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

[JIMMYP]

What do you guys think? The Golf GTI (DSG 7-speed (auto)) with full options (leather, RNS510 with Dynaudio, etc) is apparently $12K than the TSI 118 with the same options.

From what I've read and from the drive in the TSI 118, it seems like a car with enough zip and sporting ability for most people. Would the difference between the two cars be lessened by the fact that the GTI is auto (i.e. would the difference be much more noticeable on the manual)?

So what does everyone think - worth the extra $12K? Also interested in how much extra the insurance would be (33 y.o., nil driving infringements record)?

Cheers!

[Corey_R]

Hmmm - that post is rather suspect....

Firstly, DSG is not an auto, it's an automated manual gearbox - big difference.
Next, the DSG in the GTI is 6 speed, not 7 speed.

In the first line I presume you're wanting to say that the GTI is $12k more than the 118TSI.
I have no idea what you're asking on the 2nd line?!? Would what difference be noticable? Performance? There is more than just an engine difference between the two cars....
As for the manual vs auto - the DSG isn't an auto, and is just as quick (if not quicker for the average driver) than the manual - so again, I'm not sure what it is that you're asking.

Is the difference worth $12k - yes, to me... but I'm not sure you've done your research to truely understand what the difference is between the two cars, which would to me indicate that it may not be worth the difference for you


The GTI DSG 5dr is $42990 and the

[JIMMYP]

My understanding is that there is a 6 speed auto as an option on the GTI - see:

http://www.volkswagen.com.au/etc/medialib/vwcms/virtualmaster/en_au/new_cars/golf/pricing___specifications.Par.0028.File.pdf/78516_golf_gti_brochure.pdf

My question is whether the difference between the GTI and TSI 118 in terms of performance is somewhat negated if one got a GTI with the auto DSG option?

[gerhard]

My understanding is that there is a 6 speed auto as an option on the GTI - see:

http://www.volkswagen.com.au/etc/medialib/vwcms/virtualmaster/en_au/new_cars/golf/pricing___specifications.Par.0028.File.pdf/78516_golf_gti_brochure.pdf

My question is whether the difference between the GTI and TSI 118 in terms of performance is somewhat negated if one got a GTI with the auto DSG option?

No. The DSG does not negate any performance. You can get the "auto" with the 118TSI as well, and it doesn't negate any performance there, either.

[Corey_R]

My understanding is that there is a 6 speed auto as an option on the GTI - see:

http://www.volkswagen.com.au/etc/medialib/vwcms/virtualmaster/en_au/new_cars/golf/pricing___specifications.Par.0028.File.pdf/78516_golf_gti_brochure.pdf

My question is whether the difference between the GTI and TSI 118 in terms of performance is somewhat negated if one got a GTI with the auto DSG option?

As I said, it's 6 not 7 speed, and it's an Automated Manual, not an 'Auto' (with a torque converter).

Also as I said, and so has gerhard, that since it's not an 'Auto' and is in fact an Automated Manual, there is no decrease in performance. As per my original post, unless you're a very competent driver, the DSG will be quicker than the manual.

[HereGoes]

lol i tired to explain the difference between auto and dsg to my GF when i got the GTI, she is a reasonably savy girl when it comes to cars but just did not get it... may have been the teacher? Anyway there is a good clip on here some place i think that goes into how the DSG works etc, maybe that will help

[Servo]

Have you actually test drove both cars and compared them? I think the bottom line would be that the $12K is definitely worth it if you can afford it.

[mfl]

the DSG will be quicker than the manual.[/QUOTE]

Yes a DSG can be quicker, especially in city driving, but in my opinion not as much fun (but still fun). The manual has a different character to the DSG.

Certainly the DSG is a world away from the 'slushboxes' autos of old.

While the 118tsi with DSG is a good car and would certainly be rapid for city driving, the GTI due to its interior trim, engine, suspension, body trim, wheels etc is at a different level to the 118 and worth the extra money.

[STV4SYT]

The question should not be is it worth $12k it is do you want a GTi or not...

You could get a lower spec GTI - which is better spec than a base 118 for a lot less than $12k and ultimately lose less money on it.

Any money spent on options is not reflected in resale values

[roy]

it seems to be only 8.5k(3dr) or 10k(5dr) difference between gti and 118 without any option. On road fee is anther story.
Well for me if I can afford definitely go gti,
that's the difference between hot hatch and good hatch, performance car and good car...

[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.