The Mega Mk7 Golf GTI/GTD/R thread

DaveyDave

DaveyDave wrote: »

Just back from Berlin..................

I believe winter tyres are required there.............

Effectively they are ......... https://www.eurocampings.co.uk/blog/listing/new-regulations-for-winter-tyres-germany/ ..........

"German law does not refer to winter tyres, but to tyres with winter properties. This covers all-season tyres in addition to winter tyres. The use of tyres with winter properties in winter conditions is mandatory. Winter conditions are defined as: ice, slippery conditions in snow, slush and slippery conditions caused by ice or frost. No fixed period is defined, so there is the possibility of winter conditions in periods other than the traditional winter months"

I'm in Germany quite a bit, I don't think I've ever gotten a rental car without the m&s designation on them.

"Regulations for the use of winter tyres in Germany have been tightened since 1 January 2018. Put simply it means that only winter tyres or all-season tyres with the Alpine symbol (snowflake symbol) will meet the new requirements"

tossy

CIP4 wrote: »

TBH even here I think the GTI (well Mk7.5 anyway) is perfectly fine on 19 inch wheels without DCC. Thats the set up mine has and I honestly thought it would be far worse. I have never actually found it very hard or uncomfortable. Last week I drove 1k km in it across a fair mix of roads and never noticed it being uncomfortable.

I am sure the DCC is a nice feature and would be good to have but when the choice of GTI's in Ireland is so limited you would be making it even a lot more limited if a buyer only considers GTIs that have DCC.

DCC is amazing in comfort mode it's as comfortable on the motorway as a mates C7 A6 and definitely more comfortable on B-roads.

hooch-85

Mk8 review. In German unfortunately

https://youtu.be/LMTtBAE8b5w

TheAnalyst_

Why are they launching with that colour. It’s vile.

DaveyDave

Those wheels don't look great either, the other wheels they had on the MK8 looked much nicer. They're nicer than the standard GTI wheels, IMO.

The turquoise/teal colour they had on the T-Cross is quite nice, don't know if it would suit the Golf but it would be nice to see something different than the turmeric yellow they pushed on the Mk7.5.

dmigsy

carsfan wrote: »

My other query is dsg or manual.
I'm used to auto for last 8 years and like the ease of use.
My wife says an auto gti is an oxymoron and may as well not bother.
The manual on the demo I drove was very nice however.

I have the DSG on my R. I can't change gear as fast as it can. It's handier, faster and more relaxing to drive. No regrets - I know I'd be cursing the manual when sitting in traffic if I'd gone that route.

bazz26

Photo quality is poor but apparently this is the Mk8 R:

Wailin

Slightly off topic about the new Golf lads but the right place to ask I think!

Missus left her credit card on the slidey cup cover thing and forgot about. She pulled back the cover and the credit card disappeared through the minuscule gap at the back. I only had a brief look tonight and didn't do anything since it's dark. Is it possible to get access to this and remove the trim around the area?

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Wailin wrote: »

Slightly off topic about the new Golf lads but the right place to ask I think!

Missus left her credit card on the slidey cup cover thing and forgot about. She pulled back the cover and the credit card disappeared through the minuscule gap at the back. I only had a brief look tonight and didn't do anything since it's dark. Is it possible to get access to this and remove the trim around the area?

Probably a good thing with Black Friday coming up and a 53 Degrees North loyalty card to be honest.

Casati

bazz26 wrote: »

Photo quality is poor but apparently this is the Mk8 R:

That looks awful, I’m seeing Toyota Auris inspiration in the profile

noelf

https://youtu.be/vc8KbxKl8DY


Autogefuhl

50 minute review of the new mark 8 Golf ..

vintagevrs

Has a new car ever been released where people instantly loved its design over the current model, and I don't just mean in the Golf? Every time a new model is released it seems to get a lot of criticism. Same happened when BMW released the E90 design, and then the f30. Pictures of the latest 3 series were met again on forums with people not liking it, and saying it's a step back. Then once they hit the show rooms and a few are on the road people warm more to the idea. I would imagine the new GTi and R will be the same and look the business in the flesh.

TheAnalyst_

True but sometimes it is instant. Mk7 was love at first sight for me.
Loved E60 5 series and the current rs4 from day one.

Mk8 looks fine but no more than that.

carsfan2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8LPgonuJ98

the current R does pretty well in this drag race.
I know I'm a BMW fan boy now but the m135I doesn't look too bad to me and the interior is pretty nice. I always prefer the driving position on BMW too. I always felt I was sitting too high in the gti even with the seat on its lowest setting where as you sit into the BMW more.

The new R does have a whiff of the new Corolla in the picture but the production model will probably look better hopefully.

Toyotafanboi

Wailin wrote: »

Slightly off topic about the new Golf lads but the right place to ask I think!

Missus left her credit card on the slidey cup cover thing and forgot about. She pulled back the cover and the credit card disappeared through the minuscule gap at the back. I only had a brief look tonight and didn't do anything since it's dark. Is it possible to get access to this and remove the trim around the area?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49134285658_ff83d5cefa_c.jpg

If you sit in the back seats the trim that surrounds the rear air vents just pulls off. It takes a little brute force and ignorance but it should just come away. You'll find the card in there. You'd also be surprised how often that happens to people.

This video is for removing the entire console which isn't too tricky in itself but you really only need to do the bit from 25 to 35 seconds.

https://youtu.be/_bzITZQWhH0

Wailin

Thanks for that TFB, very helpful info. I'll give it a go later.

Pacifico

noelf wrote: »

https://youtu.be/vc8KbxKl8DY


Autogefuhl

50 minute review of the new mark 8 Golf ..

Great review...think i'll be keeping my MK 7.5 for a while yet! The front looks terrible

JoeA3

I did exactly the same thing a few years ago, but it was just a carpark swipe card rather than a credit card. I just left it in there! Probably easier to cancel the credit card and get a replacement tbh.

As for the MK8 - its not doing much for me either tbh but I'll reserve judgement till I see the performance cars in the metal. As vintageVRS said, this happens for every all new model. I remember when the MK5 first appeared it was universally disliked among the VW nuts.... the blobby rear end, the half painted back bumper, the perceived drop from the MK4 in interior touchy feely plastics ... it went on to be the most sought after GTI in decades...

Wailin

carsfan2 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8LPgonuJ98

the current R does pretty well in this drag race.
I know I'm a BMW fan boy now but the m135I doesn't look too bad to me and the interior is pretty nice. I always prefer the driving position on BMW too. I always felt I was sitting too high in the gti even with the seat on its lowest setting where as you sit into the BMW more.

The new R does have a whiff of the new Corolla in the picture but the production model will probably look better hopefully.

Very little between them really when it comes down to it. I would have thought the golf to be the lightest of the four cars though so was surprised it was marginally the slowest.

DaveyDave

I don't think the MK8 looks too bad, the Style model looks grand. I don't mind the front bumper, rear lights are ok just not fond of the back on the back with Golf written under it.

The inside is just ok, not a fan of the digital dash into infotainment layout. I think the infotainment would look better sitting on its own on the dash, the dash is too minimalist/modern looking.

It seems like they're trying to copy the BMW/Mercedes interior styling, maybe that's just me.

I think the Mk7.5 is perfect with styling and features. Getting rid of the bonnet strut or having the passenger heated seat button on the screen beside the driver isn't the little details that make the Golf a Golf. Nitpicking I know but it's the little details.

I think the mild hybrid will be a good addition to the DSG models, Autogefühl were quite critical of fuel consumption on the current Golf so it seems to be beneficial.

sky18

I like the r-line. I think it needs the extra styling on the front bumper also the seats are nicer in the r-line the head rest is part of the seat. I'll have a look at the 1.5 dsg when it's out.

hooch-85

Mk8 R revealed in this video
https://youtu.be/4NDtwhWXWKo

ILikeBoats

I like the R logo

carsfan2

hooch-85 wrote: »

Mk8 R revealed in this video
https://youtu.be/4NDtwhWXWKo

I hope that's only an artists impression. Not very special looking at all.
However as has been said here it will probably look good when the production version is shown. The GTI is more attractive in my view in mark 7 version and maybe it will be the same in mark 8?

Mickiemcfist

carsfan2 wrote: »

I hope that's only an artists impression. Not very special looking at all.
However as has been said here it will probably look good when the production version is shown. The GTI is more attractive in my view in mark 7 version and maybe it will be the same in mark 8?

Yea the Mk7.5 R isn't special looking either, so this isn't much of a step back, however the new GTI looks like a run of the mill econobox, much worse than the Mk7

Killinator

Can't warm to the headlights or grill on the Mk8.

Almost look like they're squinting, which isn't help by the bit like an eyelash running from the back of the headlight.
Don't seem to fit the shape of the rest of the car.

That said I didn't like the Mk5 when it was released thinking it was an abomination compared to the Mk5 but ended up buying two hot Mk5s so I'll go from the angle that it will be a grower in time and in the flesh.

Not a fan of the R badge, not so much the design itself but this will be what, the 3rd different R style badge in 4 generations.

tossy

carsfan2 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8LPgonuJ98

the current R does pretty well in this drag race.
I know I'm a BMW fan boy now but the m135I doesn't look too bad to me and the interior is pretty nice. I always prefer the driving position on BMW too. I always felt I was sitting too high in the gti even with the seat on its lowest setting where as you sit into the BMW more.

The new R does have a whiff of the new Corolla in the picture but the production model will probably look better hopefully.

Dodgy editing or what I don’t know but at around 3.40ish on the R is pulling on the merc but finishes behind it.

carsfan2

I thought Matt asked did the golf finish ahead of the Merc? He thought it did but it appeared not. I doubt they’re fiddling anyway!

I watched the video review of the mark 8. I like the interior myself. Seems a nice step up in quality and technology looks good and well integrated. Harman Kardon sound system for the first time too.
I bet a gti with a bit of spec will be north of 50k by the time we get them though.

bazz26

VW seem to be going the way of Tesla around building and specing the new Golf. From reading it seems nearly all cars come with most equipment levels as standard but the level of features enabled is dependent on the model trim and extras the customer pays for. The one thing I found interesting is that if the original owner doesn't pay for a particular feature from day one then subsequent owners can still pay VW to enable that feature if they want it when they buy the car second hand at a later stage. They seem to be taking a software licensed approach to specing cars similar to what the IT industry has been using for years. I'd say this is the way forward for the motor industry now that WLTP is here. It makes total sense though, build every car with the same features and just enable/disable features depending on individual markets and customer's requirements.

ILikeBoats

We'll be paying subscriptions to use the features soon!

JoeA3

bazz26 wrote: »

VW seem to be going the way of Tesla around building and specing the new Golf. From reading it seems nearly all cars come with most equipment levels as standard but the level of features enabled is dependent on the model trim and extras the customer pays for. The one thing I found interesting is that if the original owner doesn't pay for a particular feature from day one then subsequent owners can still pay VW to enable that feature if they want it when they buy the car second hand at a later stage. They seem to be taking a software licensed approach to specing cars similar to what the IT industry has been using for years. I'd say this is the way forward for the motor industry now that WLTP is here. It makes total sense though, build every car with the same features and just enable/disable features depending on individual markets and customer's requirements.

Yeah, it is a big change in approach to say the least. Take something like Dynamic light assist which they are suggesting will be a simple thing to enable from now on. You can't just enable that in a MK7 Golf with a laptop! Loads of the hardware is completely different - the headlamp units are entirely different parts, the loom, the mirror housings, etc! It would cost you thousands.... cheaper to trade the car for one that has it!

So it sounds like they're streamlining this to a huge degree, whereby most of the hardware will be common across all models and its just software tweaking. Which I imagine is a huge saving for them in production costs also.

Audi and BMW have been doing this to some extent for a while, certainly with the Nav and infotainment systems, where you can choose to enable them or not.

bazz26

It will certainly become harder to do any sort of after market coding yourself going forward but like everything there is always a way round it.

DaveyDave

I'd say they definitely have a few things fitted as standard across the board to streamline the assembly line. Entry level car won't have navigation but I'd say there's a GPS chip in there, I'd imagine the likes of high beam assist, auto lights/wipers or even sign recognition would be present.

Is ACC standard on all trims now?

vintagevrs

Be handy getting a sunroof enabled if they are scarce 2nd hand, same with leather I suppose.

tossy

vintagevrs wrote: »

Be handy getting a sunroof enabled if they are scarce 2nd hand, same with leather I suppose.

Agreed - the option to code in or out the rear doors would be nice too.

bazz26

No 3 door Mk8 anyway.

DaveyDave

Anyone using strut bars or the chassis bar that clips to the back seat mounts? Seems like a handy mod that can be pulled off if necessary, are they any use? Curious if any bolt on stuff is worth a look or would the stock suspension offset any benefit?

dar83

Lads, due to potential work relocation I may be shifting my GTI. So if anyone is interested in a low mile tastefully modded (non-ECU) and pampered 5-door manual GTI-P, let me know.

Duke O Smiley

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/golf-gti-cheap-insurance/23642189?campaign=3



Interesting Mk7 for sale, "1.2 on the book"

carsfan2

Who in their right mind would buy that?

hooch-85

carsfan2 wrote: »

Who in their right mind would buy that?

It would be a nightmare to insure it legitimately I imagine, and the tax is only €80 a year cheaper than an early MK7 GTi was anyway.

tossy

hooch-85 wrote: »

It would be a nightmare to insure it legitimately I imagine, and the tax is only €80 a year cheaper than an early MK7 GTi was anyway.

Big time also potential minefield of issues with sensors - electronics etc.

hooch-85

tossy wrote: »

Big time also potential minefield of issues with sensors - electronics etc.

True and who's to say where all the donor parts came from? Could be dodgy

Duke O Smiley

OSI wrote: »

"Conversion" or lifted plates?

My thoughts exactly

Toyotafanboi

I think it looks more like a GTI has been reshelled into a 1.2 body? Probably the cleanest way to do it?

Duke O Smiley

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/golf-gti-cheap-insurance/23642189?campaign=3

...........

Interesting Mk7 for sale, "1.2 on the book"

Reg on display along with the partial insurance disc that suggests it's insured with Aviva. Total loony for advertising it like that. .......... not to mention the numerous potential issues with the "conversion".

SaintsYB

dar83 wrote: »

Lads, due to potential work relocation I may be shifting my GTI. So if anyone is interested in a low mile tastefully modded (non-ECU) and pampered 5-door manual GTI-P, let me know.

What's the year and spec on it? What kind of mods are on it?

eljono

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/golf-gti-cheap-insurance/23642189?campaign=3

Interesting Mk7 for sale, "1.2 on the book"

Since we're posting interesting Mk7s, here's one I came across earlier with "Tip-tropic flappy panel shifters"

Mickiemcfist

Very practical, you could hoover the back seat through the panel gaps.

SaintsYB

eljono wrote: »

Since we're posting interesting Mk7s, here's one I came across earlier with "Tip-tropic flappy panel shifters"

"Selling due to dont need a car anymore ."

More like it's a heap of rubbish and wants to recover some cash from it.