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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Exonian on 03 November 2019, 21:12
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Whilst England embarked on losing a rugby game first thing on Saturday this little fella headed home with me
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White! Why did it have to be white?!!
A lot can happen in a week.
Firstly two adorable/demented 8 week old kittens arrived, unexpected but very welcome.
Secondly my new boss started, expected but less welcome.
Following that, I ended up buying yet another hunk of tin. The jury is out on that one!
I’d been to see the car before and wasn’t bowled over.
It was the launch car one of my nearby dealers had in. The sales manager took it on as his staff car and I’d seen it whilst passing the showroom en route back from somewhere. Curiosity dragged me in and I was waylaid by the salesperson who sold me my Clubsport then taken out for a very quick drive in it.
If I was to have a TCR it needed to be at least a different colour to my previous four white mk7 Golfs!!
Fast forward a few months and cars had taken very much a back seat in life.
I happened to be passing by the dealership again and noticed the car had been put on the forecourt so curiously looked up the price of it. Again, I was less than impressed and ignored it.
Clearing out safari pages open on my phone mid week whilst kitten-sitting I clocked that the page was still open on my phone amongst dozens of others.
I had a quick nose, saw that the price had been reduced £2k, michevously thought about putting in a cheeky low offer as it was end of month, decided against it and swiped left. Gone.
As the kitties were asleep on my lap I had nothing better to do so did a quick calculation on my fingers of how the TCR compared to my Clubsport spec for spec to see what had moved on in two and a half years.
I worked out that compared to my CS it had £5k of extra kit on it!
DSG standard now maybe but was £1400 extra on the Ed40. Reifnitz pack £2100, Dynaudio £600 or so, Heated screen £320 ish, dark tints £125(?), then the bits my Ed40 lacks which are now standard: HBA, RVC, App Con, KESSY, winter pack etc. which were all expensive extras on the CS.
Ok, I decided I’d throw in a cheeky offer after all, month end and all that.
30 seconds later I’d emailed.
The next day they accepted, collection was arranged for a couple days later and I was left scratching my head as to what I’d just committed myself to!
I said the first thing I was going to do was rip all the checkers off the sides so the dealership valeters instantly did it for me. Unfortunately the valeters took it a bit literally and took the TCR logos off too! They did offer to replace them but I like the clean sides so may get the transfers and apply them myself at a later date if I feel the poor car is suffering an identity crisis!
Enough of all that, what’s it like?
Cars need to be seen in the flesh to appreciate the details and after the svelte but quite tall and athletic looking Clubsport (wearing Pretoria wheels) the TCR looks visually meaner and slightly lower in a discrete way. I really dislike the rear diffuser on the TCR but never liked the Clubsport rear spoiler so it’s 50/50 there!
The Clubsport looks and feels like a special car all over where the TCR feels like a beefed up GTI. It has a heavyweight fighter look about it as opposed to the athletic Ed40. It’s the skirts that do it obviously as it’s the same bodywork!
The drilled brakes look the part.
The black roof is much better executed on the CS, the TCR’s ends abruptly before the tailgate which I’m not mad keen on, then there is the little black spoiler which I actually quite like.
The Reifnitz alloys look quite beefy, they look like they come straight out of the Borbet catalogue and aren’t pretty but do suit the car.
Inside fares better than I thought it might. The red on the seats looks very gaudy in some pictures but is actually very toned down and almost tasteful! Even my style conscious 21 year old son remarked on how nice they were.
I like the perforated leather feel from the steering wheel. Not as funky as the Alcantara on the CS ‘wheel but feels more natural against the skin.
The plastic trim panel patterns on the doors and passenger side of the dash are very busy. They remind me of trying to read a menu after several glasses of strong wine - a blur!
The digital dials are clear and much less fussy than an A35 or M135i. I’d been a bit sceptical about how plain they are previously but in use they’re quite good. I’d still prefer nicely styled analogue.
I concur with hertsman about how clear the RVC is on these later models. I specced one in my 2013 PP and this one seems much clearer.
A GTI is all about driving but it’s very early days yet for me with this one.
So far it’s all been about the gearbox. I’ve wanted to try out and get to like a DSG for years now, the latter I’m going to really struggle with.
Some aspects of DSGness I like so far, but after a mere 40 miles of ownership there are aspects I really dislike.
The one area I’d hoped would be head and shoulders quicker than a manual is pulling away or moving out of junctions but I find it incredibly sluggish here unless the throttle pedal is booted. The box is practically in third gear by the time the wheels have rotated half a turn!
There are a few other quirks I really dislike about the gearbox too but I’ll gradually work out ways to live around them specific to my driving style. I won’t clutter this post up with it, I need to familiarise myself with it which will at least keep me entertained/frustrated!
There are things I really like too.
The TCR engine is a peach. Enough said.
I’m running the car without my pedalbox fitted whilst acclimatising to it and it feels more responsive than any mk7 I’ve driven so far minus that magical box of tricks. I’m looking forward to getting the pedal box on as I think it’ll bring the gearbox alive too.
The stop start is annoying with the DSG, I liked it on the manual cars. VCDS tweak needed there.
Fuel economy similar to the Ed40.
A few people have said the TCR has purely exhaust noise. It doesn’t. The Soundaktor is alive and well and just as irritating as ever. That was quickly switched to Eco.
The exhaust is the standard non-Akra as the car is a few months old.
It burbles loudly at idle but doesn’t get too loud on the move. Due to noise regulations it’s very civilised at speed. My wife has seen it for all of five seconds as I brought it out of the garage and asked if it was a diesel because of the noise it makes at idle from the exhaust. My neighbours won’t be impressed at 5am as it’s quite loud.
When I drove the car a few months ago I wasn’t impressed with the DCC.
I set the ride to ‘comfort’ on collection and have been running it in that mode for the two days I’ve owned it. My usage was minimal on Saturday, the weather was hideous so it was driven 12 miles home at 10am and put away for the day.
Sunday was a 30 mile round trip to get fuel and collect my son but the journey was constrained by traffic.
The ride in that setting is less jittery than the non-DCC Ed40 and quite comfy. Slightly wallowing on sudden bends if not loaded up before entry but ok. I’ll try out other settings as I go.
It must have been in ‘normal’ on test drive as it felt no better than my Ed40 on standard suspension. I’d save my £900 if ordering a new one, just my personal view. But as I’ve got it now I’ll make the most of it! :grin:
Overall view after very limited time? A fantastic car but I’m not convinced by the gearbox at all. Let’s see how quick it wins me over, most people who switched to DSG say they’d never go back, then again soon we will have little choice!
After my abject disappointment in how the mk8 looks and the fact the sporty ones will lack the 48v system at launch this’ll have to do me for a while.
It was bought for commuting as I was a bit (lot) too precious about the pretty boy Clubsport so used my other car most days, but my son requisitions the latter nearly all the time now. The heated front screen was a massive incentive to make the offer on the car if I’m honest. This GTI won’t be getting the pampered life my Ed40 had.
Next update after the pedalbox is fitted, unless I forgot to add something.
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Looks great Exonian :smiley:
I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but i've a soft spot for a TCR in white. Especially with the Reifnitz. Good choice. I hope it serves you well while your eyes adjust to the Mk8 :wink:
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1. Congratulations! A full set now?
2. Are you mad?
3. Does this mean you have some CS wheels knocking around that you want to give away :whistle:
4. Looks great!
5. You mention all the things that concern me about DSG. I'm far from against autos, had a few and the last one fot 12 years, but I think a proper auto might be best, DSG just sounds too complex. I must try one.
6. Did I congratulate you? :smiley:
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The more I see the tcr in white the more I like it. I think I’d go white tbh. It’s so easy to keep looking good too. Great write up as always. Very pleased for you!
How cheeky was cheeky in terms of your offer? I had to ask!!
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If you want instant response from the DSG just drop it into S mode before pulling away. I often use that on roundabouts to nip in that bit quicker. Driving in S mode all the time is tiring though. It nearly red lines before changing up and I don’t like the way it engages engine braking so I stay in Normal most of the time.
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Looks great Exonian :smiley:
I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but i've a soft spot for a TCR in white. Especially with the Reifnitz. Good choice. I hope it serves you well while your eyes adjust to the Mk8 :wink:
Thank you.
It’s no beauty but has a certain meanness to it especially up close.
Once myopia sets in my love of the mk8 will flourish. :grin:
1. Congratulations! A full set now?
2. Are you mad?
3. Does this mean you have some CS wheels knocking around that you want to give away :whistle:
4. Looks great!
5. You mention all the things that concern me about DSG. I'm far from against autos, had a few and the last one fot 12 years, but I think a proper auto might be best, DSG just sounds too complex. I must try one.
6. Did I congratulate you? :smiley:
1. Thank you. My first FL car so I’ve got a few to catch up on!!
2. Patently!
3. I’ve donated them to the back of my garage. Always handy to have 4 full sized spares left at home when you get a flat tyre miles and miles away...
4. Thank you. :smiley:
5. I love real autos (good ones at least) but DSG... hmmm.
6. You did indeed :grin:
The more I see the tcr in white the more I like it. I think I’d go white tbh. It’s so easy to keep looking good too. Great write up as always. Very pleased for you!
How cheeky was cheeky in terms of your offer? I had to ask!!
Thank you :smiley:
I really wanted grey but white suits the car well (and makes a nice change for me :laugh: )
A gentleman never discusses how badly he’s been ripped off! :grin:
It was realistic cheeky or they’d have told me to go away.
Plus they wanted my Pretorias left on and made me pay my own road tax.
I was crapping myself sat in the showroom in case it sneaked over into the higher rate. Thankfully it was £145.
Oh and I’d only just sunk £60 odd quid of V-Power in a couple days beforehand as I’d no intention of changing my car before next spring 🙄
I’d been running it on Momentum from new but shoved some V-Power in recently as Tesco was shut and surprisingly the car felt more responsive. So I stuck with it.
If you want instant response from the DSG just drop it into S mode before pulling away. I often use that on roundabouts to nip in that bit quicker. Driving in S mode all the time is tiring though. It nearly red lines before changing up and I don’t like the way it engages engine braking so I stay in Normal most of the time.
Thanks for the tip :afro:
I was kinda hoping being an auto I could be a lazy git and not touch the gearstick at all ever except using paddles for engine braking.
I’ll try your method :smiley:
Knowing how crap I am I’ll end up putting it in reverse instead of S :laugh:
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Agree with Mutley on the S thing, for hustling the DSG box, but stick with it. I had the same initial concerns as you, but, with time and experimentation, you do learn to control it, pretty much, with the throttle.
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Looks really nice in white, good combo with the wheels.
Had a quick look at a TCR the other day myself, nice touches , like the standard seats.
Just strange they've mixed gloss black and matt black, I would have to match it all.
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Nice!
Did you trade something for this? Or have you now got a house full of VW?
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I'm not a fan of the TCR but I can see why it made sense with all the extras it has over your ed40, I much prefer the styling on the ed40 with its big wing and more subtle gloss black skirts. The DSG box will grow on you but it's definitely not as good as a nice smooth manual box. The biggest thing I'd miss from the ed40 would be that alcantara steering wheel 😍.
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Heartiest congratulations on the new kittens.
Oh and also the car....
Hope the DSG grows on you, but personally I think you're either a DSG person or not. And like me, I suspect you're the later.
And for what it's worth, I reckon it looks approximately 9-million times better in white than the undercoat grey.
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Looks nice! White is growing on me for the TCR, wasn't sure at first but does suit it well.
Nice!
Did you trade something for this? Or have you now got a house full of VW?
He said Plus they wanted my Pretorias left on and made me pay my own road tax. so assume the CS was traded-in.
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An interesting read, Exonian.
But why did you sell a car that you were clearly very fond of, for one that you seem pretty indifferent towards??! And with the wrong gearbox! Will be interested to hear if you grow to like dsg- or not.
I agree with your comments about AID- I wasn’t at all keen before using it, but got to like it very quickly
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Congratulations Exonian. Maybe the subject line should have been 'naked TCR?' :grin:
The TCR decals by the back doors are subtle and will look good if you decide to put them back on.
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Agree with Mutley on the S thing, for hustling the DSG box, but stick with it. I had the same initial concerns as you, but, with time and experimentation, you do learn to control it, pretty much, with the throttle.
I’ve been out practicing today, with a heavy boot it pulls away a bit more briskly but I can fully see why for years there have been complaints that D is like South Coast Pensioner mode and S is like Lewis Hamilton mode and there is no Normal Person Driving mode. Frustrating and masks that lovely riding a tidal wave of torque feeling as the turbo boosts. Snick, snick, snick... the engine could be anything!
Nice!
Did you trade something for this? Or have you now got a house full of VW?
Unfortunately I had to put the CS in against the TCR!
If I could afford more than one Golf at a time the second one would have to be a mk1 or mk2 GTI.
It was a straight toss up between a TCR or M135i and the TCR cost me a lot less so got the honours. 6 - 12 months earlier than planned but hey ho. Impulse decision based on a number of factors, not least the bountiful supply of in stock TCRs which will dry up sooner or later.
Would have been far more sensible to keep the Ed40 for a couple more years but sometimes I hate being sensible. Long time dead and all that.
Looks really nice in white, good combo with the wheels.
Had a quick look at a TCR the other day myself, nice touches , like the standard seats.
Just strange they've mixed gloss black and matt black, I would have to match it all.
I’ve grown to quite like the mish mash of gloss and matte black. It’s a strange mix but kind of works in the flesh. I don’t normally like black wheels but it all just sort of works. The scheme works best with grey or white I think.
I'm not a fan of the TCR but I can see why it made sense with all the extras it has over your ed40, I much prefer the styling on the ed40 with its big wing and more subtle gloss black skirts. The DSG box will grow on you but it's definitely not as good as a nice smooth manual box. The biggest thing I'd miss from the ed40 would be that alcantara steering wheel 😍.
The TCR is a bit Oliver Reed or Tom Hardy compared to the Brad Pitt Clubsport but it makes a bit of a change!
The steering wheel could always be swapped out or wrapped by a specialist at a later date. The latter a bit more appealing as it would then be a fraction thicker which would be welcome.
The perforated leather feels nice to hold though.
Heartiest congratulations on the new kittens.
Oh and also the car....
Hope the DSG grows on you, but personally I think you're either a DSG person or not. And like me, I suspect you're the later.
And for what it's worth, I reckon it looks approximately 9-million times better in white than the undercoat grey.
Thank you! :smiley:
I’m determined to bond with the bloody box of cogs! :grin:
If not then my next car will be something very different
Glad you approve of the colour (non)choice!
Looks better minus the chequered flag it wore before.
Looks nice! White is growing on me for the TCR, wasn't sure at first but does suit it well.
Thanks, I quite like it too.
An interesting read, Exonian.
But why did you sell a car that you were clearly very fond of, for one that you seem pretty indifferent towards??! And with the wrong gearbox! Will be interested to hear if you grow to like dsg- or not.
I agree with your comments about AID- I wasn’t at all keen before using it, but got to like it very quickly
Because I do daft things from time to time.
The CS was bought for occasional use and I was always precious about using it. I now have a dirty rural commute in darkness all year round so some of the mod cons the TCR has are massively attractive such as HBA and a heated front screen in winter.
I’ve wanted to get to know DSG for years now (but would never pay £1400 for it, I’d accept it as sole choice though) and if you cut me in half I’d have Golf GTI embossed right through me like a stick of rock so a massive part of it was curiosity. I come from a family of hoarders and collectors so it’s a bit genetic too, my father would chase down an unusual coin, buy it, hold it in his hand and admire it, keep it for a while and then sell it on to another collector.
The CS bought because I wanted something a bit special, the TCR bought to earn its keep but not be something boring.
Congratulations Exonian. Maybe the subject line should have been 'naked TCR?' :grin:
The TCR decals by the back doors are subtle and will look good if you decide to put them back on.
Hahaha! :grin: I missed a trick there!
I do like the small TCR decals. After winter I may well return the identity to the poor car. :afro:
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Congratulations Exonian that’s a lovely car. I think you’ll grow to
like the DSG box in time.
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Congrats on the car and the colour :smiley:
Hopefully the DSG will grow on you as auto / dual clutch does seem to be becoming the norm.
Nice to see your car without the TCR logo - it does stand out more on white and I've wondered a few times whether mine would look better without.
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Morning
This was a surprise to see, think most on here done the same, just gone and pulled the trigger, and then by that act alone had a period of uncertainty - To progress in anything you have to take a risk and accept the uncomfortable period and trust in time you got it right.
Your change is very different from the rest of us in the car traded in and fact you moving to DSG for the first time, so your leap was bigger where mine was more evolution than revolution.
How you used your CS does have a bearing on the taking to the DSG as for me, the TCR is the daily car, the workhorse for the miles and when on the commute you really do appreciate the strain that the DSG removes from your journey
On a weekend and sparingly used car this need is negated and the manual is more readily embraced.
If the TCR is becoming the daily and you intend to just drive it all the time, then you will come to appreciate the ease of driving side of the DSG as move around in the stop start traffic
My gripe with the DSG is the S gearing, as it was way too long in the R, and though seems more usable in the TCR, I tend to always flick the lever to manual and go to the paddles - This is my 7th year in a DSG now, so its manual use is completely second nature to me and personally love the technology as on/off the clutch used to drive me nuts as well as irritate my worn out knee from years of playing sport.
Had a treasured MG when younger that had to sale when did the family thing and later in life revisited that nostalgia and had an MG in the garage for weekend use, similarly that was reluctant to drive but had a bit of a turnaround in thinking that if something is not used and is functional it has to go, and the car, a long with some other previously prize collectables has been shifted - Its been a freeing experience
Cars are to be driven and enjoyed, and not sat in garages for posterity.
The TCR in white looks so much better with the Reifnitz as they match the caps and blend with the car more than the gloss of the Pretoria, - If I had the TCR in white, yours is how I would have specced it
This is my first GTI, it does feel and drive quite differently from the R and with all the added GTI accents and trims its more of a jump for me than yourself coming from a very capable GTI.
Still personally not seen another TCR on the road since they were released, so you keeping the rarity aspect.
Did latterly establish there was a Soundaktor as its in the individual menu setting , but it must be set up differently? as the one on my R was extremely noticeable and intrusive, it really rumbled and I hated it, whereas the TCR its not noticeable, definitely not in that way, - however, I have since set up the individual with this turned off, everything else turned to sport, except DCC which have in Normal
About 40 miles short of the magic 1000 now and been opening it up a little more, and personally enjoying the GTI experience more and more, its lively and agile, love the look of it, its definitely getting glances, and loving the deep Akra sounds, which when have pushed some more, it makes some nice noises on the overrun.
Think you caused yourself a very natural period of uncertainty by the sheer nature of how you traded in a car you really liked in quick time.
Normally you would make the change after a long period of deliberation so that period of uncertainty is mainly quashed prior to the change.
But do have a thought to what I said earlier of just keeping things, bordering on collecting in terms of cars, and hopefully you might come to same thinking as me, as in keeping them for what? Of course I keep some real core items, but they minimal now and much of what we have has full use and functionality - So feel freed of the CS and just enjoy driving.
Finally Volkswizard is huge advocate and he knows his VW, so hopefully the TCR and more so it seems the DSG will grow on you
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Great post as usual Andy and congratulations on the car. You didn't miss anything with the rugby :laugh:
Your wife must be very understanding that's all I'm saying :grin:
Finally you've moved over to the DSG fold. That itch to hard not to scratch?
You may remember I moved over to my first ever DSG after only ever driving manuals for the last 30 years.
It will be 3 years this January since I made the jump.
I really struggled at first with it.
The Stop Start is so different to the manual. When you are ready to go in a manual, as soon as you dip the clutch the engine starts so it doesn't affect anything.
But with the DSG you can't just roll up to a roundabout, and have the engine Stop as it then becomes dangerous if you are just trying to find a wee gap to go in. So it definitely gets put off for me at roundabouts.
Traffic lights are different if you are in a queue of traffic, its fine to have on but I'll switch it off if I'm first in the queue.
Interestingly, if you have the Stop/Start activated and are in a line of traffic and are stopped, mine will start up again automatically when the car generally 2 in front of me starts to move!!! I can understand it starting the car when the car in front moves because of the cars sensors but not sure on how it works with cars in front of that car! I thought I was going crazy but have seen it mentioned on here before.
The other thing I struggled with on the DSG was entering the motorway from a relatively slow slip road.
Trying to time that space to fit into, it comes along and you go to accelerate and the car has literally no power as its in 6th gear and it feels like an eternity before it shifts down and that space is no longer a viable option but your half in it and made the driver behind you slow down! Similarly on various junctions that you're rolling up to.
That is just driver awareness though. In a manual you would never have it in 6th gear and attempt to accelerate into a space in traffic. Once you get to know how the car behaves its much easier to control.
My last gripe is doing hasty 3 point turns. As they are anything but hasty at times.
So after nearly 3 years with the DSG, I do still enjoying jumping into my wife's manual GTI and having that freedom to do as I wish when I want. Which makes me come back to my DSG and put it into manual for a few days which gives me the best of both worlds.
I'm glad to see this car will at least be used and not stored in the garage away from that bad weather and bad roads.
Keep us updated on your progress.
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Beautiful car, enjoy :smiley:
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@ gizzywizzy Thanks Amanda :smiley:
@ Philip Thanks Philip, 99.999% of the population are oblivious to what a TCR is anyway!
@ hertsman I think just being around these forums counts as deliberation of sorts as they give an insight into whether a car is your sort of car far more than a test drive or two can provide over a greater period of time, added together with road tests and other research.
The TCR is a Clubsport turned up a notch and the mod cons added back in to the spec (front sensors, ambient lighting, winter pack etc) and is likely to be just as rare if not more so despite not having a numbered plaque.
Gone are the athletic and tall good looks of the Nürburgring aero kitted car on Pretorias, replaced by a more muscular and hunkered down Golf which lacks the pedigree but is different in enough ways to make it a very significant step (particularly and most noticeably going from manual to DSG).
Your own experiences along with others including Mr Chapple were all big influences.
If the 48v system was looking like a dead cert on the mk8 I might have forgiven it the questionable (being polite) Scirocco meets Eos meets ID3 meets melted plastic mould looks and held fire for a good while. As it was this car was 2/3rds the cost to jump to a similarly specced new one last time I priced it up in the summer (pre price rises) which were above what I could commit to with expensive grown up kids still bleeding me dry!
I totally get what you say about feeling liberated after getting rid of ‘collectibles’ hoarded away. Moving house just over five years ago after nearly 20 years in the same home meant 30 odd years of motoring mags were gotten shot of (they made great loft insulation mind you!) along with car bits dating back to my mk2 Golfs donated to local enthusiasts.
I wonder if your old MG’s are still alive? Be nice to think they are.
@ p3asa Thanks Stevie, really glad you still have your fleet! I can’t believe the R is nearly due its MOT, time flies! I hope you’re keeping well.
I remember well you saying how you were struggling adapting to DSG and it made a refreshing change from people just making the swap and declaring it was the best thing they ever did right afterwards. I just can’t fathom how people can just adapt instantaneously.
The place the DSG should excel - traffic - is where I find it at its worst. Slow witted pulling away but creeps too fast with zero throttle applied when easing along in semi stationary traffic or manoevering in tight car parks or reversing onto the garage. Horrid on roundabouts in Drive and engine braking lacking too.
But then on open country roads making fast smooth progress is lovely so suddenly the traffic crappiness is forgotten.
Best moment with it so far was creeping up to a red traffic light on the bypass, anticipating the change before the stop start kicked in and letting the gearbox do its thing, without my ham fisted manual gear changes hampering progress, pulling the car up to speed very smoothly.
@ BobbyT thank you! :smiley:
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Other early days feelings about the car are that I’m warming to the AID more and more surprisingly. Aside from having an ugly FL base model car whizzing across my line of vision as I get out at the end of the journey (much prefer the pre facelift front ends aside from the GTI where it’s 50/50).
Not at all sold on DCC.
Comfort is quite nice but rolls too much, Normal is jigglier than even my Clubsport and Sport puts the gearbox in sport which is even more annoying than Normal.
The passive dampers on mk7’s were well matched to UK roads.
The engine is still a peach.
I love the drilled discs.
I’m warming to the rear diffuser but will never actually like it.
I really like the side skirts.
Fuel economy 10 - 15% worse than the ED40 despite taking it pretty easy. The gearbox again.
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Huge congrats on a superb car.
I’m a bit biased as I decided to keep the white one of the two I purchased lol.
I just think white with black details is such a nice combo.
Like the write up too as it’s good to have a comparison.
I’m most definitely a DSG (or SMG, Auto, etc) kind of guy so good to see you’ve gone that route this time.
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How’s the MPG in comparison to the R you had?
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Not at all sold on DCC.
Comfort is quite nice but rolls too much, Normal is jigglier than even my Clubsport and Sport puts the gearbox in sport which is even more annoying than Normal.
The passive dampers on mk7’s were well matched to UK roads.
I went the other way Mk7 with DCC and now Mk7.5 without.
I've never missed it - seriously, not once.
Nine hundred quid buys a lot of Jamaica ginger cake and mine still has the special cake drawers too :-)
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Huge congrats on a superb car.
I’m a bit biased as I decided to keep the white one of the two I purchased lol.
I just think white with black details is such a nice combo.
Like the write up too as it’s good to have a comparison.
I’m most definitely a DSG (or SMG, Auto, etc) kind of guy so good to see you’ve gone that route this time.
Thanks :smiley:
I’ve just found your thread, somehow I must’ve missed it before. I take my hat off to you for dedication to the cause with that little project :afro: that’s quite amazing what you’ve done going to those lengths!
I bet the exhaust sounds amazing.
How’s the MPG in comparison to the R you had?
My R was a manual and I lived on the outskirts of the city when I had it with a very short commute but would take it for a cross country blast early in the morning from time to time so it’s hard to compare directly.
I’d say similar.
It’s very early days with the TCR yet though so MPG hasn’t settled as I’ve been experimenting.
Not at all sold on DCC.
Comfort is quite nice but rolls too much, Normal is jigglier than even my Clubsport and Sport puts the gearbox in sport which is even more annoying than Normal.
The passive dampers on mk7’s were well matched to UK roads.
I went the other way Mk7 with DCC and now Mk7.5 without.
I've never missed it - seriously, not once.
Nine hundred quid buys a lot of Jamaica ginger cake and mine still has the special cake drawers too :-)
Amen to that! :grin:
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Congratulations on your TCR - looks stunning and I think the white paint always looks better in the metal than from photos (and it looks ace anyway). The contrasting wheels are lovely, I really like that design.
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Congratulations on your TCR - looks stunning and I think the white paint always looks better in the metal than from photos (and it looks ace anyway). The contrasting wheels are lovely, I really like that design.
Thank you Andy :smiley:
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After a couple days using a different car I took the TCR out on Saturday to celebrate a whole week in my possession.
The only reason I mention it is I had a much better day with the DSG!
It was good to look at it fresh after a week of seeing it only in complete darkness too.
It definitely looks lower than the Clubsport and quite aggressive from all angles.
The exhaust is definitely very noisy at idle but I think the CS exhaust was actually slightly more vocal on the move. Not sweet sounding with comedy pops like the M135i on start up though.
It certainly feels more different to the Ed40 than I expected due to added tech etc.
I’m still running it sans pedalbox too. I’m looking forward to getting that fitted but will hold off a while just to get a proper feel for the car and learn the gearbox first.
The R and Ed40 had the box fitted as soon as I got home.
No further mods planned unless a TCU tune becomes a must.
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Thanks :smiley:
I’ve just found your thread, somehow I must’ve missed it before. I take my hat off to you for dedication to the cause with that little project :afro: that’s quite amazing what you’ve done going to those lengths!
I bet the exhaust sounds amazing.
Cheers buddy. Yeah I’m a little nuts sometimes. Should see what I’ve done to my 335i to fit a set of wheels :whistle: :evil:
The exhaust sounds amazing. So different to the Akra on the 3er. Definitely deeper and louder in the cabin. Just need to decide on the wheels as still not 100% sold on them at the minute.
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The place the DSG should excel - traffic - is where I find it at its worst. Slow witted pulling away but creeps too fast with zero throttle applied when easing along in semi stationary traffic or manoevering in tight car parks or reversing onto the garage. Horrid on roundabouts in Drive and engine braking lacking too.
Try turning the Auto Hold off and using the footbrake like a clutch to control its creeping speed, just like you would with a torque converter auto. That way you don't have to tap the throttle to make it move, them swap to the brake to slow it down. As for engine braking, is it in coasting mode?
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Looks fantastic absolutely lovely ,I try not to be to precious over material things however it can be hard , but if you buy it as a tool you can enjoy it as it was made for.
Lovely
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Cheers buddy. Yeah I’m a little nuts sometimes. Should see what I’ve done to my 335i to fit a set of wheels :whistle: :evil:
The exhaust sounds amazing. So different to the Akra on the 3er. Definitely deeper and louder in the cabin. Just need to decide on the wheels as still not 100% sold on them at the minute.
The world needs more people like you :afro: :grin:
Hard to see the wheels properly in your photos on my phone screen but I’ve always found the mk7 Golf shape really fussy to match wheels to for some reason.
On every previous Golf generation I’ve had (rather a lot of them) I’ve gone aftermarket, but after six years of mk7’s (five of them) I’ve stuck with various OEM designs (except my first 2013 GTI which had aftermarket wheels which looked pretty OEM) because the shape of the mk7 seems to suit factory wheels better to my eyes. Mind you I’m getting old and boring.
Keep up the work on yours! Maybe a little tailgate lip spoiler?
The place the DSG should excel - traffic - is where I find it at its worst. Slow witted pulling away but creeps too fast with zero throttle applied when easing along in semi stationary traffic or manoevering in tight car parks or reversing onto the garage. Horrid on roundabouts in Drive and engine braking lacking too.
Try turning the Auto Hold off and using the footbrake like a clutch to control its creeping speed, just like you would with a torque converter auto. That way you don't have to tap the throttle to make it move, them swap to the brake to slow it down. As for engine braking, is it in coasting mode?
Thanks Simon.
Hmm, could be in coasting mode.
I’ve found a firmer prod on the brakes drops it down a gear or two and provides some engine braking.
Looks fantastic absolutely lovely ,I try not to be to precious over material things however it can be hard , but if you buy it as a tool you can enjoy it as it was made for.
Lovely
Thanks Jason. :smiley:
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Now getting at one with the TCR am actually finding the DSG far more usable than the R in S, where I abandoned use of it due to the gearing being way too long - This maybe just a MK 7.5 trait and the extra gear to make the 7 but I can keep the TCR in S and it will change up earlier and be more recognisable of not at that point pushing a B road for example but on some shorter route.
Did read a while back that the TCR has the same DSG as the track TCR, which have no idea is true, but there is definitely a different more usable behaviour in S to the MK 7 R
Of course you still getting used to and trying to find some love for the DSG full stop! But be interested to read if anyone else has moved from a MK 7 to a MK 7.5 and found the DSG S more usable?
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Now getting at one with the TCR am actually finding the DSG far more usable than the R in S, where I abandoned use of it due to the gearing being way too long - This maybe just a MK 7.5 trait and the extra gear to make the 7 but I can keep the TCR in S and it will change up earlier and be more recognisable of not at that point pushing a B road for example but on some shorter route.
Did read a while back that the TCR has the same DSG as the track TCR, which have no idea is true, but there is definitely a different more usable behaviour in S to the MK 7 R
Of course you still getting used to and trying to find some love for the DSG full stop! But be interested to read if anyone else has moved from a MK 7 to a MK 7.5 and found the DSG S more usable?
I had the 6S DSG in my first Mk7.5 and it wasn't much good unless you were in full attack mode! The 7S DSG is much better, will quickly shift into 2nd instead of holding onto to about 4k and adapts quickly to your throttle input and position.
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I think there’s possibly things lost in translation or deliberately ambiguously worded with the TCR press releases and spec sheets and I doubt there’s the same enthusiast following to go digging into part numbers comparing it to the Ed40 and CSS when it comes to steering and suspension.
Bearing in mind the amount of development put into the CSS I’d imagine there was far from a clean sheet of paper used in developing the TCR. Scale of economies and a proven parts bin from the CSS and Cupra Nurburgring record attempts to keep costs down. The suspension on my car, especially at the rear definitely looks more than 5mm lower than the Ed40.
The DSG of the track TCR possibly shares the basic mechanicals of the GTI/R ‘box but ratios and some components are likely bespoke to deal with abuse on a circuit. Would love to be proved wrong.
If I get a clear run later I’ll have a play in Sport once the engine and ‘box is fully warmed through.
Still running the car sans pedalbox and it definitely feels sharper without it than any of my previous mk7 iterations did.
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The world needs more people like you :afro: :grin:
Hmmm not according to my wife :whistle:
Hard to see the wheels properly in your photos on my phone screen but I’ve always found the mk7 Golf shape really fussy to match wheels to for some reason.
On every previous Golf generation I’ve had (rather a lot of them) I’ve gone aftermarket, but after six years of mk7’s (five of them) I’ve stuck with various OEM designs (except my first 2013 GTI which had aftermarket wheels which looked pretty OEM) because the shape of the mk7 seems to suit factory wheels better to my eyes. Mind you I’m getting old and boring.
Will try and get some better pics but being black is always the issue with pics lol. I’m not keen on black rims tbh so either sell them on or refurb them an anthracite maybe.
I do like some of the OE rims available for the Mk7/7.5 so have toyed with buying a set of OE rims instead but will see.
Keep up the work on yours! Maybe a little tailgate lip spoiler?
Will try lol. Well did just on the spur of the moment get her mapped on Saturday lol. So now running around 315.
Not sure on any other mods though yet. Will see.
You got any plans for yours?
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I think there’s possibly things lost in translation or deliberately ambiguously worded with the TCR press releases and spec sheets and I doubt there’s the same enthusiast following to go digging into part numbers comparing it to the Ed40 and CSS when it comes to steering and suspension.
Bearing in mind the amount of development put into the CSS I’d imagine there was far from a clean sheet of paper used in developing the TCR. Scale of economies and a proven parts bin from the CSS and Cupra Nurburgring record attempts to keep costs down. The suspension on my car, especially at the rear definitely looks more than 5mm lower than the Ed40.
The DSG of the track TCR possibly shares the basic mechanicals of the GTI/R ‘box but ratios and some components are likely bespoke to deal with abuse on a circuit. Would love to be proved wrong.
If I get a clear run later I’ll have a play in Sport once the engine and ‘box is fully warmed through.
Still running the car sans pedalbox and it definitely feels sharper without it than any of my previous mk7 iterations did.
it'll be exactly the same 7 speed dsg but possibly with different software. VW aren't going to bespoke a gearbox for one model of car so I'd say software.
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it'll be exactly the same 7 speed dsg but possibly with different software. VW aren't going to bespoke a gearbox for one model of car so I'd say software.
Agreed. Bmw are the same tbh. They generally always reuse the box but bespoke the software. So the M3 and the M3 GTS have the same DCT box but the software is the difference. A lot of guys just put the GTS software on their standard M3’s to achieve better/rawer shifts etc.
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@ rajb Good to see you’ve mapped yours, the GTI responds so well to mapping. The extra torque is so useable day to day and it comes in nice and low in the rev range making gear changing almost unnecessary!
I had a look at your thread on the works computer which made it much easier to view the wheels than on a little phone screen. They suit the car really well. Maybe keep them black over winter and have a rethink in spring. Sometimes it’s nice to make a change for changes sake.
I put darkish grey wheels on my white R and really liked the look.
No plans for modifying my TCR. I really like it as is, it’s plenty quick enough and looks as good as it’ll ever look!
After a lifetime of modding cars the last couple are actually plenty good enough straight out of the box (Ed40 and TCR and even my R I preferred standard to when I added stage 1)
Having said that I do have a set of S2T shifters and my ubiquitous six year old pedalbox to fit at some point. After boring everyone to death for years about it I’m obliged to fit the latter!
Oh, and the Audi 12v socket cover, my only ‘mod’ so far!!
@ mcmaddy I meant the race series wide body cars having possibly uprated internals to cope with the extra power they push out and being driven flat out non stop. The factory road cars will obviously have standard production boxes shared with god knows how many different VAG cars. Whether the software is different to say an R or GTI P is anyone’s guess, VW are bound to ambiguously claim things in sales literature just to sell the things on its ‘features’.
I accidentally put the gearbox in S from cold start on the way to work last night Not realising. It was nice and snappy pulling out onto the main road but then refused to move from 3rd gear in the 40mph zone!
I quickly put it back into Individual mode settings to calm it down a bit.
D for gears
Normal for DCC
Sport for just about everything else
Eco for the Soundaktor.
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@ mcmaddy I meant the race series wide body cars having possibly uprated internals to cope with the extra power they push out and being driven flat out non stop. The factory road cars will obviously have standard production boxes shared with god knows how many different VAG cars. Whether the software is different to say an R or GTI P is anyone’s guess, VW are bound to ambiguously claim things in sales literature just to sell the things on its ‘features’.
I accidentally put the gearbox in S from cold start on the way to work last night Not realising. It was nice and snappy pulling out onto the main road but then refused to move from 3rd gear in the 40mph zone!
I quickly put it back into Individual mode settings to calm it down a bit.
D for gears
Normal for DCC
Sport for just about everything else
Eco for the Soundaktor.
Mat Watson drove the proper TCR on the launch video and did a 0-60 in both and basically the race car was slower than the road car!
Might have been down to trying to launch a FWD car without warm tyres with 350bhp!
With regards to being in S, you can go back to D without having change the driving mode again.
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Mat Watson made a pig's ear of that start. Him and his stick of truth... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :smiley:
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With regards to being in S, you can go back to D without having change the driving mode again.
Yes, flick of the lever!
I scrolled through wondering if I’d put everything in Sport by mistake, so whilst in the menus I clicked on Individual to make sure it went back to how I want it all round.
Biggest concern was if I was stuck in Sport mode the Soundaktor would drive me nuts!
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With regards to being in S, you can go back to D without having change the driving mode again.
Yes, flick of the lever!
I scrolled through wondering if I’d put everything in Sport by mistake, so whilst in the menus I clicked on Individual to make sure it went back to how I want it all round.
Biggest concern was if I was stuck in Sport mode the Soundaktor would drive me nuts!
Yes, I know what you mean - used Sport once and just leave it in Ind unless I really want to try and save some fuel in my city commute and then it's a bit of Eco. The Soundaktor isn't nice and since doing the res delete on mine a year ago, I can actually hear the exhaust and it's pretty loud to be fair so no need for fakery.
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@ rajb Good to see you’ve mapped yours, the GTI responds so well to mapping. The extra torque is so useable day to day and it comes in nice and low in the rev range making gear changing almost unnecessary!
I had a look at your thread on the works computer which made it much easier to view the wheels than on a little phone screen. They suit the car really well. Maybe keep them black over winter and have a rethink in spring. Sometimes it’s nice to make a change for changes sake.
I put darkish grey wheels on my white R and really liked the look.
No plans for modifying my TCR. I really like it as is, it’s plenty quick enough and looks as good as it’ll ever look!
After a lifetime of modding cars the last couple are actually plenty good enough straight out of the box (Ed40 and TCR and even my R I preferred standard to when I added stage 1)
Having said that I do have a set of S2T shifters and my ubiquitous six year old pedalbox to fit at some point. After boring everyone to death for years about it I’m obliged to fit the latter!
Oh, and the Audi 12v socket cover, my only ‘mod’ so far!!
Yeah definitely pleased with the map. I had intended to get a JB4 (as have one on my 35i) but I was helping to fit a set of upgraded headlights on an F30 when the the mapper turned up so one thing leads to another and next thing he’s plugged into the GTI and starts doing the do :evil:
Certainly pulls a lot better and as you say a lot lower down too which is good. I have unfortunately been spinning up the rims trying to get the power down in this colder damper weather lol.
I’ve been modding cars for the past 20odd years so totally agree it gets to a point of just wanting to buy something that’s already fettled with from the factory to save the time/effort/money. Problem for me is I’m a little addicted :laugh:
Glad you’re still going to add a couple of mods however small. Let’s be honest there’s always room for more over time lol.
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Hey Exonian, congrats on the TCR.
I'm thinking about buying a Clubsport, ideally I would get the TCR but it is 10k more expensive, and also there something about the Clubsport that I really like (maybe it is the name combined with the bigger spoiler and alcantara steering wheel).
Is there anything that you enjoyed better on the Clubsport? Did it feel more special in any way? What is clearly better on the TCR? Do you feel the "extra" power?
I'm searching for excuses to buy it :grin:
Thanks!
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I can’t speak about club sport ownership as only had the TCR. I would have liked the alcantara steering wheel but the leather one is ok. However, I think www.royalsteeringwheels.com do alot of retrims of bmw m135i’s to alcantara and get good reviews so maybe something that could be done as an easy mod to a TCR.
I think bucket seats and the steering wheel would have really finished off this as a package.
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I can’t speak about club sport ownership as only had the TCR. I would have liked the alcantara steering wheel but the leather one is ok. However, I think www.royalsteeringwheels.com do alot of retrims of bmw m135i’s to alcantara and get good reviews so maybe something that could be done as an easy mod to a TCR.
I think bucket seats and the steering wheel would have really finished off this as a package.
There are quite a few pics of royal steering wheels fitted to Golf R’s on VWROC.
I actually prefer the feel of the perforated leather TCR ‘wheel on balance but that’s a very personal thing and tthe Alcantara ‘wheel in the Ed40 certainly added that little extra bit of something special to the interior.
Bucket seats option added to the current TCR price would push it more into RS3 territory!
Hey Exonian, congrats on the TCR.
I'm thinking about buying a Clubsport, ideally I would get the TCR but it is 10k more expensive, and also there something about the Clubsport that I really like (maybe it is the name combined with the bigger spoiler and alcantara steering wheel).
Is there anything that you enjoyed better on the Clubsport? Did it feel more special in any way? What is clearly better on the TCR? Do you feel the "extra" power?
I'm searching for excuses to buy it :grin:
Thanks!
Thanks :smiley:
Get a Clubsport!
Compare a Clubsport to a pre-facelift GTI and it feels a really special car. The difference is more than the sum of the parts.
The bespoke bumper and spoiler add a really athletic look, the interior is lovely whether you have buckets or not and the engine and chassis combine to feel really peppy.
Compare a TCR to a 7.5 GTI Performance and it feels more like the TCR is a ‘normal’ GTI with the sort of bits a GTI enthusiast would like to add from the aftermarket and VW parts bin upgrades already fitted at the factory.
History will be kinder to the Clubsport I’d imagine with values holding strong due to the heritage of the CSS ‘ring record kudos and the 40 years edition significance.
If you’re buying a Clubsport Ed40 buy carefully, choose one on condition and how it’s been treated rather than getting anal about spec. I’d have said go and buy mine as it was treated extremely sympathetically and had a very very low mileage. However I think it’s been sold on already and that’s where we get to the crux of tthe matter.
The dealer who bought it from me put it up for £27k and it seems to have been sold in a matter of weeks! I only paid fractionally more for it 2.5 years ago!!
If you’re buying a car for occasional use and cherishing then I’d recommend a Clubsport all day long. It has that je ne sais quoi that’s difficult to quantify and will hold its value well if it stays low mileage and mint.
However, that’s going on a more realistic difference of price than what my Clubsport ended up being advertised at. If faced with a £27k Clubsport and a £32k TCR with the spec differences I quoted at the beginning of the thread and we have a completely different story. Right now I’d take the 2.5 years newer car with around £5k of extras for the £5k difference! No man maths involved there.
Probably most of what is ‘better’ about the TCR could be retrofitted to the Ed40 if you had time, money and more importantly the motivation/enthusiasm.
Drilled 2 piece CSS brakes, FL rear lights, AID, MIB 2.5, App Connect etc. all can be retrofitted.
The overboost could be removed via mapping (or negated via a JB1/4 with added ooomph on overboost), exhausts changed, CSS or TCR suspension bits added...
I’m not exactly selling the TCR in this thread which is more down to the fact the Ed40 felt such a special car so maybe it’s better to ask whether I regret the change.
The answer to that is “actually no I don’t“.
The Ed40 was bought when I lived on the edge of the city and had a 2.5 mile commute with another car at my disposal too.
See this thread if you have several years of your life to spare reading it http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=280393.msg2565076#msg2565076
It was the perfect answer to me at the time, able to be family transport when needed, could swallow flat pack boxes, could transport passengers and luggage to the airport, and yet was a very special feeling car that was great fun when driving solo, sounded good, looked fantastic (once fitted with Pretoria wheels) plus was comfortable and had plenty of mod cons.
Being a numbered limited edition I felt justified not using it as a daily and cherished it accordingly.
Yeah, it’s just a Golf at the end of the day but it’s quite a special Golf to a VW enthusiast.
Moving away from the city and a much longer commute means the TCR is a daily and therefore the added mod cons are appreciated for that purpose alone. But that misses the point a bit. The TCR feels an apt swan song to the mk7 with a harder more aggressive edge to it than any series production GTI.
The blurb somewhere says there is a better spread of torque in this 290PS OPF/GPF/PPF equipped version of the EA888 and that is more noticeable than the full time extra 25PS/BHP. The exhaust sounds more angry at idle, the car looks more aggressive and the whole car has a different air about it to the Ed40 despite being remarkably similar in so many ways.
I’d recommend every GTI enthusiast to buy a Clubsport if they can find one in optimum condition, but as a daily the TCR is a better GTI, there’s just something about it I can’t quite put my finger on.
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there’s just something about it I can’t quite put my finger on.
Excellent write up and I absolutely agree with the above. Somehow feels far more than the sum of it's parts.
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Thanks for your feedback Exonian.
Performance wise, engine, gearbox, steering, exhaust noise, do they feel similar? I read somewhere that the TCR felt more powerful. But up until 200 kmh performance is very very similar, only above that the TCR is much faster, maybe because the lack of the bigger rear spoiler?
Unfortunately I cannot buy a very low mileage Clubsport, because they cost almost the same as a TCR and exceeds what I'm willing to pay, but yesterday after reading your write up I confirmed that I would buy this Clubsport I was looking at for some time, it has 26 000 miles, spec is pretty basic but I like it, reflex silver, leather interior, DCC, DSG, and not much else.
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Congrats on your own Clubsport purchase :afro:
That’s great news :smiley:
I’d say that was far from a basic spec as DSG, DCC, met paint and leather added a good few grand to the base price. The list price new would’ve been well into the high thirties.
Having leather means you get the ambient lighting pack as well as heated seats which added to DCC means quite a luxurious spec!
Silver looks great on mk7’s and contrasts perfectly with the gloss black and red accents of the Clubsport.
Don’t forget to write a thread of your own with plenty of photos!
Performance on the road will be very similar to the TCR, unless you have massive disregard for speed limits there is very little in it.
Noise is one area that they differ slightly, the TCR sounds almost like a machine gun at idle when warm but quietens at speed (from the cab) because it’s tuned to be a bit noisy at low speed but conforms to Drive By noise regs plus has a GPF to quieten it down. The CS seemed a bit noisier to me and more tuneful at higher revs. You’ll get DSG parps too. I kept my parcel shelf under the boot floor on the CS so I could hear the exhaust properly with the Soundaktor switched to eco as I really liked the exhaust note. It’s not a loud exhaust but is quite tuneful.
The engine notes on both sound pretty identical despite the different injection system.
I’ve never driven a DSG ED40 but will assume the six and seven ratio boxes are similar to drive in general use.
What wheels does your Clubsport have?
At 26k miles it’ll probably still be on its original brakes so an easy upgrade to CSS/TCR discs and pads if you so wished once the originals wear out.
No manual clutch to worry about making remapping a worry free experience if you choose that path.
I look forward to hearing your own impressions of it. :cool:
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I'm not sure if it has interior lighting because I'm not from the UK, and also I'm importing this car from Germany, I think every country has different packs. Yes it is a "daily spec" Clubsport with heated seats, leather interior, standard leather seats, DCC and also the 18" lightweight wheels (I think these are the standard ones?) that I quite like, also it has no panoramic roof which is a plus for me, the pan roof squeaks so much on my RS3, I hate it and adds weight in the worst place possible.
Yes I think it still has the stock brakes, and even the stock rear tyres, currently it has front Michelins and rear Bridgestones.
Two years ago I had a mk7 Golf R, it was an amazing car but I never felt it was fun enough, it was a very fast Golf, but never felt more special than that. Since you owned both, do you agree the CS is more fun/engaging/special? (if not faster, but I don't care) :cool: :smiley:
Also I'm buying this car without seeing it, because it is 3000 klms away from where I live, it will take some time to arrive.
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I'm not sure if it has interior lighting because I'm not from the UK, and also I'm importing this car from Germany, I think every country has different packs. Yes it is a "daily spec" Clubsport with heated seats, leather interior, standard leather seats, DCC and also the 18" lightweight wheels (I think these are the standard ones?) that I quite like, also it has no panoramic roof which is a plus for me, the pan roof squeaks so much on my RS3, I hate it and adds weight in the worst place possible.
Yes I think it still has the stock brakes, and even the stock rear tyres, currently it has front Michelins and rear Bridgestones.
Two years ago I had a mk7 Golf R, it was an amazing car but I never felt it was fun enough, it was a very fast Golf, but never felt more special than that. Since you owned both, do you agree the CS is more fun/engaging/special? (if not faster, but I don't care) :cool: :smiley:
Also I'm buying this car without seeing it, because it is 3000 klms away from where I live, it will take some time to arrive.
Is the clubsport to replace your rs3 :shocked:
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I'm not sure if it has interior lighting because I'm not from the UK, and also I'm importing this car from Germany, I think every country has different packs. Yes it is a "daily spec" Clubsport with heated seats, leather interior, standard leather seats, DCC and also the 18" lightweight wheels (I think these are the standard ones?) that I quite like, also it has no panoramic roof which is a plus for me, the pan roof squeaks so much on my RS3, I hate it and adds weight in the worst place possible.
Yes I think it still has the stock brakes, and even the stock rear tyres, currently it has front Michelins and rear Bridgestones.
Two years ago I had a mk7 Golf R, it was an amazing car but I never felt it was fun enough, it was a very fast Golf, but never felt more special than that. Since you owned both, do you agree the CS is more fun/engaging/special? (if not faster, but I don't care) :cool: :smiley:
Also I'm buying this car without seeing it, because it is 3000 klms away from where I live, it will take some time to arrive.
Is the clubsport to replace your rs3 :shocked:
The RS3 is an awesome car, but it is 90% about the noise, I miss a more nimble car in which I can also do some trackdays.
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I'm not sure if it has interior lighting because I'm not from the UK, and also I'm importing this car from Germany, I think every country has different packs. Yes it is a "daily spec" Clubsport with heated seats, leather interior, standard leather seats, DCC and also the 18" lightweight wheels (I think these are the standard ones?) that I quite like, also it has no panoramic roof which is a plus for me, the pan roof squeaks so much on my RS3, I hate it and adds weight in the worst place possible.
Yes I think it still has the stock brakes, and even the stock rear tyres, currently it has front Michelins and rear Bridgestones.
Two years ago I had a mk7 Golf R, it was an amazing car but I never felt it was fun enough, it was a very fast Golf, but never felt more special than that. Since you owned both, do you agree the CS is more fun/engaging/special? (if not faster, but I don't care) :cool: :smiley:
Also I'm buying this car without seeing it, because it is 3000 klms away from where I live, it will take some time to arrive.
I did think you might not be from the UK but wasn’t sure, your English speaking is better then ours! :grin:
There will be detail differences in spec around the world on Clubsports but from the ones I saw for sale in the UK when they were fairly new the leather equipped cars kept the ambient lighting pack (front doors and sills illuminated in red plus white LED door release and footwell lighting) but also retained the door and passenger side dashboard trim of the regular GTI rather than the honeycomb print trims of the Ed40 that had no LED lighting.
Some have red piping on the seatbelts and some don’t.
The rear Bridgestones on yours will last a million km I expect! They’re very hard wearing tyres but very noisy too. Most people hate them but I found them ok. I still have my 18” forged Clubsport wheels and tyres.
Yours has a nice spec and will make an ideal daily driver and occasional track day car.
When VW launched the mk7 in 2012 they hinted at a Clubsport type car having a carbon fibre roof and I’m sure that’s why the black roof option exists, just to give a nod to that original idea which must’ve been too expensive to produce in the end. The CF roof would be far more apt for this type of car than a sunroof maybe. Different people like different things though but I agree with you, the sunroof is too heavy and too noisy (squeaks) for my tastes, plus I think it looks ugly when open. Good for hearing the exhaust sound though!
I really hope you can find some time to write about yours when it arrives plus a few photos. Many of us here would be very interested in your experiences.
As for the R, it’s a wonderful car and I loved every minute I owned it. I deeply regretted selling it but it was losing a lot of money at the time and needed expensive new tyres yet I’d barely used it for four months due to not needing it to commute in, and didn’t go anywhere very far when I wasn’t working at that time!
I can’t think of a bad word to say about the R.
The Clubsport was very much an impulse purchase just like the TCR was.
Where the Clubsport differs to the R is that it has bags of character and feels much more lively. Yes, it’s not quite as fast but that matters not a bit, it feels special and drives very nicely. I can’t recommend a pedalbox enough for these cars and I’ve bored everyone to tears about them for years but they really bring the engine alive.
Where the R is very polished in all areas the Clubsport is more rock’n’roll (by VW’s conservative standards).
Definitely more fun, more special and more engaging than an R even when you’re not going very fast. It’s just set up differently, and perfectly comfortable in daily use too. More jiggly and less composed than the R due to stiff springs but still rides well and feels much lighter than the actual weight difference is. The DCC maybe will give a different feel, mine had passive dampers and I was very happy with how it felt.
Here’s a photo of the Ed40 and Clubsport nose to nose when I collected it. The weather was terrible, 80mph gusts of wind and heavy rain but a short break in the rain allowed us to get the cars lined up quickly in between customers trying to get past!
The light was really bad so the details of the cars lost, I've lightened the photo slightly but it’s still not good for seeing the lower body details due to being such a dark wet day.
“Mirror mirror on the wall, which is the fairest GTI of them all?“
The Clubsport sure nails it in the looks department!
(https://i.postimg.cc/cHgvc18W/62-B5-F1-FA-A651-41-E5-B77-D-8-F06-BB79-EE63.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xJQjf2Rp)image hosting website (https://postimages.org/)
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That picture does confirm my thoughts on black wheels, the Prets look so much better. I'm having a bit of a wobble in the TCR dept at the mo, very tempted by some of the 3 door versions for sale. I see it as possibly my last chance to get a nearly new GTI with the likely event of the MK8 being 5 door only. The only thing is the circa £17k cost to change. Do I really want to spend my hard earned cash on something so similar to what I already have? And do I want to go DSG? (My shocking efforts with a gear stick at times might suggest auto would be a good idea.... :rolleyes:).
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Volkswizard has a ‘bargain’ price 3 door considering the spec and paint treatment.
The photo isn’t actually reflective of how the wheels look in the flesh to be fair due to being in shadow on a dank morning but I’m generally not a fan of black wheels either. The grey-blue Pretorias looked perfect on the Clubsport but wouldn’t have looked as good on the TCR unless they were a darker shade like on the T-Roc R.
As for DSG, I’m warming to it. I still disagree with the shift points in the lower gears and it feels like the clutch is slipping in its application at times due to how it’s programmed, but in other areas it’s quite good.
The manual box made the Clubsport a fun zippy car to drive even when just pootling around, but the DSG is making me a lazy driver so I’m wafting about in D which is actually quite satisfying when there’s no traffic around. Kind of defeats the racy nature of the car though!
The weak point of the manual ‘box was my coordination at times and the weak points of the DSG is that it has no eyes or ears so tends to do things an experienced driver wouldn’t. Neither are perfect.
Maybe the next generation GTE will have the answers. Just a shame it looks like an even uglier version of a Toyota than Toyota managed themselves. I don’t think the 2020’s will be remembered as a time of good looking hatchbacks!
As a driver’s car I can’t recommend the TCR enough. Up close it looks mean and inside it looks and feels really good. The engine is superb (as post WLTP 2.0 turbos go), the chassis is excellent, really impressive in Reifnitz spec with the CSS style front camber which also makes it look even more racy too.
It’s a shame they cost such stupid money now but they’re pretty spot on out of the box which was never something I’d have previously said about any GTI other than the 6 speed Lupo GTI.
A fine swan song to the best generation of Golfs since the mk2, and thankfully not just a mobile iPad.
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Thanks Exonian, nice summary. I've been looking at the Volkswizard car online, sounds like it has been well cared for so far and a great spec. Not 100% sure on grey though but there are a couple of red ones about with Prets and sunroofs for similar money. I like red :smiley: But the Volkswizard does seem the most appealing overall. Surprisingly my OH likes the grey... Hmmm, what to do...
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I’d buy the Volkswizard car in a heartbeat personally even though it’s a three door!
It has lots of red! Red callipers, red stripe, red badges, red seats, red stripe on the steering wheel... :whistle:
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Watts, I went from a PP to a red CS.
Not actively looking to sell, but could always be persuaded at the right price? :)
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some interesting observations, Exonian- and nice to see you're warming to the DSG box.
Surely your coordination is a strong point of the manual! the satisfaction of the perfect shift, rev matched, at the perfect time, down to driver alone!
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I’d buy the Volkswizard car in a heartbeat personally even though it’s a three door!
It has lots of red! Red callipers, red stripe, red badges, red seats, red stripe on the steering wheel... :whistle:
Lines of communication have been opened, I'm having a serious think about it. Thing is, I'm still perfectly happy with my PP and £17k would keep it in Michelins and anything else it needs for many years. I think it's just because I don't like opening my wallet too often :whistle:
Watts, I went from a PP to a red CS.
Not actively looking to sell, but could always be persuaded at the right price? :)
I shall keep that in mind, TR CS is a thing of beauty :kiss: :laugh:
Surely your coordination is a strong point of the manual! the satisfaction of the perfect shift, rev matched, at the perfect time, down to driver alone!
All the reasons why I love my manual. Shame I can't manage them :rolleyes:
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some interesting observations, Exonian- and nice to see you're warming to the DSG box.
Surely your coordination is a strong point of the manual! the satisfaction of the perfect shift, rev matched, at the perfect time, down to driver alone!
I only wish I was that competent!
There are many dimensions to manual shifting obviously, both up and down the box and those become instinct over time. It’s occasions where I’m driving with a bit more gusto than I normally do where I’ll maybe run out of revs at the top end because the engine has accelerated into the red zone of the tachometer a little more quickly then I expected and I have to snatch a gear very quickly getting the brain, hand, foot coordination to work that fast can go a bit awry! Or I’ll maybe doing the opposite and drifting along on the torque with my brain in neutral concentrating on the road rather than a lazy gearchange I’m making with the inevitable horrible noise where hand and foot aren’t perfectly coordinated. These occasions are very rare but I’m no driving god!
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I am 1500 miles in now and no more nursing aside from waiting till oil temperature is up to level, so now just driving the TCR pretty uninhibited.
Have to say absolutely loving the car, the looks have grown on me even more, and i know its subjective, but the pure grey with the black and red GTI accents complement each other perfectly with the lowered stance and added features with the 90% tint giving the TCR a real presence, a stealthy intent.
As jumped from the GTD to the R originally maybe I was missing a trick and not being respectful enough of the GTi PP as there is no doubt in my mind now that the drive is more enjoyable than the R, and put it all down to the reduced weight but near matching BHP - Maybe its due to new tyres and me just not flooring the TCR at every turn, but traction to this point has been a zero issue.
One of the MK 7.5 features that appreciating the most is the improved headlights and the headlight assist - on one regular pretty dark twisty run, the lights make what is best described as a lit tunnel in front of you and if someone comes towards you? no drama, the lights adjust and no angry flashes to you leaving full beam on.
Mine is 5 door a must! but must say I think the 3 door really looks the part.
The only improvement that think could be made is the CS spoiler to have been fitted to the TCR as that would really have completed the look.
This is my 7th year in the MK 7 series so much is familiar but the differentiation in the model and the 7 > 7.5 lifts have still managed to give me the feeling of driving something new and interesting, and having seen the MK 8 in some detail now, even happier that managed to stay with the MK 7 GTI at its evolved best.
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The mk7 certainly does seem to be highly regarded by die hard golf fans.
It has also caught the imagination of other buyers- it’s my first VW- I’ve previously seen golfs/ vw brand as rather dull- not this mk7.
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The mk7 certainly does seem to be highly regarded by die hard golf fans.
It has also caught the imagination of other buyers- it’s my first VW- I’ve previously seen golfs/ vw brand as rather dull- not this mk7.
Have changed cars every 3 years for last 18 years, and each time am open to the alternative and walk the forecourts and do the diligence on all the cars in the sector I look towards (hatchback with some performance attributes)
Prior to the MK 7 it was back to back Audi Quattro and was very close to going for 3rd when someone on the Audi forum put up a link for the upcoming MK 7 Performance models - A lot of what was paying for on the Audi was standard and the MK 7 looked great in 5 door where I had been putting up with the discomfort of 3 Door as not liked the Sport Back - Also the ride was quite firm on my Quattro and the new MQB platform and the v2 DCC seemingly would remedy that annoyance also, and when added in that could afford DSG also (to try for first time) I was swayed to the MK 7 GTD (did many more miles then)
At 3 years admit that only looked at one car, the R having loved the GTD so much and the R was my ride for last 3 years.
This time around, was very open to the opposition, got quite excited about the A35 AMG, really wanted it to wow me, but when dug deeper just felt overall that the MK 7 was still the better package especially when added in the value (after adding all options you would want on the A35)
Think many are loyal to the MK 7 based on just how hard it is to look beyond it, as even the latest on market can only compare but not beat out a 7 year model - Also it seems the MK 8 will not drive much differently, so again that makes the MK 7 as the model that has set the curve.
The way seeing cars going think the TCR might be the first keeper as drive will be all that ever would need, and its styling will remain timeless.
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I’d buy the Volkswizard car in a heartbeat personally even though it’s a three door!
It has lots of red! Red callipers, red stripe, red badges, red seats, red stripe on the steering wheel... :whistle:
My local main dealer apparently has a grey 5 door in the showroom so I'm going to get down there and see what I think. I must say though the TR is such a great colour to me, makes me happy every time I see it so the grey is going to have to be really good to make me consider a change... I tend to buy emotionally not practically which is probably why I've had a fair few duffers in the past :rolleyes:
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My local main dealer apparently has a grey 5 door in the showroom
Isn't that two too many?? :wink: :shocked:
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My local main dealer apparently has a grey 5 door in the showroom
Isn't that two too many?? :wink: :shocked:
Yes, definitely, I'm just going to check out the colour! It's 20 minutes away as opposed to over 2 hours each way for the one I'm potentially interested in.
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It’s really good to see you’re loving the TCR hertsman. Always a risk when moving from one incredibly accomplished car to another which is slightly different and slightly ‘lesser’ (as many R owners on VWROC would declare). Different things suit different people but thankfully the TCR is just as good a dual purpose commuter/family car and fun car as any Golf has ever been with its own ingredient X added.
Sure, the TCR will probably be the forgotten GTI much like a Pirelli Edition, with the anniversary models being more ‘desirable’ but in the metal it certainly feels like VW opened up the box of bits that ‘worked best’ during the wider mk7’s continued development and threw them together in the garden shed with a smile on their faces.
Admittedly a regular GTI would be just as good and better on fuel to boot in 99% of driving, but standing next to a TCR with GTI trainspotter notebook in hand it definitely ticks the boxes.
Watts, it’s really hard to sit here and say it’s worth spending £17k on top of your much loved GTI because at the end of the day both my own and your head will say absolutely not. However these type of cars are bought as much with the heart.
What I can say is that it takes a little while for it to sink in quite how different the cars are and only a dedicated enthusiast would ever appreciate what those details are, aside from the huge financial retail cost lots of the ‘standard’ spec would have cost as extras on a Mk7 GTI (or CS or R for that matter).
It’ll be very interesting to hear your thoughts on the TCR as a whole. The colour you’ll either like or you won’t I suspect, but the red trims really pop against the grey and black backdrop.
Make sure you spend a bit of time looking around the lower half of the car from different angles to see what the stylists and engineers have done. It takes a few looks to really appreciate the details.
Look at it up close to see the smaller details then stand back a bit to appreciate the stance and how it knits together.
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It’s raining out (as usual) so a quick running update for the benefit of anyone remotely interested.
There’s only so much I can write about a car we are all familiar with without inducing sleep, so just a few anecdotes before I shut up about the car, mostly because I had a quick drive out to get fuel this morning that ended up a 50 mile round trip!
I’ve warmed to DSG now. After over 33 years of driving manuals (badly at first) I’ve finally learnt do stop thinking about what gear I’m in and when I’d change cog, and instead just take in the view.
Sport is much too frenetic, I refuse to try Eco, Manual is a bit PlayStation so I just leave it in drive and waft about.
I miss the Golfball gearknob!
The pedalbox that’s served me well for six years is doing its thing; the ECU, gearbox, pedalbox and myself seem to have adapted to each other.
When I’d read the press releases and early reviews of the car it pointed to quite firm suspension. Later running reports from AGB, Hertsman and others suggested otherwise.
Running the DCC in Normal it’s absolutely fine for general road use on a variety of road surfaces. Any potential future TCR owners can rest assured it’s just as daily useable as any other sporty Golf. Yes, it’s no 1970’s Citroen in ride quality but then again it’s no 1970’s Citroen in handling!
Dynaudio.
The first few weeks were spent learning the gearbox so audio was a background thing.
This last week I played around with the Dynaudio a bit.
I’d been unimpressed with the system in my mk6 finding it no better than the standard audio once engine, exhaust and tyres came into the equation.
Similarly once on the move in the mk7 with radio volume low the system seemed no better than the perfectly adequate (in my eyes) standard mk7 audio.
Once cranked up it comes into its own mostly due to the sub.
Is it worth £600 or so? Depends on how loud you play it and how good year hearing is! Keep the car a good few years and you’d get your money’s worth I suppose.
Fuel economy seems pretty ok. A couple of MPG down on the Clubsport in normal use. Incidentally the fuel economy seems better with the pedalbox fitted unlike on the manual cars which tended to be better without it (but not by much in either case).
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Watts, it’s really hard to sit here and say it’s worth spending £17k on top of your much loved GTI because at the end of the day both my own and your head will say absolutely not. However these type of cars are bought as much with the heart.
What I can say is that it takes a little while for it to sink in quite how different the cars are and only a dedicated enthusiast would ever appreciate what those details are, aside from the huge financial retail cost lots of the ‘standard’ spec would have cost as extras on a Mk7 GTI (or CS or R for that matter).
It’ll be very interesting to hear your thoughts on the TCR as a whole. The colour you’ll either like or you won’t I suspect, but the red trims really pop against the grey and black backdrop.
Make sure you spend a bit of time looking around the lower half of the car from different angles to see what the stylists and engineers have done. It takes a few looks to really appreciate the details.
Look at it up close to see the smaller details then stand back a bit to appreciate the stance and how it knits together.
That's exactly how I feel. I'm hoping to get to my local dealer tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest, for a good look and to see how I like the colour. I'll make sure I don't take my rose tinted specs! Good to hear you are settling into your TCR, I'm more than happy with an auto having had quite a few, it's just nice driving a manual again (last car was auto and owned 11 years!).
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Been toying with the idea of changing mine for a TCR but I'm not that impressed with the grey.
I had a look and was surprised there were no white 3 door TCRs about. Did they not do them in white prior to stopping doing them in 3 door?
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Been toying with the idea of changing mine for a TCR but I'm not that impressed with the grey.
I had a look and was surprised there were no white 3 door TCRs about. Did they not do them in white prior to stopping doing them in 3 door?
I've only seen red and grey in 3 door. I think there's a forum member with an Oryx white 3 door. I think the main problem is just how few have been made as I suspect they are extremely rare in any colour..
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I just looked at TCR on Autotrader. of the 110 cars for sale, only 6 were 3 door examples.
That is more skewed than I expected?
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I've only seen red and grey in 3 door. I think there's a forum member with an Oryx white 3 door. I think the main problem is just how few have been made as I suspect they are extremely rare in any colour..
That's me Watts, and still loving every minute of ownership although I'd be hard pushed to describe the car as white just at the mo. The period between VW announcing rather quietly that 3 door production would cease and closing the books to further orders was only a few weeks which is I guess why there are so few around, and as with the 5 door Pure Grey seems to be by far the most popular colour, but they were available to order in all the colours that the 5 door is.
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3 door Stormtrooper TCR here :smiley:. Yes you are correct Philip, 3 door TCRs only available to order for a short time, think about 6 weeks, March and a few weeks in April 2019.
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3 door Stormtrooper TCR here :smiley:.
I am not alone!! :grin:
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Been toying with the idea of changing mine for a TCR but I'm not that impressed with the grey.
I had a look and was surprised there were no white 3 door TCRs about. Did they not do them in white prior to stopping doing them in 3 door?
I've only seen red and grey in 3 door. I think there's a forum member with an Oryx white 3 door. I think the main problem is just how few have been made as I suspect they are extremely rare in any colour..
Watts, watt are you waiting for?!! :grin: The price even starts with a 2...
(https://i.postimg.cc/zGVwbz1C/Screenshot-2019-11-25-at-11-19-22.png) (https://postimages.org/)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201910163381177?radius=1500&sort=price-asc&aggregatedTrim=GTI%20TCR&model=GOLF&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=s37bh&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1
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That's a fantastic looking car - awesome in red with the black roof & details. Just what sort of treatment has it had over that 5500mi?
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Watts, watt are you waiting for?!! :grin: The price even starts with a 2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201910163381177?radius=1500&sort=price-asc&aggregatedTrim=GTI%20TCR&model=GOLF&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=s37bh&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1
I have seen that one along with another red one at a VW dealer in Norwich, both have Prets and sunroofs. Not sure I want a sunroof. The one you've linked has the TCR logo missing from above the sills and the other has the full TCR stickers on! The Volkswizard car has to be the best one to go for, just not sure about the grey yet. Oh, and spending the £17k, that'll smart a bit! Thing is, even though I'm interested in changing I haven't lost any interest in my current car which I love so this is going to be a difficult decision. I might not be ready yet but we'll see.
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Watts, watt are you waiting for?!! :grin: The price even starts with a 2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201910163381177?radius=1500&sort=price-asc&aggregatedTrim=GTI%20TCR&model=GOLF&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=s37bh&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1
I have seen that one along with another red one at a VW dealer in Norwich, both have Prets and sunroofs. Not sure I want a sunroof. The one you've linked has the TCR logo missing from above the sills and the other has the full TCR stickers on! The Volkswizard car has to be the best one to go for, just not sure about the grey yet. Oh, and spending the £17k, that'll smart a bit! Thing is, even though I'm interested in changing I haven't lost any interest in my current car which I love so this is going to be a difficult decision. I might not be ready yet but we'll see.
I was only kidding - but understand your predicament. My view is that there are going to be some TCR bargains about early in 2020 as there are now around 110 listed on Autotrader and with them dropping to the £28/29k mark they don't appear to be particularly in demand.
That said, they are over 350 2019 model GTI Performances for sale starting at £22k :shocked:
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Watts, watt are you waiting for?!! :grin: The price even starts with a 2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201910163381177?radius=1500&sort=price-asc&aggregatedTrim=GTI%20TCR&model=GOLF&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=s37bh&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1
I have seen that one along with another red one at a VW dealer in Norwich, both have Prets and sunroofs. Not sure I want a sunroof. The one you've linked has the TCR logo missing from above the sills and the other has the full TCR stickers on! The Volkswizard car has to be the best one to go for, just not sure about the grey yet. Oh, and spending the £17k, that'll smart a bit! Thing is, even though I'm interested in changing I haven't lost any interest in my current car which I love so this is going to be a difficult decision. I might not be ready yet but we'll see.
I was only kidding - but understand your predicament. My view is that there are going to be some TCR bargains about early in 2020 as there are now around 110 listed on Autotrader and with them dropping to the £28/29k mark they don't appear to be particularly in demand.
That said, they are over 350 2019 model GTI Performances for sale starting at £22k :shocked:
There are far worse predicaments to be in :laugh: A GTI P would be the sensible option and a great car but doesn't offer much over what I have. Still, tomorrow should help me decide assuming the dealer actually does have their TCR in the showroom!
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Watts, watt are you waiting for?!! :grin: The price even starts with a 2...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201910163381177?radius=1500&sort=price-asc&aggregatedTrim=GTI%20TCR&model=GOLF&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=s37bh&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1
I have seen that one along with another red one at a VW dealer in Norwich, both have Prets and sunroofs. Not sure I want a sunroof. The one you've linked has the TCR logo missing from above the sills and the other has the full TCR stickers on! The Volkswizard car has to be the best one to go for, just not sure about the grey yet. Oh, and spending the £17k, that'll smart a bit! Thing is, even though I'm interested in changing I haven't lost any interest in my current car which I love so this is going to be a difficult decision. I might not be ready yet but we'll see.
I was only kidding - but understand your predicament. My view is that there are going to be some TCR bargains about early in 2020 as there are now around 110 listed on Autotrader and with them dropping to the £28/29k mark they don't appear to be particularly in demand.
That said, they are over 350 2019 model GTI Performances for sale starting at £22k :shocked:
There are far worse predicaments to be in :laugh: A GTI P would be the sensible option and a great car but doesn't offer much over what I have. Still, tomorrow should help me decide assuming the dealer actually does have their TCR in the showroom!
I know, was just pointing out what a bargain a nearly new one is!
The TCR looks great in the metal, seen a white one and an early pure grey which does look good. Very purposeful over the normal GTI's.
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Been toying with the idea of changing mine for a TCR but I'm not that impressed with the grey.
I had a look and was surprised there were no white 3 door TCRs about. Did they not do them in white prior to stopping doing them in 3 door?
I've only seen red and grey in 3 door. I think there's a forum member with an Oryx white 3 door. I think the main problem is just how few have been made as I suspect they are extremely rare in any colour..
Watts, watt are you waiting for?!! :grin: The price even starts with a 2...
(https://i.postimg.cc/zGVwbz1C/Screenshot-2019-11-25-at-11-19-22.png) (https://postimages.org/)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201910163381177?radius=1500&sort=price-asc&aggregatedTrim=GTI%20TCR&model=GOLF&make=VOLKSWAGEN&postcode=s37bh&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&page=1
WCS are very good, genuine enthusiasts. I was going to buy a car from them a while back but work travel delayed a visit and they sold the car. One of a handful of dealers I've encountered in the last 10 years who knew what they were selling and appeared to have integrity. If this is of any use or persuasion.
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WCS are very good, genuine enthusiasts. I was going to buy a car from them a while back but work travel delayed a visit and they sold the car. One of a handful of dealers I've encountered in the last 10 years who knew what they were selling and appeared to have integrity. If this is of any use or persuasion.
That's good to hear, thanks for posting :smiley:
Apologies to Exonian for temporarily dominating his thread :embarrassed:
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Do not think there is a bad colour offering on the TCR,
The pure grey was my choice as do like it and fact its presently signature TCR and if you see a pure grey Golf you know what it is immediately.
That said, think its the TR next and then the white, with a paper thin margin between both, - Always been great colours to accentuate the trim and think VW were right to keep the choice limited and picked the right colours in doing so.
Think the GTI/R looks at its best in the 3 Door and its a shame they have removed as an option - I have to have 5 door as too inconvenient not to, regular passenger carries and tight car parks (them larger doors do make a difference) and its great the MK 7 holds its hatchback shape so well, but 3 door would be my preference on looks and if it was just me I would put up with the inconvenience.
At 1600 miles still not seen another TCR on road!
2 things that are being confirmed more as increase the miles, the MK 7.5 Dynamic Light Assist is a great piece of tech, and the DSG in S is so much more usable than on my MK 7 R, where rarely ever used and went paddles,
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So, I've been to my dealer and had a good look at their TCR. It's a 5 door in grey with black roof and full TCR decals. Performance Pack with Prets so DCC and Cup 2 tyres with Akra exhaust. Dynaudio and a sunroof. Apparently it lists at £44k :shocked:
I do love my TR but I must say the grey does look really good. I even quite liked the TCR decals, never thought I would say that! Wouldn't spec them from new though but if they were on, I might leave them :whistle:. The car does shout a bit, certainly wouldn't slip unnoticed under the radar! The ride height looked right and the CSS front discs look great. The gloss black sill extensions and diffuser really suit it as does the Akra exhaust. All in all the exterior does make the car look more purposeful and chunky, very good.
The interior was the highlight to me though. The seat materials apart from looking good had a better quality feel compared with mine, the centre panels just felt thicker, really nice and the alcantara bolsters were great. The door trim in alcantara was rather nice too (is it real alcantara?). Sunroof was okay, I wouldn't pay for one though. Dials, hmmm, not sure about those, they appear to be leaning forward from the top which looks odd. I'm sure if I got one I'd get used to it though.
So overall quite impressed and that's without driving it! But do I want to change? I was really enjoying driving mine today and even my gear changes weren't that bad! I've got all the information I need now so it's going to have to be a serious bit of thinking. Help :laugh: :whistle:
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Offer them £30k for it!
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Offer them £30k for it!
Now that would be a cheeky bid!
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Offer them £30k for it!
Now that would be a cheeky bid!
You can only go up, might as well start realistically low! Should move this chat to the TCR thread...
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Watts, I was happy with my PP. when a well specced (known to the forum) CS appeared in the classifieds.
I was interested, only on the basis the deal worked, for what I could sell my PP for. I would have walked if the numbers were not right in finding a private buyer for my old car.
Work out the numbers that you are happy with, if the deal gets there, great.
If not, you end up with a nice red GTi & money in the bank, not such a bad consolation prize? :)
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Watts, I was happy with my PP. when a well specced (known to the forum) CS appeared in the classifieds.
I was interested, only on the basis the deal worked, for what I could sell my PP for. I would have walked if the numbers were not right in finding a private buyer for my old car.
Work out the numbers that you are happy with, if the deal gets there, great.
If not, you end up with a nice red GTi & money in the bank, not such a bad consolation prize? :)
:smiley:
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Apologies to Exonian for temporarily dominating his thread :embarrassed:
No apologies please!
The thread had run its course as far as my car is concerned, all eyes on you now Watts!
A very difficult decision to make when it’s your own hard cash rather than company money.
Good point about the seat cloth. As well as the Alcantara panels the actual seat cloth reminds me of the R cloth, a more knitted fabric than the GTI tartan.
The CS seats were a similar cloth to the regular GTI (but obviously in a different pattern and honeycomb embossed) with the TCR going for a slightly more soft and padded material.
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The TCR doesn't hang about! :)
Golf GTI TCR clocks 8:04 at the 'ring
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1842885
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The TCR doesn't hang about! :)
Golf GTI TCR clocks 8:04 at the 'ring
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1842885
Valedictory eh? Someone has been playing scrabble!
Don’t think I’ll be setting any records in mine, the DSG makes me waft around like an OAP, I got nearly 40mpg yesterday stuck behind a bona fide OAP!
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The TCR doesn't hang about! :)
Golf GTI TCR clocks 8:04 at the 'ring
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1842885
On Cup 2 tyres in July temperatures. And still 16 seconds slower than a Clubsport S? Does show how bloody good the CCS even if it's a bit slow in a drag race :smiley:
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Incredible how capable this car is. As fast as a 996 gt3! My brother has one which he bought in 2003 and used to race. It has fibreglass doors, no glass windows, complete stripped interior and a 3.6l engine ( I think it's lap time was on pilot sports, and I assume time quoted is for the standard car, but this is still one hell of an achievement)
Last time he took me out in it one Sunday morning, it made me feel sick. Haven't sat in a tcr, but I bet it'd be a more pleasant drive! Unbelievable how far the family hatch has come since the last generation.
I can kind of see the attraction of dsg for a track car- why be disadvantaged by cack handed mistimed gear shifts when the computer can do it so much better.
In relation to Watts' predicament, I think you're past the point of no return- the TCR looks a great car- you want it, so buy it. And in a few years time, you'll wish you'd never sold your 3dr manual!!!
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I’m a bit late for a six month update as I’m now beyond the 7th.
It’s funny scanning back through the thread and seeing the Watts saga which did slightly surprise me with the eventual result :cool:
At the back end of last year I was accused of being as elitist about the TCR as the R owners became back in 2014 which is a bit rich coming from who said it but nevertheless the point was made.
The thing is that forums are about owners experiences and views as much as technical help and other queries, and each new model is bound to create a rash of interest in its the early days before it settles into general background forum noise.
There have been some really helpful threads and posts from others that have helped me make decisions over the years that no amount of test drives would ever replicate.
So anyone bored to the back teeth of TCR chatter they can change channel right now :whistle: :grin:
I for one love to read owners stories and views, especially comparing cars that are of natural and sometimes a little more left field interest within the forum. There is a hugely diverse membership here and each of us have our own take on things and stuff we can share within the community.
There’s not a huge amount to report on within this post. The car has hit the ‘one year old’ point so I thought I’d update on the anniversary even though I didn’t take stewardship until a good few months after it was registered.
I’d half thought I’d be reporting in around the first service but I’ve not get round to booking it yet (but it’s imminent).
The car has hit 8k which is more than my Ed40 did in 2.5 years, but the cars were bought for different reasons and different uses.
The Ed40 was bought as a bit of an impulse buy to try and rekindle a flagging and blasé interest in cars after 30 years of owning GTI’s more on than off. Truth be told it heralded in more than that and helped trigger some really positive aspects in my life so it’ll always be a car fondly remembered even though I had no real actual need for the car because I had an old Diesel runabout for commuting and all the mundane things.
Driving the Ed40 always felt a bit of an adventure and it felt to me to be more than the sum of its parts.
Moving from an R and then a GTD to the Ed40 was quite a change of experience considering how much the cars share in common.
Life changes and we change with it. A more downward phase of life began with some big changes for me and I used this as a lever to swap GTIs for a variety of reasons. Partly because my son had requisitioned my oil burner for his own use and I was reluctant to start using the previously pampered Ed40 for commuting 7 days a week on rural roads right through the winter. That led to another impulse buy to a car that’s very close under the skin to the Ed40 but loaded with a few more creature comforts and to satisfy my curiosity about DSG being as I read so many glowing things about the latter.
After around six months with a new car I’m rarely bored with it but generally start to think about its replacement as there are always new things to explore as a lifelong car person.
Six months in and am I thinking “what next”?
There are a few more sizeable changes approaching so it’s all on the back burner. Everything from getting rid of two cars and moving to a single one therefore downsizing to something completely different, to keeping the oil burner for commuting and getting a semi-classic for occasional use, or more likely to check out the 8R eventually and take it from there...
Seven months into TCR ownership, seven years since I ordered my GTI PP.
I’ve now scratched the DSG itch. I can’t see me getting another manual transmission higher output Golf. I’m not a lover of DSG but I can work with it.
Thanks to advice in this thread I can hustle it out of side roads briskly by pulling the shift lever into S for as long as it takes to get up to speed, then I shove it back in D.
I tend to use this for overtaking the plague of Lycra clad Tour de France wannabes that are on a long government paid holiday this year (and who can blame them with the quiet roads and wonderful weather we’ve had) as I find the paddles don’t allow block changes to the appropriate gear, but the gearbox ECU is quite good at guessing when changing gearbox mode. So much so I just ignore the paddles generally. I’m no DSG natural, but then again my hand eye coordination isn’t the greatest at times when in a manual car so it’s swings and roundabouts. I’ll fare better with electric cars that have no gears! :grin:
As a daily driver the TCR has been great. It’s a Golf after all!
Unlike the R it can leave #11’s on the tarmac at times but unlike the R it doesn’t bog down on launch as much. But I very very seldom drive like that anyway. I’ve yet to even try launch control.
I used the car all through a very wet winter at all sorts of times of day and night during some godawful weather. It was surefooted and relatively comfortable and a joy to own just like all of the Golfs I’ve had.
The one complaint I have is the absorption of sudden sharp bumps and rubber speed humps which seem worse than my previous GTI’s that didn't have DCC and much worse than my R (also non DCC on 19’s).
The TCR steel exhaust has a unique sound, a bit like a propeller aeroplane’s drone most of the time but changes to quite a roar when zipping past the Lycra brigade. It’s quite amusing!
After almost six months I stopped using the car daily for just over a month which gives me a better feel for it again having started using it regularly once more from a fresh mind perspective.
No real faults so far (touch wood) aside from a dodgy windscreen mounted camera changed under warranty, plus a side skirt coming away slightly toward the rear. Oh, and a few stone chips.
One thing I have found is that after 30 odd years of modifying cars I quite like the Ed40 and TCR as standard.
The only thing I considered changing on the TCR is the rear diffuser as I dislike it. I emailed Rieger to ask if the 7.5 diffuser they make fits the TCR but they didn’t reply.
Future plans? None aside from a service.
I can’t say the car has moved me like the Ed40 did but then again it’s so similar dynamically to the former that there are no ground breaking differences, just subtle changes and improvements.
I love the styling of it including the Reifnitz wheels and the rather eye catching seat cloth!
The Stormtrooper TCR still has that immediate wow factor for me when I lift the garage door.
I’m not one of those people that can rattle off features I like and dislike easily. Things tend to work for me as a whole or they don’t, and this car does.
The GTI PP didn’t quite hit the spot as factory standard, the R however did. The GTD didn’t do it for me as much as it should have done (I’m a big fan of fast Diesels) but I didn’t really give it a fair chance.
The Ed40 got under my skin and I thought I’d miss it but I don’t; it had a worthy successor.
I’m very fond of the TCR and I don’t seem to be the only one:
(https://i.postimg.cc/tg8y0QYm/49571-E2-C-5-ECC-4-C65-8-AE1-21-CE26-EB05-D8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBPbSLPp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bN3xjbtW/754-CBC63-C66-B-446-C-BD80-79-C9-B3078-E0-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJStcV5f)
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Great mid-year report, so is the TCR headed for an annual bonus? :laugh:
I'm very happy with mine, it just has that bit more in a few areas that my PP lacked.
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I don’t often comment on here as I tend to be a lurker (for the want of a better phrase), but it is always interesting to hear experiences and updates from fellow Golf owners and drivers. I agree wholeheartedly with your opening comments Exonian about forums. Reading about real life experiences are precious and invaluable for helping in the decision making process for so many things in life. For this place it’s essentially Mk7/7.5 performance Golfs and what is not like there. I remember my first test drive in a 3 door GTI ‘launch’ back in 2013 and being disappointed because it felt so sanitised after driving the Mk5 GTI that I had at the time. The salesman didn’t help at all because he insisted that I revved it to 4k in the lower gears because he liked the sound that the soundaktor made, I kid you not! :grin: I gave up in the end and we returned to the showroom where he ‘attempted’ to try and sell me a car. That failed miserably as well but I’m digressing. Love the car Exonian. Nice to see a TCR that is not in it’s ‘signature’ colour :smiley:
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Thanks Watts.
The bonus was a few weeks off for it and a wash! I don’t want it getting too complacent!!
Think of your TCR as your GTI with added fizz and a cherry on a stick! :whistle:
Thanks shiners :smiley:
You’ve got the perfect mk7 ‘garage‘ yourself and I’d love to hear more on how the CSS compares to the GTD as regards to comfort, cabin noise and whether the rear brace makes the slightest difference.
If my Ed40 had the CSS 310 engine tune I don’t think I’d have ever sold it.
I briefly ran the JB1 I bought for my R on the CS but it didn’t impress me like it did when fitted to the R so I sold the little box of tricks dirt cheap to an R owner. I think the 310 factory tune was the perfect figure. Not too much torque to overrun the VAQ and affect general traction but that extra bit of thrust throughout the range, oh, and no strangulation by OPF!