Golf GTI - big enough for young family?

[mazstar1980]

Just sold my Focus XR5 and it we managed to cope alright with the pram and bags but the boot was pretty much filled with little space for anything else.

I know there's a few people with Golf GTIs who have families - how do you guys manage it and do you find the GTI is a decent and practical car. Would it be any more or less practical than an XR5?

The other option is the Skoda but having driven both - I still think the GTI is a more engaging drive and I'm not as worried about resale as I am with the Skoda.

Apart from that its the WRX sedan and Accord Euro - very different cars, I know. Accord Euro is best valued, I'm feeling a bit unsure of plonking 40k on a hatchback - just wanted opnions.

[kaanage]

We had a Focus LX and changed to a MkVI Golf and I can categorically say that the Golf has less boot space mainly due to the smaller rear overhang. If the XR5 was marginal for boot space, then the Golf will be too small.

For this same reason, the Skoda Octavia has far more boot space than a Golf.

[team_v]

I have the tiguan for future family needs.
The sliding/folding rear bench seat and removable parcel shelf and sinkable boot flooring sold it for me.

Plus it runs the same engine as the GTI and now mine has Golf R style power/torque figures.


If i had to pick another car to go with for family stuff, i would say a Skoda Octavia vRS wagon without hesitation.

[zach]

.
If i had to pick another car to go with for family stuff, i would say a Skoda Octavia vRS wagon without hesitation.

Perfect alternative without the sacrifice

[Corey_R]

Just sold my Focus XR5 and it we managed to cope alright with the pram and bags but the boot was pretty much filled with little space for anything else.

I know there's a few people with Golf GTIs who have families - how do you guys manage it and do you find the GTI is a decent and practical car. Would it be any more or less practical than an XR5?

The other option is the Skoda but having driven both - I still think the GTI is a more engaging drive and I'm not as worried about resale as I am with the Skoda.

Apart from that its the WRX sedan and Accord Euro - very different cars, I know. Accord Euro is best valued, I'm feeling a bit unsure of plonking 40k on a hatchback - just wanted opnions.

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/forums/f112/golf-r-practical-family-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...

[kamold]

I've got a MkV Golf and an Octavia vRS Wagon (deisel though). Got the Octavia to replace my A3 Quattro (so shallow boot like an R to make space for the Haldex diff)

Have to say the Octavia has made our lives much easier with carting around baby gear. Though it only really comes into its own if you are going away for the weekend, or need to have baby gear plus pick up shopping etc.

You can get away with a Golf with planning and careful packing but I would highly recommend taking your pram along to a Skoda dealer and throwing it in the boot of either the wagon or hatch and just see how easily it swallows it up. Then determine for yourself if you need that much room. In my case the answer was a definate yes.

However as you mentioned the driving dynamics debate you may have more of a heart over head battle than I did. I'd had my fun with the A3 so was prepared to sacrifice performance for practicality and fuel efficiency.

Best of luck with your decisions

[4wheels]

? Jetta. My son has a 2001 Bora (VR6), and the boot space is subtantial for a small car.

Brian R.

[Digger11]

I find the interior seating quite spacious - I am 6ft 4" and you can easily fit a largish teenager behind me.

As for storage space - go and have a look for yourself, but its no Landcruiser.

[SilvrFoxX]

I find the interior seating quite spacious - I am 6ft 4" and you can easily fit a largish teenager behind me.

.

Yeah but for how long.. doubt they would be happy there for anything over an hour

[spellbound]

Well i had an octavia RS wagon 2008 , brilliant space , just as powerfull as a GTI , not quite as focused in the handling , but my GTI is the MKV1 so it has the tricky diff and is firmer , much less space , can only take 75% of what i used to cram into the RS .

Resale wise , i got 52% after 3 years , not so fussed as its a business vehicle .

If space is the issue go the RS it a very good car , ah the old head vs the heart , kids change the equation .

[anthony]

I would get the Accord Euro,as its BRILLIANT value for money.

I bought one last year to replace a Jetta,and am very impressed,as the build quality,and after sales service has been far superior to VW.

I have owned 4 VWs,but also think the best buy for a young family would be the Jetta 2.0 TSI,as its basically a Golf GTI with a massive amount of rear legroom,and a huge boot...

Check them all out,and then you deceide yourself.

Personally,the Subaru and then Skoda would be crossed off my list...

[zach]

Euro boot is tiny though.

[nat225]

I have both MY2011 Mk6 GTI DSG and 2010 Accord Euro Luxury Auto SatNav.

Yes, the Euro is brilliant value for $$.. and no the Euro boot is not that tiny unless compared to a wagon.

Accord Euro Luxury..

pros: comfy ride (have driven it Syd Mel return and Syd Bne one way... will return this weekend to Syd), high level of luxury equipments on a budget (leather, electric adjustment front seat, front seat heater, sunroof, HID headlights, front rear parking sensors, satnav and reversing camera, 5 yrs wty; all for $46k on road before Honda reduced the prices last year), easy to service and simple reliable engine aka old tested design K24A engine, no vagcom complications, Michelin Primacy HP that comes stock with the Luxury model is very good in the wet however not cheap in 235 45 18.

cons: any rpm <4500 the car feels very slow and heavy for the 1.6tonne weight, rpm above 5000 gets the VTEC screaming loud but no go, RTA rego more expensive as it is based on tare weight, average fuel usage 7-8L/100kms for highway and 12L/100kms for Sydney driving, i do have rattle in the boot, a lot of body roll but handling is neutral, and massive wheel to fender gap, i will never bring it to a track, i rarely use the paddles..

The MK6 GTI..

pros: 7L/100km fuel usage in Sydney driving with occasional flogging, it comes on boost from 1700rpm all the way to 5000rpm and it does pull hard with stage 2 tune, it feels planted on the highway, i am not embarrassed to drive it on track, the paddles with DSG does its job very well, etc etc...

cons: : to get leather / bi-xenon / front rear sensors / satnav / RVC will bump up the GTI to $55k mark, smaller boot space than Euro, once something breaks it could be expensive to repair / replace..

just a few of my opinions of owning both cars the OP mentioned

[SMOK3Y]

Yeah but for how long.. doubt they would be happy there for anything over an hour

Honestly who cares how long they're happy for, they're the kid they do as they are told lol

[jrgti]

Or you could wait for the mk7 gti which may get a sligtly bigger boot, slightly more power and be more fuel efficient.