MK VI Wagon in OZ

[dopey]

I am very pleased with the Sport option on our hatch. The wider 17" rubber is a little noisier, the ride is a little firm but still comfortable (I don't have ACC just std suspension) - but I find the handling a lot better. Not to mention it looks great. Overall I felt it was cash well spent. Seats are tops too, hold you in much better.

[midlifecrisis]

I am very pleased with the Sport option on our hatch. The wider 17" rubber is a little noisier, the ride is a little firm but still comfortable (I don't have ACC just std suspension) - but I find the handling a lot better. Not to mention it looks great. Overall I felt it was cash well spent. Seats are tops too, hold you in much better.

Thanks. I hadn't thought about increased road noise. Is that on a mark 6?

[Corey_R]

Thanks. I hadn't thought about increased road noise. Is that on a mark 6?

You're only going from 16" x 6 1/2" wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres to 17" x 7" wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres. So the difference won't be THAT much.

In fact, the size is just the same as the standard GTI wheels, a car which too many people are saying is "too quiet to be fun to drive"....

[dopey]

You're only going from 16" x 6 1/2" wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres to 17" x 7" wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres. So the difference won't be THAT much.

In fact, the size is just the same as the standard GTI wheels, a car which too many people are saying is "too quiet to be fun to drive"....

Yes, but you're forgetting that some tyres are noisier than others. The Bridgestone RE050 on my 17s are definitely producing a lot more noise than the Conti's (from memory) that were on the standard 16" wheels. I test drove both back to back on the same roads and it wasn't just myself that picked up on it. It's not that they're loud mind you, but the increase in noise is definitely there hence I have mentioned it. Doesn't bother me - doesn't bother most people, but it's something to keep in mind for some individuals.

(And yes, the car is a Mk6 MY10 118TSI)

[Corey_R]

I'm not forgetting anything. I'm fully aware of that fact. So you make sure you have a well known quiet tyre on the car.

I mean, with your example, the smaller wheels with a 'chevron' pattern tyre would be MUCH louder than the larger wheel with a Conti...

I was simply addressing the question of changing to a wheel 2cm wider - you cannot possibly account for all the thousands of different tyres on the market So yes, with the same tyre having 2cm of extra road contact will be a bit louder - but the fact is, that with the tyres that VW are putting on the car (both the one you mentioned and the CSC's), and the greater cabin insulation in the MK6, people are saying that it's "too refined to be fun" - so it's still pretty quite

[midlifecrisis]

Ok, I've done some more research and after much deliberation think I have something I am happy with given the need to get a car loan, cash in investments, sell existing car, tweak mortgage etc. I figure if I can get with my fleet discount, a percentage discount on a deal up there with the best of them then this is possible. It will be my first brand new car and likely will see a good decade and more with the family. Otherwise options come off and I will take a hard look at the new Mazda 6 Wagon out in March, or look at a year or two old well featured Skoda wagon or Subaru liberty. The Golf Wagon is still my favoured, so will see how it goes the next month or so when dealers finally can make deals. Plan is to not rush this and options may change when I have had some time to see them in action.

118TSI Golf Wagon DSG (no manual option anyway) - Nippy, engine of 2009, good fuel economy, better options on comfort than trendline even after comfort package.
White - good heat reduction and visibility to other drivers. And looks very nice (white is the new silver).
Sports Package - safer (more rubber, better stability, tyre pressure, cornering fogs), nicer mags, better drive!
Park Assist - just makes life easier in carparks and manoeuvring, and auto park will be used.
RCD510 - really for reverse camera, but also better larger park assist display, cool iPhone/iPod tech interface, and better sound.
Reverse Vehicle Camera - super safe for kiddies at home, in schools, parks etc and for tricky reverses like at night and off road reverse u-turns. And its cool tech.
Leather (Black) - kid friendly for cleaning (and Sport Pack doesn't have sports seats), better comfort. If the leather seats aren't the same as the normal golfs in terms of support then this will likely get dropped given its an expensive option and I can get after market for almost half this in a few years when there is some wear from kiddies.
Mdi + iPod cable - need my tech interface (even if I hear its a bit laggy and buggy).
Tint Cancer council approved tinting - UV protection, privacy, cooler, leather protection.

Floormats - wear and tear / cleaning
Boot protector - wear and tear / cleaning
Rear bumper stainless steel - inevitable scratches
Wagon door chrome protector - low ceilings
Sunshade (sides) - baby/kid against sun

No built in bluetooth. VW's is way to pricey for the real deal. Parrot 9200 looks good at half the price fitted but still not convinced that with an iPhone I dont get that sort of functionality anyway if I windscreen mount it. Magellan's new premium mount has a speaker, gps assist and bluetooth for under $200 AUD which seems to be a far better and cheaper option even if I have to pause or turn down the stereo manually and answer with a non-wheel button. No biggy for the cost saving.

No panoramic sunroof. I have watched the recent chatter and given its like the Tiguan and would make the car nice and airy, my budget is reached, and its really just a luxury that could make the car hotter in summer and be an expensive repair in the next decade. But if I had the cash I probably would

No alarm. Its pricey. I have seen issues on UK forums with false alarms. I'll be insured.

Did I miss anything?

[Corey_R]

Heh - I don't think there would be any issues with the sunroof needing repair in a decade. The Tiguan's is excellent!

As for 'Tint', you said 'cancer council approved tinting' - are you talking about the VW factory tint? Where did you get that information? Or are you talking about aftermarket tint?

[midlifecrisis]

Heh - I don't think there would be any issues with the sunroof needing repair in a decade. The Tiguan's is excellent!

As for 'Tint', you said 'cancer council approved tinting' - are you talking about the VW factory tint? Where did you get that information? Or are you talking about aftermarket tint?

Yeah, the sunroof would be nice but I would have to give up something, and everything else around that value seems more useful and better for safety.


After market UV offered by VW - they had a few but this was Cancer Council approved... Pricey $650 because sports pack requires rear as clear, but I figure they are over pricing it and expect on a well option vehicle (~$10K options) they should be making me some good deals.

[Corey_R]

Wow - that's just absolute crap man. Don't throw your money away - go to an aftermarket place.

The dealer won't be doing the tint anyway. They'll get someone in to do it, like Tint-A-Car. You could probably take it to them and have them do it for $350 (I'm saying $350, which is higher than 'normal' since this is a wagon and therefore has more window area). But $650 is just throwing money away! If you have so much to toss around, go aftermarket and then give the $300 you save to charity or something useful!

[pologti18t]

I assume you mean the new addition to the Mazda 6 wagon range - the Touring wagon? I would assume it will be a 40K+ proposition and probably auto only.

[brad]

Wow - that's just absolute crap man. Don't throw your money away - go to an aftermarket place.

The dealer won't be doing the tint anyway. They'll get someone in to do it, like Tint-A-Car. You could probably take it to them and have them do it for $350 (I'm saying $350, which is higher than 'normal' since this is a wagon and therefore has more window area). But $650 is just throwing money away! If you have so much to toss around, go aftermarket and then give the $300 you save to charity or something useful!

+1. $350 extra just to get a stamp of approval from the Cancer Council The stamp doesn't block UV rays, the spec of the film does.

i can't help thinking that all the picking & choosing & financial fenangling will give you very high expectations which won't be met.

[midlifecrisis]

I assume you mean the new addition to the Mazda 6 wagon range - the Touring wagon? I would assume it will be a 40K+ proposition and probably auto only.

Yeah the new ones. My VW config as it now stands is $48k (which I need to get right down substantionally) so Mazda auto could be competative.

[midlifecrisis]

+1. $350 extra just to get a stamp of approval from the Cancer Council The stamp doesn't block UV rays, the spec of the film does.

i can't help thinking that all the picking & choosing & financial fenangling will give you very high expectations which won't be met.

I am trying to get a good deal so knowing I can tint privately and get a lifetime warranty is good. That's why I am on these forums - so I can get the best deal I can.

[pologti18t]

Yeah the new ones. My VW config as it now stands is $48k (which I need to get right down substantionally) so Mazda auto could be competative.

Except you are optioning the VW with stuff that may not even be available on the Mazda.

[Corey_R]

Yeah the new ones. My VW config as it now stands is $48k (which I need to get right down substantionally) so Mazda auto could be competative.

As pologti18t said, you're adding options on the Golf which the Mazda won't even have as an option...

But the other thing I wonder, is have you actually driven the Mazda 6 and the Golf 118TSI ?

The 'feel' of the drive in the Mazda 6 is not nearly as nice. Plus, compare the engines:
Mazda 6
Engine Size (cc) 2488
Power 125kW @ 6000rpm
Torque 226Nm @ 4000rpm
Fuel Combined (l/100km) 8.8

Golf 118TSI
Engine Size (cc) 1390
Power 118kW @ 5900rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1750-4500rpm
Fuel Combined (l/100km) 6.5

The Mazda has 7 more KW, but the VW has 14 more torque, and over a huge rev range - which makes the feel of the engine so much different. Then to rub salt into the wound, the Mazda uses a whopping 2.3 litres more fuel!!!

The 118TSI in manual is even only 0.2 litre per 100 from matching the Mazda Diesel wagon.