Author Topic: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?  (Read 17274 times)

Offline Dr Mike Oxgreen

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What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« on: 04 December 2017, 16:21 »
Let's be honest, the Volkswagen Golf has evolved into a fine example of modern hatchbackery over the last 40 years.  The Mark 7, by implication, should stand proudly at the top of the evolutionary scale as an example of the art and science of the modern "all things to all men" (and women, obviously) ideal of the everyday car.

Yet, and we're into First World Problem territory here, no creation of man is ever perfect.  Compromises must be made in materials, design and execution/manufacture which result in irritations for the end user.  The Golf is a fine car, devoid of some of the compromises which bespoil lesser offerings from other manufacturers, yet my experience of Mark 6 and Mark 7 examples means that I can point to some examples of shortcomings which, while they don't exactly spoil the ownership experience still irritate me.

The first is the car's propensity to become filthy at the back after being driven in anything less than perfectly dry conditions.  This is the result of the shape of the rear of the car creating a huge low-pressure area which sucks spray and road dirt passing under the car on to the rear hatch and window, something which is common to all of the Golfs that I have ever owned.  VW will eventually work out that such a massive area of low aerodynamic pressure causes a huge amount of drag, which also results in fuel wastage.

The second is the door mirror housings which appear to have been designed to hold water, then release it slowly so that it dribbles down the doors.  Just make some drain holes in the bottom of the mirror housings for heaven's sake!

That is all.  For now.

Offline Gnasher

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #1 on: 04 December 2017, 16:46 »
Not just the golf, but touchscreen interfaces in general in cars. The number of times I've not pressed the right bit is getting daft now. I end up with loads of finger marks on the screen surround as I steady my hand against it to ensure I press the right bit.

That said, being lowered probably doesn't help!
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Offline fredgroves

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #2 on: 04 December 2017, 16:47 »
The rear end sucking up dirt is an annoyance, particularly when it gets rapidly deposited to a visible layer of sand/mud on the boot lip.

This actually has improved Mk7-->7.5. The rear valence is cut away/angled and that definitely shows an improvement.

That being said, after a weekend on the motorway in foul weather, mine has a very dirty rear!

I did ponder what you said about aero efficiency verses the design and whilst it looks like a monster vacuum sucking fuel burner, actually:

https://drivemag.com/news/the-most-aerodynamic-cars-you-can-buy-right-now
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC

Offline SRGTD

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #3 on: 04 December 2017, 16:48 »
The dirty rear end isn’t just a Golf problem. I’ve had many hatchback cars over the years from a variety of manufacturers that have had an almost vertical rear hatch and all have suffered from this issue. I suppose that ‘two box’ shape of the majority of modern hatchback vehicles maximises carrying capacity when the rear seats are folded within a relatively small overall vehicle footprint. The best hatchbacks I had for keeping the rear end clean-ish were a mk3 Ford Escort and a mk2 Vauxhall’s Cavalier; neither had the almost vertical rear hatch. Both had rear wipers but I never needed to use them to clean the rear screen of dirt.

Other VW’s also suffer from the dripping mirror housings. I’ve also wondered why VW couldn’t design a simple drain hole into the bottom of the mirror housing. I have a Metro Vac Sidekick Blaster warm air dryer for drying most of the water off my car. With the long nozzle attachment fitted, I can blow the water out of the housing, so no more annoying drips! :smiley: It’s also great for all those other annoying water traps like the honeycomb grille, recessed bolt hole covers in the wheels, window rubbers, number plate surrounds, parking sensors in the bumpers
2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
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2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
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Offline fredgroves

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #4 on: 04 December 2017, 16:51 »
Not just the golf, but touchscreen interfaces in general in cars. The number of times I've not pressed the right bit is getting daft now. I end up with loads of finger marks on the screen surround as I steady my hand against it to ensure I press the right bit.

Yes, this too. Which is daft when VAG offer twiddly controller i-drive style input on their Audi brand...

Also not previously helped by MIB1/2 touchscreens being first gen not very touchable touch screen... they fixed it with the new Mk7.5 NavPro unit.... then took away all of the twiddly knobs which were the closest thing they previously had to I-Drive and essential for rapidly scrolling through options...

Better still are the new Android Auto apps, which don't even let you flipping scroll through a big list of stuff because too much scrolling is too distracting and only let you do it when the vehicle is stationary!

*scream*
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC

Offline fredgroves

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #5 on: 04 December 2017, 16:53 »
I'd also like to offer my own annoyance... laser cut wheels!

It must be someone's idea of a money spinner either through refusing warranty claims or having shares in a wheel refurbishing chain.

I'm not even talking about self abuse (curbing) but just getting white worm because.
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC

Offline fredgroves

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #6 on: 04 December 2017, 16:57 »
I've got a couple more...

1) not being able to have mirror heating and dipping in reverse at the same time (WHY!)

2) Being able to choose if I want headlight washing when i use the windscreen washers and cause great big dirty marks all over the front end (and getting the the headlight washer jets prolapsed when its below zero...)

3) Boot light only on one side - the side that always has something piled up in front of it, blocking the boot light!
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC

Offline Watts

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #7 on: 04 December 2017, 17:12 »
I must say that I find my GTI extremely capable, comfortable and enjoyable to drive. It's irritations are mostly limited to technology, automatic lights that come on in broad daylight then don't come on when it's dark. Similarly the automatic wipers and autonomous braking which don't operate as intended. Non technological issues relate to the occasional rattle. Ditch the poorly resolved technology please VW, I don't need it nor want it. I have eyes and hands so can work the controls just fine as I have for over three decades. :smiley:
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Offline dubber36

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #8 on: 04 December 2017, 17:45 »
The headlight switch annoys me. Why couldn't AUTO be in the vertical position like it was on the Mk6?

Also the volume button on the radio. If just the outer bezel turned, leaving the power symbol in the middle static, therefore the right way up, it would be much better. As it is, once 'parked' in the correct position, it becomes completely redundant.
Red Mk6 gone replaced with a white Mk7 which has gone too. Green Mk2 here to stay.

Offline Darlo

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Re: What do you find annoying about your Mark 7?
« Reply #9 on: 04 December 2017, 17:56 »
The biggest thing that annoys me is the fact the water doesn’t run away off the roof correctly... if it’s been raining and you open the door rain drops in, and when you pull away with your window down  and you turn left all the water runs in and soaks the drivers door area. Happened on all 3 of our mk7’s. Why could they not make the water drain away better!!!

Touch screen in early mk7 was terrible, the later improved slightly. Not seen the mk7.5 one isn’t he flesh but I hope it’s another improvement.