Carbon fibre on a Golf GTI from the factory and an illuminated VW badge at the front - as if the light bar on the 8 wasn’t stupid enough
‘The GTI can also be ordered with carbonfibre exterior applications for the first time’. These prices are going to shock potential buyers imo
I think you’re right in terms of the price.
As for the facelift, I think it’s a little underwhelming, but then that’s VW’s typical approach to mid lifecycle facelifts. I dare say most people who aren’t Golf and / or GTI enthusiasts the wouldn’t even realise the mk8.5 is a refreshed, facelift model.
I’ve never been a fan of the light bar and IMHO the illuminated VW badge is a bit tacky and just a step too far.
Let’s just hope VW have ironed out the software gremlins that have plagued the mk8.
Actually thought the MK 7 mid life cycle was beyond what would expect with the digital drivers display and vastly improved media units, and styling wise the change of lights and DRL were a major win for GTI, where the red stripes always looked a little awkward, but then really integrated brilliantly in the MK 7.5. The enhanced gloss black vents and trim over the MK 7 were good plusses also.
On the MK 8, its going to be interesting to see present MK 8 owners thoughts on the screens, I am personally pretty neutral having not dipped into MK 8, its not the worst screen seen in a car, at size and position looks ok, and it does have some styling with curves and bevels.
My interest lies whether it all just works without multiple glitches, as that would make a MK 8.5 an option down the line, where as kind of excluded the natural moving onto a MK 8 due to the issues, as much as know many have been sorted, just know I would still get a lemon used.
EDIT: Just specced Style up with Pan Roof, upgraded wheels, DCC and few other bits, and it was over £37k! Definitely going over £50k with few of the desirable options on GTI's and R's
Had conversation with colleague who like me has always gone company car route, and likes his cars, and is up for his cycle of change, and there is very little cars on there now, allowance for car has only minimally lifted, the car lease prices have taken huge jumps, removing most cars of worth off the list, you just do not see them, no GTI, R or anything of that like, and even vanilla cars are requiring uplift over allowance.
His other route is to take allowance and go down own path, but again, finance prices would mean he would have to add some quite significant £ to get something half decent and in June his mortgage jumps £500 so he has tried to extend his current lease without luck, and so it will be used car only as a replacement and we are talking, a profession, good middle income earner who would have with ease, and without hesitation be in market for an S3, GTI or R as his changeover.
Think its the finance deals that affect folk most in decision, how much paying a month, so even if car price was much higher, its still the money paying per month focus on, but higher car prices and high APR is making new untenable for many many more than previous.
