Stiff competition for the Mk7 Golf GTI - First Edition

[alebonau]

focus st interior is bit too busy for my liking, exterior too not totally sold. no dsg for top spec model also see as a problem. but really its the over busy interior that really gets on my nerves !

[Tobes_WIR35]

I think if it was between a Focus ST or an Astra OPC I'd be going the Astra. I think they're both in similar leagues

[goodfella]

interesting pov's. I am hanging out for the OPC Astra to be released next month, then i'll be booking some back to back TDs with the OPC - ST . Pity the new GTI doesnt get released until Sep/Oct too long to wait!

[alebonau]

I saw the opc astra at a local park and its a great looking car. its just the holden cruze underneath that worried me, plus no dsg/dct on top spec engine plus no 5 door option which is also dissapointing coming from golf gti.

there is the insignia too. but its also getting very busy in the interior with the cruze style silver plastic all over the interior. a choice of auto and 4 door sedan though plus with golf R rivaling haldex AWD.

other thing really worried me with the opel is resale. especially since theyre discounting them so early on their release !

[alebonau]

Opel OPC line-up for Australia

the opc sports models launched on the opels today.

[cktsi]

Holy cow! Didnt realise the Atra OPC had adaptive dampers as standard. Throw in the electric sports seats and all the standard mod cons... Wtf... Why didnt i wait for this car????

Opel Astra OPC Review | 2013 Astra OPC Hot Hatch | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications

Might still be able to get my deposit back :-P

GTI cannot compete with this car surely. Not with the quality issues still plauguing VW... See the Golf R that carked it after 49kms.... Also i heard a friend of a friend had a 3 month old GTI that broke down in Sydney's M5 tunnel... How emberresking.

[Dutch77]

GTI cannot compete with this car surely.

Gotta wait and see how the Mk7 lines up first though.

I quite like what the GTC brings to the table but I see a few issues, namely - low brand recognition and dealer network (got to start somewhere though), the lack of finish inside (this is still a big plus on the Golfs), whether this will be any more reliable than competitors, and lack of DSG/DCT style transmission (a lot of people who desire this transmission, issues notwithstanding, are going to gravitate to the GTI for this reason).

Most importantly that's $43k before some options and on-roads.. which pushes it closer to the A250 which I think still has to be the biggest competitor at this point if M-Benz Australia are serious (and by all accounts they are). Again though - we need to see what the Mk7 brings to the table.

[cktsi]

Gotta wait and see how the Mk7 lines up first though.

Most importantly that's $43k before some options and on-roads.. which pushes it closer to the A250 which I think still has to be the biggest competitor at this point if M-Benz Australia are serious (and by all accounts they are). Again though - we need to see what the Mk7 brings to the table.

True. Bet it has VW Australia HQ thinking very hard about pricing and features.

Most importantly that's $43k before some options and on-roads.. which pushes it closer to the A250 which I think still has to be the biggest competitor at this point if M-Benz Australia are serious (and by all accounts they are). Again though - we need to see what the Mk7 brings to the table.

Well, if you want a like for like comparison, add the on roads for the A45.

Btw, I've never paid on roads for any car I've purchased so these are irrelevant to me. You just need to bargain hard enough.

[Dutch77]

True. Bet it has VW Australia HQ thinking very hard about pricing and features.

Definitely.. although what that does to the already average mk6 values can't be good.

Well, if you want a like for like comparison, add the on roads for the A45.

Btw, I've never paid on roads for any car I've purchased so these are irrelevant to me. You just need to bargain hard enough.

Correct, just trying to compare apples.. all the talk was the A250 was loaded for $55k on road give or take; I now see there's a $49,990 list price on one of the reviews.

Would need to line up the spec sheets to see what the differences are, but if I was looking and was happy with how they both drove, then at this price point and particularly if the MB has more standards then that $7k gap closes quickly and I'd be happy to trade a few tenths of acceleration for the MB.

(A lot of ifs there.. going to be some fascinating car comparisons as 2013 progresses in the hot-hatch segment).

[pologti18t]

Correct, just trying to compare apples.. all the talk was the A250 was loaded for $55k on road give or take; I now see there's a $49,990 list price on one of the reviews.

$50K list price + on road costs = $55K on road.

The AStra OPC , i think, only has metallic paint, 20 inch wheels and bixenon headlights as options.

[cktsi]

Would need to line up the spec sheets to see what the differences are, but if I was looking and was happy with how they both drove, then at this price point and particularly if the MB has more standards then that $7k gap closes quickly and I'd be happy to trade a few tenths of acceleration for the MB.

(A lot of ifs there.. going to be some fascinating car comparisons as 2013 progresses in the hot-hatch segment).

+1

2013 is going to be a cracker of a year for hot hatches. I think you're right about the A250. For a few extra thousands, it will be very difficult to ignore. If a person values the extra tenths of a second, they may well go for the OPC instead.

In either case, the Astra OPC and A250 make it tough & mess with my head a lot

The lack of a DCT for the OPC may be an issue for some.

[Ryan_R]

I think we need a new poll now

[Dutch77]

I think we need a new poll now

Haha.. true - until a mk7 GTI appears and gets in the hands of a reputable magazine/online reviewer we can only guess as to how it will stack up, not to mention the $ equation.

re: OPC/MB - I don't doubt these things are/will be tuned up as well, but for a lot of people who are keen on those extra tenths, in this country at least we seem to have a wide variety of reputable tuners and who can get GTIs moving very briskly for what is not a huge outlay. This isn't of course everyones cup of tea, but then again those of use who are keen enough for those final tenths are probably also interested in the tuning market; and this would appear to be a positive for sticking in the VW camp.

[shakespeare]

Holy cow! Didnt realise the Atra OPC had adaptive dampers as standard. Throw in the electric sports seats and all the standard mod cons... Wtf... Why didnt i wait for this car????

Opel Astra OPC Review | 2013 Astra OPC Hot Hatch | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications

Might still be able to get my deposit back :-P

GTI cannot compete with this car surely. Not with the quality issues still plauguing VW... See the Golf R that carked it after 49kms.... Also i heard a friend of a friend had a 3 month old GTI that broke down in Sydney's M5 tunnel... How emberresking.

Not sure about other's reliability but I'm very happy with the Jetta and the R in the family no issues

The thing that worries me about the Opel apart from the looks aren't to my style and the older platform is they are quite heavy 1550kg for the Astra OPC is pretty high for FWD! and 1800kg for the Insignia, makes the R36 seem like a featherweight :p

[AdamD]

I think we need a new poll now

I've added a few more options to liven things up.