[Pray for Mojo]

We have a 2012 GTI and its a great car, especially when you factor in the price. That said, I hate the fwd aspect especially if you have any aspirations for modifying the car.

[AlpsRider]

It just comes down to how you feel when you drive them. I drove the 228 w/track package and the M235 back to back. While the 228 had plenty of power, it was more abrupt. It was like low power or full power. I like a more linear power delivery and the 235 seemed to have it. The only way to be sure is drive them both back to back and make up your own mind.

[2msport]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

It just comes down to how you feel when you drive them. I drove the 228 w/track package and the M235 back to back. While the 228 had plenty of power, it was more abrupt. It was like low power or full power. I like a more linear power delivery and the 235 seemed to have it. The only way to be sure is drive them both back to back and make up your own mind.

Not to hijack this thread but real quick. Did you notice a difference in handling,ride/rest of the car besides power? (28 and 35)

[AlpsRider]

I guess it is subjective, but to me I didn't feel any of the extra weight in the front of the M235i that some people have commented on, maybe I would on the track, don't know. I drove the 228 track first...I thought nice I like the way this car feels! Then I drove the M235i on the same test loop. It just felt great, smooth power delivery for a great every day driving experience. I felt that the suspension had less roll, but that's just me.

[2msport]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

I guess it is subjective, but to me I didn't feel any of the extra weight in the front of the M235i that some people have commented on, maybe I would on the track, don't know. I drove the 228 track first...I thought nice I like the way this car feels! Then I drove the M235i on the same test loop. It just felt great, smooth power delivery for a great every day driving experience. I felt that the suspension had less roll, but that's just me.

Thanks for that. Yeah I noticed the body roll and installed dinan shockware. Fixed that problem yes sir. I wouldn't own a 2 or any bmw without it from now on.

[williewonkerz]

Originally Posted by Pray for Mojo

We have a 2012 GTI and its a great car, especially when you factor in the price. That said, I hate the fwd aspect especially if you have any aspirations for modifying the car.

Seriously, listen to this guy. I came to say pretty much the same thing. I've recently driven the 2016 GTI Performance Edition.

EXCELLENT CAR. Arguably the best car for the money thats attainable. Seriously, its an excellent daily driver.

But, its not a 2 series, just apples and oranges in my mind. I just can'y compare the two evenly. The 2 will always win out with one exception.

Living in Manitoba, with our winters, and our roads, the GTI wins on a day to day driving and cost of ownership.

I will likely own a GTI *AND* an M2, this is my goal in the next couple years. Maybe you should do the same, get the GTI and in a couple years, get the M2....

[CreativeFuel]

I had a stage one MKVI GTI and I would choose the 228i without hesitation.

[AUSf22]

The 228i is faster than the GTi MK7 ( The Australian delivered models ) so the 228i for sure !! Though I must admit, the new DSG gearboxes are definitely extremely good.

You should test drive both cars and then decide.

[pocoyo_3]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

It just comes down to how you feel when you drive them. I drove the 228 w/track package and the M235 back to back. While the 228 had plenty of power, it was more abrupt. It was like low power or full power. I like a more linear power delivery and the 235 seemed to have it. The only way to be sure is drive them both back to back and make up your own mind.

Agree completely with your comments on the power delivery. I had a 328i and that felt like all or nothing.

[vladberca]

I guess we'll see a 230i quite soon so I think we'll see some improvements in the power delivery.
330i is available in Europe, but only diesel models for test drives 😕

[den525]

Wow not bias at all here... Lol

[BMW335iOn18s]

I had a 2012 GLI..the only non-BMW I've owned....wow..let me just say i'd rather have a base 6 speed 320i than the VW.

[Dan GSR]

I have a mk5 gti
very practical, rear passenger room is MUCH better than the 2 series
and a hatchback will swallow pretty much any cargo.

My biggest complaint with the VW is steering feel. It is numb.
BMW has chassis dynamics nailed down

[Heraklitus]

Originally Posted by Merc for hire

GTI has too much boy racer image to it. And it's FWD.
I would suggest 228i if you value RWD and more mature look.

Yea, that's how I feel about it too. I've just never understood the aesthetic appeal of the GTI. It just looks so juvenile to me.

[den525]

Originally Posted by 2msport

boy do I disagree with you.

Maybe you just don't know enough about modern cars.

I owned a Renault RS250 for 18 months. In terms of having fun, handling and drivability? It out performs even my M235i, which is nearly double in price tag.

That car beats all hot hatches out there in many tests in all different magazines. Including the M135i.

So it's BS when people generalise RWD is automatically better than FWD.

I only moved to the M235i, because its more comfortable for the daily grind.

[2msport]

Originally Posted by den525

Maybe you just don't know enough about modern cars.

I owned a Renault RS250 for 18 months. In terms of having fun, handling and drivability? It out performs even my M235i, which is nearly double in price tag.

That car beats all hot hatches out there in many tests in all different magazines. Including the M135i.

So it's BS when people generalise RWD is automatically better than FWD.

I only moved to the M235i, because its more comfortable for the daily grind.

You're a troll dude.

[Merc for hire]

Renault don't operate in America

[Viffermike]

So what if Renault doesn't sell in the U.S.? The RS250 is proof that a FWD car can be a world beater. It's also proof that the hatchback continues to be a more-than-reasonable real-world performance platform, particularly in FWD and 4WD guise. This has been the case for decades, gentlemen. DECADES.

Case in point: the BMW M135i. Hatchback. RWD, per BMW tradition more than any other reason. Not imported to the U.S. Why? Because we don't buy the best hatchbacks here in numbers that make it worth bringing over, no matter what the drivetrain. (That's also why we never got the two-door Audi A3). Case #2: the five-door Subaru WRX/STi. No longer available in the U.S. Meanwhile, hot hatchbacks fly off the floors in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere.

So much of this is personal preference and cultural/market bias that it's really just worthless to argue comparisons beyond the traction/weight/balance advantages/disadvantages of FWD vs RWD (and 4WD, for that matter). Bottom line: for a hatchback, RWD makes little sense from a chassis dynamics standpoint. Ask Jeremy Clarkson, who is decidedly not an M135i fan, about that.

As for the PP GTi: It's a phenomenal car for what it is, and it has definite technical strengths over the 228i (the DSC, for example, is the 8AT's equal in smoothness at speed, IMHO). It's not a luxury car, though. That said, I shopped it directly with a 228i; others have, too. So, not apples and oranges -- and, again, personal preference.

[nike001]

Originally Posted by 2msport

You're a troll dude.

You're both ignorant & arrogant.

In terms of fun, handling, & drivability.. one could probably argue a very good case against an M235i versus a Ford Focus ST as well.

[mfourn20]

Originally Posted by nike001

You're both ignorant & arrogant.

In terms of fun, handling, & drivability.. one could probably argue a very good case against an M235i versus a Ford Focus ST as well.

Test drove the focus st when I was looking. It was a great car. The interior/dash design made me feel cramped though.

[aceking4u]

Assuming you're getting close to a fully loaded GTI, I much rather have that over a base 228i.

FWD and RWD does not make a different for most people. Especially in dry areas. If you're not trying to track your car or do some trial runs in the mountains, there's really no need for that.

I currently have a hatchback as my DD. A honda, but I absolutely LOVE the cargo space. I was able to fit (4) 19" BBS LM with tires on in my car, pretty sure you can do that easily in a GTI.

Also, the build quality for VW is very solid right now. Interior and exterior is absolutely gorgeous. 228i come standard with fake leather. Here is how I would rank it:

1. M235i
2. Golf R
3. Golf GTI
4. 228i

[den525]

This might be hard to watch for those who think rwd cars are automatically better than fwd cars...