[reedo302]

I could understand a Golf R comparison, but a GTI?!?!? No.
A good buddy of mine only buys VW, but that's because his wife won't let him buy Audi or BMW. He got behind the wheel of my F30 and now hates his life. I've driven my share of VWs, and no matter what I've driven, I've never found one that even comes close to the driving feel of a BMW. The Golf R might be a comparison to a degree, but it would be the only VW that would have a chance.

[Sandman99]

Thanks for all the input...I plan on waiting for the GC to get here...GTI no longer in the thought process...I'll enjoy my current M3 for a bit longer!

[Dinh335]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Is it a 428 or 435? The GTI does not have power passenger seat, CA, any cameras except rear, no Xenon's and has a tiny 5.8" screen. I agree the GTI is a bargain but without doubt your GC is better equipped, offers more options (the GTI leather is only available in black) and is more sophisticated.

fyi..the GTI does have xenons and led drls ... , and pretty sure the passenger seat is power on tilt, manual on up and down.

in regards to the OP i don't think its a bad comparison, i know what you are sort of trying to say I think and it's valid.

There's a lot to be said to just have a simple car you know you spent less on and can toss around. It's like a faded pair of jeans vs a sharper look in the GC.

I think the GC is much nicer ,and you get what you pay for. I think a GTI is a fun car to drive, i think the GC is a great car to own.

[munch520]

Originally Posted by dtn

Another apples and oranges comparison. It again, comes down to lifestyle.

Personally, as a business executive, I could never see myself driving a GTI. I would rather drive a used BMW than a new GTI. Don't get me wrong, a buddy of mine has one and it is a blast to drive.

The lines of the car is more catered to teens to early 20s. Just my $0.02

Spot on IMO, my first car was a 2003 GTI 20th Anniversary and it was a lot of fun and a nice first car. But a hot hatch much past 25 yrs old isn't my cup of tea. And oy, the FWD was the deal breaker for me. Give it any power and the front hops around...sounded like the car was going to come apart. I had bolt-ons on it and it was peppy and fun but really needed an LSD up front to help it out.

But I don't see how these can really be compared...better comp would be "GTI Performance edition vs 328i M Sport"

[DJ Rocc]

Originally Posted by munch520

Spot on IMO, my first car was a 2003 GTI 20th Anniversary and it was a lot of fun and a nice first car. But a hot hatch much past 25 yrs old isn't my cup of tea. And oy, the FWD was the deal breaker for me. Give it any power and the front hops around...sounded like the car was going to come apart. I had bolt-ons on it and it was peppy and fun but really needed an LSD up front to help it out.

But I don't see how these can really be compared...better comp would be "GTI Performance edition vs 328i M Sport"

I think the better comparison would be GTi vs 235i or 135i hatch.

[munch520]

Originally Posted by DJ Rocc

I think the better comparison would be GTi vs 235i or 135i hatch.

GTI - 210hp 4 door
235i - 300hp coupe

Maybe a 135i hatch but still, the motor.

GTI (perf edition) vs 328i are both 4 door, both rated at similar TQ, both 2.xL 4cyl turobs, etc.

There's still a big price delta but that's what happens when you compare Audi's budget brand to BMW, MB, etc.

[DJ Rocc]

Originally Posted by munch520

GTI - 210hp 4 door
235i - 300hp coupe

Maybe a 135i hatch but still, the motor.

GTI (perf edition) vs 328i are both 4 door, both rated at similar TQ, both 2.xL 4cyl turobs, etc.

There's still a big price delta but that's what happens when you compare Audi's budget brand to BMW, MB, etc.

oh my bad, thought the GTI had around 300 HP. What is the size and weight difference between the 3 and GTi though? How about the 128i Hatchback?

[Dinh335]

i think a 328i sedan vs gti 4 door is a good cross shop, i think the OP (if i read it correctly) wasn't necessarily saying it was an equal comparo, that's sort of the point... i felt he was more saying should i think outside the box and get a fun car for half the price of his 4gc.

at any rate, the new GTI has gotten pretty rave reviews in MK7 form, it's just about as fast as a 328 and has a fair amount of utility.

I, as a 335 owner am curious to how it drives and plan to test drive one. Not saying i'd trade my car in, but i don't think comparing the cars is "unreasonable" per se.

[ZilberGrau ZHP]

TWO WORDS- AIR CONDITIONING.

after owning 3 previous GTIs, 3 Audis and 4 BMWs over the years- I can honestly say that the AIR CONDITIONERS of the BMW is head and shoulders over VW/AUDI.
I have not driven an Audi in 15 years so that may have changed- but the VW GTI does not have the AC that ANY BMW would have (My wifes 1 series convertible is the exception- that AC sucks bad) But for me living in Texas- I want a killer AC- and the main reason that I am buying a Gran Coupe instead of an S3 Audi (I like smaller cars but wanted 4 doors) is the AC is the tipping factor. The AC may be great in the Audi but dont want to take that chance. Why do car magazines NEVER review the power of the AC. This is not a "global warming" BS thing- its been getting dam hot in Texas for a long time. To me comparing these two excellent cars is just too apples and oranges

[chylld]

very good point, I totally forgot about the AC in my 4gc because it just works; I set it once and just left it.

my vw had a habit of flash-freezing the occupants every now and then for no good reason... we always had to try to outsmart it by adjusting the temp up/down to make it work as it should.

[HoustonEaDo]

Originally Posted by IndotagSwizz

I don't understand this post, are we really comparing a GC to a hatchback?? How does that even make any sense, two totally different kind of cars..

The GC is a hatchback too...

[newoldbeemer]

It is more appropriate to compare the GTI to the 228i (not even the 235i).

And I would still pick the 228i in that comparison.

When I was shopping for my car (coming from an E90 335i), I was almost set on the GTI based on paper specs and magazine reviews. When I drove it a few times I was really trying to like it. But somehow all the elements (steering, acceleration, handling) while good by "normal" standards for a 30k car, couldn't compare with the overall feel the 320i gave me. I didn't find the GTI that nice to drive.

The loaded GTI I was looking at, with the Autobahn package, cost $36k. I was comparing that with a 320i with sports package at $35k, and then a base (absoultely barebones) 328i at $35k turned up. Picked the 328i in the end .

I still drive my friend's GTI quite often (we swap cars frequently), and absolutely no regrets on not getting it. Its quite fun to drive, but nowhere near as much fun as my F30 in sport mode. Yes, his car has better interior niceties, nav and stuff, but the fun-to-drive factor is still better in the bimmer.

Side note: All this started with me feeling sick and tired of the E90's lack of reliability, and setting out to buy an Accord V6 .

[Rautha]

Oy.

I will try to answer the OP's question w/o getting into "why would you compare a BMW to a VW" or "I think if you are looking at the GTI you should be comparing to the 2 series" etc.

For reference, we have a 2014 F31 and a 2013 Golf R. I did have the R in for routine service recently and drove a 2015 MkVII GTI.

Both cars are different. Hands down. Neither is a bad choice. They are just significantly different choices.

The Autobahn w/ lighting GTI DOES have xenons, leather, pano sunroof, keyless start/entry, rain sensing wipers, backup camera. I do think it lacks power seats.

It really comes down to FWD versus RWD/AWD , size, and price. If you are going to be drifting the car on the track, obviously the RWD GC takes the cake. For daily driving the FWD on the GTI is not a handicap. There is no torque steer, the car handles crisply, the electric steering is not as loose as the F30's.

Back seat has about as much room as in the F30.
Cargo space is much bigger in the GC.
The GTI is more "fun" in daily driving....smaller, lighter, more tossable, better exhaust and engine sound (yes many will disagree here but I am offering my opinion).
The BMW has a more solid feel.
You can option up the F30 with many more options than the GTI.
BMW rides more comfortably and is quieter on the highway. In regular driving and brisk driving on public roads, both cars handle well. Can't comment on at the limits driving on the track.

Interior is a bit nicer in the F30. The GTI has a very high quality interior for its price though.

For the $30,595 price for the Autobahn w/ Lighting you get a lot for your money.

In the end it comes down to what type of car do you want and how much are you willing to spend. Neither is a bad choice. If cost is a concern and you don't need AWD and don't mind FWD, GTI is a great choice. If cost is not a major factor and you want more cargo space, RWD or AWD, slightly more power and economy, option for more options, GC is your choice. Not being wishy washy here. Both are fine choices in my book. Get whichever one puts a smile on your face and serves your needs.

Or do what we did, and get one of each!
Well, sort of. The R still is a golf, just with AWD, a bit more power, and slightly firmer suspension.

[Nick the Greek]

Mark 7 Golf R.

Stunning car.

A number of F3xx owners switching to Golf R7 here in the UK.

Best driving Golf ever!

[TurboSpecC]

GTI is a great car, but going from RWD or AWD to a FWD car, even with only 200hp, definitely takes getting used to.

After selling my 2009 M3, I'm driving a Mk6 GTI Autobahn (fully loaded) until my 4GC arrives. It's a great car with the manual transmission, but the torque steer (minimal) and wheel spin in 1st take some getting used to after the M3. Also the 4GC comes with many more toys, a much larger nav screen than the Mk7, motorized hatch, AWD, better fuel economy, front parking sensors, etc. And it costs $25k more.

[CK335iMSport]

I came to BMW from a GTI (MK6), great car and a blast to drive. I agree with most that the refinement is absolutely on the BMW side, my current car (as others have stated), is a pleasure to drive and has a great amount of performance to it. But there is a part of me that misses the rawness/lack of refinement of the GTI.

I will say that when my lease is up, I will be taking a long-hard look at the Golf R as it will be stateside by then. That car just might take me back to VW, sounds like a special one...

[hanszilla]

Not saying this is a bias forum (who would have thought the F30 forums would have this many pro 4GC'er). I do have to agree with a lot of people here the GTI is a fun car to drive and it ends there. Coming from a sales executive, I would rather be caught driving my Prius over the GTI (and I normally take the Prius to work depending on where I have to be). As much as I hate to say this the Prius seems a tad bit more mature and the GTI is more juvenile. The Prius is a piece of $%# to drive.

[TomDenmark]

Nice comparison, it makes me
why are everyone talking about a hatchback of af different brand?

[DJ Rocc]

Originally Posted by TurboSpecC

GTI is a great car, but going from RWD or AWD to a FWD car, even with only 200hp, definitely takes getting used to.

Not my cup of tea at all!

[chylld]

Originally Posted by Hansiepooh

Coming from a sales executive, I would rather be caught driving my Prius over the GTI (and I normally take the Prius to work depending on where I have to be). As much as I hate to say this the Prius seems a tad bit more mature and the GTI is more juvenile.

It depends on the individual. Those who worry about what others think of them want to look mature behind the wheel of a car that's befitting for their status/age. Those who don't worry about others' opinions will get whatever car they want.

Originally Posted by TomDenmark

Nice comparison, it makes me
why are everyone talking about a hatchback of af different brand?

Because we live in a world where people are free to choose between different brands, and maybe these comparisons help paint one brand in a better light than the other.

[Kre62]

Originally Posted by u080570

The GC is a hatchback too...

Not really. The trunk was too short so they made the glass move with it, that's all. When people say hatchback they think of something like a golf or a prius, a flat back panel that moves.

The 4GC is as much of a hatchback as a Tesla Model S, Corvette, or Porsche. Meaning, its not really a hatchback in the colloquial sense, just by technical definition.

[chylld]

Originally Posted by Kre62

Not really. The trunk was too short so they made the glass move with it, that's all. When people say hatchback they think of something like a golf or a prius, a flat back panel that moves.

The 4GC is as much of a hatchback as a Tesla Model S, Corvette, or Porsche. Meaning, its not really a hatchback in the colloquial sense, just by technical definition.

Not sure what you mean by "colloquial sense" or "technical definition", but it is very much a hatchback in a practical sense. I can take things into and out of any place of the boot with great ease, just as I could in my Golf. Zero chance of being able to do that in a sedan