RE: Say hello to the new Volkswagen Golf GTI

[CKY]

Maccmike8 said:

Doesnt look like a GTI at all. Looks like a low spec with R line type add on looks. Disappointing.

Yes, that stuck-on 'GTI' script on the doors is particularly bad.. also I can't recall where I first read of the steering wheel resembling 'Roland Rat', but now I cannot unsee it, and it's more prevalent on every new Golf I see!

[Speed Badger]

Instead of counting sheep to get to sleep, I count Volkswagen Golfs.

[fastfocus]

A slight improvement to look at over the Mk8, never liked that with its droopy front, but still prefer my Mk7. Shame that 3 door and manual cars are no more but the majority of buyers it seems don't want them, but at least the Mk7/7.5 offered a choice which is why I have 3 door manual. 8 years from new and still with stock power.

[rottenegg]

Wab1974uk said:

Still the same awful dashboard.

It's good they've re-introduced buttons on the steering wheel, but how about simple dials for the heating controls? If indeed they listen to customers. No one asked for everything to be incorporated into the infotainment system.

DSG only? Oh dear. Not very GTI is it?

VW manuals are garbage, so no loss there.

[CG2020UK]

The Mk8 GTI Clubsport is a smashing drive.

Noticeable improvement over my MK7.

Interior was really poor all scratchy plastics and looked cheap. Think Corsa Mk3 and you wouldn’t be far off. Silly things like doing away with lined door bins and under seat compartment was really noticeable.

[aarondbs]

What still makes me grumpy is that daft screen, not integrated and not part of a cohesive dash design.

I had a Volvo V90 and the dash design integrated the screen beautifully. My xf, whilst not as good integrates the screen properly.

Other than that I like it a lot

[Sisu9]

Certainly much prettier than the models where VW put the "i" in front of the model designation!

[damianmkv]

CG2020UK said:

The Mk8 GTI Clubsport is a smashing drive.

Noticeable improvement over my MK7.

Interior was really poor all scratchy plastics and looked cheap. Think Corsa Mk3 and you wouldn’t be far off. Silly things like doing away with lined door bins and under seat compartment was really noticeable.

Agreed.

My 8CS is 2.5 years old and on 36k miles now - yes, the lack of backlit controls and the cheap plastics are a pain but you have to ignore them and get on with it. I knew they were crap when I bought it after all..

Realistically, how many people actually give their car a hoon and get the most from it ? Not many I’d guess..Will people notice the extra 20ps on the GTi ?

I also have a 7.5R and that’s got plenty of interior build issues too

The 8.5 doesn’t really float my boat but then again nor did the 8 when it came out. Hopefully the CS will have 320+PS and look better than the GTi does ( I assume the launch teaser the other week was the CS )

[Bobupndown]

fastfocus said:

A slight improvement to look at over the Mk8, never liked that with its droopy front, but still prefer my Mk7. Shame that 3 door and manual cars are no more but the majority of buyers it seems don't want them, but at least the Mk7/7.5 offered a choice which is why I have 3 door manual. 8 years from new and still with stock power.

Do you really think so? The entire front end is still droopy. I really had high hopes that they would have made a nicer looking car for its swansong. Would like to buy a last non hybrid diesel to own long term, this golf I fear will not be it.

[86wasagoodyear]

I distinctly recall that this revision was supposed to fix the godawful infotainment-HVAC controls.
They will of course say that they have "listened to customers and made significant improvements" to those vital controls. But now we see it, it's fundamentally the same, which means it's still fundamentally crap.

[CG2020UK]

damianmkv said:

Agreed.

My 8CS is 2.5 years old and on 36k miles now - yes, the lack of backlit controls and the cheap plastics are a pain but you have to ignore them and get on with it. I knew they were crap when I bought it after all..

Realistically, how many people actually give their car a hoon and get the most from it ? Not many I’d guess..Will people notice the extra 20ps on the GTi ?

I also have a 7.5R and that’s got plenty of interior build issues too

The 8.5 doesn’t really float my boat but then again nor did the 8 when it came out. Hopefully the CS will have 320+PS and look better than the GTi does ( I assume the launch teaser the other week was the CS )

I suppose if the 5 door Mk8 doesn’t leak into the rear seats it’s an improvement over the Mk7

Interested how you find the Mk8CS vs the Mk7.5 R?

[Olivera]

CG2020UK said:

The Mk8 GTI Clubsport is a smashing drive.

Noticeable improvement over my MK7.

Yep, and the Mk8 R with the torque vectoring rear diff is way, way ahead of the stty old Haldex system in the Mk7. If the Mk8.5 fixes the software issues then it's a no brainer over the Mk7./7.5

[damianmkv]

CG2020UK said:

Interested how you find the Mk8CS vs the Mk7.5 R?

I prefer the 8CS to drive. Yes of course the R is much quicker off the line and more planted on the twisties of Wales but it loses some of the “joy” of the 8CS and its front wheel drive. I did Scotland and Wales last year in the CS

One thing I don’t get with VW is the desire to put terrible Hankooks on their cars. Mine had them when I got it and I thought I’d made a huge mistake as it just wheelspan all the time. Changed the fronts to GYE AS6 ( I think ) which took much of the wheel spin away, then 10 months ago I cracked an alloy ( mine’s on Estorils ) and split a tyre so I’m now running PS4s all round. 14000 miles done and they’ve got 4mm left on the fronts, 7.5mm on the rears.

I’m not a big fan of the engine noise in the 8 - to me, it sounds very harsh but maybe it’s my ears. The 7.5 is less “mechanical” if that makes sense. Maybe the synthetic sound isn’t right…

[Flumpo]

Never been a fan of the golf but I actually quite like this one. But given how expensive this is going to be, I really would have to pick the Octavia estate vrs over this.

It wouldn’t be as good as it’s been engineered to not be as good, but not being a PH millionaire the savings would be a big sway and the boot would be better.

[RicM5]

I’ve previously owned a 2016 7R and now a 2019 7.5R
Covered 25k in the last 18 months in the .5 and it’s still brilliant at everything you want from a capable daily and more
I am lucky enough to have a 991.2 GTS which is on another level but never feel short changed or upset to be back in the 7.5R
Been thinking of changing the R simply because I fancy a change but to be honest I can’t find a suitable substitute that exceeds the golf’s talents as a daily without throwing in excess of £20k into the budget
So I for one am very interested in the forthcoming 8.5R test drove the 8 which was quicker had a much more composed ride but a horrible interior
If they’ve improved the interior issues made it even quicker and better to drive them I’m very interested

[Escort Si-130]

xu5 said:

Illuminated badges look naff, as do those door badges.

Door badges look foolish, too big

[GTEYE]

A bit surprising to see so much negativity focused on side badges, an illuminated grille badge and the design of the wheels.

Let’s just put things in perspective. When this 8.5 is replaced in (3-4 years?) we’ll be facing down the barrel of an EV only Golf.

So, enjoy this one while you can, it’ll be gone before you realise.

[cerb4.5lee]

GTEYE said:

A bit surprising to see so much negativity focused on side badges, an illuminated grille badge and the design of the wheels.

Let’s just put things in perspective. When this 8.5 is replaced in (3-4 years?) we’ll be facing down the barrel of an EV only Golf.

So, enjoy this one while you can, it’ll be gone before you realise.

The Golf is a prime candidate to be turned into an EV for me, because they have always(mostly) been boring and dull cars anyway. So the perfect recipe for an EV I reckon.

[fastfocus]

Bobupndown said:

fastfocus said:

A slight improvement to look at over the Mk8, never liked that with its droopy front, but still prefer my Mk7. Shame that 3 door and manual cars are no more but the majority of buyers it seems don't want them, but at least the Mk7/7.5 offered a choice which is why I have 3 door manual. 8 years from new and still with stock power.

Do you really think so? The entire front end is still droopy. I really had high hopes that they would have made a nicer looking car for its swansong. Would like to buy a last non hybrid diesel to own long term, this golf I fear will not be it.

I do but it is still not good enough to make me swap my Mk7 R.

[D4rez]

GTEYE said:

A bit surprising to see so much negativity focused on side badges, an illuminated grille badge and the design of the wheels.

Let’s just put things in perspective. When this 8.5 is replaced in (3-4 years?) we’ll be facing down the barrel of an EV only Golf.

So, enjoy this one while you can, it’ll be gone before you realise.

I’m sure they will pipe sound through the speakers of that like they do this. Plus it’ll be massively rapid with a great CoG