Recent Posts

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21
Golf mk8 / Re: What have you done to your mk8 today?
« Last post by Exonian on 27 March 2024, 15:58 »
Congrats Paul70  :smiley:
And yes, I’ve surprised myself by not hating the S005’s too!

Oh, and unless absolutely necessary, don’t sell the Ed40, you’ll regret it.
22
Golf mk8 / Re: Is the hot hatch dead?
« Last post by Exonian on 27 March 2024, 15:55 »
Agreed Fred, it’s just a marketing thing.

Method:
 R = top of the range, therefore justifying the extortionate prices that those that habitually buy “top of the range” products will pay pandering to their own vanity.
VW will continue to market a GTI in the form of a FWD smaller ID. model which is constantly being touted on fanboy officially sanctioned social media accounts. The smaller ID. GTI should appeal more to those that take into consideration the points raised in previous posts in this thread - traffic, road conditions, costs etc.


Result:
ID. R = Flabby 4wd 2 tonne rocket ships with every known luxury gadget
ID. GTI = aimed at those with a more realistic perception of value, a slight twinkle in their eye and don’t have an obsession with squishy door cards.

Conclusion:
Keep hold of your late model 7.5 until it falls apart.



23
Golf mk8 / Re: Is the hot hatch dead?
« Last post by fredgroves on 27 March 2024, 14:11 »
https://www.motor1.com/news/713819/volkswagen-r-independent-brand/

I wonder what this will add to the mix? Will there just be one "hot hatch" in the form of an R for the enthusiasts, rather than the options currently available in the range (R, GTI etc)?

Think of the split between SEAT and Cupra.... its that.

Cupra also will end its ICE models... because VAG HQ tells them to.

Just more marketing BS tbh.
24
Golf mk8 / Re: Is the hot hatch dead?
« Last post by jh_97 on 27 March 2024, 13:08 »
https://www.motor1.com/news/713819/volkswagen-r-independent-brand/

I wonder what this will add to the mix? Will there just be one "hot hatch" in the form of an R for the enthusiasts, rather than the options currently available in the range (R, GTI etc)?
25
Golf mk7 / Re: Oh deer
« Last post by P6GTD on 27 March 2024, 12:36 »
How are you getting on?
26
Golf mk8 / Re: What have you done to your mk8 today?
« Last post by Paul70 on 27 March 2024, 12:23 »
Picked up my second MK8 yesterday. A MK8 R Performance Pack with DCC. Hope it lasts longer than my ED45, which lasted about 2 months before selling it on and keeping my ED40. I think the ED40 will be finding a new home this time round.

Love the traction and the true manual shifting in special mode. Feels quicker than the ED45 and the S005 tyres are far better than the S001!
27
Golf mk8 / Re: Is the hot hatch dead?
« Last post by SRGTD on 27 March 2024, 12:02 »
Good post Fred!

They are hardly going to have a top of the range model that doesn't have bundled all of the toys...

It just won't be fast.

It will be loaded.

Agree. I’m old enough to remember when the early hot hatches weren’t particularly well equipped compared to the more luxury oriented model(s). The first hot hatch I owned was a 1982 Ford XR3, bought new. It had manual window winders, no central locking, a basic two band radio (no cassette deck) with a single speaker, and it didn’t have a sunroof. I could have bought an Escort Ghia - the luxury model that had electric windows, central locking (I think), sunroof, and a radio cassette player as standard - no alloys though; it made do with shiny wheel trims on steel wheels.

I was young and wanted a car with all the hot hatch looks of spoilers, alloys, colour coded bumpers and door mirror caps, so was happy to sacrifice the luxuries, so it was the low spec hot hatch for me :smiley:

TBH most marques are trying to trim down the choices and some even (SEAT for example) don't have options, they just have packages.

Yes, I dare say that standard trim packages results in production efficiencies, cost savings and reduces lead times so financially, it makes sense from a car manufacturer’s perspective.

The other thing to chuck into this discussion is that the switch to making BEV's isn't being matched by consumer demand. That's not me rubbishing BEV's personally, it's fairly common data that shows the factories are pumping them out but the buyers aren't buying them fast enough.

There was an item today on the local news website in the area I live highlighting that car dealers didn’t want to take in BEV’s as part exchanges as low customer demand meant the dealers were struggling to move them on.

The issues that you’ve highlighted such as EV charging infrastructure, charging times, range anxiety - not to mention the current uncertain heavy depreciation - are all fuelling that low customer demand.

I'd describe the issue as being that "cars" have provided freedom and unlimited mobility for so long now that the idea of a "car" that reduces this is a big issue with consumers. I can jump in my Golf right now and drive to Berlin if I want to. It will get me there and refuelling won't be an issue. The journey time is predictable and there will be no guesswork.

As opposed to planning to charge it ahead of time (potentially half a day), trying to find chargers en route, waiting in queue for potentially hours, hoping its not cold or raining that means even more stops...

It doesn't feel like freedom.

Agree; ICE cars have put us in a very fortunate position as far as personal freedom and mobility is concerned; anything less will inevitably be considered as removal of some of that freedom which won’t be universally accepted, to put it mildly.
28
Golf mk8 / Re: Is the hot hatch dead?
« Last post by P6GTD on 27 March 2024, 11:39 »
If it’s not tooo big, can I give a shout out to the Škoda Octavia Vrs?
I had one after Audi A3s and before Golf GTIs. A great car.
Still got even more bells and whistles as standard than a GTI but same performance for less dosh.
Build quality as good.
265 bhp standard on latest facelift.
A nice subtle metallic grey one would be very acceptable as long as the wheels look ok, (Škoda have often been “on something” when choosing wheel design).
And the Vrs is different enough to be noticed.
Oh.. and it has retained some important buttons/switches.
I rest my case.
29
Golf mk8 / Re: Is the hot hatch dead?
« Last post by fredgroves on 27 March 2024, 11:02 »
They are hardly going to have a top of the range model that doesn't have bundled all of the toys...

It just won't be fast.

It will be loaded.

TBH most marques are trying to trim down the choices and some even (SEAT for example) don't have options, they just have packages.

The other thing to chuck into this discussion is that the switch to making BEV's isn't being matched by consumer demand. That's not me rubbishing BEV's personally, it's fairly common data that shows the factories are pumping them out but the buyers aren't buying them fast enough.

Its a mix of cost (they are expensive compared to ICE, probably a good 10k-5k more!) and that BEV charging has all sorts of issues ranging from range anxiety, public charger availability/reliability and what the hell to do if you don't have a driveway for your own charger.

I'd describe the issue as being that "cars" have provided freedom and unlimited mobility for so long now that the idea of a "car" that reduces this is a big issue with consumers. I can jump in my Golf right now and drive to Berlin if I want to. It will get me there and refuelling won't be an issue. The journey time is predictable and there will be no guesswork.

As opposed to planning to charge it ahead of time (potentially half a day), trying to find chargers en route, waiting in queue for potentially hours, hoping its not cold or raining that means even more stops...

It doesn't feel like freedom.

I think this stumble in the BEV journey for the manufacturers will reduce the chance of them investing in ICE or BEV hot hatches for a while - they've got to sort the 99% of their sales out first!
30
Golf mk8 / Re: Is the hot hatch dead?
« Last post by SRGTD on 27 March 2024, 10:17 »
As well as being 'hot', hot hatches tend to be top of the range for equipment. If for example you want a high spec Golf, you have to go for a performance model. An R Line doesn't cut it - you could add all the extras but that only works if you are ordering new.

This is a good point. If you want the car with the nice bells and whistles, then it has to be one of the performance models. The R-Line models are all fur coat and no knickers in more ways than one. At a glance they look nice and well spec’d but in reality they’re missing lots of kit that would cost thousands to option on, such as the IQ lights for example. And it generally doesn’t make sense to option up a lower model car. Better to go for the model that has the kit as standard.

That may be so currently with VW, but there are other car manufacturers who’ve stopped building hot hatches / performance oriented models that have top of range luxury models with the nice bells and whistles as standard - probably the equivalent of an R-Line ‘plus’.


Which hatches would those be?

Hatches from manufacturers such as Ford (Titanium X and ST Line X trim levels), Vauxhall (Ultimate trim level), Renault (esprit Alpine trim level), Peugeot (GT Trim level). Most - if not all of - other manufacturers who have a hatch models in their vehicle range but have stopped building a performance version will also have well-equipped, high specced top of range models.

So even if the hot hatch as we know it is dead or dying, it should still be possible to buy a car with plenty of ‘toys’ :smiley:.
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