RE: VW Golf GTI: UK Review
Discussion
dry664 said:
No doubt these things are very quick point-to-point, especially in the hands of the less experienced driver. But at the same speeds theres thousands of other cars that get my pulse racing faster.
Is it because the GTI is too competent for its own good? Maybe
Couldn't be further from the truth. I drive all sorts of fun stuff at work and still really enjoy driving my Mk5 GTI. I went up to the EVO triangle with it in May and it was fantastic to drive. The engine's revvy and feels NA, the gearbox is sweat and rewarding and on limit, the rear end helps to tuck the nose in.Is it because the GTI is too competent for its own good? Maybe
This side of a full blown sports car, there's not that much else that I'd get as much fun from driving. Add to that the fact I fire up the heated seats in my car, turn up the radio and settle in to a cruise whilst (last year) towing my Caterham at a decent 60mph cruise whilst still returning 25mpg, I can't really see what else I could own that would do the same!
Give one a try one day. You might actually enjoy it. No....it's not a Cayman S or F-Type, but it's not pretending to be. What it is, is a great compromise between a boring diesel rep mobile like a 320d and a no compromise got hatch Megane 265. On the road, the difference between it and the Megane is actually minute. The Megane feels slightly firmer and ever so slightly quicker at the top end, but day to day, I'd still have the Golf....better interior quality and overal practicality win it for me. The Megane just doesn't really make sense to me. I'd be asking myself why I didn't just go and buy a full blown sorts car.
Edited by RacerMike on Tuesday 1st October 18:19
St John Smythe said:
You forgot to add 'white goods' and 'you can get a M135i for that' 
I did get the M135i instead of the golf as the golf is just too expensive with limited negotiation on price. I got £5800 off a huge spec M135i making it a similar price to an average spec GTI.
I am a big Golf GTI fan and have had x2 brand new ones over the years but the M135i is in a different league, although its not the best looking of cars!
Great cars but getting too expensive by the time you add the necessary options. Interestingly, even the VW sales person secretly agreed...
St John Smythe said:
You forgot to add 'white goods' and 'you can get a M135i for that'
I did get the M135i instead of the golf as the golf is just too expensive with limited negotiation on price. I got £5800 off a huge spec M135i making it a similar price to an average spec GTI.
I am a big Golf GTI fan and have had x2 brand new ones over the years but the M135i is in a different league, although its not the best looking of cars!
Great cars but getting too expensive by the time you add the necessary options. Interestingly, even the VW sales person secretly agreed...
toppstuff said:
I open up PH and read about a Golf.
Please please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
...
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
...
Please allow me to add to point 5: Please please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
...
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
...
"...And PH won't ask VW why the GTI is thirstier than expected, even when it visits VW's Wolfsburg HQ." (Example: PH's GTI Edition 35 long-termer.)
NGK210 said:
toppstuff said:
I open up PH and read about a Golf.
Please please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
...
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
...
Please allow me to add to point 5: Please please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
...
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
...
"...And PH won't ask VW why the GTI is thirstier than expected, even when it visits VW's Wolfsburg HQ." (Example: PH's GTI Edition 35 long-termer.)
It's hard for me to see how the Mk6 could be bettered but maybe I haven't been driving ours hard enough to notice the lack of diff. The mk6 engine is so gutsy, with low rev response much improved over the original 2.0TSI(197bhp),although it seems to have less urge higher up the rev range. It can be very economical, best I've managed on a leisurely family 20mile A/B road drive has been 43mpg (according to trip computer). The Mk6 is certainly a ruthlessly competent car and often you find yourself travelling at higher speed than you think, if the mk7 is even more refined I could easily see it being almost too competent to get any thrill from. Also I prefer the looks of the Mk6, maybe the 7 will grow on me with time. Overall the mk6 is great and there is a certain feelgood factor associated with the GTi.
I do agree that the cost is now becoming crazy and I would think that sales will (sadly) fall, although hopefully enough will be sold to guarantee further generations
I do agree that the cost is now becoming crazy and I would think that sales will (sadly) fall, although hopefully enough will be sold to guarantee further generations
toppstuff said:
NGK210 said:
toppstuff said:
I open up PH and read about a Golf.
Please please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
...
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
...
Please allow me to add to point 5: Please please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
...
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
...
"...And PH won't ask VW why the GTI is thirstier than expected, even when it visits VW's Wolfsburg HQ." (Example: PH's GTI Edition 35 long-termer.)
Yet, when PH ran a blog when it took its GTI 35 to Wolfsburg, I suggested PH query the car's poor touring MPG, and received a somewhat patronising 'not now, dear'-style response
toppstuff said:
I open up PH and read about a Golf.
Please please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
1. PH will get a GTI on the staff pool.
2. Someone will write about it every other day.
3. There will be an item about winter tyres.
4. Someone will compare the Golf to all the other hatchbacks.
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
6. Some poor staffer will die a slow death trying to write about it without using the words and phrases such as "competent", "excellent", "all-rounder", "obvious choice" and "build quality"..
7. The Golf will create a lot of debate about its price. Many will say that PH should take a Skoda VRS instead.
There, thats PH copy sorted out for the winter period regarding the Golf. Given that it is that predictable, maybe PH can just skip to the end and not bother?
Lets have an argument about kit cars instead. It'll be a lot more interesting.
Nail and headPlease please please bring back the M135i.
Anyway, let me make some predictions...
1. PH will get a GTI on the staff pool.
2. Someone will write about it every other day.
3. There will be an item about winter tyres.
4. Someone will compare the Golf to all the other hatchbacks.
5. The Golf will be thirstier than expected.
6. Some poor staffer will die a slow death trying to write about it without using the words and phrases such as "competent", "excellent", "all-rounder", "obvious choice" and "build quality"..
7. The Golf will create a lot of debate about its price. Many will say that PH should take a Skoda VRS instead.
There, thats PH copy sorted out for the winter period regarding the Golf. Given that it is that predictable, maybe PH can just skip to the end and not bother?
Lets have an argument about kit cars instead. It'll be a lot more interesting.
rtz62 said:
Perhaps I'm getting old and cynical, but over £1700 for sat nav?
Well like many brands you have a choice of satnav's "discover" for £800 or "discover pro" for £1700.The only "free" colours are solid black or solid red, solid white is a cost option.
Going for every option in the book excluding dsg would inflate the price to 36k.
epom said:
Just goes to show it's not all about show and willy waving power figures. Seems a superb all rounder. Red please.
Aye. But I'll have mine in black, with tartan chairs. And a DSG 
Then again, it might be worth waiting for the Mk3 Leon Cupra R, which'll have c. 300bhp and 4WD (albeit Haldex) for similar(ish) money as a Mk7 GTI
Total bulls
t, go and read the other articles on Megane R26 etc or Focus ST/RS. It is the same situation. Even worse in fact.
t, go and read the other articles on Megane R26 etc or Focus ST/RS. It is the same situation. Even worse in fact.aka_kerrly said:
I think you mean that those who say it is boring have never driven one but have some ridiculous expectation that it should handle like a Ferrari, ride like a Rolls Royce, and be cheaper than a Kia. Since it can't it is deemed rubbish.
Actually having said that even if the Golf did the above people would still find a way of complaining because it's the done thing.
It's only ever PH that has such a bizarre unquantified hatred for the Golf GTI. Loads will say it's crap and say buy a Renault Megane or Focus yet you will look through Readers Rides and find a handful of people who have Golfs say they are great and rarely will anyone put their money where their mouth is and buy Renault to use as a daily.
Actually having said that even if the Golf did the above people would still find a way of complaining because it's the done thing.
It's only ever PH that has such a bizarre unquantified hatred for the Golf GTI. Loads will say it's crap and say buy a Renault Megane or Focus yet you will look through Readers Rides and find a handful of people who have Golfs say they are great and rarely will anyone put their money where their mouth is and buy Renault to use as a daily.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff