Audi S1 or MK7 GTI?

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Stig555

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I know this forum is obviously biased, but It's new car time and I can't figure out which I prefer. I test drove the Leon Cupra, the Octavia VRS, the Audi S1 and the MK7 GTI. The Cupra and the VRS didn't do it for me, but I really liked the S1 and the GTI.

As for spec, the GTI would be quite loaded - Keyless, xenons, 18 inch wheels, MIB 2, premium sound, camera, tinted windows, adaptive dampers, sun roof, power folding mirror etc. No performance pack though.

As for the S1, it would have the interior and exterior Quattro packs, tinted windows and sun roof but no Bose sound, no parking sensors and no power fold mirrors.

As for driving I liked both and can't make up my mind. What do you think?
 
If I had to do it again, I'd get the GTi with the Performance Pack (ditch the sunroof and MIB2 and get the PP). Whilst I absolutely love the fun-factor of the S1, it's far from practical. The rear seats and boot are fairly useless.
 
I'm not based in the UK and in my market PP only comes with DSG. I want a manual so that means to PP. Sunroof come as part of the standard spec. I can delete it but it won't make the price any cheaper, so might as well get it.
 
In that case you have little choice but to get the manual car.

I really do think that the GTi is the better overall package. If I were you, I'd test drive them again because anything we say will be biased :)
 
the main difference here is the quattro , the golf with out the pp will struggle with traction the lsd in the pp will make things better but no where near quattro
why not go for the golf r best of both worlds
 
Depends how much space you need, not a problem, go for the S1, if it is a problem, go for the Golf.
 
Huwbert said:
Depends how much space you need, not a problem, go for the S1, if it is a problem, go for the Golf.
Click to expand...

The advantage that the Golf has, is that it is built on the MQB platform. The manual Golf weighs just 36kg more than the S1, but offers a lot more practicality.
 
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Both cracking cars there's the new golf gti clubsport coming out soon, early 2016 would that be a compromise between the two.
If you go for the gold get the performance package.
 
Both excellent cars there's the new golf gti clubsport coming out soon looks really nice.
Tbh I wouldn't buy the gti without the performance pack I think that's a must before any of the extras.
 
andy , have you specced the forged wheels and frame seats onyour focus ?
 
Hi mate ordered stealth grey, painted callipers, luxury pack and forged alloys.
Didn't order the recaro shell seats as had them in a previous car and wasn't a fan of them I think the standard seats like pretty good.
When I ordered mine the RS specialist wasn't sure if the forged alloys come with Michelin cup 2 tyres. Hope it comes with the super sports as the other is a track biased tyre.
You thinking about ordering one? Been informed could get mine by late March.
 
andy l said:
Hi mate ordered stealth grey, painted callipers, luxury pack and forged alloys.
Didn't order the recaro shell seats as had them in a previous car and wasn't a fan of them I think the standard seats like pretty good.
When I ordered mine the RS specialist wasn't sure if the forged alloys come with Michelin cup 2 tyres. Hope it comes with the super sports as the other is a track biased tyre.
You thinking about ordering one? Been informed could get mine by late March.
Click to expand...

yes im seriously thinking about it , every extra but in blue
i ve looked/ drove the rs3 and im not that impressed the focus is a better package and you save £10 k !
i dont even think it will depeciate to bad either theres a low mileage 09 plate one in a dealer mear me £21k ! , audi are loosing more than that these days !!!
 
Head says GTI and heart days S1. Decisions, decisions....
 
if your not having the performance pack , the s1 it is , its a no brainer !
 
Unfortunately as I said I'm not based in the UK and I can't get the PP in my market.

The S1 doesn't have as many gadgets as the GTI, it has a good amount of wind noise, there is no individual setting for that car and it's quite cramped. It doesn't make any sense really. The GTI is slightly cheaper, has tons more equipment, has the MQB chassis, yet something keeps drawing me towards the S1.

Why do you think the S1 is a no brainer compared to a non PP GTI?
 
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Sounds like you've made your mind up Stig.
The diff on the pp GTI is brilliant and I would def spec the pp again. But the non pp car is still very capable.
The GTI is a better all rounder and in standard form is infinitely better equipped than the S1. The S1 is obviously quicker off the line and it sounds better but I'd argue the GTI pp is more fun to chuck about. Plus S1 residuals seem to be pretty poor for an S badge Audi.
 
You make a great point, and that's exactly why my head is telling me to get the GTI. First world problems haha
 
I had the same thing between the Golf R and S1 (the R was the same price as the S1, as I wanted both well-specced and there were massive discounts on the R).

The 'right' answer was to buy the Golf: it was bigger, faster, more practical etc., but I went with my heart and got the S1 because that's the one I WANTED, even though it made no sense on paper.

I feel like I made the right decision, as whenever I see a Golf R (all the time, they're two a penny), it doesn't do anything for me at all.

If you're buying with your head only - but a Skoda or something of that ilk, it'll get you from A to B. If you're not just buying with your head - go for the one that tickles your pickle.
 
When is the S1 expected to get a facelift by the way?
 
The S1 is the facelift. It was released a year before the A1 got facelifted (~Feb 2015).
 
So there is probably about 2 years before the current S1 gets updated ?
 
At least, yeah. The next would be a whole new model, so there'll probably be a brand new A1 in 2-3 years' time, followed by a brand new S1 1-2 years after that. It'll be current for a good while yet!
 
Awesome! Thanks!

Also, I was wondering is the quattro interior pack seats are worth the extra cash and build time? The regular seats seem quite crap. Are the plastic back quattro seats a big step up?
 
yes quattro packs area deffo , they are what mskes the s1 special
 
Agreed. Has to be Quattro inside and out! I know what people say about there not being amazing lateral support, but that only matters 1% of the time. Just to sit in, I actually prefer them to my in-law's 911 Turbo's!
 
Look like logic has taken over, I'm going to pull the trigger on the GTI. The S1 looks ace, but it's tech is too outdated. The black and white onboard computer is too old looking, the centre pop up screen is also old looking. There is no USB port, the brakes seem to fade too fast on spirited drives, the pedal positioning makes it very hard to heal and toe and there is very poor aftermarket support.

It's a shame as I think the S1 looks ace and the quattro system is very appealing. If only it had more equipment and slightly more updated systems.
 
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I have a Mk7 Golf and I have to say that the infotainment system is fiddly and glitchy. When the car is moving the touch screen is difficult to use. It often glitches and have to restart it.
I find the system in the wife's S1 much easier to use and navigate using the dial.
Just thought I'd offer that opinion as we have a Golf and a S1 so can compare.
Can't compare the driving though as my Golf is a company car so isn't the GTI unfortunately!
 
I don't understand lack of equipment? There's nothing the Golf had that the S1 didn't? If a straight USB point is required then a 5 pound cable would do it: (Amazon product) Or use SD cards? As for the pop out screen, I would argue the centre screen is the oldest looking! Even my 2000 Alfa had satnav in the dash!

The black and white DIS was disappointing but then the GTI was the same when I test drove it? Plus the GTI was noticeably slower!

Just saying, but then I do like the look of the new Golf, especially the GTI/R, except those horrible diamond cut alloys.
 
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Ended up getting a good deal on the S1 and pulled the trigger!
 
Stig555 said:
Ended up getting a good deal on the S1 and pulled the trigger!
Click to expand...

I know you will think I am biased, but I genuinely think you have made the right decision.

Chris
 
thewanted said:
The advantage that the Golf has, is that it is built on the MQB platform. The manual Golf weighs just 36kg more than the S1, but offers a lot more practicality.
Click to expand...

S1 is a hybrid really. it is basically MQB running gear on the A1 chassis. It's engineering genius really having looked at the underneath of it, can't believe they managed to fit all of that into such a small chassis.
 
Yeah it sure is! I'm stoked, can't wait to get the car!
 
Happy waiting! You'll be surprised how little of them you see on the road too. People have genuinely thought my car wasn't real!
 
coddy85 said:
Happy waiting! You'll be surprised how little of them you see on the road too. People have genuinely thought my car wasn't real!
Click to expand...

Very true, I've not seen another one on the road yet.

Chris
 
In the past year, I've seen 4 other on the road. I've travelled quite a bit too. It's one of the reasons I took the S1 over the S3.
 
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I test drove the GTI prior to the S1.

I loved the look of the car, especially with the 19inch Santiago alloys.

However, I just knew that in even in mild conditions there is simply too much power going through the front wheels and there would be too much wheelspin. This is, unfortunately, a deal breaker for me as every morning I need to merge into fast 60mph single lane traffic from a stand.

I then went and test drove the S1 on a damp afternoon and I instantly feel in love with how well the S1 put down its power. It won me over before we'd barely even left the dealership. The S1 pulls better in higher gears (I found the GTI to be very slow at this) and its nearly £5,000 cheaper with the spec I was looking at.
 
audi upgrades
I found the GTI quite sterile (only available here with a DSG box which might not have helped) and did nothing for me.

The S1 is like a rollerskate and puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. Space isn't a necessity so the small boot doesn't worry me.

And GTI's are common - the S1 is not.
 
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