MK8 GTI test drive

[king monkey]

Another photo. Those 18s look tiny this time around. Something about the mk8 needs 19s.

[fredgroves]

Any specific thoughts? I'm really interested in real world opinions.

[king monkey]

Any specific thoughts? I'm really interested in real world opinions.

It’s hard when it’s not my opinion and he’s not a car person to be honest Fred. He loved the interior but said that I just didn’t feel special enough for the money involved. He was quoted a further £550pm today!

He’s had a 7.5 GTD and said it felt rapid compared to that, with the dsg being excellent. No issues with the shifter being so short now. The little video he sent me was interesting as the digital displays seem a huge step up from the 7.5. The soundaktor was very noticeable too. He said the wheels looked tiny (standard 18s) and would have to be upgraded in his opinion. His last comment was interesting and probably tells you a lot from a non car persons point of view. ‘I could get an Audi Q5 for that money.’ Not sure how true that is but the perception is interesting.

Hope this is helpful. I’m planning a test drive at some point but have already decided that this is the first gti I don’t want to buy.

[king monkey]

Final photo for anyone who’s interested.

[fredgroves]

Thanks.

One of my big questions is if the red dials can be changed to some other colour. At night I'd not be able to read the low contrast. Need to be white ideally for me. That's a genuine deal breaker for me. More so than any aesthetics.

[king monkey]

Thanks.

One of my big questions is if the red dials can be changed to some other colour. At night I'd not be able to read the low contrast. Need to be white ideally for me. That's a genuine deal breaker for me. More so than any aesthetics.

I’d be amazed if it can’t as all the ambient lighting can be changed.

[king monkey]

A little clarification on the interior. He’s just told me that the seats and look of the cabin was spot on but the digital interface was totally over engineered. That surprises me massively as he absolutely loves his tech and gadgets. If it doesn’t appeal to people like that, who does it appeal to?

[SRGTD]

Thanks.

One of my big questions is if the red dials can be changed to some other colour. At night I'd not be able to read the low contrast. Need to be white ideally for me. That's a genuine deal breaker for me. More so than any aesthetics.

I’d be amazed if it can’t as all the ambient lighting can be changed.

I seem to remember that monkeyhanger had an issue with the AID in his Polo GTI+. The dealer did a software update and inadvertently changed the colour of the instrument display in the process.

I know the AID in the Polo won’t be the same version as that used in the mk8 Golf, but if it’s possible to change the default colour in the Polo then you’d think / hope it would also be possible in the Golf, even if it means a coding change by the dealer or by someone with OBD11 or VCDS.

[fredgroves]

I know you can change the aid colour in the mk7.5... You can change it from a few different options using vcds. Think there are some different profiles for different vw vehicles. My gtd is white though.

In one of the video reviews they showed toggling the mib to different colours but didn't show if that changed the aid and if it also changed the ambient lighting all in one go.

[Guzzle]

I think on the 7.5 it needs coding to change the colour, but definitely on the lower spec Mk8's the backlighting colours can be changed via the touchscreen.

https://youtu.be/VcTrmufAxVw