Wednesday 14th December 2011

PH fleet: Golf GTI Edition 35

The latest addition to our car park is 'just like a Golf'. Because it is a Golf...

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Will the new PH fleet arrival 'reflect' the spirit of the original? (Sorry)

Before we proceed with the introduction to the newest member of the PH fleet, let me lay a few cards on the table. Well actually one card in particular: when I first drove a Mk6 Golf GTI, I did not like it. I felt that, after the fabulous Mk5, it had slipped back into humdrum-dom. It was solid, sensible, practical and comfortable; everything a Golf should be. But it was not enough fun, which is what a GTI should be.

Golf already mistaken for a Polo. Twice

Then I drove the Edition 35. Okay, so it's only got an extra 25ps and 15lb ft of torque, but that shaves 0.3secs from the 0-62mph time (6.6secs) and adds 6mph to the top speed (153mph). Small figures, and a relatively lowly power boost, sure, but it's just enough to lift the Golf GTI and plonk it firmly into the 'fun and fast' category.

It's also been created to celebrate 35 years since the golf GTI first appeared, so we thought it was about time we got one on the PH fleet to see if it still has the old magic when you live with it on a day-to-day basis.

A winter's tale
Talking of day-to-day things, it won't have escaped your notice that it is winter. It also won't have escaped your notice that manufacturers are keen to promote the merits of their 'all-season tyres' following a couple of uncharacteristically harsh winters. Which explains the odd 1.6S-alike alloys on our car - we thought we'd test out the merits (or otherwise) of winter tyres.

Could small 'winter' wheels be the cause?

For £1,355 VW will do you a set of 17-inch Meribel alloys, shod with 205/50 R17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D rubber (and depending how much space your local VW dealer has they might even look after your summer wheels and tyres for you), leaving you ready for the worst the winter has to throw at you.

The question is, do the squidgy sidewalls and big tread blocks spoil the Golf's chuckable hot hatch attitude? And do they really help out when the going gets miserably cold? It's rather too early to say at the moment, but no doubt we'll find out soon.

What else?
As for the other first impressions, well it's pretty much all good - inside, the Edition 35 brings with it leather seats, a 'golf ball' gear knob on the DSG 'box and some subtle badging on the kickplates.

Our car also comes to the party with parking sensors front and rear (£440), and £1770-worth of navigation, HDD, trip computer and iPod integration, all of which combines with the generally classy cabin (complete with one of the nicest steering wheels on any car south of £200k) to make a soothing, comfortable and generally pleasant commuting companion.

I'm just hoping it's as up for a proper B-road blast with its cold-season tyres on as it was when I drove it on 'summer' tyres...

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2011 VW Golf GTI Edition 35
Run by: Riggers
Bought: December 2011
List price new: £31,030 (inc. £1770 infotainment pack and £440 for parking sensors front and rear)
Value now: c. £26,000 (after 5000 miles)

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Steering wheel a thing of loveliness	White masks Golf's subtle curves

[Numeric]

Like the car (though why they don't just put the engine in all the GTI mystifies me) but also really interested in the tyres. Lived in Germany for a while and you'd see some very strange steel wheels on things like 911s but they were generally going in a straight line even in snow, so I became a fan of the winter tyre myself! They were good but wore through at a heck of a speed - though that might have been the twit behind the wheel being a right thug!

[Benjaminbopper]

I know that £30k+ is how much a well built German car tends to cost, but for a hatchback I still find this mesmorising and could never personally justify the cost considering the alternatives available.

(apologies, not a cue to start the new vs. used argument - just a personal statement!)

[Riggers]

Benjaminbopper said:

I know that £30k+ is how much a well built German car tends to cost, but for a hatchback I still find this mesmorising and could never personally justify the cost considering the alternatives available.

(apologies, not a cue to start the new vs. used argument - just a personal statement!)

I does seem a lot, doesn't it? I'll let you know whether I reckon it's worth it as time goes on.

Although on first impressions it really does feel as if it's a class above any other hot hatch I've driven recently in terms of that horrible phrase 'perceived quality'...

[w8cko]

Can you really have a "Hot-Hatch" with an automatic / semi-automatic box? Surely they are the last bastion of fully involved gear changes?

[Riggers]

w8cko said:

Can you really have a "Hot-Hatch" with an automatic / semi-automatic box? Surely they are the last bastion of fully involved gear changes?

I know what you mean. But it's what the majority of the market wants, so I suppose you have to look at the resaleability (is that a word?) side of things.


Another question we shall endeavour to answer for you... (Jury's definitely out at the moment in this particular head.)

[nick30]

yeh it is a lot when you can get a new 135i for that. As much as i like this car its not enough of an improvement over the Edition 30 if i was going to blow 30k on a golf it would need to be the top of the range, the R.

[dapearson]

£31,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surely that's 2nd hand RS4 or M3 money?

[uncle tez]

Those wheels really do kill whole look of it

[nick30]

not the second hand argument please!!

[Morba]

dapearson said:

£31,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surely that's 2nd hand RS4 or M3 money?

That's going down the whole new v used argument though, which is not the point of this article and has been done many many times

[Morba]

uncle tez said:

Those wheels really do kill whole look of it

The normal ones look great. Not sure I would spend so much on a winter set of alloys tbh!

[k15tox]

uncle tez said:

Those wheels really do kill whole look of it

would you prefer some diamond cut 40inchers?

can bet it rides and handles better on those

[Numeric]

I guess you have to look at whole life costs and include depreciation etc. My Astra VXR lost a huge amount in 18 months cos I put 50k on it, guess a Golf holds better? (or not?)

[Riggers]

nick30 said:

yeh it is a lot when you can get a new 135i for that. As much as i like this car its not enough of an improvement over the Edition 30 if i was going to blow 30k on a golf it would need to be the top of the range, the R.

No doubt the 135i is a fine car (a favourite of mine in fact), but once you spec one up to the same level as the Golf you come out (according to WC?.com) with a car costing £37,485...

[nick30]

true riggers. the ED35 does come with a lot of kit but all id want in a 135 would be bluetooth and DCT and you could negotiate that down to 31k. Does the VW bluetooth even work properly yet? i know a couple of years ago it didnt work on iphones which makes it useless to most people!

[Hellbound]

£31k new?

Why not go all the way and get an R for £32.5k? Ok, it doesn't have DSG (and I know how good they are now), but it's got AWD. Given the choice, I know which one I'd have.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3405272.htm

[sanctum]

Yes it looks expensive sliding north of £30k, but the anniversary editiona have always held their value far better than the standard GTi and the improvements often make them drive a whole lot better. I remember the 25th anniversary edition, which was chalk and cheese to the box standard Gti 150.
Add that to the strong residuals of a Golf GTi and you'll find these up for contract hire for very reasonable money, I wouldn't be surprised to see one below £200 per month (+vat etc etc), which is a good target for the huge fleet market out there.

[donna180]

31k........

Can you fully disengage the electronic safety nets on the 35/MY12 Golfs or do they click in again...?

[anonymous-user]

Probably get some stick here but I just don't like it.
I wouldn't notice one driving past me. Seems very wet paint

[nick30]

sanctum said:

Yes it looks expensive sliding north of £30k, but the anniversary editiona have always held their value far better than the standard GTi and the improvements often make them drive a whole lot better. I remember the 25th anniversary edition, which was chalk and cheese to the box standard Gti 150.
Add that to the strong residuals of a Golf GTi and you'll find these up for contract hire for very reasonable money, I wouldn't be surprised to see one below £200 per month (+vat etc etc), which is a good target for the huge fleet market out there.

i dont think so. My Edition 30 was 24k new and i sold it at 3 years old for 10.5k.