@Mikeyd1 - I‘m aware from you being on some of the VW forums that I’m also on that you’ve driven and owned a number of mk7 / mk7.5 Golfs - including a GTI - so you know how the Golf drives and handles.
Have you driven the Cupra? I’m assuming that if you’ve put a deposit on both, you may not have actually seen either car in the metal. If so, then be aware that when viewing a car from pictures on the internet, it’s not really possible to see any cosmetic imperfections and blemishes (e.g. poorly maintained paintwork, stone chips, scratches and swirls, supermarket trolley dings). I’d also want to check out the interior to ensure neither car have been owned by a smoker as the smell is almost impossible to get rid of. Additionally, if it’s had new tyres, inspecting such things as brands of any replacement tyres can be an indication of how a car has been cared for; cheap ‘ditch finder‘ unknown brands can be an indication that the previous owner skimped on maintenance as can an incomplete service history.
If equipment levels are important to you, then it’d be worth comparing the spec of the Cupra v’s the GTI in case either of them have certain ‘must have’ items of equipment that you consider very important that might
help you make your decision easier.
Faced with your dilemma of Cupra v’s GTI, I’d probably go for the Cupra if everything on the car checks out in terms of colour, spec, condition and history, based on the following;
- It costs less than the Golf, and even at current petrol prices, the £2,500 price difference would buy quite a few tankfuls of petrol.
- Power output of the Cupra is higher.
- Subjective I know, but IMHO the Cupra looks better.
- It’s a slightly newer car (admittedly only slightly though).
- It might be good to own something different to a Golf and something that’s s less common sight on the roads.
Good luck with your choice ??.