GTI test drive

[Yozhik]

I had a look at a Mrk6 GTI today at my local dealer, and definitely I am not in a hurry to change my Mrk5 for one.
I don't mind the shape so much, but the back diffuser thing looks and feels like really cheap plastic, then inside, this
particular one had some cheap looking wood trim!?! The steering wheel looks nice though with the aluminum inserts.
I agree with some other comments made, that the wheels don't really suite it.


 
 

[the_stig]

I test drove a candy white 5 door manual this morning (only 9 miles on the clock). Very nice drive and thought the interior was an improvement but overall didn't think it was different enough to my Mk5 to make me buy it (I'm still thinking about it). The salesman priced a 3 door manual up for me with metallic paint (wasn't sure of a colour but was thinking carbon grey) and the Monza Shadow's. He offered me £12,500 for my 07 plate GTI  so had around £10,800 left to pay. Couldn't justify paying that for 10bhp extra and what I thought was just a face lift (although a very nice face lift). He looked on his system to see if there were any available in the next few weeks but none to my spec so he said September delivery if I was to order

The car definately looks nicer in the flesh than in pictures and the split tail pipes looked a lot nicer than in pictures I'd seen. I thought the new front end was the best improvement though and the new steering wheel was very nice!

Think I might wait for the GTI-R or the Edition 35! 

[ub7rm]

Did you notice the extra 10bhp?  Was the handling the same as the mk5 or much different?

[the_stig]

I didn't really notice the extra 10bhp but the new car sounded slightly more powerful (if that makes sense) - possibly just different exhausts and the exhausts being on both sides rather than just one? It handled slightly better and seemed to corner even better than the Mk5 but didn't feel different enough!

[jdjd]

Ide test driven a black 5door with dsg. Rear parking camera is pretty sweet, Shows you exactly where your car is reversing into with white lines that appear onto realtime display from the rear on Headunit display, Actually adjusts when you move your steering wheel aswell.
 Tried booting it straight outta showroom, Only for dealer to start screachin about it being a new car and for me not to romp it above 4grand lol. Felt quick though the gears b4 the lambasting. Lots and lots of little details between MKV and VI. The car feels more well built then the mkV and the quality is alot better.
 Didn't really get to chuck it into any corners so carn't report there. Well exactly 2 months today till my expected delivery date. Wish it'de hurry up kinda sick of driving my MKV now ive got that on order guess thats normal though.
 

[TwoSheds]

I test drove a 5 door DSG in Deep Black Pearl.
Found the handling overall slightly more tauter than the MkV and the ride noticably quieter inside the car.
Didn't notice the extra 10 PS.

Inside the car the dash materials are better quality but the overall effect is spoilt for me by an excess of shiny aluminium trim all over the place including steering wheel just too much bling.

Not keen on the 'Shadow' Monzas too 'Halfords' now but thats not the end of the world.
I'm still not sure about the slab rear end with the Touareg lights. To me the GTI rear end now looks a bit 'afterthought' design wise with split rear pipes, which are luckily larger than they appear in pictures, set into to a cheap looking plastic 'diffuser' tray.
It doesn't blend looks wise imo.

Incidentally I notice the engine cover has now been minimalised with direct access to the oil filter cannister.

For a MkV owner, there is for me, not a feeling of wow what a difference to justify a change especially when you start pricing up even a fairly basic spec.
Its bringing the prices into other territory now.

Will wait to see what the 'R' version brings.

[simonpolly]

I test drove a silver 5dr dsg,really fast and really impressed,ride was stiff i agree,i then went in a manual scirocco 2ltr tsi gt,the golf was noticably quicker.Silver colour does nothing for the car,i ordered 3dr pearl black manual,monza shadow`s,dynoaudio pack,electric mirrors.

[p3eps]

I test drove a silver 5 door DSG last weekend.  I'm guessing its the same one as Neil as his shots look like Specialist Cars?!
My Edition 30 was written off a couple of months ago, and I'm almost at the point where I can order another car.

My courtesy car for the last while has been a 5 door GTI.
Immediately I got in the MK6 I noticed it felt quicker than the MK5.  It maybe isn't really much quicker, but it certainly felt it.  Perhaps it was the DSG compared to my previous Manual car?  The interior was a bit nicer, and I loved the reverse camera in the boot lid!  It puts the one I made for my ED30 to shame!  I had a salesman with me on my test drive, so I didn't feel I could push it.  We went for a journey round some twisty roads, and I thought it handled pretty well.  Alot more solid than the MK5 - with less vibrations and noise.  The engine sounded better, and definately seemed like it had more go! 
However, I did notice quite a significant difference when going from my ED30 to the GTI courtesy car - so I didn't think the MK6 was nearly as quick as my ED30.  If I was still an ED30 owner at the moment, then I certainly wouldn't consider upgrading.  It may be a newer model etc, but theres not really that much worth paying for a £8-10k jump.

Instead, I test drove a Scirocco!  I've already tried the S3 - which was great... but apparently Audi are bringing out a new model next year.  The Scirocco was a 140 diesel with DSG - but I was more curious about the size and comfort levels than the engine... as I imagine it would be pretty similar to the Golf.  I took it home and tried combinations of everything in the boot - golf clubs, snowboard, suitcases etc etc!  Everything fitted - so I went back to the dealer and put a £500 deposit on a Scirocco R!  Its fully refundable, so if I decide when the options list / price comes out that its not for me, I can get my £500 back!  Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[FroGTI]

the wheels dont suit the car

Agreed. I ahve already bought a set of 18" Interlagos to replace the stock wheels as soon as the car is delivered.

[dustybones]

the wheels dont suit the car

Agreed. I ahve already bought a set of 18" Interlagos to replace the stock wheels as soon as the car is delivered.

I think that the wheels are perfect for the mota. I love the Monzas on my 06 gti, I even saw a set on a mk4 the other day, they lifted the car very well. Also there have been many comments about how similar looking the mk6 is to the mk5, so therefore I cant see how the Monza shadows cant suit the car as they are similar to the Monzas on the Mk5, and unless I'm mistaken, folks seem to luv them on the Mk5. Its the first thing that folks say is a must have.............
However each to their own, me I'd buy a mk6 tomorrow if I had the cash. (which I would have if her ladyship would stop allocating it to stuff for the house........ aahhhhh domestic bliss.... lol)
Good luck to those that get a new one.
cheers