Well, for you boys and girls that have Mk8 phobia, yesterday I tried the mk9 out. Yep, the ID.3
Outside it looks like a funky version of a boring spec Golf, inside it reminded me of a Citroen Picasso hire car I once had the misfortune to drive for a day.
Looking at it I thought, yeah, the front end looks fairly err… wrong.
The side looks ok, the back looks a bit futuristic and the steel wheels look bloody awful.
I’ve seen a white one locally with 20” wheels which looked pretty ok but a drab grey with steelies won’t set any pulses racing.
Those of you thinking “what the hell has this to do with anything?” can clear off now, everyone else bear with me.
Right, the ID.3 is no GTI and nor is it meant to be (just yet) but it has 204 PS and 229 lb ft of torque so is former GTI power in a lardy package. However, the 204 PS probably won’t have anywhere near as much transmission loss as a GTI or R with cog gearboxes and Haldex thingies which means power at the wheels potentially won’t be massively behind a 230 or 245 PS GTI.
The ID.3 204 PS motor is pretty rapid at A and B road speeds so long as you’re in Sport mode.
The handling is pretty ok, it corners fairly flatly, the steering is typical VW and so on.
But the brakes feel massively inferior to the bigger Performance GTI brakes and the nose dives in a very un-GTI like manner.
The whole suspension and controls feeling is that of lightness and ease of use.
It’s a great package as a catch all mid sized car but it’s an appliance level of car.
Efficient at many things but devoid of something special. That ingredient X is missing.
Hopefully the X on the GTX will rectify that (at a price).
Climbing back into the mk8 Clubsport afterwards and there’s an immediate difference of feel. The lower roof and black sports seats are more cocooning, the dash and door panels suddenly feel Golf like again and familiarly solid.
Fire up the engine and there’s that satifying shudder as the exhaust barks into life.
As soon as you move off everything feels taut and tightly bushed even at car park speeds.
And that engine!
Don’t write the mk8 off just yet