New MK7 GTI Spec on Top Gear Website

[mkviken]

a similar age/spec GTI would definitely sell before the R32 if both were for sale on the same forecourt.

problem is with the R32 is you need to tell people what it is all the time (unless they know about cars) where most people recognise a GTI as soon as they see one.

also the road tax and the thought or 3.2l running costs would make most folk sh!t their pants.

[Snoopy]

so its going to have an aluminium roof and bonnet. and a mechanical LSD this time nuts.

I'm going to give my car to the mrs when its 2 year old anyway so might change then.

You could always fit a carbon fibre bonnet and a proper LSD to yours anyway

[R32UK]

a similar age/spec GTI would definitely sell before the R32 if both were for sale on the same forecourt.

problem is with the R32 is you need to tell people what it is all the time (unless they know about cars) where most people recognise a GTI as soon as they see one.

also the road tax and the thought or 3.2l running costs would make most folk sh!t their pants.

Both cars are essentially an enthusiasts car anyway. Just start them both up if you want to show someone the difference.

Very true about running costs though... with the milage some people on here I would jump at the opportunity to get another 32.

tbh the mps is probably worse on fuel than the 32 

[mkviken]

a similar age/spec GTI would definitely sell before the R32 if both were for sale on the same forecourt.

problem is with the R32 is you need to tell people what it is all the time (unless they know about cars) where most people recognise a GTI as soon as they see one.

also the road tax and the thought or 3.2l running costs would make most folk sh!t their pants.

Both cars are essentially an enthusiasts car anyway. Just start them both up if you want to show someone the difference.

Very true about running costs though... with the milage some people on here I would jump at the opportunity to get another 32.

tbh the mps is probably worse on fuel than the 32 

yeah well the running cost wouldn't bother me at all as i only drive mine for pleasure anyway but the road tax would sting a bit. if i used it as a daily driver i would prefer the GTI. if i could have found a mint very low mileage R32 i would have considered it. i prefer it to the R20 anyway.




that top gear thing says that the have moved the front wheels forward or engine back to reduce understeer. sounds like this is a really well thought out improvement over the 5/6. of course a lot of this could well just be the usually journo hype!

[Exonian]

Maybe if they're going back to a torsion beam axle on the base models they want to tidy the front end handling up so the car isn't any worse to drive than the outgoing model? It may also be due to space issues and crumple zones or pedestrian impact legislation requiring a lower bonnet line. I'm sure it'll be more of a saving £££ issue than an engineering excellence thing, but will be marketed as the other way round!

[mkviken]

by the look of it they're doing what ford did with the fiesta platform and made it easily adjustable for each model dimension and marketing type in a way thats cheap to produce.

the fiesta platform will be used on cars much bigger than the fiesta in all kinds of body styles across the world and it seems VW are doing the same (though they more or less do anyway i suppose)

[JulesS3]

Road tax will never make a difference to any car I buy, whats the GTI for a year £240? So about 50p more a day for the R32 over a year? 

[mike.]

GTI is £190/year but it wouldn't deter me either for all the difference over a year..

[Belix]

little bit more info posted a few days ago
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/what-we-know-about-the-2013-volkswagen-golf-next-gen-gti/

[jv]

VW's new line of NVIDIA-powered modular infotainment systems, and along with that <snip> a Mercedes-like fatigue detection system that will let the driver know when it's time for a nap and a cup of coffee.

Awesome tie in promotion potential - "Driver, you are tired, I have updated the navigation directions to take you to the nearest Starbucks, then Travelodge"