Weight....

[ajmoir36]

I suppose that it makes it 100kg lighter than the figures above.

[mkviken]

They can make figures suit themselves by saying the mk7 body shell is 'up to' 100kg lighter due to alumium roof and bonnet but they don't tell you about the 150kg of added crap you don't need or want which makes the car actually heavier than the old one.

Jag have been doing it for years - alumium bodies but the cars get heavier and heavier but they say the body shell is lighter so people assume the car will be lighter. Mercedes and Audi do it and they weigh as much as a tank.




I fell for VW early press lies saying the car had alumium panels so assumed it would be lighter than the mk6 but all the stats I've see. So far make the car heavier so I won't be buying a mk7.

[monkeyhanger]

The MK7 body is just under 30kg lighter than the outgoing body (due to "thinner and stronger" steel panels) and there have been some savings made in some new engine blocks. I suspect that the models with the maximum weight saving will be those with 120PS or less as they have a torsional bar rear suspension instead of the multi-link set-up. 30kg body + engine weight savings + rear suspension savings will probably add up to around 100kg on the lowest models in the range.

[charlie]

I wouldn't let the weight issue put you of buying the car it's the tech that goes in it that makes it better and more fuel efficient unless of course you are Lewis Hamilton 

[mkviken]

Tech and fuel economy are 2 things which don't interest me in slightest to be honest


I prefer driving a lighter car over a heavy one. Weight destroys everything - ride, handling, braking and performance.

Its like Building a BMW x6 over 2000kg and fittin it with stop start is a joke. Why not shed some weight and improve the car in every way?

[mkviken]

The MK7 body is just under 30kg lighter than the outgoing body (due to "thinner and stronger" steel panels) and there have been some savings made in some new engine blocks. I suspect that the models with the maximum weight saving will be those with 120PS or less as they have a torsional bar rear suspension instead of the multi-link set-up. 30kg body + engine weight savings + rear suspension savings will probably add up to around 100kg on the lowest models in the range.

The GTI body shell has some alumium panels so is lighter than the base model mk7

The aluminium roof was something that really appealed to me (Lower c of g) but the weight still goes up


Who the hell wants or needs an electronic hand brake? Complication for the sake of it and adds nothing to the car whatsoever except the cost of brake servicing in 3 years time

[Booth11]

The MK7 body is just under 30kg lighter than the outgoing body (due to "thinner and stronger" steel panels) and there have been some savings made in some new engine blocks. I suspect that the models with the maximum weight saving will be those with 120PS or less as they have a torsional bar rear suspension instead of the multi-link set-up. 30kg body + engine weight savings + rear suspension savings will probably add up to around 100kg on the lowest models in the range.

The GTI body shell has some alumium panels so is lighter than the base model mk7

The aluminium roof was something that really appealed to me (Lower c of g) but the weight still goes up


Who the hell wants or needs an electronic hand brake? Complication for the sake of it and adds nothing to the car whatsoever except the cost of brake servicing in 3 years time

Have to agree with you on this and they will always manipulate the figures to suit themselves.   And so much for the lighter aluminium roof if you stick a massive panoramic sunroof in it - but at least that is optional!

[matchboy]

I wouldn't let the weight issue put you of buying the car it's the tech that goes in it that makes it better and more fuel efficient unless of course you are Lewis Hamilton 

Lewis would go for the A Class anyway 

[Gryzor]

It beats me why some people on here even have Golf GTIs in the first place if performance and agility are more important than technology and comfort.  Surely there are faster, lighter, lesser equipped cars out there that better suit your needs?

[Booth11]

They might not be more important but for some are AS important.  It's about balance and I think most of us recognise that tech and comfort has equal place otherwise, as you say, we'd be driving something else.