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Amstrad!! Now there’s a blast from the past.

The later mk8 software is fine for the record. Not a blip from mine in 9 months and 8k ish miles, and I’m sure the 8.5 software and indeed most of the hardware is shared with just a few added on layers for the specific changes (IDA etc). All the click bait making the 8.5 interior out like the second coming is a bit nonsense at best. Mind you, VW only have themselves to blame for launching cars using customers who’ve paid a lot of money as beta testers for the software (despite dynamically the cars being very well developed).
VW aren’t the only ones mind, they just led the charge.

Certainly agreed there will be some nicely specced 8.5’s around soon, and not just fully loaded R’s, as the GTI is attractively styled and has some desirable options available.

Roll on the Edition 50 GTI !

Yes apart from the ride, the sharpness of feel, the traction, the appalling seats, the slush box and the terrible sound system (even with HK) BMW did a good job 

Can't help but feel at least some of that could have been done better - but the ride/seats are classic BMW traits their customers don't seem to mind - either that or if they know they spec the m-sport seats (assuming they are available, which on the UK 128TI they are not)

I know I was relieved to get back into my Mk7.5 after a day with the 128TI.

Guess BMW got lucky when VW cocked up the Mk8...

Haha, thats brutal, so from 2 years and 20k miles will offer a little defence, the ride on 18" is no worse than our MK 7.5 R on 19" Pretoria, but it is on firm side, the lack of feel is only when tyres start to degrade, but that is a problem in itself as the GTI TCR never lost its lack of feel even on fading tyres.

The seats took a month getting used to, definitely experienced discomfort, so many variations in set up, but my take is that make you sit more correctly when set up, and now worn into my butt and back, are perfectly comfortable and done many long journeys in them. The Golf seats have always been comfortable from moment first sit in car.

No defending the sound system, its absolutely pathetic standard, if someone said it was made by Amstrad, I would not disbelieve them. Never heard the HK, but we have Dynaudio in our Golf R and thats fabulous, so that would be on my tick option whenever exchange or buy again.

Gearbox is fine and seamless for about 95% of time, but it does get its pants in a twist occasionally and there is a stutter, which is worse in comfort, but mainly alleviated in Sport. It definitely falls short of the DSG overall.

Still think its a good stab at a GTI given its price point, as its well optioned, with me only adding £1000 to make the overall purchase value £36k two year ago, when similar GTI with options would have been pushing the £40k and beyond.

Anyways onto the MK 8.5, have been looking at reviews as someone who passed on MK 8 due to software issues, and really like what been reading, do like the styling options, going to be some great looking cars out there, and definitely could see myself in one eventually, what will be looking out over some extended time is if there software is robust and back to where should be, and when finally get to sit in one, how intrusive that center screen is, on face of it, though not my preferred, which is integrated, probably feel that appreciate the screen size.

Cheapest seems to be keep the original Parker’s which is exactly what I’m going to do.

I’ll have a holiday instead!

You've had it in sport mode and it's decided to change to normal... Maybe you've used the second key...

Yeah I have been using sport mode more recently tbh. Should I expect the steering to become a bit more heavier/stiffer if I put it back in comfort mode tho?

West coast. Kilmartin and Oban.