MK7 Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 (Number 3 of 1000)
Discussion
This is a car which I'd seen on t'internet/socials many years ago. It was either the first or one of the first long term test cars which Henry Catchpole drove after joining DriveTribe and I remember watching the YT video ( Click Here ) at the time thinking what a cool car it was... and what a brilliant spec it was too:
Number 003 of 1000
3dr
Tornado Red
6spd Manual Gearbox
Heated Recaro Bucket Seats
DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control)
19" Brescia wheels
After going back to VW UK, it was sold through the dealer network to the guy who I bought the car from and went on to live the life of a show car; with wildly expensive wheels/low ride height (not air ride low!) and as such the car got trailered to shows around the UK and over in Europe... as a result, the car has still covered only ~16500 miles from new.
Thankfully the show car stuff has been removed without any trace (fine if it's your thing, but it's not mine) and it is back as a completely standard example again.
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
I bought the car after the road salt arrived, so I've only enjoyed the exhilarating ~50yd drive from an enclosed trailer into the storage unit where it's been hibernating all winter. I cannot wait to drive it properly!! I've got no plans for it other than have it serviced, assign a number plate, then when the road salt finally leaves for the year... brim the tank with what will probably be £185-worth of 99RON at this rate and head out to my happy place in the Cairngorms to see what it's like on the open road.
...in the meantime, here is how it currently sits:
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Number 003 of 1000
3dr
Tornado Red
6spd Manual Gearbox
Heated Recaro Bucket Seats
DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control)
19" Brescia wheels
After going back to VW UK, it was sold through the dealer network to the guy who I bought the car from and went on to live the life of a show car; with wildly expensive wheels/low ride height (not air ride low!) and as such the car got trailered to shows around the UK and over in Europe... as a result, the car has still covered only ~16500 miles from new.
Thankfully the show car stuff has been removed without any trace (fine if it's your thing, but it's not mine) and it is back as a completely standard example again.
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrUntitled by Grant F, on FlickrI bought the car after the road salt arrived, so I've only enjoyed the exhilarating ~50yd drive from an enclosed trailer into the storage unit where it's been hibernating all winter. I cannot wait to drive it properly!! I've got no plans for it other than have it serviced, assign a number plate, then when the road salt finally leaves for the year... brim the tank with what will probably be £185-worth of 99RON at this rate and head out to my happy place in the Cairngorms to see what it's like on the open road.
...in the meantime, here is how it currently sits:
Untitled by Grant F, on FlickrEdited by RS Grant on Thursday 2nd April 08:49
MDMA . said:
Very nice Grant. Peak Golf for me (and many others).
Thanks Rob.. I agree, I’m a massive fan of the MK7/7.5 GTI and the Clubsport is that little bit more special.This also has features which are sadly no longer available on a Golf GTI; a manual gearbox, 3dr shell and fantastic bucket seats. All features which I feel should still be available on a GTI, but assume the market/sales figures dictated otherwise.
Nice!
I have owned a car of almost identical spec since 2019 with similar mileage., I have the factory black roof & mirror option, unusually it is unmodified.
In my opinion, it is literally irreplaceable, compared to current "hot hatch offerings.
A 3 door Recaro, Dcc equipped car appears rarer than the 150 Rhd Clubsport S as far as I can tell.
I have owned a car of almost identical spec since 2019 with similar mileage., I have the factory black roof & mirror option, unusually it is unmodified.
In my opinion, it is literally irreplaceable, compared to current "hot hatch offerings.
A 3 door Recaro, Dcc equipped car appears rarer than the 150 Rhd Clubsport S as far as I can tell.
MDMA . said:
If you're going down the modding route, Wavetrac, remap and exhaust. It's all they need. I had a Wavetrac in my MK5 and it was a very impressive piece of kit. Transforms the way they drive.
I'm not sure this will be a car which I will modify to any real extent.. but time will tell.I am fairly sure that I will take the wheels off. I like the design and think they suit the car, but they're immaculate and in my experience diamond cut wheels don't last in the UK.. so would much rather have a set of wheels in a normal finish. I have a set of BBS CH-R amongst my hoardings, so I think those will find their way on to the car at some point soon.
Aside from that, I may also drop the suspension very slightly but I really don't want to lose the compliance of the standard set up so I am still a little undecided on that yet.
Totally agree regarding Wavetrac diffs, they are amazing bits of kit! The difference in one of my old EP3s when I fitted one was night and day. One of the best mods I've ever fitted to any car.
Emptygarage said:
3 door, Red and Recaros!
Pretty much perfection.
Loved my TCR, one of the best cars I've owned.
Lightly modded and came with the factory Akrapovic titanium exhaust, TVS ECU/TCU tune, dog bone mount and RBF 660 brake fluid. Never missed a beat.
TCRs are lovely! I considered buying a 3dr, but rare as they are, I'm a manual-man.. and having had manual/DCT versions of the E9x M3, I know that even though the modern auto options are brilliant bits of kit, I always hanker after a 3rd pedal and manual gearbox eventually.Pretty much perfection.
Loved my TCR, one of the best cars I've owned.
Lightly modded and came with the factory Akrapovic titanium exhaust, TVS ECU/TCU tune, dog bone mount and RBF 660 brake fluid. Never missed a beat.
I think the Akrapovic exhausts became standard fit on the later TCRs, but they're like rocking horse poo on the second hand market from what I've seen!
Did the Dog Bone Mount make a big difference? I've not driven my car yet and I'm hoping there won't be excessive wheel judder/tramp, but if there is then I think a DBM might be a solution?
clubsport said:
Nice!
I have owned a car of almost identical spec since 2019 with similar mileage., I have the factory black roof & mirror option, unusually it is unmodified.
In my opinion, it is literally irreplaceable, compared to current "hot hatch offerings.
A 3 door Recaro, Dcc equipped car appears rarer than the 150 Rhd Clubsport S as far as I can tell.
I'm not planning to remap this, I never found my old 8P S3 lacking with 265bhp.. and expect the extra shove in this GTI, provided by the 10-second overboost, will be plenty to dispatch all overtaking manoeuvres.I have owned a car of almost identical spec since 2019 with similar mileage., I have the factory black roof & mirror option, unusually it is unmodified.
In my opinion, it is literally irreplaceable, compared to current "hot hatch offerings.
A 3 door Recaro, Dcc equipped car appears rarer than the 150 Rhd Clubsport S as far as I can tell.
I agree, there isn't a hot hatch which I'd consider an upgrade given the options this car has had ticked.
After lurking on the Facebook groups for many years, I can only think of one other car in this spec.. and that owner has modified it with coilovers & a few other bits now. There have been a few other well specced 3dr cars pop up, but finding one without a DSG gearbox is very rare.
blueovercream said:
Lovely, I really liked mine but was putting too many miles on it. Oryx white, also a 3 door manual. Great car.
I got some Pretoria reps (as the OEM ones are made of chocolate) to keep the diamond cut wheels nice. They really suit the car.
Oryx White is a rare thing isn't it? I'm not sure I've seen any of those pop up on the owners groups.. just the usual solid white, a lot of which tend to be JDM imports.I got some Pretoria reps (as the OEM ones are made of chocolate) to keep the diamond cut wheels nice. They really suit the car.
Pretorias suit the MK7/7.5 cars so damn well.. it's a real shame the OEM wheels are so soft. I did consider some of the reps, but I didn't see any in the exact colour of the originals when I had a little look. They were either bright silver, medium grey (darker than OEM) or black... and if I was fitting Prets (reps or genuine) then I'd want it to look OEM.
heisthegaffer said:
Fantastic. Absolutely love these. Ive considered selling my B9 S5 to get one.
I'm the same, I have always loved these.In a roundabout way, via a very brief time with an E90 M3, I've gone from a B9 RS4 to this.. so I'll report back and let you know how it compares once I've got it out on some salt-free roads!
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