VW Golf GTI mk 7 reviews
Discussion
My wife took delivery of a new performance edition in September and she loves it, previous car was a TT and before that an SQ5, this Golf is by some distance her favourite. I've done a few miles in it and think the combination of performance, ride, comfort, build and fun factor are hard to beat and in many ways I prefer it to my own car, I think it's a cracker.
I had a 5 door mk 7 PP manual for 3 years. Most relaxing ownership experience I’ve ever had, everything felt well-built and solid (boot lid drainage grommet aside). Overall, I found it extremely competent and reliable, but I can’t say I’ve ever missed it since moving it on...
In terms of the drive, the LSD the PP provides is excellent, and despite being FWD, it felt really planted almost all the time. It’s not the fastest car in the world, but it does tackle B roads with aplomb.
Also, they’re really well-specced as standard (adaptive cruise is a superb feature). The auto-brake thing means insurance is remarkably cheap as well.
I traded mine in for a C43 saloon, which does feel like one or two steps up, but the GTI was perfect for my needs at the time.
Happy to answer questions if you have any.
In terms of the drive, the LSD the PP provides is excellent, and despite being FWD, it felt really planted almost all the time. It’s not the fastest car in the world, but it does tackle B roads with aplomb.
Also, they’re really well-specced as standard (adaptive cruise is a superb feature). The auto-brake thing means insurance is remarkably cheap as well.
I traded mine in for a C43 saloon, which does feel like one or two steps up, but the GTI was perfect for my needs at the time.
Happy to answer questions if you have any.
Just to echo the great feedback so far, missus has a MK7 GTI and it has been fantastic. Both fun and practical when required.
Handles brilliantly, enough power for the roads IMO and excellent spec as standard; the adaptive cruise, auto hold and heated front seats make it a great daily driver (when not in lockdown).
Subjective but the MK7/MK7.5 also looks fantastic, understated with its clean lines but with a little aggression.
Having a small issue at the moment with leaking window seals at the rear doors but seems to be common with these models. Still need to sort that..
Handles brilliantly, enough power for the roads IMO and excellent spec as standard; the adaptive cruise, auto hold and heated front seats make it a great daily driver (when not in lockdown).
Subjective but the MK7/MK7.5 also looks fantastic, understated with its clean lines but with a little aggression.
Having a small issue at the moment with leaking window seals at the rear doors but seems to be common with these models. Still need to sort that..
bobsavage789 said:
I had a 5 door mk 7 PP manual for 3 years. Most relaxing ownership experience I’ve ever had, everything felt well-built and solid (boot lid drainage grommet aside). Overall, I found it extremely competent and reliable, but I can’t say I’ve ever missed it since moving it on...
In terms of the drive, the LSD the PP provides is excellent, and despite being FWD, it felt really planted almost all the time. It’s not the fastest car in the world, but it does tackle B roads with aplomb.
Also, they’re really well-specced as standard (adaptive cruise is a superb feature). The auto-brake thing means insurance is remarkably cheap as well.
I traded mine in for a C43 saloon, which does feel like one or two steps up, but the GTI was perfect for my needs at the time.
Happy to answer questions if you have any.
Hi Bob,In terms of the drive, the LSD the PP provides is excellent, and despite being FWD, it felt really planted almost all the time. It’s not the fastest car in the world, but it does tackle B roads with aplomb.
Also, they’re really well-specced as standard (adaptive cruise is a superb feature). The auto-brake thing means insurance is remarkably cheap as well.
I traded mine in for a C43 saloon, which does feel like one or two steps up, but the GTI was perfect for my needs at the time.
Happy to answer questions if you have any.
Thank you for your helpful message. I cannot seem to message you directly as it is saying this is not possible. Do you have any suggestions by way of directly contacting you, rather than on this forum? Thank you.
onlychengy said:
Just to echo the great feedback so far, missus has a MK7 GTI and it has been fantastic. Both fun and practical when required.
Handles brilliantly, enough power for the roads IMO and excellent spec as standard; the adaptive cruise, auto hold and heated front seats make it a great daily driver (when not in lockdown).
Subjective but the MK7/MK7.5 also looks fantastic, understated with its clean lines but with a little aggression.
Having a small issue at the moment with leaking window seals at the rear doors but seems to be common with these models. Still need to sort that..
Hello, thank you for your reply. Really helpful and interesting to read. Is there any way of directly contacting you on this website rather on this forum? Handles brilliantly, enough power for the roads IMO and excellent spec as standard; the adaptive cruise, auto hold and heated front seats make it a great daily driver (when not in lockdown).
Subjective but the MK7/MK7.5 also looks fantastic, understated with its clean lines but with a little aggression.
Having a small issue at the moment with leaking window seals at the rear doors but seems to be common with these models. Still need to sort that..
ugene425 said:
Hi Bob,
Thank you for your helpful message. I cannot seem to message you directly as it is saying this is not possible. Do you have any suggestions by way of directly contacting you, rather than on this forum? Thank you.
Turns out I didn’t have private messaging enabled. It says to give it 15 minutes or so!Thank you for your helpful message. I cannot seem to message you directly as it is saying this is not possible. Do you have any suggestions by way of directly contacting you, rather than on this forum? Thank you.
Blue62 said:
My wife took delivery of a new performance edition in September and she loves it, previous car was a TT and before that an SQ5, this Golf is by some distance her favourite. I've done a few miles in it and think the combination of performance, ride, comfort, build and fun factor are hard to beat and in many ways I prefer it to my own car, I think it's a cracker.
Hi there, what were the running costs and insurance like? I gather the latter is cheaper as it has the radar built into the front of the car for safe distance?bobsavage789 said:
I had a 5 door mk 7 PP manual for 3 years. Most relaxing ownership experience I’ve ever had, everything felt well-built and solid (boot lid drainage grommet aside). Overall, I found it extremely competent and reliable, but I can’t say I’ve ever missed it since moving it on...
In terms of the drive, the LSD the PP provides is excellent, and despite being FWD, it felt really planted almost all the time. It’s not the fastest car in the world, but it does tackle B roads with aplomb.
Also, they’re really well-specced as standard (adaptive cruise is a superb feature). The auto-brake thing means insurance is remarkably cheap as well.
I traded mine in for a C43 saloon, which does feel like one or two steps up, but the GTI was perfect for my needs at the time.
Happy to answer questions if you have any.
Hi Bob, did you receive my DM?In terms of the drive, the LSD the PP provides is excellent, and despite being FWD, it felt really planted almost all the time. It’s not the fastest car in the world, but it does tackle B roads with aplomb.
Also, they’re really well-specced as standard (adaptive cruise is a superb feature). The auto-brake thing means insurance is remarkably cheap as well.
I traded mine in for a C43 saloon, which does feel like one or two steps up, but the GTI was perfect for my needs at the time.
Happy to answer questions if you have any.
Great car
Especially the DSG.
Well Built, decently reliable. Few niggles here and there, nothing major.
Does what it’s supposed to do very well.
Only issue I had is, a dodgy tailgate noise and the heater matrix kept failing (apparently common, due to sand in the engine or something like this).
Especially the DSG.
Well Built, decently reliable. Few niggles here and there, nothing major.
Does what it’s supposed to do very well.
Only issue I had is, a dodgy tailgate noise and the heater matrix kept failing (apparently common, due to sand in the engine or something like this).
I have a 2013 Mk7 manual for just over 2 years now and is currently on 64,000miles and it’s one of the very first models so in theory I’ll experience the bad points first.
Brilliant car it’s so easy to live with and does everything. Lacks outright fun but makes up for it easily if it’s your only car. The car is lighter than you think so is agile and turns in nicely. Engine is nice and linear as standard, I remapped mine just before Christmas but would say it’s better to keep the car stock. Gets over 40mpg on the motorway and would probably be higher if I used autonomous cruise control more. It’s basically a Tardis when it comes to trips to IKEA.
On the GTI the thermostat and water pump will need replacing eventually it’s just one of them things it seems. Sometimes parking sensors randomly beep in traffic maybe once every 3months usually in heavy rain. Random knocking on driver front pillar can happen.
I sometimes consider changing for the sake of changing and something fancy something more fun but can never justify it the car is brilliant.
On the maintenance front under warranty I’ve had £1500 of work however this is at the main garage so prices are high and was all in first year and made up of the water pump, thermostat, brake rub and a rear spring off the top of my head. Also had the car randomly go through engine oil in the summer and dropped it up to VW to see what was happening but no leak was found, I reckon it wasn’t a big fan of really short journeys >1mile that it went on for months, I just keep oil in the boot but never opened it since.
Can’t recommend it enough!
Brilliant car it’s so easy to live with and does everything. Lacks outright fun but makes up for it easily if it’s your only car. The car is lighter than you think so is agile and turns in nicely. Engine is nice and linear as standard, I remapped mine just before Christmas but would say it’s better to keep the car stock. Gets over 40mpg on the motorway and would probably be higher if I used autonomous cruise control more. It’s basically a Tardis when it comes to trips to IKEA.
On the GTI the thermostat and water pump will need replacing eventually it’s just one of them things it seems. Sometimes parking sensors randomly beep in traffic maybe once every 3months usually in heavy rain. Random knocking on driver front pillar can happen.
I sometimes consider changing for the sake of changing and something fancy something more fun but can never justify it the car is brilliant.
On the maintenance front under warranty I’ve had £1500 of work however this is at the main garage so prices are high and was all in first year and made up of the water pump, thermostat, brake rub and a rear spring off the top of my head. Also had the car randomly go through engine oil in the summer and dropped it up to VW to see what was happening but no leak was found, I reckon it wasn’t a big fan of really short journeys >1mile that it went on for months, I just keep oil in the boot but never opened it since.
Can’t recommend it enough!
Edited by CG2020UK on Thursday 14th January 23:32
I drove one in summer during my furlough job as a trade plate driver.
I have to say I really didn’t like it as a performance car. The engine is horrible and devoid of any excitement, it feels neither turbocharged or n/a.
The engine in my 330d I had at the time was far nicer to use.
It did everything a Golf does well and gripped well on a brand new set of PS4 tyres.
Overall it did nothing for me.
I have to say I really didn’t like it as a performance car. The engine is horrible and devoid of any excitement, it feels neither turbocharged or n/a.
The engine in my 330d I had at the time was far nicer to use.
It did everything a Golf does well and gripped well on a brand new set of PS4 tyres.
Overall it did nothing for me.
I bought one brand new in 2016, a PP car, 5 door, manual. Plus points were the build quality, looks, practicality and economy. Negative points were that it just isn't that quick, sounds very dull, and the gearchange was so-so.
I sold it after a year for only £2000 less than I'd paid for it. I sold it because it was really rather a boring car, if capable.
I sold it after a year for only £2000 less than I'd paid for it. I sold it because it was really rather a boring car, if capable.
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