Friday 17th April 2009

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Thirty three years in, does the Golf GTI still have what it takes? Ollie Stallwood finds out.

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Tough times lie ahead for the Golf GTI Mark 6 in the shape of some serious competition from the likes of Ford's Focus RS and Renault’s R26.R.

The game has moved, the competition responding to a desire for more hardcore cars, more track focus, and Nurburgring-devouring pace.

VW’s Golf GTI has been around for 33 years and has seen a lot over the decades, meandering through a number of incarnations, some good, some less so.

The MK5 was definitely seen as a return to form but, even with 10bhp more (now 207bhp), it would seem that VW’s latest GTI is either underpowered or doesn’t want to get involved in the hot hatch power struggle.

Although the new 2.0-litre engine sounds similar in spec to the old, this is not the case. It is part of the new EA888 family, a development of the TSI engine, and maximum power comes 200rpm later at 5300rpm, while peak torque is 206lb ft developed from 1700rpm all the way to 5,200rpm. Emissions fall from 189 g/km to 170 g/km and the car will reach 62mph in 6.9 seconds, while the top speed rises to 149mph.

Reports suggest that the MK5 was way too expensive to build, but it was a good car, and in that respect VW can be forgiven for giving us a ‘new’ model that in reality is little more than an extensive facelift. It looks the part with sharp front lights and classier rear units, and overall Volkswagen has attempted to make the car look lighter than its predecessor, with slim side skirts.

Get inside and the size and style of the cabin is familiar but the dashboard is all-new and the seats are supremely comfortable, working with the excellent adjustable wheel to create the perfect driving position. It’s a new but familiar place, and works well without filling you with awe and wonder. Hopefully the driving experience will throw up a few surprises…

At first it doesn’t, the new car behaving in much the way you would expect. It is refined, this time even more so, thanks to a number of changes to improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise.

But peeling off from the centre of Nice, where the car was launched, and on to the winding roads heading to St Tropez the first difference becomes obvious. The noise. There may have been a few woeful expressions at Wolfsburg when the GTI’s trademark twin pipes to the left were dropped for one on each side, but who cares?

The old GTI used to sound a little flat, the noise in the cabin overpowered by a dry four-cylinder drone. The new car is completely different, the exhaust emitting an addictive howl to accompany the induction growl.

Sadly this means that VW’s efforts to make the car more fuel efficient (38.7 combined compared to 35.3mpg) is now counteracted by the temptation to drive down the motorway in fourth gear. It may not be as exciting as the whooshes and growls coming out of a Focus RS, but there is something distinctly purposeful about this Golf’s new sound.

Another thing that has been improved is throttle response. VW may have learnt a thing or two from the MINI Cooper by developing a turbocharged engine that has almost no lag, and the Golf responds instantly to throttle input.

The power delivery is linear and the gear ratios are well matched too. Match this willing nature to the tuneful pipes and you can't help but ring the 2.0-litre out for everything it has got.

One new addition to the GTI is the ACC adaptive chassis control system, featuring pneumatically controlled damper units. These dampers, which are also seen in the Scirocco, now come as standard on the GTI. There are three settings ­Comfort, Sport, and adaptive. The first two will override the system, and while the first does what it says on the tin, the Sport mode is probably best suited to a track.

The adaptive setting is exceptional, giving the GTI superb composure on any surface we encountered. The car refused to become unsettled under braking and body control is excellent. There is also an optional electronic differential which helps reign in torque steer and tighten the line during hard cornering.

If at first the Golf appears to lack sparkle, especially compared to the hardcore nature of the Focus RS, you soon warm to the car. On day two of our test we came across a deserted section of road and learned that working the GTI hard is where it transforms from a refined, comfortable hatchback to something akin to the old school GTI. Finding the speed, not trying to hold it back, is what the car is all about and for the first time the yearning for more power evaporates.

You need to stretch the car and suddenly the modest power makes more sense. Getting the best out of it gives an enormous sense of satisfaction and throws up an engaging side to the GTI you didn’t think existed.

Then, without missing a beat the Golf settles back into its previous role and trundles along with the engine barely audible. This is the GTI’s strength, its ability to be everything to every man, a family car with a huge boot at one point, a mile-muncher another, and a hooligan if you want it to be.

The original Golf GTI from 1976 was designed to be comfortable, practical and fast. This is exactly what the latest Golf GTI delivers in 2009, so while the competition moves on it seems that Volkswagen is sticking successfully to its original niche.

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I much prefer the looks of our MKV Golf GTi - both inside and out. Park a MKV and MKVI together and the MKV looks much nicer.

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wigsworld said:

This car is a complete rip off. If you start adding a few extras to these you're looking at 26k at least. I think it's possible to spend 32k with every conceivable option. I'm sure it's a decent drive but you can get better cars for quite a lot less these days. It also looks really boring to my eyes.

Go and work out how much a competitor's hot hatch equivalent costs - I think you'll be well into the mid 20s at the same spec. Residual values are higher than most as well - classic German car depreciation like BMW, Audi etc. Pay more, get more back.

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rwd.wiganer said:

Rocky Balboa said:

Too fat. Too heavy. Slower than the previous model. Awful.


When the fk are these cars going to start losing weight! Pisses me off!

I must admit this used to be how I looked at new cars in general! I know the new Golf is not to my taste at all, but a friend of mine has completely changed my perspective on them!
Mk5 GTI 'Edition 30' with DSG
Miltek Exhaust
Revo chip
FMIC
Uprated fuel pump... and thats it! 1.6 bar standard turbo and engine internals!
I have actually seen it pull away from an RS6 and a 400bhp Evo 8 it really is impressive for a rep car!

OK, reality check. The RS6 and Evo8 were probably not trying, or not expecting the Golf to be trying. The Golf will still be making less than 300hp.

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blank said:

I WISH said:

I love my GT TDI 170 DSG. Its one of the most impressive cars I've ever owned. Handles well and the mid range performance feels like it could even be better than my Elise ..... masses of mid range torque.

What is mid range performance?

In any 4 cylinder diesel it is the stuff that gets you into the overtake zone, and starting to pull past the car you're overtaking. Then you run out of revs, you're in no-mans land and committed, you need to change up for more zoom and add a second to your overtake.

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swamp said:

Matt_ said:

swamp said:

Matt_ said:

swamp said:

Are VW planning on producing a performance diesel Golf to sit alongside the GTI? Ie Golf GDI?

There was an article on here a week or 2 ago about a GTD. Its not really what most people were hoping for though, still using the 170 (albeit the common rail version) but thought they might of brought a twin turbo engine with 200+bhp. Also it didn't look all that nice to me.

I'd be wanting the exact same wheels, bumpers etc. as the GTI but with a twin turbo diesel engine.

Agreed. But is there much point to a 200+bhp diesel Golf when the GTI returns 38mpg?

But you are going to have to drive the petrol GTI like a saint to achieve that figure!

Agreed. I average 29mpg in my Mk5!

We average 35mpg - yes we drive reasonably gently.

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PhantomPH said:

Never saw above 30mpg in my MkV, even on a long, lazy motorway run. To average 35mpg is a minor miracle! You should give the clarinet to a child who is going to use it.

If you're in traffic, going with the flow then the FSi engine is very economical. If you're pelting down the outside lane or perfecting your line on a favourite back road then yes, it will do around 30mpg. I've had over 40mpg (40.9 at best I think) out of ours in several runs from cold - Wycombe to Cambridge, keeping around 70mph max, Llandudno to Whitby (on holiday, no rush, just cruised along with the flow due to traffic), and Wycombe to North London via M1 on a Sat AM.

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baz1985 said:

Just specified one up one the VW UK configurator......(you still can't specify Xenons wtf is that about- supply chain issues!?).....but anyway fully specified it's about £31.5k.......FFS you can get a pre-reg brand new delivery mileage E90 M3 saloon nicely specified with EDC etc. for £40k....

and which prospective Golf buyer will make that comparison for real? They may check the Audi A3, BMW 1/3 series and Volvo hatch thing pricing. Not a 20mpg M3 though - different game altogether.