This thread roughly coincides with the 8th year anniversary since my order went in for the just released mk7 GTI PP via evo1986
Coming from a long background of modified GTI’s I thought the £850 PP was a no brainer. It seemed like the perfect base car to add a stage 1 remap to, almost as if that was VW’s intention (VW are tuned in to the whole modding thing, just see their massive presence and exclusives released at the Wörthersee Treffen annually). The car seemed aimed at people just like me.
About six months after I took delivery I went out in my lightly modded mk7 PP for a bit of a back to back B road action with a friend who had temporary use of a mk7 GTI vin ordinaire.
There wasn’t a massive difference between the two cars to be honest.
The two things I will say is that the uprated PP brakes are very worthwhile. The 312mm rotors have been in use since god knows when (mk4 days I think they started coming in) and were marginal at fast road speed at times. The 340’s are much better but it’s easy to remedy the 312’s using aftermarket bits.
As for the diff, well it’s very subtle but works very well even on a stage 1 car. However whether it will be of much benefit in general use depends on the driver.
GTI drivers come in all shapes and sizes, I’ve been on forums since forever so seen it all, from moaners who buy a GTI expecting it to ride like a limousine to Billy Big Balls types who drive like absolute lunatics, and everything in between.
I’ve been blitzed in my former Golf R when taking it steady by company car GTD drivers enough times to know the chassis is plenty good enough without diffs, 350bhp and AWD if the driver is bold enough.
The only way anyone can really know whether the diff and brakes will be worthwhile to them is by having a think about how hard they actually drive in reality.
Personally, if it was a used car and the price and condition were really good I’d definitely not thumb my nose at a non PP.