2016 VW Golf GTI (MK7)

[CJM36]

The Mini is dead. Long live the Mini.

After months of searching, I finally landed on a MK7 GTI as being the perfect replacement for my Mini Countryman. I went to look at one in Inverness, well priced and assured it was in great condition. A 2 and a half hour drive later, I discovered the car to be somewhat rafts. Poor paintwork to the bonnet, questionable paint peeling inside the wing, and no belt or water pump records as promised. The car was also running a terrible alignment, and the clutch felt as tough it was on its way out.

Displeased, I left for lunch in Aviemore on the way home, sat at the cafe browsing any MK7 GTI’s recently listed.

Top of the list, was a 3 door, Launch Edition, manual car in black. The spec met all my criteria AND was supplied by VW Aberdeen so comes with 2 years warranty and roadside assistance which is just a bonus. Yes black wasn’t my first colour of choice, and yes it was more than I wanted to pay - but it’s a 1 owner car with only 25,000 miles.

Raced back to Aberdeen to view before they closed for New Years (this was December 30th), viewed, test drove, and placed a deposit.

Picked up after some work and wheel refurbishment, and have loved every moment of it (it’s filthy here but this was taken after the sale when I returned with the Mini’s V5)


Naturally every car enthusiast friend wanted to see it, here it is after day 2. Filthy already, although given that’s not hard up here during winter.





Finally, some of it clean.




Haven’t driven it nearly enough with work being busy but hopefully rack up the miles shortly. It carries a full set Porsche Alloys without even having to fold the seats. Economical and practical when needed, yet fast enough and fun enough when desired.


Not sure on future plans yet. Maybe some OEM+ kind of stuff, but nothing burning I feel needs done.

[Alfa Pete]

That’s a very nice example.
I had a 2016 Golf GTD and then went to a 2018 Mini Clubman SD so it will be interesting to get your thought of Golf V Countryman.
Two cars with a similar on paper spec but very different in character.

I probably had a greater emotional attachment to the Mini but the Golf had a much more even spread of abilities. People dismiss Golfs as boring but there is a reason why they are so popular and make such good daily drivers. I did 87,000 miles in mine in 3 years.

Hope you enjoy it.

[CJM36]

Alfa Pete said:

That’s a very nice example.
I had a 2016 Golf GTD and then went to a 2018 Mini Clubman SD so it will be interesting to get your thought of Golf V Countryman.
Two cars with a similar on paper spec but very different in character.

I probably had a greater emotional attachment to the Mini but the Golf had a much more even spread of abilities. People dismiss Golfs as boring but there is a reason why they are so popular and make such good daily drivers. I did 87,000 miles in mine in 3 years.

Hope you enjoy it.

Thanks!

Agree with everything you’ve said! The Mini certainly did gain an emotional attachment over the time I had it, I do miss it a bit.
The Golf does have such a great variety of capabilities; see tonight’s task.
2x 235/40/18’s and 2x 265 /40/18’s, no problem.

[CJM36]

Well just over a month on from purchase, the car is still, in my eyes, fantastic.
It’s done about another 1.5k miles, and the MPG has been great for being a hot hatch. The car is going everything I could want a daily to do, and more.

I usually try and paint correct my own cars, and then apply a high quality, long lasting wax or sealant. However knowing I’ll have this for a while, and knowing how hard the paint is, I sent it to the detailer across from me. It looks stunning.
It’s got a 5 year Autobead Ceramic coating, an interior fabric coating, and all plastic trim in and out has been coated too.
I got a good price, but as he’s exceptionally busy, and I enjoy cleaning my cars anyway, he gave me the remaining Ceramic, so I can coat the arches and the wheels myself. Rather look forward to it.


On the subject of wheels, on the way to my brothers house one night, I hit a pothole. A big one.
I like to think I know the road well as my work is out this road so I’ve driven it countless times for years. It’s just as you round a corner, so I didn’t stand much chance. Gutted, as the wheel experts near me say it’s not repairable and I cannot find a single alloy.




I’ve contacted the council in the hope that as few people as possible suffer the same, but nothing appears to have been done. I’ve also filed a claim but I know they’ll say it’s not their fault, and refuse payout.

Maybe the opportunity for a new set of wheels already though…

[Danm1les]

I buckled 2 alloys in a similar way and had them fixed, I would speak to a couple of other wheel companies.

These guys who fixed mine would be able to do it. You might be able to ship the wheel to them if you can't find anyone local to you.

https://www.the-autowerks.com/

[Tommie38]

These remap very well if that is of interest.

[Dr G]

Agreed, the wheel looks eminently fixable unless it's far worse than it looks in the photo.

Had mine since beginning of 2019, now on 86k miles with no plans to change. It's as fun/sensible/reliable/quick/economical as I need

[Aunty Pasty]

I love that you're able to give it some detailing tic. Looks really great. Did you have to do much paint correction on the bonnet? After 5 years my one has taken a few chips on the front that I've tried to touch up every now and then.

[CJM36]

Aunty Pasty said:

I love that you're able to give it some detailing tic. Looks really great. Did you have to do much paint correction on the bonnet? After 5 years my one has taken a few chips on the front that I've tried to touch up every now and then.

Thanks! It did take a fair amount of correcting! It was a 2 step!

[Dr G]

I have 87,000 miles worth of swirl marks that I've cunningly disguised with a thick layer of motorway dirt

[anonymous-user]

Very nice. I know Golf's have the 'boring' reputation but I maintain that the mk7 is one of the best all round cars money can buy. Certainly my favourite of all the golf incarnations (and I do love a mk2).

Look forward to see if you manage to keep it standard

[The Dictator]

I had a couple of 7.5 GTIs in quick succession through my wife's work scheme and absolutely loved them. Both of mine were the purple/black and I would happily have one again.

[tvrfan007]

What’s a launch edition? not familiar with that phrase here.

I have had my 7 gtd since new and still love it, a great mile muncher with a good composure when you want to play. I also whacked a massive crater near to home, bursting a brand new winter 17, luckily Warwickshire council coughed up for it and my wheel escaped unharmed. It would’ve stuffed up one of my Santiagos for sure.

[CJM36]

MrBig said:

Look forward to see if you manage to keep it standard

It certainly is, I really have struggled to fault it so far!

How long you reckoning until it’s no longer standard? I’m giving myself 6 months maximum before i see something I decide I need to have haha.

[CJM36]

The Dictator said:

I had a couple of 7.5 GTIs in quick succession through my wife's work scheme and absolutely loved them. Both of mine were the purple/black and I would happily have one again.

If I could have afforded one, I’d have had a 7.5 too. The CarPlay would’ve been brilliant and it looks a bit sharper, but it just wasn’t in budget. Fairly certain I could retrofit CarPlay somehow though.

[CJM36]

tvrfan007 said:

What’s a launch edition? not familiar with that phrase here.

I have had my 7 gtd since new and still love it, a great mile muncher with a good composure when you want to play. I also whacked a massive crater near to home, bursting a brand new winter 17, luckily Warwickshire council coughed up for it and my wheel escaped unharmed. It would’ve stuffed up one of my Santiagos for sure.

I’ve scoured forums to find that out, because I myself am unsure; If I were to hazard a guess it is to include all the options the car was launched with that would’ve been optional extra’s, but I somewhat doubt that.
All launch editions I’ve seen have been manual, with tartan cloth interior, and the 18” ‘Austin’ alloys, so I assume that constitutes a launch edition.

[MrVert]

The Mk 7 GTI is a fantastic car, had one for about 18 months and really rated it.

Quick, handles brilliantly in Sport mode, spacious, quality interior and mine was loaded with gadgets.

It was also a surprisingly frugal on a long run, could easily do 45mpg on a motorway trip..

One of the all time great all rounders in my opinion.

[VS02]

Love these, I am seriously considering one to my replace my first car.

Some examples of OEM+ upgrades that you could consider?

- mk7.5 taillights
- Pretoria alloys
- Pilot sports
- Remap (EA888 is the same as in the Golf R save for some different parts, so there is a healthy base for tuning)
- Yellowstuff
- bushes
- h&r suspension
- LSD if it doesnt have the Perf pack
- If you don’t have the Dynaudio soundpack, there’s a factory supported Helix subwoofer which is fitted in to the spare wheel well. Improves the sound quality no end, clarity of stock speakers is already good so it just adds some much needed bass.

Edited by VS02 on Sunday 13th March 21:32

[CJM36]

VS02 said:

Love these, I am seriously considering one to my replace my first car.

Some examples of OEM+ upgrades that you could consider?

- mk7.5 taillights
- Pretoria alloys
- Pilot sports
- Remap (EA888 is the same as in the Golf R save for some different parts, so there is a healthy base for tuning)
- Yellowstuff
- bushes
- h&r suspension
- LSD if it doesnt have the Perf pack
- If you don’t have the Dynaudio soundpack, there’s a factory supported Helix subwoofer which is fitted in to the spare wheel well. Improves the sound quality no end, clarity of stock speakers is already good so it just adds some much needed bass.

Edited by VS02 on Sunday 13th March 21:32

Thanks! Although this is now the 4th car I’ll have owned, it replaced my first car, and I’d not choose anything different now having owned it for 2 months.

The MK7R taillights were what I originally thought, I just like how similar they look, yet a touch different.
Funny enough, I’m looking at Pretoria’s right now but I can’t decide if they’ll look daft on a GTI

The dealer just replaced all 4 tyres with bridgestone turanza (maybe potenza’s, I should really know), but once these are done a PS4/equivalent Michelin will replace

I know I’ll eventually remap it, but with it being my daily I’m challenging myself to keep mods as cosmetic as possible...for now.

Pads and discs are a bit revolting once hot, so will definitely look into yellow stuff pads.

Bushes, will probably only get done once worn, but will probably be replaced with polybushes.

H&R suspension, a definite consideration, currently sits very high.

LSD, 100% will do eventually

Dynaudio, again, must do.


If I bought the red car I originally looked at (see below) I’d have done all the above immediately; A) because it was cheaper and I’d have not used my full budget B) it was a bit if a raft and there were definitely most things required, including but not limited to.



Removed the dealers name, as lots of their otter vehicles presented FAR better.

-Paintwork (which the garage was going to have done, but I guarantee not to a high standard)
-clutch was begging to be put out of its misery
-Stevie Wonder was the last person to align it
-no record of timing belt or water pump being done
-linglongs and ditchfinders all round...mmmm

Part of me is curious as to how much I’d have spent extra, if I bought it instead. Was a raft though.

[Mike1990]

I’ve got one of these on my shortlist of ‘next cars’ I absolutely love them, they seem just to be the perfect all round hot hatch.