Golf's all I could afford!!

[jlgumby]

So here's something for ya. And this has come to me when someone heard that I ordered a Golf R and said, couldn't you afford a BMW?

Funnily enough when I was looking at the R, I was also cross shopping for an M3 or possibly a 335. And I got a similar comment from a VW dealer who said to me "Why are you looking at a Golf R when you were just test driving M3s?" (Great salesman). I smiled and left.

Anyway, so here's the question? How many of you out there could afford a higher priced car, and considered it, only to choose their car purely because of how good it was?

I've been waiting for mine for 9 months now and have on three occassions started looking for something else being fed up with the wait as it kept extending, but I kept coming back to the fact that there was nothing else I wanted as much so the order stands.

[SilvrFoxX]

I will start by saying that there is nothing in the class close to the R for the money. That said looking at the question posed by the salesman it isn't unreasonable to ask why as it isn't really a comparison.

I would suggest that many who bought the R could afford more but it gets silly what the uplift in spend needs to be before you start getting bang for buck.

Just for the record I waited 9 months and got pissed about 9 times but as all the R owners will tell you it is worth it when you get it.. ( especially after you apply a tune )

[GTD Dubber]

Couldn't agree more. I went looking at a BMW and once we opened the door my wife wouldn't even get in to try it. It looked cramped and cheaper than the VW. It probably is a very good car but it just didn't do it for both of us.

[AdamD]

I think there are a lot of Golf owners out there who can afford more, but choose not to because the Golf does everything so well. It's not just great value for money, it's also a great car to drive and be driven in. My neighbour drives a 135i and I reckon my VW does 90% of things better - including being more luxurious.

I could have afforded to spend more, and did the due diligence (BMW 135 and 325, amongst others), before I bought my GTI. I've traditionally spent all I reasonably could on my cars. But the GTI ticked all my boxes, and I put my spare change to better use instead.

[SilvrFoxX]

Yes I am pretty sure you can't fit a 2.4 metre shelf in a BMW 135. I know for a fact you can in a Golf

They are possibly the best compromise ever built.. not perfect at any one thing but great at everything

[Diesel_vert]

It's all relative.

A $155k BMW M3 is hard to justify compared to a $55k VW Golf R for some people, but others may find a Golf R hard to justify compared to a Golf GTI.

Some find an Australian made sedan better value compared to any Japanese or European hatch for performance and accommodation.

Or for those climbing the social ladder, a $55k BMW/Merc is better value compared to a $55k VW.


That said, if affordability was really no barrier, as if you wouldn't take the M3!

[kaanage]

I chose a TDi rather than a GTi (or an R and both were affordable) - what does that make me?

[SilvrFoxX]

That in isolation is true, if you said go pick up the keys to an R or an M3 and price wasn't the issue then the M3 would be the pick. However if you were to weigh up all the different aspects the R would tip the balance given most have families and it does cover all bases.

[SilvrFoxX]

I chose a TDi rather than a GTi (or an R and both were affordable) - what does that make me?

a tightarse

[kaanage]

I'll wear that!

[Diesel_vert]

I chose a TDi rather than a GTi (or an R and both were affordable) - what does that make me?

Simply, someone with different priorities.

That in isolation is true, if you said go pick up the keys to an R or an M3 and price wasn't the issue then the M3 would be the pick. However if you were to weigh up all the different aspects the R would tip the balance given most have families and it does cover all bases.

M3 sedan

[AdamD]

That said, if affordability was really no barrier, as if you wouldn't take the M3!

QFT. An M3 sedan would have to be my #1 ideal daily. But even if I could afford one, I'd have to think pretty seriously about it before I could justify spending that coin on a small sedan... unless I had everything else I wanted already!

I chose a TDi rather than a GTi (or an R and both were affordable) - what does that make me?

Someone who recognises what they need, and buys the car that meets their requirements best? AKA someone sensible?

[brad]

I could go & pay cash for my dream car tomorrow (something like an AMG C63) but then I'd have no cash, nothing to dream about & I'd be kakking my pants everytime I parked the car at work.

The (relatively) cheap car that I have suits my needs & I get a great deal of enjoyment driving it every day.

[SilvrFoxX]

So when you getting a GTI or R Brad ... or are you with the rest of the lemmings and off to buy and F86?

[brad]

So when you getting a GTI or R Brad ... or are you with the rest of the lemmings and off to buy and F86?

Sticking with the Skoda for another 2 years then I'll see what suits my needs. daughter #1 gets her Ls in <1yr, so she can practice burning the clutch out on the Skoda until 2014 & get her manual licence. The car will be rooted after that, so she can have it & then pass it on to her sister (if she hasn't written it off by then).

I love driving that Skoda, so a replacement will have big shoes to fill. have been driving around unmapped for the last month. Reset the sensors back to "zero" 2 weeks ago. Re-installed the Bluefin last night & half a tank of 100RON this morning - happy days.

maybe I will get on the FT86 bandwagon but not with 147kw/7zillion RPM on board. More likely a Skoda Scout with a remap.