BMW 128ti or VW Golf GTI?
Discussion
Hi
BMW 128ti vs VW Golf GTI?
I currently drive a BMW M240i 24 plate.
I am looking to swap this for a more “sensible” practical car as i head in to retirement. I don’t want the high road tax or insurance cost going forward, and want to get something that will last me. But l’m used to quite sporty cars, hence the 2 cars I'm currently looking at. Or possible a M135i. 5 doors seems sensible. All probably 23 plate onwards. Probably an auto. I don't do a lot of driving (2-3 commutes a week), and with occasional longish distance motorway trips. So about 8000 miles pa.
My last few cars have been BMWs but have had a VW Sirocco and Golf GTi in the past.
Appreciate any input on reliability, drivability, interior, .infotainment systems, cost of ownership etc.
Or any other car suggestions welcome.
And is swapping a car before it’s 3 years old still a thing?! (About my current car).
Thanks!
BMW 128ti vs VW Golf GTI?
I currently drive a BMW M240i 24 plate.
I am looking to swap this for a more “sensible” practical car as i head in to retirement. I don’t want the high road tax or insurance cost going forward, and want to get something that will last me. But l’m used to quite sporty cars, hence the 2 cars I'm currently looking at. Or possible a M135i. 5 doors seems sensible. All probably 23 plate onwards. Probably an auto. I don't do a lot of driving (2-3 commutes a week), and with occasional longish distance motorway trips. So about 8000 miles pa.
My last few cars have been BMWs but have had a VW Sirocco and Golf GTi in the past.
Appreciate any input on reliability, drivability, interior, .infotainment systems, cost of ownership etc.
Or any other car suggestions welcome.
And is swapping a car before it’s 3 years old still a thing?! (About my current car).
Thanks!
For me, the move from M240i to 128ti or Golf GTI is not going from a unsensible car to a sensible one. There is no way, for me, that it justifies the hassle.
If you just want a new car, thats another thing.
Edit: what is it that you'd gain specifically? How much less is the insurance? How much less is the tax?
If you just want a new car, thats another thing.
Edit: what is it that you'd gain specifically? How much less is the insurance? How much less is the tax?
My car insurance is currently £1900 and tax about £650.
The m240i is a coupe and I’m looking to change to a fun hatchback with a bit of oomph. Perhaps not the oomph I have at the moment.
And I don’t see the m240i as a longer term ownership thing really. It’s been fun but time for a more practical change….
So looking for ideas.
Thanks
The m240i is a coupe and I’m looking to change to a fun hatchback with a bit of oomph. Perhaps not the oomph I have at the moment.
And I don’t see the m240i as a longer term ownership thing really. It’s been fun but time for a more practical change….
So looking for ideas.
Thanks
Yeah, not huge savings to be had. 28ti known to be firm through the corners, and the sort of car owners seem to feel the need to justify having bought when the slightly faster in a straight line 35 exists.
Many back to back tests, those are different cars btw.
GTi would have to be a special edition for me, otherwise they're just a bit plain Jane. And again you're looking at hard suspension, but a reasonable level of depreciation.
Many back to back tests, those are different cars btw.
GTi would have to be a special edition for me, otherwise they're just a bit plain Jane. And again you're looking at hard suspension, but a reasonable level of depreciation.
Looked at both of these back in 2024 when I was in the market for a nearly new hot hatch, if you are looking to avoid the expensive car supplement tax I found you need to be looking at something pretty much standard in domestic appliance white with no options ticked otherwise they soon creep over the £40k threshold, so I made a left field choice & went for an Octavia VRS in phoenix orange with a few nice options but it was still just under £40k for the first owner, bargain for me at £31k at 3 month's old
Yes I was thinking it will be hard to avoid the £40k tax premium which lasts 6 years. Ridiculous.
Insurance is high because I am in a high car crime theft area I think. And I was a victim 6 years ago although hope I’ve shaken that off by now!
I might stick with the m240i for a bit by the sound of it… it’s a lovely spec’d car and ex-demo so all I’m going to do is line a dealers pockets by changing at the moment. And maybe when I do I need to be more sensible in my choice. 🙄
Insurance is high because I am in a high car crime theft area I think. And I was a victim 6 years ago although hope I’ve shaken that off by now!
I might stick with the m240i for a bit by the sound of it… it’s a lovely spec’d car and ex-demo so all I’m going to do is line a dealers pockets by changing at the moment. And maybe when I do I need to be more sensible in my choice. 🙄
I'm a big BMW fan and have owned a number of fast ones for context but for me if I was looking to move on from an M240i into a hatch i'd probably be looking at a Golf GTI but it would have to be either a Clubsport 45 or a previous generation TCR. I actually prefer the Mk7 Golf but I get the inpression you would want something newer OP which would mean the Clubsport 45, I don't think you would see much saving though.
Browter said:
BlueJazz said:
Don't forget the other VAG family products with the same cut and paste bits as the GTI. The Cupra Formentor VZ3 with 330 bhp is a fine family wagon.
I had 2 VZ3s and both had to be returned for electrical faults. Build quality is appalling.Recently sold our 2025 Golf GTi Mk8.5. Poor build quality and not very sporty or particularly comfortable imo (and it had the dynamic chassis control option). I'd be surprised if it was much cheaper to insure and, unless you need a hatchback, suspect you'd be very disappointed with it after the BMW.
From what I've read the 128i isn't a particularly good car.
From what I've read the 128i isn't a particularly good car.
SFTWend said:
Recently sold our 2025 Golf GTi Mk8.5. Poor build quality and not very sporty or particularly comfortable imo (and it had the dynamic chassis control option). I'd be surprised if it was much cheaper to insure and, unless you need a hatchback, suspect you'd be very disappointed with it after the BMW.
From what I've read the 128i isn't a particularly good car.
In true VW fashion, you would have needed to buy the edition 50 with the performance pack to get what the GTI should have been released as in the first place.From what I've read the 128i isn't a particularly good car.
I'd keep the M240i for now.
At 8k miles a year I suspect you'll lose considerably more changing a nearly new car than you'll save in fuel, tax and probably insurance. Especially if you already know and like the car and it's a good spec.
I'd run it for another couple of years and reconsider then. You'll have had more use out of the depreciation you've already taken and there'll be a much bigger choice of 3 to 5 year old hot hatches to choose from.
If the aim is ultimately to reduce running costs in retirement I'd also look beyond the 128ti and GTI when the time comes. Both are more sensible than the M240i, but they're still relatively expensive performance cars. You could end up spending thousands changing cars to save hundreds a year.
In the meantime I'd just enjoy the M240i. There are worse problems to have.
At 8k miles a year I suspect you'll lose considerably more changing a nearly new car than you'll save in fuel, tax and probably insurance. Especially if you already know and like the car and it's a good spec.
I'd run it for another couple of years and reconsider then. You'll have had more use out of the depreciation you've already taken and there'll be a much bigger choice of 3 to 5 year old hot hatches to choose from.
If the aim is ultimately to reduce running costs in retirement I'd also look beyond the 128ti and GTI when the time comes. Both are more sensible than the M240i, but they're still relatively expensive performance cars. You could end up spending thousands changing cars to save hundreds a year.
In the meantime I'd just enjoy the M240i. There are worse problems to have.
I have owned both, and still have the 128 which I have owned from new for almost 5 years.
I have found the 128 to be well built and a good all rounder. The car has not suffered a single fault to date, and the only garage visits have been for routine servicing.
The GTI that I had was a highly specced DSG mk7.5 PP version. It was generally a good car, but the build quality was not up to BMW levels.
I wouldn’t touch any of the latest crop of VAG cars, as many folk have had issues with electronics etc, and VAG do not seem to want to play ball with warranty claims when things inevitably go wrong.
The 128 is plenty fast enough for today’s roads and whilst not up to 240 levels of driving enjoyment, it is still a great steer.
The car is tyre and tyre pressure sensitive, as torque steer/tramlining can be an issue otherwise, but easily resolved.
Fuel economy around town is a little disappointing (25 mpg max), but otherwise pretty good.
I can recommend the adaptive headlight and heated steering wheel options too. Ride is firm but acceptable on the standard 18 inch wheels.
Suggest you take one for a test drive to see what you think.
I have found the 128 to be well built and a good all rounder. The car has not suffered a single fault to date, and the only garage visits have been for routine servicing.
The GTI that I had was a highly specced DSG mk7.5 PP version. It was generally a good car, but the build quality was not up to BMW levels.
I wouldn’t touch any of the latest crop of VAG cars, as many folk have had issues with electronics etc, and VAG do not seem to want to play ball with warranty claims when things inevitably go wrong.
The 128 is plenty fast enough for today’s roads and whilst not up to 240 levels of driving enjoyment, it is still a great steer.
The car is tyre and tyre pressure sensitive, as torque steer/tramlining can be an issue otherwise, but easily resolved.
Fuel economy around town is a little disappointing (25 mpg max), but otherwise pretty good.
I can recommend the adaptive headlight and heated steering wheel options too. Ride is firm but acceptable on the standard 18 inch wheels.
Suggest you take one for a test drive to see what you think.
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