Golf GTI Performance
Discussion
I’m back again, with another car I thought deserved a thread!
I created the Car Buying thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
As at that time, I wasn’t sure what car to get within my budget & requirements. I was tossing it up with various different cars, however I realised I had already had many cars that fit the bill in the past (M140i,Mk7.5 VW GTi, Fiesta ST etc), and I didn’t want to buy a car that I had before.
It needed to be manual, reliable, have some toys and look respectable as I visit customers.
As above, I previously bought a VW Golf GTI mk7.5 DSG. I had it for 3 weeks before my house was broken into for the keys, and it was never seen again.
I loved everything about the golf, however as good as the DSG box was, I found it uninvolving, and ultimately it wasn’t a fun car (at least for me).
A 2014 Golf MK7 Manual performance pack popped up at a dealer not far from me, so I went over for a test drive, as I was interested to find out how a manual car drove, especially with the LSD, bigger brakes etc that the PP has. In short, I fell in love with how it drove. The car itself was ropey however, it looked well in pictures, but I found that in person, it seemed like it had had a hard life.
I spoke to a friend in Scotland about potential cars, and that I had driven and now want a manual MK7 GTI – ideally with a performance pack. Turns out, his uncle was *thinking* about selling his – which turned out to be pretty much the exact spec I was after, and at a price I simply could not refuse.
Here we are, a VW Golf GTI MK7 manual with performance pack (more power, bigger brakes, LSD) and the following:
Dynaudio Excite sound system
Panoramic sunroof
Serviced every year (FSH)
4x new Michelin Pilot Sport 4’s on recently refurbed alloys
63 plate with 46k miles
Even the original box from VW with a VW flask, pen, keyring etc!
I paid the not so pricey sum of £11.5k, which I think for the condition and spec was a steal; this is it:
The way the thing handles is amazing, I have just bought a full vw genuine service kit i'll perform myself, and i'm looking to take it on a track day at some point this year! Thanks for reading.
I created the Car Buying thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
As at that time, I wasn’t sure what car to get within my budget & requirements. I was tossing it up with various different cars, however I realised I had already had many cars that fit the bill in the past (M140i,Mk7.5 VW GTi, Fiesta ST etc), and I didn’t want to buy a car that I had before.
It needed to be manual, reliable, have some toys and look respectable as I visit customers.
As above, I previously bought a VW Golf GTI mk7.5 DSG. I had it for 3 weeks before my house was broken into for the keys, and it was never seen again.
I loved everything about the golf, however as good as the DSG box was, I found it uninvolving, and ultimately it wasn’t a fun car (at least for me).
A 2014 Golf MK7 Manual performance pack popped up at a dealer not far from me, so I went over for a test drive, as I was interested to find out how a manual car drove, especially with the LSD, bigger brakes etc that the PP has. In short, I fell in love with how it drove. The car itself was ropey however, it looked well in pictures, but I found that in person, it seemed like it had had a hard life.
I spoke to a friend in Scotland about potential cars, and that I had driven and now want a manual MK7 GTI – ideally with a performance pack. Turns out, his uncle was *thinking* about selling his – which turned out to be pretty much the exact spec I was after, and at a price I simply could not refuse.
Here we are, a VW Golf GTI MK7 manual with performance pack (more power, bigger brakes, LSD) and the following:
Dynaudio Excite sound system
Panoramic sunroof
Serviced every year (FSH)
4x new Michelin Pilot Sport 4’s on recently refurbed alloys
63 plate with 46k miles
Even the original box from VW with a VW flask, pen, keyring etc!
I paid the not so pricey sum of £11.5k, which I think for the condition and spec was a steal; this is it:
The way the thing handles is amazing, I have just bought a full vw genuine service kit i'll perform myself, and i'm looking to take it on a track day at some point this year! Thanks for reading.
MDifficult said:
Brilliant buy - this is peak Golf for me, which pretty much means peak 'do-everything' car.
I hope it lives up to expectations but I'm confident it will. Enjoy!
It’s peak Golf for me too.I hope it lives up to expectations but I'm confident it will. Enjoy!
Looks nice OP; I think these look so much better than the R and the new Mk8 Golf.
That looks like a great deal you get there OP.
We are after one as well for our daily runaround. Hoping it is big enough for 4 of us to go on holiday with, will take 25k a year and be a bit of fun as and when the time arises. Oh, and be pretty cheap to run.
Loved our MK V years ago and hope a MK VII would be more of the same.
Performance pack and Dynaudio are the only must have specs for me (and tartan seats - or, no leather). Sensible mileage cars don't seem to dip below £12k generally so you definitely did well!
Enjoy!
We are after one as well for our daily runaround. Hoping it is big enough for 4 of us to go on holiday with, will take 25k a year and be a bit of fun as and when the time arises. Oh, and be pretty cheap to run.
Loved our MK V years ago and hope a MK VII would be more of the same.
Performance pack and Dynaudio are the only must have specs for me (and tartan seats - or, no leather). Sensible mileage cars don't seem to dip below £12k generally so you definitely did well!
Enjoy!
Appreciate the comments guys.
As well as doing a full service, does anyone know if there is any merit to performing a gearbox oil change also?
The car was fully clay barred this weekend, the amount of crap it had on the paint work was insane, I gave it a temporary waxing while I put some time aside for a good old polish, it already looks a million times better!
As well as doing a full service, does anyone know if there is any merit to performing a gearbox oil change also?
The car was fully clay barred this weekend, the amount of crap it had on the paint work was insane, I gave it a temporary waxing while I put some time aside for a good old polish, it already looks a million times better!
Nice car and a bargain too, I have a Mk 7.5R and agree the GTi's are a better steer.
As for the gearbox, it's a little low mileage to be changing but my view is always that it won't do any harm and if you drain the oil through a cloth you'll at least get an idea if anything really bad has happened in there before it's too late.
Quite a few of the forums say Motul Gear 300 oil makes a noticeable difference for a bit of extra cost.
As for the gearbox, it's a little low mileage to be changing but my view is always that it won't do any harm and if you drain the oil through a cloth you'll at least get an idea if anything really bad has happened in there before it's too late.
Quite a few of the forums say Motul Gear 300 oil makes a noticeable difference for a bit of extra cost.
Thanks a lot!
I think the consensus seems to be to just leave the gearbox oil for now, as it is reletively low mileadge and the it operate smoothly.
I purchased a full OEM kit consisting of:
Spark plugs
Air Filter
Pollen Filter
Correct grade oil
Oil filter
New sump plug - plastic!
And got to work:
Air filter looks very good but replaced anyway..
Pollen filter not so much! It's about this time I learnt the glovebox has an aircon vent that can be opened…I never knew!
Spark plugs look ok, in terms of the tip, but replaced obviously:
Just need to do the oil now, but it's going to the garage round the corner to get that done for the service stamp.
Diff oil to be done next! And OBDeleven purchased to reset the diff parameters once done.
I think the consensus seems to be to just leave the gearbox oil for now, as it is reletively low mileadge and the it operate smoothly.
I purchased a full OEM kit consisting of:
Spark plugs
Air Filter
Pollen Filter
Correct grade oil
Oil filter
New sump plug - plastic!
And got to work:
Air filter looks very good but replaced anyway..
Pollen filter not so much! It's about this time I learnt the glovebox has an aircon vent that can be opened…I never knew!
Spark plugs look ok, in terms of the tip, but replaced obviously:
Just need to do the oil now, but it's going to the garage round the corner to get that done for the service stamp.
Diff oil to be done next! And OBDeleven purchased to reset the diff parameters once done.
rob_golfgti said:
Does the diff need resetting after an oil change ? I never had mine reset and havent heard of it on the gti forums.
I heard that as the diff ages it could do with a reset, it's 8 years old now so maybe worth doing.Wills2 said:
Nice car and a good price, I recently bought a TCR which I think is similar to the PP GTi with the LSD etc..and they are really good fun.
TCR's are very nice, much more track orientated I think?sgtbash said:
Wills2 said:
Nice car and a good price, I recently bought a TCR which I think is similar to the PP GTi with the LSD etc..and they are really good fun.
TCR's are very nice, much more track orientated I think?I'm no GTi expert though first one I've had, in fact first hot hatch ever.
Read up on the bonnet release problem.
On the left hand side on the radiator, the cable has a black oblong box on it. Use a zip tie around the box as it can come apart stopping you opening the bonnet.
Give me a shout if you have any questions.
Here’s mine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
On the left hand side on the radiator, the cable has a black oblong box on it. Use a zip tie around the box as it can come apart stopping you opening the bonnet.
Give me a shout if you have any questions.
Here’s mine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
rob_golfgti said:
Read up on the bonnet release problem.
On the left hand side on the radiator, the cable has a black oblong box on it. Use a zip tie around the box as it can come apart stopping you opening the bonnet.
Give me a shout if you have any questions.
Here’s mine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Thanks for the info, interested in the dog bone mount you have? Would you be able to link me what I need?On the left hand side on the radiator, the cable has a black oblong box on it. Use a zip tie around the box as it can come apart stopping you opening the bonnet.
Give me a shout if you have any questions.
Here’s mine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
sgtbash said:
rob_golfgti said:
Read up on the bonnet release problem.
On the left hand side on the radiator, the cable has a black oblong box on it. Use a zip tie around the box as it can come apart stopping you opening the bonnet.
Give me a shout if you have any questions.
Here’s mine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Thanks for the info, interested in the dog bone mount you have? Would you be able to link me what I need?On the left hand side on the radiator, the cable has a black oblong box on it. Use a zip tie around the box as it can come apart stopping you opening the bonnet.
Give me a shout if you have any questions.
Here’s mine.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I had upper and lower mounts but the vibration was too much so now running with just the lower.
With this and decent tyres stopped the horrendous tramping wheel spin.
Easy to fit on a ramp too !
https://store.034motorsport.com/mqb-dogbone-mount-...
rob_golfgti said:
Varies types but I went with the 034 after reviews.
I had upper and lower mounts but the vibration was too much so now running with just the lower.
With this and decent tyres stopped the horrendous tramping wheel spin.
Easy to fit on a ramp too !
https://store.034motorsport.com/mqb-dogbone-mount-...
Thanks for that, worth a shout for sure.I had upper and lower mounts but the vibration was too much so now running with just the lower.
With this and decent tyres stopped the horrendous tramping wheel spin.
Easy to fit on a ramp too !
https://store.034motorsport.com/mqb-dogbone-mount-...
So a common problem with MK7's is that a lot of road grime/debris can collect in the foam pads located behind the plastic wheel liner. Being an 8-year-old car, I wanted to see if there was much collecting which may accelerate corrosion in the future....there was.
Take the foam out (and rung it out!) turns out there was a lot…
And once cleaned, the amount of filth from one arch:
Didn't actually end up taking photos of the completed job as it started raining, but much more clean now ready for many more miles!
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