FR V GTi

[courtster]

Here I go, first post and all, been lurking for a while and now asking a stupid question that I want a unbiased answer to (surely not on a seat forum)

Here are the facts:

New job, company car free choice, get £380 a month allowance on a 30k pa 3 year contract with maintenance.

Leon FR TFSI £380 all in - costs me £142 a month in co car tax and co fuel
Golf GTi £450 all in - costs me £210 with co car tax and fuel including personal contribution
Golf GT 1.4 TSI £380 all in - costs me £132 in co car tax and fuel

Bear in mind I'm a real original GTi fan having owned 2 MK1's and a MK2 in my time.

Also to bear in mind is that the £70 extra for the golf is not too much for me, it's all about the driving experience for me.

 

[Cupra Kid]

Have the Golf GTi, if you can afford it and you really want it, then you should have it as nothing else will be good enough. The styling of the new leon is questionable and the MK V golf in my opinion is nigh on perfect.

As for driving pleasure i havent tried both models so i couldnt comment fairly, but the reviewers rave about the mkV GTi as being an excellent all rounder in all fields.

For me at there is something special about a Golf GTi, in my head it is always that little bit better than its competitors. My mum used to have a MK2 Golf GTi Syncro and that got me hooked on VAGs at an early age.

However the one thing going against the golf is that its very popular and there fore doesnt offer much of an exclusive feel, i counted 10 in a short trip down the motor way the other day, i havent seen many FR leons or even leons in general yet, so its exclusivity and value for money are quite high.

 

[P0LKR]

I much prefer the look of the Leon and it has a lot more kit in it and of course its much cheaper.

Basically go and drive both and see which one you prefer. They are both great cars. There is no definitive answer im afraid, its whatever rocks your boat i suppose.

 

[Greytop]

Bottom line you have to go for what you will be happy with.

I'm a big fan of VAG cars in general, my last car was an 2004 A4 Audi 190PS Sport GmbH, quality vehicle but all in all a bit 'sterile' and so expensive to buy even though I got a great discount at the time.

For my own money and my car is not a company vehicle, the Leon FR offers more. I personally think the the Leon looks better in the flesh than the Golf. It has a stance and wow factor for me that the Golf simply doesn't offer. Also Leons are not such a common site as Golfs, which I like.
I'm not knocking the Golf because I think it is a great car, just the Leon is my preference.

 

[Kevo]

golf but i am biased

ps red is the fastest

 

[chungster]

Golf is in a different class.

But build quality may not be that much better than Seat as my own car has a few niggles which is annoying but I can't be bothered to ask the dealer to get it sorted. yet.

Other than that I have to say I love driving it.

The drivers seat is a nice place to be.

 

[Greytop]

Golf is in a different class.

Take out the 'class'

I wouldn't say my (previous) Audi was in a different class to my Leon, just different

 

[Rob GTI]

I have driven both and they are both have very similar driving experiences. I know the Golf wins all the reviews I think that the differences that the reviews state (steering feel, handling, ride etc) aren't noticable in everyday driving you only notice these differences when you push on even then you are hard pushed to notice the differences.

Having said that the major differennces I noted are the quality of some interior plastics (door cards and cup holder) are not as good in the Leon and the exhaust note of the VW is more sporty.

All in all I went for the Leon as I was looking a year old Golf compared to a brand new Leon with better kit, more individual looks and cheaper running costs.

 

[Rob GTI]

Oh and by the way I'm a huge GTI fan I've had 3 of then in the past so am not biased towards Seat at all!!

 

[wurzel]

Drive them back to back and see what you think, if you are bothered by badge snobery and money isn't a problem go for the golf.

IMHO I think the FR is a better looking car, has more flair in the design and is as well equipped as the GTI and is obviously cheaper. The GTI is probably slightly better built, the interior looks a bit more sophisticated and is more common (at the moment at least) and and the end of the day its a GTI and nearly everyone respects them.

If you buy the FR you won't be disappointed, it handles really well, goes like stink and has unique styling that stands out from the crowd.

Out of interest is the £70 extra for the golf taking into account any specification differences e.g. mp3 player, cruise control etc?

 

[Blue Monday]

I agree with cupra kid get the golf GTI, it is the best choice and cupra kid outlines the reasons well.

 

[courtster]

Out of interest is the £70 extra for the golf taking into account any specification differences e.g. mp3 player, cruise control etc?

The £70 per month difference is absolutely standard spec so I would indeed have more kit in the Leon. It's a very difficult choice, I read the reviews of them from the comics and they just say the Golf is the better drivers car.

I shouldn't listen to them really, as I got my fiance a Grande Punto Sporting MJTD a couple of months ago, and it's a fab car, but the hacks just go on about the usual suspects in that class, the Polo, the 5 year old Fiesta and the 207, and dismiss cars like the Grande Punto.

It looks the same thing happening with the new cupra, I'm sure its a brilliant car, but the impression we've been getting is that it's not a patch on the Golf, ST, VXR etc..

Grr @ mags!

 

[Greytop]

I shouldn't listen to them really, as I got my fiance a Grande Punto Sporting MJTD a couple of months ago, and it's a fab car, but the hacks just go on about the usual suspects in that class, the Polo, the 5 year old Fiesta and the 207, and dismiss cars like the Grande Punto.

It looks the same thing happening with the new cupra, I'm sure its a brilliant car, but the impression we've been getting is that it's not a patch on the Golf, ST, VXR etc..

Grr @ mags!

Agreed, go take an FR out for a test drive and make sure you rack up a good few miles, its the only way

 

[ND4SPD]

IMHO go for the Golf V GTI, I would...

 

[Ant FR]

if it was for personal ownership, then i would go for the GTi, but seeing as its company car ownership and cost counts more, then go for the GT 1.4 TSI, it looks good, drives nice, and should be better on fuel in the long run. Plus costs you the least per month. Plus regardless of how good seat's are clients will always look more favourably upon a mid-range golf than a top of the range SEAT. Badge snobbery is definately about in the fleet car market.

 

[kempos]

why dont you see how much the new cupra will cost next to the golf and fr then test drive and make a choice

 

[UncleFester]

On the basis it's going to be a 3 year contract, why not spend a couple of hundred quid and hire one of each for a day - or if your local seat / vw dealer is friendly enough see if you can negotiate one of theirs for a day. Shy bairns get nowt so it's always worth asking

 

[courtster]

Well upon looking at all the facts (thanx guys for all your input) I started ringing fleet departments today...

I'm a very impatient person so I want a car asap, and dont want to mess about in a hire car for 8-12 weeks while waiting for a factory order.

Well it seems there are 4 unregistered Leon FR TFSI's at the port unallocated, 2 Black, 1 Yellow, 1 Red, they all have 18's and one of the BM's has the Ipod kit too. They can get me one of these in 10 days, seems like my mind is made up

You get the odd GTi that is a cancelled order, but normally have to wait, and 1.4 TSI GT's are even rarer, so it seems my choice is made - just have to pick the colour....

 

[UncleFester]

Black is gorgeous and a nightmare to keep clean, yellow attracts stuff that flies ..... i'd be in between red or black if it was me

 

[Greytop]

Well it seems there are 4 unregistered Leon FR TFSI's at the port unallocated, 2 Black, 1 Yellow, 1 Red, they all have 18's and one of the BM's has the Ipod kit too. They can get me one of these in 10 days, seems like my mind is made up

You get the odd GTi that is a cancelled order, but normally have to wait, and 1.4 TSI GT's are even rarer, so it seems my choice is made - just have to pick the colour....

Given that choice I would go for Crono yellow....might have done with ours but my better half thought it was a bit loud still think it suits the Leon though....nice