GOLF GTD MK7 GTD

[DMc87]

Hi all,

I am looking into getting a new motor and the above has caught my attention. I have managed to find one not far from me and taking it for a test drive tomorrow. It's currently done 69k miles and is on a 16 plate. Apparently it comes with full main dealer service history and has just had it's MOT done with a couple of advisories (Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened X2, Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin X2). I's up for £9,999 and am just wondering is this worth entertaining? What things should I be looking out for? Also I average about 3-5k miles per year, mostly city with the odd big trip of about 250 miles a couple of times per year so what things should I be considering or is a diesel more counter efficient for the miles I do?

If anyone can think of any alternatives if this is no good I'd also want something round about the age, preferably younger and just as much fun to drive?

Thanks

[littleredrooster]

Be very careful about buying any modern diesel car if the majority of your journeys are short/slow. The emission controls (DPF/EGR etc.) are very prone to becoming clogged unless they get a regular steady run at main-road speeds.

[ajap1979]

I had a MK7 GTD in 2014. It wasn't what I would call fun.

Besides, diesel at that sort of mileage and use case, makes no sense. Why not look for an early MK7 GTI?

[DMc87]

If I was to go through with the purchase would you advise at least once per week giving it a good run on a motor way?

[BlindedByTheLights]

I did 30k in mine, great comfy mile eating cars. With your mileage and trips you should be going petrol and the GTI.

[C.A.R.]

Great cars, but wouldn't suit your mileage / usage.

I could never better mid-40's MPG whether I drove like Miss Daisy or ragged it. It was a company car so I opted to drive it in the latter style.

It would also drink about a litre of oil every few thousand miles. This seems fairly common, I also had the issue on a Leon FR with the same engine. A warning light comes on indicating that it wanted topping up.

Ergonomically one of the best cars I've ever driven. Plenty quick enough for the day-to-day, it always felt like you could exploit all the power when you wanted.

But I'd be looking for a petrol GTI in your position.

[DMc87]

ajap1979 said:

I had a MK7 GTD in 2014. It wasn't what I would call fun.

Besides, diesel at that sort of mileage and use case, makes no sense. Why not look for an early MK7 GTI?

Thanks for your response mate, the fastest (fun) car I've ever owned was a BMW 116D standard so anything over 116bhp will be fun to drive for me haha.

My budget is a bit tight, round about £10k so struggling to find anything for that budget

[Belle427]

I'd echo what others have said, good car but you have to be careful with the dpf and short journeys.
Plenty of go in the real world, a remap really transforms them for circa £300 and very little impact on insurance

[ajap1979]

DMc87 said:

Thanks for your response mate, the fastest (fun) car I've ever owned was a BMW 116D standard so anything over 116bhp will be fun to drive for me haha.

My budget is a bit tight, round about £10k so struggling to find anything for that budget

You'll certainly be looking at a higher mileage car, but I wouldn't let that put me off if the condition and service history is good. These cars wear their miles well. This one looks decent –

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308231...

Alternatively, a Leon Cupra offers good value for money –

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401155...

[BlindedByTheLights]

ajap1979 said:

DMc87 said:

Thanks for your response mate, the fastest (fun) car I've ever owned was a BMW 116D standard so anything over 116bhp will be fun to drive for me haha.

My budget is a bit tight, round about £10k so struggling to find anything for that budget

You'll certainly be looking at a higher mileage car, but I wouldn't let that put me off if the condition and service history is good. These cars wear their miles well. This one looks decent –

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308231...

Alternatively, a Leon Cupra offers good value for money –

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401155...

That blue PP gti seems incredible value for money, I’d be going for that over the GTD

[byepolo]

I'm eyeing a GTD Mk7 too just because i drive 70-80 miles per day x 4/week but would rather prefer a GTI MK7.

I think a GTI is best for your usage, no?

[BlindedByTheLights]

byepolo said:

I'm eyeing a GTD Mk7 too just because i drive 70-80 miles per day x 4/week but would rather prefer a GTI MK7.

I think a GTI is best for your usage, no?

You should work out the difference as I bet it isn’t much on cost. Diesel is 10p a litre more than petrol at the moment, gti will do 45mpg and my gtd did 50-55mpg.

[byepolo]

BlindedByTheLights said:

You should work out the difference as I bet it isn’t much on cost. Diesel is 10p a litre more than petrol at the moment, gti will do 45mpg and my gtd did 50-55mpg.

Yeah heavily leaning towards the GTI based on the reviews and comments - just a better driver and sound overall and no one will call you out for having a diesel GTI... However with my budget (9-12k), I can get a looked after GTD for 10k?

[66HFM]

As others have said, I'd look at a GTi for 3-5k miles rather than a GTD, which although a good car is not ideal for your use.

If its from the VAG group, have a look at a Sean Leon FR / Cupra or an Octavia VRS.

Good luck and let us know how you get on and what / if you end up buying it.

[The Cardinal]

Have a look at my Readers Cars thread on my 2016 GTD, with DSG gearbox. They're a very good all-round car, with excellent comfort, handling and power characteristics - you're able to make swift progress with minimal effort. As a package they're hard to beat and inherit almost all the GTI Mk7's good bits, apart from the engine obviously.

Downsides? Those common to Golf Mk7s (e.g. niggles like suspension bushes), and the diesel power delivery can feel a bit laggy after a good turbo petrol.

They're not thought of as ideal for repeated short journeys. For a variety of reasons ours is being used around town a lot, although I also have plenty of opportunity to do longer distances. It's been perfectly happy so far. The majority of cars in the 2010s were diesel and it so a lot will be getting used this way.

I'm surprised to see a 2016 car at that price and mileage, even if it's a manual.

Edited by The Cardinal on Monday 22 January 14:54

[ZX10R NIN]

BlindedByTheLights said:

byepolo said:

I'm eyeing a GTD Mk7 too just because i drive 70-80 miles per day x 4/week but would rather prefer a GTI MK7.

I think a GTI is best for your usage, no?

You should work out the difference as I bet it isn’t much on cost. Diesel is 10p a litre more than petrol at the moment, gti will do 45mpg and my gtd did 50-55mpg.

Where I am it's 7p a litre more for diesel where I am, I've never been in a GTI that's seen over 40mpg on average across (Cupra/VRS/Golf's I've driven) the board I'd say real world 38mpg on a run but averaged around 32mpg on mixed driving.

GTD's & others like it, I've averaged 54mpg on a run & 47mpg mixed these are fill up to fill up figures.

[Drive Blind]

I had a 2016 GTD for nearly 4 years and 70K miles. Good car but like others have said doing low city miles you might get dpf issues.

[georgeyboy12345]

As others have said, don't buy a Golf GTD, or in fact any kind of diesel for that usage as you'll soon run into problems with a clogged dpf.

Do you have off street parking? If so I'd consider a Golf GTE or its cousin the Audi A3 e-tron. Only really worth it if you can charge them regularly though, hence the off street parking

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312184...

Audi A3 e-tron
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311214...


Otherwise a non-plugin hybrid could work well, like this Lexus IS300h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307290...

Petrol powered options

Kia Ceed GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401175...


Renault Megane 2.0 TCe GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310122...


Ford Focus ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401105...


Peugeot 308 GTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401185...


VW Golf GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401125...


Seat Leon Cupra 290
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311274...

[Sslink]

I ran a Mk7 2.0TDI for 3 years, as I was doing around 80 miles a day. However, I moved in with the lady and as luck would have it was now only 3 miles each way to work. DPF warnings started after a couple of weeks so I had to give it an Italian Tune up which fortunately did remedy the issue.

I doubt the engine will even get up to temp driving in the city and you won't get anywhere near the stated MPG figures so I'd cast any diesel aside.

[119]

Didn't these era engines run a twin scroll turbo removing much of the lag?