RE: VW Golf GTI: Review

RE: VW Golf GTI: Review

Author
Discussion

Bezza1969

777 posts

147 months

Saturday 4th May 2013
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Yeah, people go on about how the Mk6 GTI is over-rated, but as a car to own, keep and enjoy, not as a toy, but as an all year rounder, it has really very few flaws. Compared to the old FOCUS ST, its damn near as quick and far more frugal. The VW Driver magazine managed 45 MPG on a gentle run, can you imagine that in any of its competitors? People think none of this matters, but if you buy a Golf GTI as your main car, it does. Also, the emission rating is very low, so the VED is low, the car is well built, very discreet,does not look chavvy and is a swiss army knife of a car. The Golf GTI badge is legendary, it being the original hot hatch, so really its no surprise they hold their value so well.

Msportman

276 posts

155 months

Saturday 4th May 2013
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Bezza1969 said:
Yeah, people go on about how the Mk6 GTI is over-rated, but as a car to own, keep and enjoy, not as a toy, but as an all year rounder, it has really very few flaws. Compared to the old FOCUS ST, its damn near as quick and far more frugal. The VW Driver magazine managed 45 MPG on a gentle run, can you imagine that in any of its competitors? People think none of this matters, but if you buy a Golf GTI as your main car, it does. Also, the emission rating is very low, so the VED is low, the car is well built, very discreet,does not look chavvy and is a swiss army knife of a car. The Golf GTI badge is legendary, it being the original hot hatch, so really its no surprise they hold their value so well.
Well said.

Will be a great all rounder which is subtle enough to park anywhere but has understated aggression....and as per usual with many VAG owners who want more there are many great quality companies such as Oettinger, AbT, Reiger Nothelle to name a few that can add something individual....the ease of tuning these relaibly is endless too.....hopefully that diff will be a great contribution...I've had a Quaiffe in most of mine.....great for the track until the R arrives.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Saturday 4th May 2013
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va1o said:
kambites said:
I must admit I'm quite surprised at the strength of the residuals of the mk6. I can't really see what it does just justify them?
Well it's one of the most loved and most well rated hatchbacks in recent times thanks to its superb all round ability. This translates into it been desirable and sought after on the used market resulting in high prices. Other than that its just supply and demand in action
Oh I don't doubt that it's a very good car, but lots of very good cars have very poor residuals. Usually to have strong residuals a car needs to have an obvious appeal second hand that it lacks first-hand.

To put it another way, what makes the GTi so unpopular new that the market is that strong second-hand?

havoc

29,928 posts

234 months

Saturday 4th May 2013
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I think part of it is "what's the competition?"
- Focus ST Mk2 was far more thirsty, not as well-built and Ford customer service/warranty is notably worse than VW. Plus (especially?) the badge/image worked against the ST (even though IMHO it's the slightly better car to drive with a much better engine, economy-aside)
- MeganeSport suffered from the tail-slide reputation Renault went into last-decade, and despite being a very good driver's car sort-of became the hardcore choice only. Badge/service/build applies equally here too.
- Civic Type R was panned as a step-backwards vs the EP3, and was 3-door only.
- VXR also 3-dr and too unruly to truly be an all-rounder.
- ...while the in-house competition (Leon, Octavia) were hobbled to make sure they didn't step on the Golf's shoes.
- S3 priced a step above and marketed as such.
- 130i ditto...well, sort of - Golf pricing from the Mk6 seemed to hit an upward trend...
- Mazda 3, for whatever reason, never seemed to hit the radar, despite having all the tech. Was never included in the group-tests, maybe that's part of it?

Hellbound

2,500 posts

175 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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I'd like to see an interview between Chris and the Porsche engineer VW brought in to help develop this new GTI.

I'd also like to hear what they've got in store for the next Golf R. smile

skyrover

12,668 posts

203 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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47mpg?

rubbish

f1nn

2,692 posts

191 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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I'm a BMW fan, always have been. I have a BMW as a company car and it and I get on great...........I'd take the mk7 GTI over the (I admit, stonking value for what it offers) M135i with out hesitation.

It just appeals to me far more as an everyday package. I do not find the 1 series particularly attractive on the outside or in. I can't remember the last time I drove a 220bhp hatch on the road and thought to myself "great, but I would be having a much better time if I had another 100+ horsepower"

The M135i is a very impressive car no doubt, especially at the discounted price levels some are picking them up for, but I just don't find myself drawn to it, perhaps strange as I do, and I know I'll sound like a tosser here, like having a BMW keyfob in my pocket.

Equally, if I was in the market for a 25-30k everyday car and I wasn't tied in to an employers scheme dictating that I stopped at the dirty pump, I can't see me stopping by the Ford or Renault showrooms either.


gsrgeoff

258 posts

229 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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Hellbound said:
I'd also like to hear what they've got in store for the next Golf R. smile
Lighter, more powerful (290 bhp) and quad exhausts:-

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/new-golf-r-first...

FestivAli

1,085 posts

237 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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There I fixed it!

(Didn't like that black-lower lip intake)

rb5er

11,657 posts

171 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

BryanUsrey

224 posts

159 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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Might not have the most exciting styling, but I'm sure its a great little car to own. I had a MKV GTI, with a few modifications, and it was a fantastic all-rounder.

matchmaker

8,463 posts

199 months

Sunday 5th May 2013
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Wonder how much the new Octavia vRS will be when it comes out in July?

MadDog1962

890 posts

161 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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Why did this thing score so low I don't know. None of the Golf GTIs have really been boring. The Mk 3 and 4 were the least inspiring of the breed, but as Chris pointed out the Mk 5 was epic, shame the Mk 6 didn't look as good but still delivered the goods dynamically. From what I can see none of the French or Italian cars comes close in terms of being a well rounded quality package that just keeps on going.

I reckon the latest version will be a good car, but have to admit a 3 door Mk 5 or classic Mk 2 would be my favorites.

AB

16,969 posts

194 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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nickfrog said:
Fair enough but subjective. I find the Golf 7 so boring, I'd prefer if it was ugly. Recent Kias and Hyundais look better to me.
M135i on the other hand is in my top 3 of best looking current hatches, maybe at the top even.





Edited by nickfrog on Friday 3rd May 20:55
That is lovely. The M Sport really transforms the looks as I think the standard version is horrendous. White also does not work on a 1 series whereas it does on a Golf (my OH has a 62 plate 2.0 TDi in white and it's quite nice). Estoril Blue is such a lovely colour.

I have a VW and went for it over the 120d M Sport (identical to above) that I was about to order as a decent deal came up.

I like VW for anonymity, and they do drive nicely.

I'd have the 135 every day of the week though.

nickfrog

20,872 posts

216 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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AB said:
The M Sport really transforms the looks as I think the standard version is horrendous. White also does not work on a 1 series
Absolutely. And I think people saying the M135i is fugly seem to base their opinion on boggo white 1-series (which there seems to be a lot of) and I totally see where they're coming from.

Agoogy

7,274 posts

247 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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Sounds like another subjective design based discussion where by the car gets rubbished when in basic trim and then held up as a paragon of beauty in top flight spec.
IMO a car's design should be marked when in it's basic form...
Paint the Golf Estoril Blue, give it some fancy alloys and all of a sudden the mood will change.
With or without the bodykits, bling or 'the right colour' neither of these cars are good looking or exciting or innovative.
White goods...bland white goods, in aesthetic terms alone is what they are really...regardless of spec the BMW has an ugly nose and totally non-descript rear end'... sad (but it has RWD and power to trade against)...and the Golf is totally inoffensive and middle of the road everywhere also to be expected and sad (but has 'VW' and 'Golf' to trade against)

If you'e in the market and have the money to spend then obviously it's entirely subjective whether you choose a basic 116i in white or a basic white Golf.....or fully laden, low, alloy'd metallic Blue BMW or an equally spec'd GTi....
But lets not kid oursleves that just because you add some colour and decent trim that the design of the car goes from duckling to swan....



Edited by Agoogy on Tuesday 7th May 09:25

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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nickfrog said:
Absolutely. And I think people saying the M135i is fugly seem to base their opinion on boggo white 1-series (which there seems to be a lot of) and I totally see where they're coming from.
Certainly not true for me. I've seen plenty of both styles and that front-end is never going to look anything other than hideous to my eyes. It even makes the mk1 1-series look good, and I didn't think anything could do that. :hehe

Having said that, I'd still take one over the Golf.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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MadDog1962 said:
Why did this thing score so low I don't know. None of the Golf GTIs have really been boring. The Mk 3 and 4 were the least inspiring of the breed, but as Chris pointed out the Mk 5 was epic, shame the Mk 6 didn't look as good but still delivered the goods dynamically. From what I can see none of the French or Italian cars comes close in terms of being a well rounded quality package that just keeps on going.

I reckon the latest version will be a good car, but have to admit a 3 door Mk 5 or classic Mk 2 would be my favorites.
Golf GTIs tend to attract a fair bit of hatred on PH. I'm not sure quite why as they are a pretty classless car, not as flash as an Audi, practical, good fun to drive and have good residual values. Still saying that, it doesn't matter what you drive as it appears there is a group of posters that hate everything!

chrispj

264 posts

142 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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They'll never do it but I need an estate version to give me an alternative to the Focus ST and Octavia VRS for my next humdrum daily runabout...

nickfrog

20,872 posts

216 months

Tuesday 7th May 2013
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Agoogy said:
But lets not kid oursleves that just because you add some colour and decent trim that the design of the car goes from duckling to swan....
That's precisely what's happened in the case of both MK1 and MK2 1-series in my opinion but I've never seen that happen with any other cars. I don't know why but I agree that normally, a base car sets the precedent.