Castrol

Hi

Has anyone considered/driven/purchased either car? What are your feelings?

A possible change of job and much greater travelling distances, would lead me to trade my 05 STi UK PPP for something that's more economical - 30+ mpg instead of the current 19/20. Will the Golf return 30 if driven enthusiastically? Will the 120d do the 45+ some claim? Will I get bored with either?

Your thoughts please.

Cheers

john banks

Wife owns the first and just run it in (averages 32 mpg with mixed driving by her, dipped to 31 mpg with me driving but she was in the passenger seat so that slows things down). Driven the second although only briefly including drifting it around a snowy carpark, but had a day with a courtesy 118d.

I'd say they are quite comparable except for performance which the Golf is better at, 120d was OK, 118d was not nice. They are still all a bit boring though. Both hoon around roundabouts OK in a rolly kind of way, not in a pin sharp active diff fuelled slug of petrol turbo torque way IYSWIM

Both are not a patch on the Subaru for fun, you'll be bored senseless, but they do the boring car thing well.

TopBanana

I drove a 120d and didn't like it. I really liked a 320d that I drove though.

Chins

I owned a GTI and drive the company 320d.

As John states, both are pretty boring if thats your thing, but good mile munchers. GTI really is a GT in my books and has been a bit overated.

Castrol

Thanks for your comments guys; appreciated.

Cheers

Varboy

buy a 120d and get it remapped, it comes with about 160 bhp out of the box so I reckon you would be looking at close to 200bhp after a remap

billythekid

I own a 1 series, ok so its got 100bhp over the 120d but I have driven the 120d a fair bit as I used to get one as a service car when my old car was in for service. I like the handling, the steering and the cabin but the looks are not to everyones taste and the 120d could do with a bit more power, although the 6 speed box makes up for it a bit. TBH one of the reasons I went for a 1 series was the fact I got to have a play in one. I used to drive a Porsche so for me to change from that to a 1 series is saying something I think. Well worth the money IMHO.

Castrol

Interesting... Thanks again for the info.

Worked out the 120d will save £225 per month in running costs (20K pa), excluding servicing and the GTI £135 per month over the Scoob. To be honest, I think I'd pay the extra £33 per week to run the STi over the Golf. Would I pay £56 over the 120d?

Time for test drives I reckon.

Cheers

DavidChief

120d is a pretty rapid little car. Very punchy turbo power delivery. Not sure if it would be as good as the GTI though. Nice build / interior on the 1er.

I have a 130i right now and I'm loving the engine and the nicely balanced RWD chassis. Not sure if i could put up with a diesel though...!

Diablo

Castrol

I bought a 120d Sport a couple of months back. No regrets whatsoever.

In the real world its practically as fast as a Golf GTI, has 251 lbs ft of torque and with the sport springs and optional 17's, handles very well and corners flat.

Has better steering/balance/gearchange than any Golf I've driven and is therefore more fun to drive. Its also imo a nicer place to sit for the commute

Can't comment on non Sport 120d, as haven't driven one.

I think its fair to say John prefers front or four wheel drive to rwd, but I have to say that I'm loving it.

Its also more subtle than a GTI

I would have no hesitation in recommending one, as long as you are of average hight/build. May be a bit cramped for larger people.

Castrol

Thanks for your comments DC and Diablo. I must go and at least sit in the cars, as I'm 6'3" and a bit on the bulky side to say the least! I may be wasting my time even considering either car.

Cheers

john banks

Golf feels quite spacious front and rear, I'm 6'0", but not bulky. 1 series also OK in the front, but a bit more enveloping as usual on BMWs.

Castrol

I'm only interested in space for me as a driver. Boot/passenger space isn't a problem as it would be a 2nd car.

The other option is to buy another 968 and spend the rest on an Aygo or whatever. Tempting, but finding a decent 968 was difficult last time and I imagine it'll be the same this time round. Probably never should've sold the first one.

Cheers

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Is there a price issue speccing the Beemer to Golf standards?

Castrol

I don't want to spend more than about £22K.

Cheers

Diablo

That should get you a 120D M sport after haggling, or a nicely specc'd 120d sport or se

Diablo

120d sport or se has almost same spec as Gti 5 door as standard, and can be had for same money in the real world.

Base 120d will be cheaper.

Greigprice

I have an 07 120d m sport in lemanns blue with a dchip puts out over 400nm and I can tell you that it will out accelerate a golf gti with some authority. Point to point its every bit as fast as my old 05 wrx and way faster than the rex when is was stock, the rex had remapp cold air, exhaust etc nothing major. the initial thump from the bimmer diesel our of corners and its ability to have exactly the right gear selected for nearly all occasions makes it a pretty quick little car in real terms on the road. No understeer as found with the wrx... just pure decisive handeling... I considered the gti also and test drove it MANY times and loved it! Had not driven the 120D I dismissed it thinking it could not be as good.... WRONG its better when chipped ... by lots... and still nicer than the gti stock.... if practicality is your thing then buy the gti it has more room. ifyou get the gti the dsg box is a must... this was the thing I loved the most... I guess in summing up you have to wring the gti"s neck to be fast.... the bimmer effortlessly touques its way to speed never getting flustered sheer accelleration from very low revs... then theres the fuel miser bit if I thump **** out of it 6.9lp100k ... yep Im a fan :-)

Dedrater

My mate has a 1 series BMW, the 123 i think and i can tell you that it has been a fair bit quicker than the Focus ST and CTR to 100

Cyberevo

iTrader: (1)

I have a 123d coupe in sport guise and it looks pretty nice in black with the 18", ride is quite hard but a sporty car, great chassis, a realy drivers car and no torque steer.

Performance is great, done 2k miles now and returning 40.9 - It's pretty bloody quick too,

v8voodoo

I can confirm that after being out on a very ealy morning Sunday run with one of these little blighters.

I was amazed how much performance I had to use to stay up it's **** and then I was floored to be told it was returning 35mpg+ being driven flat out. Witchcraft.....

Greigprice

well diesels aint diesels anymore!!!! and wrx are roumered to have their own bretty soon.... take a look at the first super diesel the audi r8.... 500 hp 1000nm @1750 rpm..... thats effortless performance ..and that monster returns 29mpg!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats witchery!

TopBanana

I'd be worried if it did exhibit torque steer

Jamescsti

I've driven the GTI and i'm 6ft 4 and never had an issue with space, never been in a 1 series though so can't help there

fattb

iTrader: (1)

I had MK5 GTI dsg before my Scoob, and to be honest it averaged about 25-27 mpg on mostly mostly round town fast A roads and m ways, I had a mapped Audi TT before that and it was better on petrol and was a far nicer place to be although ultimately not as good as the golf

Problem i had was it was just another Golf and whilst very capable it didn't feel special, I did 10k in 6 months then sold it

I am in the same situation as you and need something more economical, and am thinking of keeping my Scoob and spending a few k on an old Astra/Focus etc diesel, knowing i have something in the garage that will make me smile

zxr750Nick

Just got: 123d standard and out of box.

I've now had it for 10 days and done 1200 miles.
Taking it pretty easy so far so 47mpg. Suspect that will drop a bit as I use more of the horses, but offset a bit by it loosening up a bit.

Last car was a Mondeo ST 2.2, so the rear drive is a novelty as I havent had one for years (bar the MGB in the garage, but that doesn't count!). I really liked the car (it ironically became known as the Fanny Magnet)

BMW:
M spec
18s
leather
roof
cruise
bluetooth, nice stereo, etc etc
All of that comes to £30k(OMG) and I would never EVER EVER spend that on such a car if it was my wad.

That said thought:

Handling - very lively if you turn off the TC.
Ride - Taut and jigly but not too much so
Up front is very nice place to be.
Out Back. Chop the kids legs off.
Performance - linear, minimal lag and just takes off whatever the speed and gear combo. 6th gear 20mph increments in 4 to 5 seconds........

Very impressed so far but WHAT a UGLY MOTHER........

Still, that coming from a bloke who still loves his classic and that isn't exactly an oil painting is it?

Nick

bpm1588

there's a mint well spec'ed 123 m sport sitting in my local bmw dealer's for 21k.add a tuning box and remap for 260 brake and mega torque?

Proby521

iTrader: (1)

A mate of mine has a 120D MSport, had it 12 months now, in white with black leather. After 7000 ish miles he has just put a tuning box on it, and I thought it went well before, but it has made a huge difference. After driving I couldn't believe how 'taut' the chassis felt (Not that the tuning box improves the handling!) I really fancy one myself for work, and I personally would chose one over a Golf GTI. Each to there own I suppose.

Proby

TopBanana

If you've already had a remap, is there much point adding a tuning box?

330dan

those 123d's are amazing - as powerfull as my e46 330d and returning better mpg. been contemplating getting an sti for a while know and I will do in due course but very difficult to get rid of the 330d. peoples preconceptions on here make me laugh - only just realisig that a 123d will out perform a wrx, and others completely refusing to believe that a 335d will give an sti ppp a thorough run for its money.