotion of appreciating its coupe looks over its lack of practicality.

Thanks for posting the CLA pics. Me likey!

As for the C class going up in price, i doubt it. When the F30 came out, audi dropped the A4 price of the 2 litre turbo and added quattro just to compete. MB I believe gave more features (elegance or avant is now standard) and also dropped price slightly.

Judging by their aggression with A class,pricing and intent to invade the Golf's price,range, i would argue MB are sharpening the pencil instead and have been doing so lately.

[Dutch77]

I know this idea might seem a bit daft at first but the Mini Clubman S or JCW could be a reasonable competitor to the Golf GTI.

..

So Giulietta, A250, DS4 Racing (if it happens) and Volvo V40 seem to be the closest GTI competitors reading through this thread.

I think the Mini's biggest issue might be the lack of an auto option on the high performance models.. although the Clubman does have one and does quote a 0-100 time of 7.2 which is fair. Regardless of any reliability concerns, the GTI still sells a lot more in DSG format than manual, and I think people generally want this option (having said that, does A250 lose sales by not having a manual option?).

I also don't know what Mini discounting is like, but a few options and again the price has pushed well into A250/125i territory and I'd be going that route instead.

Don't know much about the DS4 Racing but it does look the goods on the exterior - amazing what a few styling tweaks and a large suspension drop can do to the looks of a car.

[geeza]

[QUOTE=Dutch77;906447]They'd have to.. while the 125i lists for 49k, that shoots north of 60k by the time you spec it up to something I'd want, plus another 5k for on roads minimum.. thats around a 10k premium to the A250 based on all reports.

Somone i know had thier 2009 BMW 125 serviced recently, - $8 grand! - great engine and dynamics but no so great interior and its gonna cost you heaps in the end

I think i'll keep my mk 6 GTI but get a Toyota 86 for fun - had a drive of 1 last week and overall i like it - no back seat though so it really has to be a 2nd car for me and even then i question the wisdom of spending money like that on a 2nd car

[alebonau]

I have heard about bmws service cost. is that just out of warranty as understand thats when they really ping you ! with the merc as well was first thing I asked. was told around $400 an annual service for 3 years so $1200 over a lease, but as it turns out merc has a corporate deal for free servicing over length of warranty. but dare say they ping you pretty hard after the 3 years as well. am pretty sure golf is the same with out of warranty service cost ramping up significantly though.