mk7 gti vs m-sport 228i

[fastmk7]

So I'm currently between a 2016 mk7 gti and a 2016 228i. These are the following options i am looking at for each car:

228i
-lighting package
-M Sport
-cold weather

Gti S
-4 door
-dsg
-lighting
-performance package(possibly, on the fence with this)

I'm no newbie to vw as my family and I have owned several vws over the years. I used to own a mk6 gti and I was blown away by the new mk7 interior and performance.

I understand the pricing is different for these two vehicles and they're different in terms of fwd vs rwd, but I'm having a difficult time choosing. Both have their pros and cons. Has anyone cross shopped the 228i or owned one?

Thanks !

 

[GTI_PP]

335 motor or it's not a BMW!!!!
Get the GTI

 

[matimer]

What about the GTI SE? I really enjoyed the 2.0T BMW. The m-sport steering wheel was crazy nice. But it needed a bunch of packages like the premium package, harmon kardon, lighting package, track package just to make me happy .. At the end, it was coming out too expensive. Not only that, but the exterior of the 2-series looks very bland. Now, if you say the 4-series now that's one nice car!

The thing I hate most about the GTI is the FWD. Wheelspin gets really annoying.

 

[fastmk7]

What about the GTI SE? I really enjoyed the 2.0T BMW. The m-sport steering wheel was crazy nice. But it needed a bunch of packages like the premium package, harmon kardon, lighting package, track package just to make me happy .. At the end, it was coming out too expensive. Not only that, but the exterior of the 2-series looks very bland. Now, if you say the 4-series now that's one nice car!

The thing I hate most about the GTI is the FWD. Wheelspin gets really annoying.

To me, the trim doesn't make much of a difference( S vs SE ). The only thing I like from the SE is the keyless entry, but the rest I don't care for. Regarding the options in the 228i, I carefully went through each one and the xenons, m-sport and cold weather are really the only packages I need.

Yeah, thats my biggest gripe with the gti. I remember in my old mk6 when it rained I vowed id never get another fwd car again and here I am considering another gti! But then again theres something so fun about the gti which i can't explain. I never really got the push the 228i hard during the test drives, but the gti has this fun factor that has the ability to put a smile on your face every time you punch the gas

Before anyone suggests a mk7 golf R, I thought about that route, but with all the dealer mark ups and how difficult it is to find one, I'm not sure I want to go through the headache of all that

 

[fastmk7]

So i compiled a quick pro and cons list for each car:

228i

Pros:
-Rwd(fun factor)
-50/50 weight distribution
-carefree maintenance(brake pads and rotors included)
-bmw badge(paying for the luxury)
-like the exterior more. coupe>hatchback

Cons:
-2 doors(less practical)
-n20 engine doesn't seem anywhere near as responsive in terms of power as a stage 1 mk7 gti
-less practical(backseat seems small)
-almost 10k more than the gti

MK7 GTI

Pros:
-very nice interior( under some aspects i feel it might be slightly better than the 228i)
-aggressive pricing bc of dieselgate
-fun factor( car is like a street legal go-kart)
-dsg
-stage 1 tune transforms this car into an animal
-vcds aka vag-com (can customize the car on my own, since I already have the cable)

Cons:
-fwd
-shorter warranty(3ys/36k vs bmw's 4yrs/50k)
-exterior design isn't as nice as the 228i IMO

 

[KO7]

I think the price is nowhere comparable if you want the 228i M Sport to be even somewhat as well equipped as the GTI. Look for, or wait for a Golf R without dealer markups. Costs thousands less than a well equipped 228 M Sport with several packages, with way more performance.

 

[Mk7user]

Power pack with LSD solves most of your FWD concerns.
Heck, Michelin Pilots already can solve a lot of it even without LSD.

 

[Demetrius Joel]

If you want the BMW with the options you listed then BMW all the way. I had a 328 with the N20 engine and let me tell you it was a great engine. Loved that car, miss that car. The M Sport package makes it a whole new beast. To me it's a no brainer. The interior on these new BMW's are just absolutely gorgeous.

 

[enrique71]

I have the '16 GTI SE an my cousin drives a '14 BMW 328i. I took his out for a test drive last night and I totally prefer my GTI. The BMW absorbs tons of road shock and noise, it has good pickup and speed but then again so does the GTI. All in all, I feel that the GTI is a better built sports vehicle. As far as infotainment goes, no comparison .. the BMW (even newer models) are way behind the times.

Bottom line, I wouldn't change my GTI for a BMW 328/330 any day of the week. However higher end BMW models, hmm .. maybe.

 

[fastmk7]

If you want the BMW with the options you listed then BMW all the way. I had a 328 with the N20 engine and let me tell you it was a great engine. Loved that car, miss that car. The M Sport package makes it a whole new beast. To me it's a no brainer. The interior on these new BMW's are just absolutely gorgeous.

If you don't mind me asking, what made you switch from the 328i into the gti?

 

[themyst]

Different strokes for different folks, can't beat price to performance of the GTI... however the N20/N26 is a fantastic motor in its own right. Can't go wrong with either car.

 

[themyst]

So i compiled a quick pro and cons list for each car:

228i

Pros:
-Rwd(fun factor)
-50/50 weight distribution
-carefree maintenance(brake pads and rotors included)
-bmw badge(paying for the luxury)
-like the exterior more. coupe>hatchback

Cons:
-2 doors(less practical)
-n20 engine doesn't seem anywhere near as responsive in terms of power as a stage 1 mk7 gti
-less practical(backseat seems small)
-almost 10k more than the gti

MK7 GTI

Pros:
-very nice interior( under some aspects i feel it might be slightly better than the 228i)
-aggressive pricing bc of dieselgate
-fun factor( car is like a street legal go-kart)
-dsg
-stage 1 tune transforms this car into an animal
-vcds aka vag-com (can customize the car on my own, since I already have the cable)

Cons:
-fwd
-shorter warranty(3ys/36k vs bmw's 4yrs/50k)
-exterior design isn't as nice as the 228i IMO

You're comparing a tuned GTI to a stock 228i. Throw a tune on the N20 and check back. Can code BMW's with some know-how without a $250 cable. BMW's iDrive is eons better than the GTI touch screen / steering wheel controls.

The GTI is a great all-around hatch / daily driver, even a family hauler at a great base price. Comparing it to a RWD coupe/vert isn't exactly the fairest of comparisons. Cars that compete in the GTI space are the Focus ST, MINI Coopers, Veloster Turbo, Fiat 500, maybe the Fiesta ST.

 

[PGT]

We own a 328i M Sport and a MkVII R. I also drove a GTI prior to buying the R. The BMW's are nice but power doesn't feel as strong as the GTI but of course RWD is nice. The ZF 8HP transmission is as good as normal automatics get

 

[fastmk7]

You're comparing a tuned GTI to a stock 228i. Throw a tune on the N20 and check back. Can code BMW's with some know-how without a $250 cable. BMW's iDrive is eons better than the GTI touch screen / steering wheel controls.

The GTI is a great all-around hatch / daily driver, even a family hauler at a great base price. Comparing it to a RWD coupe/vert isn't exactly the fairest of comparisons. Cars that compete in the GTI space are the Focus ST, MINI Coopers, Veloster Turbo, Fiat 500, maybe the Fiesta ST.

I was just mentioning in terms of stage 1 tunes, the gti has far more tuning potential compared to the n20 motor. If you put a stage 1 tune on both cars the gti will smoke the bmw.

In my comparison I am still comparing stock motors in both vehicles. (Apples to apples)

 

[Demetrius Joel]

If you don't mind me asking, what made you switch from the 328i into the gti?

no, dont mind at all. i had the 328i while i was stationed in Germany. literally 3 weeks before i was set to come back to the good ole US of A i totaled it. i was so bummed. gave me the opportunity to buy an M235i which was a pretty bad ass car. the reason i have a GTI now is because i got married and have a kid on the way. i have two cars now for the price of the M235i. a golf and a GTI. im happy with the GTI though. but i plan on being back in a BMW within the next 5 years. maybe a used M4, lol.