Golf Mark 8 - Is it really that bad?
Golf Mark 8 - Is it really that bad?
Author
Discussion

Jay_P

Original Poster:

144 posts

82 months

Thursday 23rd September 2021
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Im in the market for a new car and narrowed down to a Golf Mark 8. Apart from the current 20 week lead time (as best) another thing putting me off are all the issues/bugs people are reporting.

Now I understand people often only comment if there is an issue but have people owned the car with no issues? Are the issues the minority or majority of cars? Is there any news from VW to address existing issues?

I'm hesitant to spend a tonne of money on a car which apparently has been released with no testing...!

Debaser

7,595 posts

284 months

Thursday 23rd September 2021
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I wouldn’t. Mine has had a dangerous issue with the cruise control since I got it in April. VW still don’t know how to fix it.

MattyD803

2,276 posts

88 months

Thursday 23rd September 2021
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I have a 2021 Formentor with the same Infotainment & cruise control system and we haven't had any major issues with ours. Well, certainly nothing major, the odd freeze or awkwardness of the infotainment for example I can live with, my previous Mini, Citroen and Mk7 golf all did the same from time to time.

However, the reality is, we don't really use the adaptive cruise control with auto speed limiter that much, which is potentially why we've not encountered this issue that causes the car to decelerate rapidly due to incorrectly reading the road signs. We've certainly not suffered from the issue where it prevents you from overtaking whilst on cruise control.

Unless i'm otherwise mistaken, the major drama's I have seen on the cars with this same system is all to do with the cruise, so I guess only you can decide if this is enough of a problem for you....should you experience the aforementioned problem that is.

Jay_P

Original Poster:

144 posts

82 months

Thursday 23rd September 2021
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Thanks. ACC was one of the main selling points to be honest.

Do mostly A road and motorway driving...Now I'm thinking the Golf isn't for me - shame really as I had a test drive and it was excellent from a driving perspective!

MattyD803

2,276 posts

88 months

Thursday 23rd September 2021
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Jay_P said:
Thanks. ACC was one of the main selling points to be honest.

Do mostly A road and motorway driving...Now I'm thinking the Golf isn't for me - shame really as I had a test drive and it was excellent from a driving perspective!
Ah yes, in that case, might well be worth a rethink if that's a function you want to make good use of!

I would imagine that the latest hardware/software will have this rectified, but you never know.....

loskie

6,730 posts

143 months

Monday 27th September 2021
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What does ACC do? Can folks not drive their car?

simonwhite2000

2,669 posts

120 months

Monday 27th September 2021
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I had a mk7 Golf R from 2014 to 2016 and loved it. Yes it wasn't the most exciting thing but overall it was a great daily package.
An hour in a mk8 was enough to never have one. The interior and user experience of the controls and media system are dire.

simonw67

1,452 posts

56 months

Monday 27th September 2021
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loskie said:
What does ACC do?
Adapts the cruise to the speed of vehicle in front. hth.

Drive Blind

5,609 posts

200 months

Monday 27th September 2021
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it's the speed sign recognition feature of the ACC thats the problem in the mk8 is it not?
seen a few 'tube videos on it now where it has a mind of its own slowing the car down and then speeding back up. VW don't appear to have a fix for it.

I havent driven a mk8 myself but the thing most of the reviews complain about is the move to the touch screen menu for everything. What used to be one button press or one dial twist is now 3 or 4 prods and swipes at the screen.


Adrian E

3,337 posts

199 months

Tuesday 28th September 2021
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If used rather than new is an option, find a Mk7/7.5 as the ACC in that works fine. No traffic sign recognition, it just displays the speed limit on the nav screen based on the database in that, rather than (badly) attempting to read signs or count lamp posts!

mawallace

184 posts

96 months

Tuesday 28th September 2021
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If it helps I have a new audi A3 with the same ACC system.

Yes, it does have a mind of it's own - about once a week - but if you keep your foot over the accelerator you can override it when it slows down.

It's annoying - but I would not be put off the car.

The only think to say is that I test drove the Mk8 golf and the Audi A3 -8Y - the reason I moved to the Audi is that the Golf was too advanced in it's tech - I describe it as driving a ipad. While the A3 was fine.

Debaser

7,595 posts

284 months

Tuesday 28th September 2021
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mawallace said:
If it helps I have a new audi A3 with the same ACC system.

Yes, it does have a mind of it's own - about once a week - but if you keep your foot over the accelerator you can override it when it slows down.

It's annoying - but I would not be put off the car.

The only think to say is that I test drove the Mk8 golf and the Audi A3 -8Y - the reason I moved to the Audi is that the Golf was too advanced in it's tech - I describe it as driving a ipad. While the A3 was fine.
Does the cruise control also slow you down every time you try to pass a car on the motorway?

Finding Neutral

439 posts

55 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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Not driven an 8 yet. Have owned a 7 and a 7.5 though which were really good daily drivers. Great all rounder of a car.

Careful though, they have a habit of being liberated from you! As I found out.

catso

15,885 posts

290 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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simonw67 said:
loskie said:
What does ACC do?
Adapts the cruise to the speed of vehicle in front. hth.
Probably encourages tailgating...?

rhoderunner

15 posts

75 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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catso said:
Probably encourages tailgating...?
I have a 2014 Golf Mk 7 (DSG) and the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) works faultlessly, you can adjust the gap in between the car in front to whatever you feel easy with, It can be a little bit annoying when you have a nice safe distance and somebody pulls into that gap and you then slow down to maintain the gap you had https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/3.gif

AI1601

892 posts

117 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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I've driven a Mk8 a few times now and the interior lets it down. My money would go on the new A3, not only does it look better both inside and out but has a bit more of an analogue interior with physical buttons. Not sure though if they have the same software issues as the Golf.

catso

15,885 posts

290 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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rhoderunner said:
I have a 2014 Golf Mk 7 (DSG) and the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) works faultlessly, you can adjust the gap in between the car in front to whatever you feel easy with, It can be a little bit annoying when you have a nice safe distance and somebody pulls into that gap and you then slow down to maintain the gap you had https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/3.gif
Problem being that many people's idea of a safe distance is far different from mine.

I have noticed that tailgating has definitely become more widespread and I wonder if ACC is partly responsible? (must be safe if the car does it itself!) or if it's just down to stupidity...

mawallace

184 posts

96 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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Debaser said:
Does the cruise control also slow you down every time you try to pass a car on the motorway?
Nope - it only slows you down when it thinks that the speed limit has moved downwards - what i have experienced is a couple of times when it thinks the motorway speed limit has gone down to 30 mph - then it jumps back up again.

simonw67

1,452 posts

56 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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catso said:
Problem being that many people's idea of a safe distance is far different from mine.

I have noticed that tailgating has definitely become more widespread and I wonder if ACC is partly responsible? (must be safe if the car does it itself!) or if it's just down to stupidity...
Nah, the closest distance is pretty far (3/4 car length ish)

Adrian E

3,337 posts

199 months

Wednesday 29th September 2021
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The only time the ACC on the Mk7 gets a bit twitchy for the driver is the scenario posted above where you leave a decent gap (I find the 2nd closest following preset is enough) and somebody jumps into it. The ACC can be a bit slow to react to that so you get rather close before it brakes a bit too sharply for comfort and goes back to the correct following distance. Given it's an assistance system and not an automated driving function, I have no issue with needing to step in and over-ride the system to not close the gap too much before it reacts, to avoid pitching your passengers into their seatbelts.

The closest following gap deals with that scenario, and is fine in dry conditions, but I wouldn't use it in damp/wet conditions. It feels a little too close if you're pressing on in motorway traffic that is oscillating speed regularly.