A250e vs Golf 8 GTE
Discussion
Has anyone got experience of driving both a Golf GTE (Mk8 2020-24sh) and a Mercedes A250e, please?
I'm shopping for ideas to replace my daily driver. It doesn't need to be amazing but a bit of joy would be helpful.
I was looking at Polo GTIs when I've noticed I can get a newer Golf Mk8 GTE for the same money (18-20k). I don't drive many miles but winter early starts are frequent so a preconditioned cabin would be a nice eay to start the working day. A round trip to work is pretty much 20 miles.
I need to do the occasional longer trip which would make a BMW i3 impractical. Other electric cars at that budget aren't inspiring me.
(Any options need to have rear doors but don't need to be very big.)
I'm expecting the GTE to be nicer than the Merc. I'm realistic that it won't be like a Golf GTI though a bit of fun would be nice. I'm anticipating that a complex PHEV drivetrain will go wrong a bit more often than a petrol one but I hope the fuel savings will mitigate that.
I'm coming from a 2013 petrol Octavia vRS estate if that helps people. Life is very different from when I bought it 10 years ago and I don't need the cargo space nor size any more.
Thanks for any help which you're able to offer.
I'm shopping for ideas to replace my daily driver. It doesn't need to be amazing but a bit of joy would be helpful.
I was looking at Polo GTIs when I've noticed I can get a newer Golf Mk8 GTE for the same money (18-20k). I don't drive many miles but winter early starts are frequent so a preconditioned cabin would be a nice eay to start the working day. A round trip to work is pretty much 20 miles.
I need to do the occasional longer trip which would make a BMW i3 impractical. Other electric cars at that budget aren't inspiring me.
(Any options need to have rear doors but don't need to be very big.)
I'm expecting the GTE to be nicer than the Merc. I'm realistic that it won't be like a Golf GTI though a bit of fun would be nice. I'm anticipating that a complex PHEV drivetrain will go wrong a bit more often than a petrol one but I hope the fuel savings will mitigate that.
I'm coming from a 2013 petrol Octavia vRS estate if that helps people. Life is very different from when I bought it 10 years ago and I don't need the cargo space nor size any more.
Thanks for any help which you're able to offer.
They're both decent daily's if you go for the A Class then look for Premium Plus spec ones:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606293...
C200h:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604011...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603140...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601038...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606293...
C200h:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604011...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603140...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601038...
blearyeyedboy said:
Thanks.
I'm interested to know which might be a bit more fun for a daily.
I mean, I know neither will be a Fiesta ST in terms of giggles but not completely giving up on some fun would be nice if I can.
Why not go for the full fat hot hatches? They're still a nice place to be when you're not extracting their performance plus they depreciate slower won't cost you more to run & will be the model that people aspire to buy so will sell more quickly when the time comes for something new.I'm interested to know which might be a bit more fun for a daily.
I mean, I know neither will be a Fiesta ST in terms of giggles but not completely giving up on some fun would be nice if I can.
S3:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605282...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606293...
Focus ST:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602059...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606012...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606183...
i30N:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604211...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606032...
A35:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606293...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603090...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606022...
M128 ti, not as popular which means you'll get a 23/21 model vs other cars on this list:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606183...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606063...
GTI Performance:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606042...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606243...
MK8:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606303...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605182...
Leftfield
A5's & C300 coupes are good value at this price point both drive well & can be fun but they're a step up interior/comfort wise from the hot hatches above:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606223...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605092...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606263...
Fair question.
My use has changed and I see my current car only getting warmed up a good chunk into the journey. I still do a few (200 mile) longer trips which would make an EV a pain. My wife is keen on a car with a lower carbon footprint, which sways things a bit too.
And I like the idea of a preconditioned cabin and bot having to spend the first bit of a January commute scraping ice off.
If an i3S were slightly bigger with a slightly longer range, it'd be a good shout.
I'm a contrary sod though, and I keep looking at Polo GTIs...
My use has changed and I see my current car only getting warmed up a good chunk into the journey. I still do a few (200 mile) longer trips which would make an EV a pain. My wife is keen on a car with a lower carbon footprint, which sways things a bit too.
And I like the idea of a preconditioned cabin and bot having to spend the first bit of a January commute scraping ice off.
If an i3S were slightly bigger with a slightly longer range, it'd be a good shout.
I'm a contrary sod though, and I keep looking at Polo GTIs...
Have to say from personal experience the MB 2.0t is no better or worse than any other out there, out of all the engines in the A Class line up the 2.0t is the only one I'd buy.
The A250 is the middle ground but they're more rare & I don't think there're are any advantages compared to buying an A35:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605012...
The hot hatches make a lot of sense vs a mild hybrid, also you do know that you can precondition the cabin on the A35
The A250 is the middle ground but they're more rare & I don't think there're are any advantages compared to buying an A35:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605012...
The hot hatches make a lot of sense vs a mild hybrid, also you do know that you can precondition the cabin on the A35
If going for a mk8 GTE (or mk8 any Golf model for that matter), go for a late 2023 or later as these had the better infotainment systems that were less prone to freezing.
As an alternative strategy, get the best condition, lowest mileage mk7.5 Golf GTE you can. The only drawback with these was that they didn’t have heated steering wheels.
Also, consider offerings from Audi, Seat, Cupra and even Skoda as they are many that share the same platform as the Golf GTE.
I can’t comment on the A250e, but would be interested to hear if anyone has experience of them. I have heard the hybrid system isn’t as nice as the VW group offering as it doesn’t have the glide feature.
As an alternative strategy, get the best condition, lowest mileage mk7.5 Golf GTE you can. The only drawback with these was that they didn’t have heated steering wheels.
Also, consider offerings from Audi, Seat, Cupra and even Skoda as they are many that share the same platform as the Golf GTE.
I can’t comment on the A250e, but would be interested to hear if anyone has experience of them. I have heard the hybrid system isn’t as nice as the VW group offering as it doesn’t have the glide feature.
^ Thanks all, that's helpful.
I love the idea of driving an A35 but I'd be constantly afraid of a cylinder head failure:
https://www.aclassclub.co.uk/threads/amg-a35-new-c...
I'll have a think, thanks all.
I love the idea of driving an A35 but I'd be constantly afraid of a cylinder head failure:
https://www.aclassclub.co.uk/threads/amg-a35-new-c...
I'll have a think, thanks all.
blearyeyedboy said:
^ Thanks all, that's helpful.
I love the idea of driving an A35 but I'd be constantly afraid of a cylinder head failure:
https://www.aclassclub.co.uk/threads/amg-a35-new-c...
I'll have a think, thanks all.
The MK8 also come with preconditioning but it has to be spec'd.I love the idea of driving an A35 but I'd be constantly afraid of a cylinder head failure:
https://www.aclassclub.co.uk/threads/amg-a35-new-c...
I'll have a think, thanks all.
Go to a dealer & test drive the GTE/GTI back to back, I think that will give you the answers you're looking for.
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 5th July 11:37
I have a 2024 GLA 250e as a company car. Fun is definitely not the word I would use to describe it, particularly the engine. The handling of the car is actually surprisingly better than the engine but definitely still not fun. It is a tool for transporting me and wife and son and looks quite smart. Wouldn’t recommend it for any other reason.
maz8062 said:
The MY26 GTE was one of the most boring and fake cars I ve driven in a while. No where near as good is as the Polo GTI in my opinion.
The 250e will be older tech and I m not a fan of the Merc A platform outside of the cooking models.
Renault 5/Alpine A290 or Nissan Micra pure EV.
The 250e will be older tech and I m not a fan of the Merc A platform outside of the cooking models.
Renault 5/Alpine A290 or Nissan Micra pure EV.
T1547 said:
I have a 2024 GLA 250e as a company car. Fun is definitely not the word I would use to describe it, particularly the engine. The handling of the car is actually surprisingly better than the engine but definitely still not fun. It is a tool for transporting me and wife and son and looks quite smart. Wouldn t recommend it for any other reason.
Thanks gentlemen; that's all I need to know. I'll look elsewhere.In case it help anyone else cross-shopping, I had a chance to drive a Polo GTI, Golf GTE Mk8 and Mercedes A250e last weekend.
As expected, the Polo is the most fun. After years of reading how much better the Fiesta ST is, I didn't have less fun in the Polo thsn I did in a Fiesta, and the Polo is a much nicer cabin to be in than the Ford. I was surprised how little I missed a manual box; I really gelled with the DSG in manual mode (though it was a bit annoying to be overriden by software changing gear for me when I didn't want to). The lack of independent rear suspension does limit it a bit but I came away very impressed.
What surprised me was how good the Golf was. Bearing in mind it's been very dry so traction and grip wasn't an issue at sensible-ish speeds, it handled better than I thought it would. You can tell there's extra weight but it manages that tidily. It still wouldn't see which way a well- driven Golf GTI Performance Pack went across Snowdonia but there's fun to be had. It was noticeably better controlled than the Polo over rough surfaces because of its independent rear suspension, though that'll be a function of its 17 inch wheels too. (Small wheels for the win.)
The Golf's power delivery is a bit unusual in that the throttle seems very binary. You can drive up to an NSL and ask for more and it comes in one (electrically assisted) dollop. That is fun once or twice but being able to modulate it more- like a petrol engine- would be more fun in the longer run.
People moan about haptic controls but I didn't have a problem. The cabin looks and feels better than photos would suggest. The seats are first rate and a strong positive. For the class, the rear seat accommodation is excellent- though the Polo's is very good too.
Perhaps it's because I came to the Golf with low expectations that I was pleasantly surprised.
The Mercedes was more disappointing for me. I'm 6'0" and fit into it OK but the feeling was claustrophobic; the top of the door frame was perhaps 2 inches from my right temple, which would make me concerned what would happen in a side impact. Rear accommodation isn't terrible but it is tighter than the Poli, let alone the Golf. The small rear doors aren't a deal breaker but they would be annoying to manage with small children. It's very well appointed but I worried the alcantara and shiny bits would age poorly. The infotainment is just brilliant, though I wouldn't buy a car for it. Everything was more muted in the A250e compared to the Golf. The transition between petrol and electric was very smooth but to the point of boredom. The rear torsion beam clearly isn't as siohisticated a set up as the Golf's, and that shows over rougher surfaces. I imagine a brand conscious person being very happy tooling around town between Starbucks and a shopping mall but driving kicks aren't there, at least not for me.
So which car is how much fun? In curry terms, if a Civic Type R FK8 is like a vindaloo and the Polo GTI is like a warm Dansak, then I'd describe the GTE like a dupiaza; clearly much less spicy but still.fun on its own terms. The Mercedes is like a korma; superficially attractive but extremely bland when you sample it.
I'm going to try some other cars in the next couple of weeks and will report back.
As expected, the Polo is the most fun. After years of reading how much better the Fiesta ST is, I didn't have less fun in the Polo thsn I did in a Fiesta, and the Polo is a much nicer cabin to be in than the Ford. I was surprised how little I missed a manual box; I really gelled with the DSG in manual mode (though it was a bit annoying to be overriden by software changing gear for me when I didn't want to). The lack of independent rear suspension does limit it a bit but I came away very impressed.
What surprised me was how good the Golf was. Bearing in mind it's been very dry so traction and grip wasn't an issue at sensible-ish speeds, it handled better than I thought it would. You can tell there's extra weight but it manages that tidily. It still wouldn't see which way a well- driven Golf GTI Performance Pack went across Snowdonia but there's fun to be had. It was noticeably better controlled than the Polo over rough surfaces because of its independent rear suspension, though that'll be a function of its 17 inch wheels too. (Small wheels for the win.)
The Golf's power delivery is a bit unusual in that the throttle seems very binary. You can drive up to an NSL and ask for more and it comes in one (electrically assisted) dollop. That is fun once or twice but being able to modulate it more- like a petrol engine- would be more fun in the longer run.
People moan about haptic controls but I didn't have a problem. The cabin looks and feels better than photos would suggest. The seats are first rate and a strong positive. For the class, the rear seat accommodation is excellent- though the Polo's is very good too.
Perhaps it's because I came to the Golf with low expectations that I was pleasantly surprised.
The Mercedes was more disappointing for me. I'm 6'0" and fit into it OK but the feeling was claustrophobic; the top of the door frame was perhaps 2 inches from my right temple, which would make me concerned what would happen in a side impact. Rear accommodation isn't terrible but it is tighter than the Poli, let alone the Golf. The small rear doors aren't a deal breaker but they would be annoying to manage with small children. It's very well appointed but I worried the alcantara and shiny bits would age poorly. The infotainment is just brilliant, though I wouldn't buy a car for it. Everything was more muted in the A250e compared to the Golf. The transition between petrol and electric was very smooth but to the point of boredom. The rear torsion beam clearly isn't as siohisticated a set up as the Golf's, and that shows over rougher surfaces. I imagine a brand conscious person being very happy tooling around town between Starbucks and a shopping mall but driving kicks aren't there, at least not for me.
So which car is how much fun? In curry terms, if a Civic Type R FK8 is like a vindaloo and the Polo GTI is like a warm Dansak, then I'd describe the GTE like a dupiaza; clearly much less spicy but still.fun on its own terms. The Mercedes is like a korma; superficially attractive but extremely bland when you sample it.
I'm going to try some other cars in the next couple of weeks and will report back.
Just go and buy a Civic Type-R, i30N, Focus ST or similar and enjoy it! With your mileage there is little difference in fuel costs.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/20772079
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/20772079
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