GOLF R REPLACEMENT OPTION
Discussion
Time has come to Sell or Swap our pristine Golf R for something more economical.
White 5 door DSG with 25k miles 64 plate
Is a golf GTE or GTD going to return a scaled down fun but better MPG than 34?
Also what type of connection does the GTE have. We also have a Mitsubishi PHEV so wondered if it was the same to charge it up.
White 5 door DSG with 25k miles 64 plate
Is a golf GTE or GTD going to return a scaled down fun but better MPG than 34?
Also what type of connection does the GTE have. We also have a Mitsubishi PHEV so wondered if it was the same to charge it up.
Having previously run a Golf R for 2 years and currently running a GTE I will give you my view.
The long and short is that the Golf GTE is not particularly fun. Economy depends on type of journeys you do. If your journeys are short then you can get great economy as most can be done on electric (I usually average about 90mpg at a weekend when going to shops etc). If you have longer journeys with motorway you will be looking around 45mpg if you drive at 70mph (highest I have had on a 200 mile journey was 53mpg by hyper miling behind wagons etc). I find the real range of the batteries are between 20 and 25 miles depending on the outside temp.
Overall the GTE is solid car (like most golfs) it handles ok for a heavy car but does seem to eat front tyres. My car before this was a B8 RS4 and tyres on that lasted well over 20k. The Golf seems to wear them out in 10-12k and I am a really slow & gentle driver. Although on the flip side it seems very easy on brakes. I have done 45k in the GTE and the front brakes are only worn by 30% and the rear 40%. This might be down to regen braking.
The 1.4 with DSG is a bit gutless and loves to change down 2 or 3 ratios if you go to overtake and rev high and make a loads of small engine noise but without much change in speed. To overtake I usually change manually then I can hold it in a higher gear, keep the revs lower and use the torque to accelerate. To me this feels quicker than letting it rev out.
Most of the standard equipment is the same as the R although the remote warming of the cabin and batteries via the app is great in the winter.
Hope this helps and good luck with what ever you choose.
The long and short is that the Golf GTE is not particularly fun. Economy depends on type of journeys you do. If your journeys are short then you can get great economy as most can be done on electric (I usually average about 90mpg at a weekend when going to shops etc). If you have longer journeys with motorway you will be looking around 45mpg if you drive at 70mph (highest I have had on a 200 mile journey was 53mpg by hyper miling behind wagons etc). I find the real range of the batteries are between 20 and 25 miles depending on the outside temp.
Overall the GTE is solid car (like most golfs) it handles ok for a heavy car but does seem to eat front tyres. My car before this was a B8 RS4 and tyres on that lasted well over 20k. The Golf seems to wear them out in 10-12k and I am a really slow & gentle driver. Although on the flip side it seems very easy on brakes. I have done 45k in the GTE and the front brakes are only worn by 30% and the rear 40%. This might be down to regen braking.
The 1.4 with DSG is a bit gutless and loves to change down 2 or 3 ratios if you go to overtake and rev high and make a loads of small engine noise but without much change in speed. To overtake I usually change manually then I can hold it in a higher gear, keep the revs lower and use the torque to accelerate. To me this feels quicker than letting it rev out.
Most of the standard equipment is the same as the R although the remote warming of the cabin and batteries via the app is great in the winter.
Hope this helps and good luck with what ever you choose.
I ran a Mk7 GTD for 18-months and covered 37k miles. It was a good companion for the long motorway commute I was doing at the time, DSG and Adaptive Cruise made it particularly effortless. It wasn't hugely fun to drive though as I'd had a Mk5 GTI previously and that was a much more entertaining car. The performance and grip won't be anywhere near a Mk7 R really.
Good compramise might be an Audi A3 40 TFSI Quattro. Price is pretty similar to a GTD or GTE but it's a much nicer drive. 40mpg upwards easily achievable.
Good compramise might be an Audi A3 40 TFSI Quattro. Price is pretty similar to a GTD or GTE but it's a much nicer drive. 40mpg upwards easily achievable.
Norgles said:
I would have assumed the GTD would be better than that. Sounds like both the GTE and GTD are a bit pap then!
Coming from a GTI or any performance petrol Golf, the GTD is extremely underwhelming and bland. The way the engine responds to the pedal is instantly regret inducing, in typical diesel fashion. Apparently there is 184hp in there somewhere, but you don't feel it until the upper end of 4th gear. The first 2 inches of pedal travel do practically nothing at urban speeds.If you want to just sit there hypermiling at 60mph on motorways like a rotting zombie, then it's the perfect car for that. In fact, that is exactly how I see most GTDs being driven
A remap or tuning box wakes them up a bit but the overall driving experience is still a yawn fest. And that incessant diesel noise, day in, day out....nasty.
I'd recommend a GTI as a downgrade from the R. You won't get much an mpg improvement, but it's waaaaay better to drive than a GTD.
rottenegg said:
Coming from a GTI or any performance petrol Golf, the GTD is extremely underwhelming and bland. The way the engine responds to the pedal is instantly regret inducing, in typical diesel fashion. Apparently there is 184hp in there somewhere, but you don't feel it until the upper end of 4th gear. The first 2 inches of pedal travel do practically nothing at urban speeds.
If you want to just sit there hypermiling at 60mph on motorways like a rotting zombie, then it's the perfect car for that. In fact, that is exactly how I see most GTDs being driven
A remap or tuning box wakes them up a bit but the overall driving experience is still a yawn fest. And that incessant diesel noise, day in, day out....nasty.
I'd recommend a GTI as a downgrade from the R. You won't get much an mpg improvement, but it's waaaaay better to drive than a GTD.
You sounds as pleased with the GTD as I am with the GTE If you want to just sit there hypermiling at 60mph on motorways like a rotting zombie, then it's the perfect car for that. In fact, that is exactly how I see most GTDs being driven
A remap or tuning box wakes them up a bit but the overall driving experience is still a yawn fest. And that incessant diesel noise, day in, day out....nasty.
I'd recommend a GTI as a downgrade from the R. You won't get much an mpg improvement, but it's waaaaay better to drive than a GTD.
rottenegg said:
I'd recommend a GTI as a downgrade from the R. You won't get much an mpg improvement, but it's waaaaay better to drive than a GTD.
Sounds like the cheap option is to keep the R!Really, are you going to save anything by changing cars (I presume you'll get something newer, ie more expensive than the R is worth) by getting a few more MPGs?
M
I also came from an R to a GTE and am very happy with it.
But then the vast majority of journeys are short and slow so the refinement, power delivery, preheating etc are brilliant for that (and didn't suit the R much at all). It's fine for longer trips, clearly a bit heavier and down on power but my usage means I'm not often driving in a way that shows it up. I'd probably feel differently if I was using it for a 30+ mile each way commute on faster roads.
GTE uses a Type 2 connector, Mitsubishi use Type 1. If your charge point has a socket then you can just use the lead that comes with each car. If it has a tethered lead than you'd have to get that swapped (assuming this would replace), or else you can get a second OLEV-funded charge point if you're keeping both.
It's been a good compromise for us as a single car family. I tried the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and loved the powertrain but hated the whole SUV shape / height, the flat seats and dreary interior. The GTE has enough sportiness to keep me happy while being easy to live with. It's not a good car though if you're attacking B-roads every day but need some practicality some of the time.
But then the vast majority of journeys are short and slow so the refinement, power delivery, preheating etc are brilliant for that (and didn't suit the R much at all). It's fine for longer trips, clearly a bit heavier and down on power but my usage means I'm not often driving in a way that shows it up. I'd probably feel differently if I was using it for a 30+ mile each way commute on faster roads.
GTE uses a Type 2 connector, Mitsubishi use Type 1. If your charge point has a socket then you can just use the lead that comes with each car. If it has a tethered lead than you'd have to get that swapped (assuming this would replace), or else you can get a second OLEV-funded charge point if you're keeping both.
It's been a good compromise for us as a single car family. I tried the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and loved the powertrain but hated the whole SUV shape / height, the flat seats and dreary interior. The GTE has enough sportiness to keep me happy while being easy to live with. It's not a good car though if you're attacking B-roads every day but need some practicality some of the time.
I'd go for an completely different car. My mate had an M135i and got rid of it to save costs. He ended up swapping it for a 118d. Trouble is, it looked the same inside so every time he drove it, he was constantly reminded that he didn't have the top of the range version anymore and it took a little bit of his sole!
Thanks everyone for your input.
Change of circumstances means the miles on the R will go from 150a week to 300.
This is the reason for looking to change.
Thanks for the advice on looking at the Audi as an alternative.
If we go for the GTE we can get a type 1 to 2 adapter to charge it.
Working out the cost in additional fuel a year to keep the golf is £550. Bassed in Golf R v Golf GTD.
With the Mk8 coming out soon just thinking it might also be good to sell before the Mk 7 prices drop.
Any other options I did not consider, mercc350e?
Change of circumstances means the miles on the R will go from 150a week to 300.
This is the reason for looking to change.
Thanks for the advice on looking at the Audi as an alternative.
If we go for the GTE we can get a type 1 to 2 adapter to charge it.
Working out the cost in additional fuel a year to keep the golf is £550. Bassed in Golf R v Golf GTD.
With the Mk8 coming out soon just thinking it might also be good to sell before the Mk 7 prices drop.
Any other options I did not consider, mercc350e?
In isolation, a GTD is a good car. Fast enough, economical enough, comfortable enough. I can see why people like them, and why they're popular.
However, your problem is that you're coming from a Golf R. Compared to the R, a GTD will simply feel rubbish I'm afraid. It will be comparatively slow, boring, frustrating and unrewarding.
Only you will know if the small savings you'll make in fuel are worth the other compromises.
However, your problem is that you're coming from a Golf R. Compared to the R, a GTD will simply feel rubbish I'm afraid. It will be comparatively slow, boring, frustrating and unrewarding.
Only you will know if the small savings you'll make in fuel are worth the other compromises.
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