Cts V Astra Sri V Golf Gti

[bartonfink]

Am taking delivery of new CTS in a week. Makes all sorts of sense for the mid-30s bloke who's finally thinking with his bank balance rather than his !Removed!. Question is, though: Will I be disappointed? Have in the past owned 150bhp Golf GTI (verdict: crap handling, vague steering, disappointing power, lousy build quality), Astra 2.2 SRI (surprisingly enjoyable, brisk and thoroughly reliable, terrifying depreciation). Is the CTS going to top these?

Thanks for all comments.

[Yarisboy]

only time will tell

[XTJC]

I also own a 150 golf and get my CTS on Friday so I'll let you know ;-)

I wouldn't agree about the build quality or the power delivery of the golf though, good linear delivery is great for safe overtaking without swapping gears like a rally driver lol!

I think you were a bit too kind in your comments about the handling though it really is dire!

[bartonfink]

Glad to hear your Golf performed better than mine: I had constant problems and had it back for repairs under warranty four or five times. Turbo needed replacing twice, bits fell off (air intake grills, for example), window fell out of a door frame (I kid you not) and constant irritations with dodgy indicator lights and misreading water reservoir sensor. It ****** me off and I never want to fall into the hands of VAG again: they treat their customers like **** and overcharge to boot.

The Astra, by shameful comparison, never put a foot wrong in three years and 49k miles. Not a single thing went wrong ever. Can't say fairer than that.

[The Gooner]

The CTS is better performance than a 150bhp golf, and the handling is better.

You might get linear power delivery for safe overtaking in golf but in CTS when you get revs right you brutal acceleration and can nip round ploders in the blink of an eye. :D

[T BALL]

the t sport should be worlds better. good choice walking away from vag. wouldnt want to own one out of warranty! never been in a cts but i thought my YARIS T SPORT was a good match against golf gti's when i had it! another unsatisfied customer of so called german build quality.

[XTJC]

Glad to hear your Golf performed better than mine: I had constant problems and had it back for repairs under warranty four or five times. Turbo needed replacing twice, bits fell off (air intake grills, for example), window fell out of a door frame (I kid you not) and constant irritations with dodgy indicator lights and misreading water reservoir sensor. It ****** me off and I never want to fall into the hands of VAG again: they treat their customers like **** and overcharge to boot.

The Astra, by shameful comparison, never put a foot wrong in three years and 49k miles. Not a single thing went wrong ever. Can't say fairer than that.

Yes I also had problems with water sensor always overheating lol, even on a frosty morning on first tick over!!

Did also get treated like ******* but 72k miles and relativly few problems!

[exon16m]

I think you will enjoy it.

I have a small video pic from my phone showing it accelerating you will need quick time though and mail me your email address

[System~G]

First new car I ever bought was a VW... Never ever again (that wasn't even in the UK).

I hear a lot of CTS owners speaking of "lift" which is meant to be quite fun

[TOYMOTA]

Am taking delivery of new CTS in a week. Makes all sorts of sense for the mid-30s bloke who's finally thinking with his bank balance rather than his !Removed!. Question is, though: Will I be disappointed? Have in the past owned 150bhp Golf GTI (verdict: crap handling, vague steering, disappointing power, lousy build quality), Astra 2.2 SRI (surprisingly enjoyable, brisk and thoroughly reliable, terrifying depreciation). Is the CTS going to top these?

Thanks for all comments.

I take it you've never had a Mk 1 Golf GTI. One of my first cars was the GTI, and it was faster and far nicer to drive than the newer rubbish VW have come up with. They used to work side by side with Audi, but not any more. Maybe that is something to do with the cheap build quality they are coming up with nowerdays!?

A mate of mine has got a MK1 Cabriolet with 70k on the clock for sale at the mo. It's in mint condition as he owns his own body repair shop and did all the work in his spare time. I think he's asking £2-£2.5k for it with a full white leather interior.

It's gotta be the CTS all the way these days though!!!!

[Twincam.GTi]

Think i've asked about this in a previous thread:

Didn't realise Volkswagens had such a reputation in recent years for bad quality/reliability...always thought they were solid well bulit lumps, it's what the magazines seemed to always make out and on programs such as top gear.

As for handling I think the MK1 AND MK2 (MK2 16v 'Big bumper' is my favorite Golf GTi) were good. Still even for 80's hot hatchs I chose Corolla GTi as it appeared to offer 'more' in the way of comfort and extras.

Personally I feel that any car that is new should be perfect, especially as they seam to be so expensive!

Thus I feel sorry for anybody (no matter what they drive) if they have spent their hard earned money/savings on a new car and are having problems.

[Chappers]

..I take it you've never had a Mk 1 Golf GTI..

All went downhill after that

[Aphelion]

I don't think there is any chance you can be disapointed in a CTS is going to more than a match for a Golf GTi not sure about the Vauxhall, but don't forget the CTS is a 190 BHP high reving beast, very understated car will shock many a people with the car.

I have had the car 18 months and the power sometimes still suprises me.

[TOYMOTA]

As for handling I think the MK1 AND MK2 (MK2 16v 'Big bumper' is my favorite Golf GTi) were good. Still even for 80's hot hatchs I chose Corolla GTi as it appeared to offer 'more' in the way of comfort and extras.

Golf MK1 for speed, Rolla GTI for refinement and class!!

[Rolla nutter]

Used to have a MK3 golf gti and I was the second owner with FVWSH, guess what, that was my worse car ever!!! very disappointed cos it was my dream car what I was a younger!!!

Anyway, have been driving my CTS (company car) from new since may 03 and the current mileage is just under 85,000 miles and due for a replacement... yes, the CTS is top on my list but the question is should I have another one??? finger cross the CTS been very reliable no problem whatsoever and the lift is fantastic...

[Snert]

I traded my 3 year old Astra SR1 for a 1 year old CTS in January. As you say, Astra was a solid performing motor, never gave any bother decent performance etc but terrible depreciation (and I traded it before the New shape came out!)

My CTS, which is the older style, does not handle as well as the Astra, the paint quality (thickness?) is atrocious as it scratches if you walk within 3 feet of the car and it rattles like hell.

The engine is sweet though :)

This is my first Jap car, having had Ford, Vauxhall, Rover etc the last 20 odd years and for me, the jury is still out. I've had worse but I think I've also had better.

Incidently, the wife has a Mazda and it's 10x better built than the Toyota IMHO.

Snert

[Yarisboy]

ah finally, a CTS owner who's not afraid to talk some truth! :D

[Blacksheep]

They must have addressed some build quality issues with the newer CTS mine is absolutly perfect, no rattles, everything works properly, I have nothing to complain about at all...

Somebody earlier put a mention to how dear new cars are, I think the opposite I can't believe you can buy a car with all the bits and functions the new T Sport comes with plus a pucka ceramic barrelled aluminium state of the art engine for less than £16500 it seems pretty amazing to me especially when you price lots of bits individually...

And they even throw in a proper spare wheel and tyre that deserves a little recognition....

[Twincam.GTi]

And they even throw in a proper spare wheel and tyre that deserves a little recognition....

...And so they should, they always did with the Corolla GTi in the 1980's.