RE: VW Golf GTI: UK Drive
Discussion
I think they would leave the extreme to the R32 successor to be the R20. The competition isnt that much more powerful as you say. The Focus ST 222bhp, Astra VXR 237bhp.
Staffy1984 said:
VW doesn't really compete in this market any more, not up against the likes of the new Focus RS (looks to be real special), Vauxhall VXR (for all its faults ie Swine like Torque steer), even the Clio sport cup has only 8 bhp less but its got a similar front end set up to the new focus so why has VW turned what used to be an angry german hand grenade (explosive but fun) into soft sh@t. It doesn't make any sense to me, but then again the only golf's i'd buy are MK 1's & 2's.
Unless VW start changing the front suspension set up on the Golf and scirocco they're not gonna be able to run the kind of power that the competition does, and the competition get more powerful and handle better each year, whilst the legend that is the golf GTI slowly fades into memory.
Unless VW start changing the front suspension set up on the Golf and scirocco they're not gonna be able to run the kind of power that the competition does, and the competition get more powerful and handle better each year, whilst the legend that is the golf GTI slowly fades into memory.
thehawk said:
Matt_ said:
I doubt people looking at hot hatches and the like are going to be able to afford to run a V8 saloon or a supercar though.
What a ridiculous comment with no basis in fact whatsoever. Have you ever actualy driven around the multi-million pound homes in places like St Johns Wood and Hamstead and seen what many seriously rich people drive? And how practical is a V8 or supercar when 95% of your driving is in inner-city London?Problem is as you say the R model is the flagship, but it is always forever eclipsed by the 'GTI' badge. Maybe because before the R the GTI was like the extreme untouchable.
Hub said:
Staffy1984 said:
VW doesn't really compete in this market any more, not up against the likes of the new Focus RS (looks to be real special), Vauxhall VXR (for all its faults ie Swine like Torque steer), even the Clio sport cup has only 8 bhp less but its got a similar front end set up to the new focus so why has VW turned what used to be an angry german hand grenade (explosive but fun) into soft sh@t. It doesn't make any sense to me, but then again the only golf's i'd buy are MK 1's & 2's.
Unless VW start changing the front suspension set up on the Golf and scirocco they're not gonna be able to run the kind of power that the competition does, and the competition get more powerful and handle better each year, whilst the legend that is the golf GTI slowly fades into memory.
It isn't the flatgship anymore anyway - the new 'R' model I guess will be targeted towards the more powerful competitionUnless VW start changing the front suspension set up on the Golf and scirocco they're not gonna be able to run the kind of power that the competition does, and the competition get more powerful and handle better each year, whilst the legend that is the golf GTI slowly fades into memory.
The R20 would be this, think it is due out later this year.
daninsidious said:
As an owner of MK2 16v I thought the MK5 was the first GTI in years to get the balance right of grin-ability and practicality to use as a daily/only driver, but I wish that VW had some balls and release a 'RS' style GTI, like the Focus RS is to the ST, GT3 is to a 'normal' 911 or R26 to the 'normal' Megane. 300 bhp or more, a little bit lighter and maybe a bit more raw. VW is (and probably always has been) a bit sensible nowaday.
Gridl0k said:
alex789 said:
Surely the idea of the GTI is that its a fairly understated comfortable hot hatch that you can use every day and thats the market its aiming at. However good the Focus RS it would be just a little bit too thirsty and chavved up dare I say for the majority of people in everyday driving.
Which proves exactly the point that the GTi has become purely a marketing exercise. The Mk5 addressed this, by all accounts the Mk6 has reverted to the Mk3/Mk4 badged up special.I bet the b
d thing doesn't even cock its rear wheel into roundabouts..Mojocvh said:
Gridl0k said:
alex789 said:
Surely the idea of the GTI is that its a fairly understated comfortable hot hatch that you can use every day and thats the market its aiming at. However good the Focus RS it would be just a little bit too thirsty and chavved up dare I say for the majority of people in everyday driving.
Which proves exactly the point that the GTi has become purely a marketing exercise. The Mk5 addressed this, by all accounts the Mk6 has reverted to the Mk3/Mk4 badged up special.I bet the b
d thing doesn't even cock its rear wheel into roundabouts..Dagnut said:
This is the issue for me people talking about it like its a performance car..it's not IMO..its great all round car but I don't class them as performance cars..no point in comparing it to an RS or anything like... they appeal to different people..the GTi has the unique quality where in if you didn't see the driver you couldn't label them..a classless, ageless image.
Says the Golf owner. The GTI was formerly the king of Hot Hatches, which are performance models. The rest of the segment has moved on and Volkswagen has banked on the badge rather than evolve with the times.
I've just been out on an hours test drive in one of these with the genuine idea of buying one at the end.. unfortunately I was a little dissapointed. The idea of a mk5 but better was very very appealing as I really do believe it was the best in its class.
In reality though I'm afraid I can some it up as:
Kit: improved
Suspension: improved
Grip: Very improved!
Quality and comfort of interior/dash: improved
Fun and feeling of lightness on its feet which I loved about the mk5: Gone
In reality though I'm afraid I can some it up as:
Kit: improved
Suspension: improved
Grip: Very improved!
Quality and comfort of interior/dash: improved
Fun and feeling of lightness on its feet which I loved about the mk5: Gone
slowDC5 said:
Dagnut said:
This is the issue for me people talking about it like its a performance car..it's not IMO..its great all round car but I don't class them as performance cars..no point in comparing it to an RS or anything like... they appeal to different people..the GTi has the unique quality where in if you didn't see the driver you couldn't label them..a classless, ageless image.
Says the Golf owner. The GTI was formerly the king of Hot Hatches, which are performance models. The rest of the segment has moved on and Volkswagen has banked on the badge rather than evolve with the times.
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