GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: ExeNS on 10 February 2021, 12:40
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Hi all,
After about a year of looking, a few weeks back I finally bought a 63 plate, 5 door, manual performance pack in tungsten silver. Firstly I want to say thanks to all the members here as the info on this forum has been invaluable both during the search and in the first few weeks of ownership. And the next most important bit, the photos (pre-wash so not quite looking it's best):
(https://i.postimg.cc/vHscDFw9/IMG-6891.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jCMsk15d)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MpZHb7Tp/IMG-6893.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dLXJJTrb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgdDdPzN/IMG-6894.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/G4ydthjH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8CjCxTL8/IMG-6896.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/67xwvJHz)
In terms of options, other than the performance pack it's got DCC, keyless and the winter pack.
First impressions
Although driving has generally been limited to the long way round to the supermarket or a walk spot, I absolutely love it! It's exactly what I was after - something that could be a bit of fun when I want, but civil and comfortable the rest of the time. It's my first time having heated seats and my bum and lower back have been very pleased in the cold of the last few weeks. DCC is interesting, I'd not come across it in the cars I'd test driven before buying this one, so wasn't sure what to actually expect. I think the first time I switched from sport to comfort I was perhaps a little underwhelmed, but due to unrealistic expectations. A few weeks down the road my opinion has definitely changed and it makes a do-it-all car even more flexible. Also loving the look of tungsten silver with the red and black GTI accents, lots of different shades in different lights - here it is looking sparkly:
(https://i.postimg.cc/CKXKg94R/IMG-6899.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jW6T6gmT)
Things I've done so far, thanks to the forum
- Unblocked the water drain hole behind the fuel flap with an old guitar string
- Filed down the plastic bits inside to stop the flap from sticking closed
- Bought and applied the red GTI front and rear emblem vinyls from VinylMod, which I'm super pleased with as they look a lot better than the silver they used to be. Cost about $20 and was the work of minutes to apply. The only downside was that they took about 3 weeks to get here from the states.
- Sorted the radio station logos and music folder structure on an SD card
Things I'm thinking about doing
- Retrofitting MIB2
- Ceramic coating the paint. I have on street parking and drive down a lot of Devon lanes in the summer, not a good combo.
A bit of background about the search
I was initially after a car that had MIB2, plus the other refinements that came with that spec change. My thoughts were that having app connect and the faster, higher res system would future proof it a bit. But I struggled to find a car that I felt was good value, looking at guide and trade prices from various websites, within my budget, even privately. The pandemic didn't help much either! I stumbled on this one that was up for sale privately and local to me at what I felt was a decent price. After finding out that MIB2 could be retrofitted for £650 at the place in Redditch, it became a no brainer for me as the car had the other refinements I was after, plus the bonus of DCC. The car doesn't have nav, but I figured that with MIB1 I would probably be better off using my phone anyway. It hasn't annoyed me so far, although it has needed a hard reset a couple times, but retrofitting MIB2 is certainly something I'm likely to do in the future.
For those interested, the car has 60k miles on the clock and I paid £12k. Autotrader was guiding a private sale at 11,750. Condition wise, a couple of the alloys could do with a refurb (bit of whiteworm and minor curb rash) and there are a few stone chips at the front. I don't really mind these bits, as my combo of on street parking and being terrible at curbing alloys means it's inevitable that something will happen soon, so I feel a little less anxious about it than I would if it were pristine! It suffered the common thermostat/housing problem at about 40k miles a couple of years ago, so I'm hopeful I will be clear of that (at least for a while).
Cheers all and look forward to getting involved in the forum.
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Welcome ExeNS, great intro post and a lovely looking car in Tungsten :cool:
Those shots were taken in Foxholes Hill in Exmouth by the looks of it(?) :smiley:
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Looks very good, hope it brings you lots of enjoyment.
Great colour, Tungsten 👍
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Congratulations, looks great :smiley: VW nav is not that great anyway so if you have it on your phone that's probably much better anyway.
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Looks very smart mate .... Stick the Little Tcr Spoiler addition on the back end, sets it off well smart, especially with that colour :smug:
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Very nice. I just got a non PP Tungsten silver 5 dr on Saturday. Would be interested to hear about the company in Redditch as I have the old style sat nav too. Still like using Google Maps on my phone though.
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Oooo that looks very nice, I haven't seen many that colour around by me thinking about it, but I like it a lot!
I have a 14 plate with MIB1 and it really bugs me. I have the common issue of it going crazy when first started up in the winter and it starts pressing all things on the screen on it's own. So in that case I'm very interested to hear that an MIB2 could be retrofitted. I didn't know that was possible and others on here seemed to think it wasn't either. It's not too bad when you think that you could sell your old MIB1 unit for a few hundred too
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Thanks everyone for the great comments and welcome. I really rate Tungsten, I didn't know it existed until a few months ago thinking reflex was the only silvery colour. My only requirement colourwise was ideally not black, having had pearl black on my A3 - I think the only time it looked good was when I picked it up from the dealer (it did look very good then, though, to be fair).
Those shots were taken in Foxholes Hill in Exmouth by the looks of it(?) :smiley:
Bang on! One of my favourite views and a good spot to start a walk. Also a very interesting hairpin bend on the way up/down...
Looks very smart mate .... Stick the Little Tcr Spoiler addition on the back end, sets it off well smart, especially with that colour :smug:
Cheers, I'll check that out!
For those who were interested in the MIB2 retrofit, This is the place I'd found: https://www.vw-retrofit.co.uk/product/discover-media-mib2-sat-nav-carplay-dab-fully-activated/ (https://www.vw-retrofit.co.uk/product/discover-media-mib2-sat-nav-carplay-dab-fully-activated/)
I also expected it would be about a grand and a bit of a non starter, but at 650 it seems reasonable.
I have the common issue of it going crazy when first started up in the winter and it starts pressing all things on the screen on it's own.
I know exactly what you mean! I just let it tire itself out, then it behaves just fine for the rest of the time
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If you are going to the bother of changing your unit your be better off going mib2 pro or even one of the new touchscreen ones 👍
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If you are going to the bother of changing your unit your be better off going mib2 pro or even one of the new touchscreen ones 👍
I've seen someone post about fitting a 7.5 screen in a 7 and it did look great. Well worth considering.
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Congrats on the purchase. Love the colour. I just sold my mk7.5 Tungsten GTI to make way for the mk8 Clubsport. I wish they kept Tungsten Silver as an option.
Happy motoring :grin: