MK5 Golf to Tig ?

[TDI DSG]

We have had a MK5 TDI DSG Golf for almost 5 years now and are thinking of upgrading soon - maybe to a Tig.
We have looked at them a few times when at the dealers for servicing of the Golf. Initial impressions were that they seemed a bit cheap feeling compared to the Golf, and without a lot of extra useable room. Seats seemed a downgrade from the Comfortline.
For those that have gone from the Golf to a Tig, what are your thoughts on the upgrade ?
We really like the 103 TDI, but are not sure if we want to go that way again. We do fair bit of short trip driving which may be better suited to the petrol ?
Look forward to some owners opinions.

[Captain Bungers]

I suppose it depends what you want the Tig to do for you. I feel that if you don't need the extra room you should get another Golf, but if you do need a bit more room consider the Tig or the Golf wagon (they don't look too bad with the comfort pack etc).

I bought our Tig because we have 2 kids and our families are at least 2 hours from where we live. I also drive 40k to and from work, so I drive it a lot. I use a luggage pod for the pram etc. when we go for a weekend.

It goes really well and I am extremely happy with it, the boys love it (because it is black and turbo!!!) and the lady that rules the roost is pleased that I didn't get the R.

Like I said, it depends on what you want it for. Give us a bit more detail (dogs, children, offroad, llamas etc) and we can happily throw more info.
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[TDI DSG]

There will be short trips - probably half the time.
First child due in a few months - maybe one more to come.
Would like more room for prams/camping gear for weekends way, but dont really need offroading ability.
Golf wagon would probably provide the most cargo room ?
Tig didnt look like it had much more room than the Golf hatch - just more height in the cargo area ?

[Captain Bungers]

We have two toddlers, so a pram is mandatory for us - we lug around a Phil n' Teds which takes up a bit of room but fits in well, however I do have to get a bit creative when we go grocery shopping. Like I mentioned earlier we use a luggage pod for big trips which fits everything superbly. No squeezing bits of luggage between seats and under kids etc. One thing I really like about it (I have the 2.0 TSI) is the get up and go it has, even when fully loaded. I am sure the TDI is even better in that sense (at least until I get the APR tune ).

The amount of room in the back is deceptive, especially with the ability to move the rear seats forward - I managed to fit the entire family, the pram and a brand new dishwasher (still packaged) in a few weeks ago! I admit I had to be quite friendly with the steering wheel and have a new appreciation for the quality of leather they use on it...

The kids seats fit really well in the back seat, especially the rearward facing seat. Our Forester had to have the passenger seat pulled almost all of the way forward to fit it, however the Tig's passenger seat is pretty much uncompromised. I can't vouch for the room in the Golf, however this is a really, really big asset in the Tig. Especially on a 3 hour trip.

Edit: Oh, and congratulations!

I hope this helps a bit.

[TDI DSG]

Captain Bungers,

Thanks for your reply - some good info there.
The above mentioned load sounds like a fair acheivement !

Interesting your comments on the Forester as it is the other car we had in mind. Did you have the current shape or the older smaller shape ?

Cheers

[Captain Bungers]

We still have it actually! It is an my03 X. It is a really good car and in lots of ways I prefer it to my dad's my09 (new shape) Forester XS. The handling of the XS is a bit boatey and it has nothing on the Tig in terms of performance (note I am talking about the XS not the XT). I could only find one drink holder in the new model Forester which made me quite cross. I also reckon the Tig is more comfortable as a passenger car - being 6 foot 4 might be a factor.

The XT is a good car and I nearly went down that path but decided on the Tig just because I like it more and I have always had a real soft spot for VW's - especially since our '68 beetle that never died and the 78 kermit green Golf that also never died.

[epilot]

we are very happy with our Tig, 1 month and 2500k's down the track.
its a very different driving experience from the GTi mainly due to the driving position/ height/ physical size difference between the two. having said that there is also significant similarities due to the dna of the two.
you are right about the cheapness of the Tig compared to the Golf, even on the 147 little things bug me about the low rent finish in the cabin, pedal cluster finish, no wheel paddles, bonnet release on the passenger side, other little things.
but as i said above overall we are pretty happy with the car/s

[TDI DSG]

Well I have organised a test drive for Saturday .......
Will post my thoughts after test drives

[Pullstarter]

If you think the Tig has a cheaper feel you definitely won't like the Forester, the interior on those is just plain nasty. Really cheap rattley plastics etc. A friend has one about the same age as my Tig and its developed quite a lot of rattles. Not to mention the auto in those (not sure if you mentioned auto or manual?) is just plain crap.

I've had my Tig for 2 years and yes it is a bit short on luggage space but I absoltely love it. I can also assure you that the interior is far from inferior to the Golf. I still have no rattles or squeaks and the materials used are very hard wearing.

The handling as mentioned before also far exceeds anything else in the class. it really does drive and handle like an ordinary car. Check out the latest NRMA (pretty sure it was NRMA) awards, Tig got the best SUV under 40k.

If you do need more luggage space I would go with a Gol wagon as suggested by bungers, the boot in those things really is quite massive.

[TDI DSG]

Well today was test driving day - Tig 125 TSI DSG, Golf Wagon 103 TDI DSG, Subaru Forester, and Hyundai ix35.

Being a VW owner, and having several in the family I was expecting a lot from the Tiguan, but to be honest came away pretty dissapointed. It is hard to tell from a short test drive, but we were able to drive all cars over the same 20+ klm loop.

The 103 TDI was no longer available for test drives as it had been sold, so we got a 125 TSI to drive instead. The Tiguan was the last to be driven and just did'nt feel as good to drive as the Subaru - so much so that we went back and drove the Subaru again to confirm this.
The engine/gearbox was good but the seats and general driving feel was uninspiring.

The Golf wagon on the other hand was excellent - far better interior/seating comfort than the Tiguan - going leather in the Tiguan fixes this somewhat, but the steering wheel/seat relationship in the Tiguan feels a bit weird to me. Standard spec Comfortline is very good by comparison with Tiguan too.

I may be able to get a TDI Tiguan drive next week and this may change my opinion. The car in question is a MY10 car that has the older tiptronic auto, which the dealer is telling me gives the same economy as the newer DSG version and would be almost impossible to pick the difference from driving them - sounds like BS to me but I cant find official VW specs on fuel economy for the non DSG models.

As expected the ix35 is not in the same league - but the diesel engine and 6spd auto is very very good to drive !

[Transporter]

I came to VW from Jap cars and was driving Subaru for past 17 years and 1999 Forester till last year. But, I didn't like the feel and drive of the current Forester. I like the look of the Forester from the front but that's where it ends for me. I found Tiguan's ride feel and handling the best in its class. I like the Tigs suspension and quiet ride on Adelaide's rough roads.

[TDI DSG]

Is'nt it good we have so many choices - as we are all impressed by different things !!

I really wanted to like the Tiguan and fully expected too - maybe that was the problem, especially straight after driving the Golf wagon which was so much nicer to drive.

I will get a drive of the diesel Tig before I discount it - but it seems as is getting a drive of a DSG one may be difficult.

[Captain Bungers]

The golf is a nice car, and I'm not surprised you like it - I am guessing you drove one with a dsg? Our Tig took a little while to settle in with the manual box. I have to admit that the APR upgrade turns it from something good to something brilliant! I don't want to try and change your opinion but it was a major, if not the, reason I went for it in the end. I reckon the dsg would be a good idea to try out - if you come across one

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[TDI DSG]

The golf is a nice car, and I'm not surprised you like it - I am guessing you drove one with a dsg? Our Tig took a little while to settle in with the manual box. I have to admit that the APR upgrade turns it from something good to something brilliant! I don't want to try and change your opinion but it was a major, if not the, reason I went for it in the end. I reckon the dsg would be a good idea to try out - if you come across one

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Yes both the Golf wagon and Tig were DSG equipped - just that the Tig was TSI not TDI. The Golf was just so much more refined to drive. It's a given that all the engine/gearbox combos from VW are very good - class leading mostly too. It was the driving feel that I didnt like with the Tig - the seating position had a commercial feel about it and ride wasnt supple enough for car touted as a soft roader. I actually want to do a fair amount of gravel road/dirt track driving.
As already mentioned I will get a drive in a diesel before making a final judgement on the Tig.

[Transporter]

I actually want to do a fair amount of gravel road/dirt track driving.
As already mentioned I will get a drive in a diesel before making a final judgement on the Tig.

Than the Tiguan's lack of the ground clearance is a major problem here. I would be looking at Suzuki Vitara diesel,Forester diesel, but they don't have the A/T.
And there is also Freelander, which will get you further off road than Forester.