Clubsport order thread

[Bluto]

Having not contributed to this thread since my collecting my new Clubsport from the detailers in January this year.  Thought I'd give an update after 3,000 miles of driving the Mk8, as I think I'm now in more of a position to give my thoughts on my Mk8.  Nearly feels like my car.

I bought my Mk6 11 years ago, and have driven 192,000 miles in it, to where it currently sits at 217,000 miles.  So I think I know my Mk6 pretty well.

Going from a 2010 model year Golf to a 2024 model year Golf has been a pretty huge jump in terms of car technology.  Lane assist, side assist, travel assist, breakfast assist, life assist, pretty much lots of assistance. 

This is my first automatic car after driving manuals since I passed my test in the late 90s.  So the phantom clutch foot, and left arm preping to change down for junctions etc. is still happening, but far less frequently.

Stuff I'm glad I optioned

• Head Up Display - at first wasn't sure I was going to get on with it, but now the subconsious is learning, I refer to it more than the normal speedo.  Integration with Apple Maps is handy too.
• Pan roof, having not had a sunroof since my Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T, this makes the cabin feel more spacious.  Looking forward to better weather so I can actually use it.
  
• Nurburgring "Special" mode via DCC option.  I have renamed it 'Nasty' mode  as I think it's just offensive in terms of engine noise (no doubt mostly fake), response and exhaust pops and bangs.  I didn't touch this mode until I'd run the engine in.  So for about 1500 miles I drove in Comfort mode and began to miss bits of the Mk6, but then I put the car into Special mode, and found the Clubsport's GTI again.  Nasty mode I like...a lot.

Stuff I wasn't expecting

• Consistently returning better fuel economy than the Mk6 on my daily commute. 42 MPG instead of 38 - 40.
• I've got the creaking/scraping sound when going round certain B-road bends at speed.  Been back to the dealer for a road test (which of course car didn't do it on), they've applied their 'special' grease to suspension components, but still persists; so still to sort.
• Car turns in a lot sharper than my Mk6!
• Grip levels are very impressive
• the vigour that the boot hatch closes, watch your fingers! 

Stuff I miss from the Mk6

• Cubby holes, the Mk6 has plenty of places to store glasses, cleaning cloths, Yorkie bars.  I especially miss the sunglasses' storage in the headliner centre section, and the storage hole to the lower right of the steering wheel.
• Driver's Sun Visor with side extension.  Unless it's just my car?? but really Volkswagen, not having a side extendable sun visor is unexcusable.  My commute to work has (dependant on British weather of course) 30 minutes of early side-Sun agony.  The Sun just sits next to the B-pillar on the driver's side, and not being able to block it out with the sun visor is just not cool!  Clearly an area the accountants got to and thought owners wouldn't notice.
• Backlit temperature controls
• Mk6 Dynaudio trumps the standard Mk8 speaker system - Harmon Kardon was not available when I ordered mine else I would've spec'd it.

Stuff I thought may've caused a problem but hasn't

• Haptic steering wheel buttons - I've not accidentally turned anything on (or off) at all.  Once I learnt what the buttons do, I'm actually okay with them.  Think some journalists' opinions were a little over critical.  Maybe I just hold the steering wheel different to journalists  .
• Infotainment system.  Mine seems responsive, and works well.  Did spec the pro nav, on the assumption that maybe some of the internal chips may be different (faster) to the standard nav model - though of course no real difference comparison on the VW website to base that on.
• Heating controls - generally I set and forget my car temps.  But I've actually found the voice commands are fine, once I worked out what some of the key words were.  Any phrase with "temperature" in it sets A/C temperature, any phrase with "heated" seems to set the heated seat level.
• Lane Assist, as has been mentioned by many others.  Not a big hassle to turn off before a journey.  Generally I use for motorways, dual carriageways. turn it off for A and B roads.

Stuff that needs some work

Speed limit sign recognition.  As I'm sure folks have mentioned before, the car has a tendency to pick up national speed limit signs on slip roads. Experienced when I've been travelling on a dual carriageway that currently has a 40 MPH average speed camera stretch of roadworks.  On first occurence this caused some swearing and a very quick re-adjustment of the cruise control.  The car's camera is clearly wide angled!

'Avon Calling' Bong Experience

Only on cold (frosty) mornings or evening last month have I experienced a couple of assist systems being unavailable.  Once the car warmed up, the systems came back online.  Dealership had said that if a layer of frost or ice forms on the sensors it can cause these problems. This appears to be validated in my experience.


Stuff I love

• The car's pick up and go, jumping from a 210 PS GTI to 300 PS GTI is definitely noticable
• Minimalist cabin design - personal preference I know
• Ride quality and low road noise (well my Winter Contis are quiet compared to the supplied summer Bridgestones)
• Seats are very comfy which is good, as my back is old and broken.
• 'Nasty' mode     

[SRGTD]

@Bluto; very comprehensive review. I think it would be fair to say you’re enjoying your new car  . With your mk8 and mk6 parked nose to nose, you can clearly see the difference in shade between Pure White and Candy White. Oh, and your mk6 GTI is wearing its 217k miles very well.

You didn’t give your BBS alloys a mention; they really suit the Clubsport IMHO. I prefer them to any of VW’s alloys for the mk8 Clubsport and I think they do look quite OEM too. And as they’re not diamond cut, no issues with white worm corrosion either .

Hope you have many thousands of miles enjoyable motoring.

[Bluto]

@Bluto; very comprehensive review. I think it would be fair to say you’re enjoying your new car  . With your mk8 and mk6 parked nose to nose, you can clearly see the difference in shade between Pure White and Candy White. Oh, and your mk6 GTI is wearing its 217k miles very well.

You didn’t give your BBS alloys a mention; they really suit the Clubsport IMHO. I prefer them to any of VW’s alloys for the mk8 Clubsport and I think they do look quite OEM too. And as they’re not diamond cut, no issues with white worm corrosion either .

Hope you have many thousands of miles enjoyable motoring.

Thanks SRGTD, yes the car was definitely worth the 21 month wait and I'm glad I didn't cancel my order. 

I didn't initially think the white paints were that different, that was until I put the cars nose to nose. 

Ah the 18" BBS SR wheels, yes well they are my go to winter wheels. Ran them on the Mk6 in both 17" and the 18" ones you see on the Clubsport.  I originally had SRs in 17", but they wouldn't clear the Clubsport's brakes, so had to 'upgrade'. Saying that the 18" wheels only just do!  I agree they do look OEM and think they suit the Clubsport quite well in my opinion.  Plus they're not diamond cut so I like them even more!  The 19" Black Estorils are in the garage with the noisy Bridgestone summer tyres on  .  Expect they'll be seeing the light of day at the end of March when I do my twice yearly wheel swop over.

Hoping too that the Mk8 supplies enough smiles, grins and driving enjoyment as my Mk6 has.  Off to a good start.  Though I'm not kidding myself, it's a Volkswagen, of course something's gonna break or go wrong! 

[Exonian]

That’s a really good summary of your experience so far Bluto.
I wonder if the Clubby will serve you as well as the mk6 as you’ve certainly had your money’s worth out of that one!

The early morning bongs are quite normal when there’s a bit of dew in the air or more so in frosty conditions. It’s not the full on Avon Lady experience! Hopefully these later builds won’t suffer that fate.

And yes, the Clubsport does have surprisingly good economy for a 300 PS hatch.

Love the photo of the two cars nose to nose 

[Aidey]

Picked my Clubsport up today 
Got the chance to buy it so i just could not resist , got a Moonstone Grey and love the look of it, hopefully many miles of fun to come

[oryx3dr]

• I've got the creaking/scraping sound when going round certain B-road bends at speed.  Been back to the dealer for a road test (which of course car didn't do it on), they've applied their 'special' grease to suspension components, but still persists; so still to sort.

Top mounts maybe?

[fredgroves]

I've had that noise from new. Dealer can't find the problem...

[Hertsman]

@Bluto; very comprehensive review. I think it would be fair to say you’re enjoying your new car  . With your mk8 and mk6 parked nose to nose, you can clearly see the difference in shade between Pure White and Candy White. Oh, and your mk6 GTI is wearing its 217k miles very well.

You didn’t give your BBS alloys a mention; they really suit the Clubsport IMHO. I prefer them to any of VW’s alloys for the mk8 Clubsport and I think they do look quite OEM too. And as they’re not diamond cut, no issues with white worm corrosion either .

Hope you have many thousands of miles enjoyable motoring.

Thanks SRGTD, yes the car was definitely worth the 21 month wait and I'm glad I didn't cancel my order. 

I didn't initially think the white paints were that different, that was until I put the cars nose to nose. 

Ah the 18" BBS SR wheels, yes well they are my go to winter wheels. Ran them on the Mk6 in both 17" and the 18" ones you see on the Clubsport.  I originally had SRs in 17", but they wouldn't clear the Clubsport's brakes, so had to 'upgrade'. Saying that the 18" wheels only just do!  I agree they do look OEM and think they suit the Clubsport quite well in my opinion.  Plus they're not diamond cut so I like them even more!  The 19" Black Estorils are in the garage with the noisy Bridgestone summer tyres on  .  Expect they'll be seeing the light of day at the end of March when I do my twice yearly wheel swop over.

Hoping too that the Mk8 supplies enough smiles, grins and driving enjoyment as my Mk6 has.  Off to a good start.  Though I'm not kidding myself, it's a Volkswagen, of course something's gonna break or go wrong! 

As you know, went back in time to a MK 6 for about 8 months, and received some great advice from yourself, which appreciated, and it was only the lack of tech that made us move on quickly to a MK 7.5 Golf R, was super impressed with the build quality of the MK 6 and the smooth pulling power of that 210 BHP engine.

Items we missed were rear view camera, and all around parking sensors and graphic (only had rear acoustic) but the main bug bear was the RNS 510 unit, compared to maps of today its obviously really outdated, and screen was slow, and once had apple play, its hard to live without. Wife was not as bothered, but using a handbrake again was another irritant to me.

So, given your history of MK 6 and jump over the MK 7x that was an interesting read, and be equally interested to see how you feel about the MK 8, especially the leap in tech, and when really start to rack up the miles.

[GE90]

Hi All

I've been away for a while - was an active member with a MK5 ED30, R32 and 2 x Mk7 GTI's.

Back looking again, and after having had an Audi S3, I don't want to go with an R!. Also like something a bit different, and love the red!

I've found a nice looking example, but I'm afraid I am really looking for one of the optioned wheels, and this one has the standard wheels. I know I might be crazy, but I'm happy to source some 2nd hand and have refurbished. However, does anyone have the part number for the correct Adelaide and Estoril wheels please? The Estoril might be 5H0601025AD?

Any thoughts welcome too! Am I mad with the facelift having now been announced?

Cheers!

[WelshGolf]

Hi All

I've been away for a while - was an active member with a MK5 ED30, R32 and 2 x Mk7 GTI's.

Back looking again, and after having had an Audi S3, I don't want to go with an R!. Also like something a bit different, and love the red!

I've found a nice looking example, but I'm afraid I am really looking for one of the optioned wheels, and this one has the standard wheels. I know I might be crazy, but I'm happy to source some 2nd hand and have refurbished. However, does anyone have the part number for the correct Adelaide and Estoril wheels please? The Estoril might be 5H0601025AD?

Any thoughts welcome too! Am I mad with the facelift having now been announced?

Cheers!

I'd say it depends on the price of the one you are looking at. I wouldn't be surprised if base price of 8.5 clubsports start at £45k which is wild as i'm sure the were £38k when launched.