Golf GTI 8.5 reviews

[Hertsman]

The first review of the new GTI has landed:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/golf-gti

Hope it looks better in person than the photos!

" Rivals Hyundai i30 N Ford Focus ST Honda Civic Type R "

Of which you can only still buy the Focus... the only other choice they overlooked is the 128TI or other VAG badges

Been in the 128Ti 2 years now, completed 20k, and was at one point a little down on it due to some vagueness in drive in wet, but you drive you learn, and its all down to the tyres, as soon as changed the fronts, drive was transformed, its as a fun as the GTI TCR was again.

So that's the drive, and the rest of the car is great, amazes me how many BMW fan boys are out there, had more comments and looks than any of my previous Audi, GTI, R, and the interior is a lovely place to be and tech and the dial, touch and multiple preset buttons, just works brilliantly without any overhead.

In a straight fight with a standard GTI, given the price of the 128Ti you really should go and test drive both as think be pleasantly surprised how good a job BMW have done with their stab at a GTI.

I might actually go other way when the 128Ti lease ends next December, and get myself a clean ED40 in 2026, as a second car, as funnel most of money to the not working fund.

[jme63]

I went to the other way to Hertsman, from a 128ti to an 8.5 GTI. The 128 was a great car but like Hertsman says, it's a little sketchy when accelerating hard due to the torque steer, despite the mechanical LSD. It idi though, attract some admiring glances, despite removing the exterior red bits to make it a little more plain.

I picked up my GTI up just shy of 2 weeks ago and although still in the honeymoon period, I find it a much better drive, chassis feel so much stiffer and handles a lot better to me. The GTI seating  is more comfortable too  and the adaptive cruise takes a lot of stress out of driving.  Not run in yet, so can't comment on the performance but the exhaust note is a lot more pronounced.

Infotainment system OK especially with the proper buttons on the steering wheel and  especially after shutting down the voice activated IDA (should be renamed PITA).

[Hertsman]

I went to the other way to Hertsman, from a 128ti to an 8.5 GTI. The 128 was a great car but like Hertsman says, it's a little sketchy when accelerating hard due to the torque steer, despite the mechanical LSD. It idi though, attract some admiring glances, despite removing the exterior red bits to make it a little more plain.

I picked up my GTI up just shy of 2 weeks ago and although still in the honeymoon period, I find it a much better drive, chassis feel so much stiffer and handles a lot better to me. The GTI seating  is more comfortable too  and the adaptive cruise takes a lot of stress out of driving.  Not run in yet, so can't comment on the performance but the exhaust note is a lot more pronounced.

Infotainment system OK especially with the proper buttons on the steering wheel and  especially after shutting down the voice activated IDA (should be renamed PITA).

As you stated, the GTI will have a much better sound track than the 128Ti, which is pretty mute unfortunately, and on subject of sound, the 128Ti standard speakers are worst ever experienced, its enough for me to not buy after the lease alone really, so GTI, even on standard speakers will be a significant upgrade (If ever buying a BMW 1 series, only go for the Hardon Karmon optioned models)

Seems quite accepted that the MK 8 and now the MK 8.5 has a better performance ride than the MK 7.5 and your previous 128Ti, but its not a chasm, think all give you that little bit extra in terms of ride and entertainment.

Quite liked the red stripes on my 128Ti, makes it quite obvious its batting in the GTI arena as a car.

Quite like some of the options on the MK 8.5 in terms of styling options, think there is going to be some real lookers on road in next year.

[fredgroves]

Yes apart from the ride, the sharpness of feel, the traction, the appalling seats, the slush box and the terrible sound system (even with HK) BMW did a good job 

Can't help but feel at least some of that could have been done better - but the ride/seats are classic BMW traits their customers don't seem to mind - either that or if they know they spec the m-sport seats (assuming they are available, which on the UK 128TI they are not)

I know I was relieved to get back into my Mk7.5 after a day with the 128TI.

Guess BMW got lucky when VW cocked up the Mk8...

[Hertsman]

Yes apart from the ride, the sharpness of feel, the traction, the appalling seats, the slush box and the terrible sound system (even with HK) BMW did a good job 

Can't help but feel at least some of that could have been done better - but the ride/seats are classic BMW traits their customers don't seem to mind - either that or if they know they spec the m-sport seats (assuming they are available, which on the UK 128TI they are not)

I know I was relieved to get back into my Mk7.5 after a day with the 128TI.

Guess BMW got lucky when VW cocked up the Mk8...

Haha, thats brutal, so from 2 years and 20k miles will offer a little defence, the ride on 18" is no worse than our MK 7.5 R on 19" Pretoria, but it is on firm side, the lack of feel is only when tyres start to degrade, but that is a problem in itself as the GTI TCR never lost its lack of feel even on fading tyres.

The seats took a month getting used to, definitely experienced discomfort, so many variations in set up, but my take is that make you sit more correctly when set up, and now worn into my butt and back, are perfectly comfortable and done many long journeys in them. The Golf seats have always been comfortable from moment first sit in car.

No defending the sound system, its absolutely pathetic standard, if someone said it was made by Amstrad, I would not disbelieve them. Never heard the HK, but we have Dynaudio in our Golf R and thats fabulous, so that would be on my tick option whenever exchange or buy again.

Gearbox is fine and seamless for about 95% of time, but it does get its pants in a twist occasionally and there is a stutter, which is worse in comfort, but mainly alleviated in Sport. It definitely falls short of the DSG overall.

Still think its a good stab at a GTI given its price point, as its well optioned, with me only adding £1000 to make the overall purchase value £36k two year ago, when similar GTI with options would have been pushing the £40k and beyond.

Anyways onto the MK 8.5, have been looking at reviews as someone who passed on MK 8 due to software issues, and really like what been reading, do like the styling options, going to be some great looking cars out there, and definitely could see myself in one eventually, what will be looking out over some extended time is if there software is robust and back to where should be, and when finally get to sit in one, how intrusive that center screen is, on face of it, though not my preferred, which is integrated, probably feel that appreciate the screen size.

[Exonian]

Amstrad!! Now there’s a blast from the past.

The later mk8 software is fine for the record. Not a blip from mine in 9 months and 8k ish miles, and I’m sure the 8.5 software and indeed most of the hardware is shared with just a few added on layers for the specific changes (IDA etc). All the click bait making the 8.5 interior out like the second coming is a bit nonsense at best. Mind you, VW only have themselves to blame for launching cars using customers who’ve paid a lot of money as beta testers for the software (despite dynamically the cars being very well developed).
VW aren’t the only ones mind, they just led the charge.

Certainly agreed there will be some nicely specced 8.5’s around soon, and not just fully loaded R’s, as the GTI is attractively styled and has some desirable options available.

Roll on the Edition 50 GTI !

[BillSan]

Amstrad!! Now there’s a blast from the past.

The later mk8 software is fine for the record. Not a blip from mine in 9 months and 8k ish miles, and I’m sure the 8.5 software and indeed most of the hardware is shared with just a few added on layers for the specific changes (IDA etc). All the click bait making the 8.5 interior out like the second coming is a bit nonsense at best. Mind you, VW only have themselves to blame for launching cars using customers who’ve paid a lot of money as beta testers for the software (despite dynamically the cars being very well developed).
VW aren’t the only ones mind, they just led the charge.

Certainly agreed there will be some nicely specced 8.5’s around soon, and not just fully loaded R’s, as the GTI is attractively styled and has some desirable options available.

Roll on the Edition 50 GTI !

Totally agreed Exonian.  I still have my Mk8 and the software was complete sh*t for the first 18 months but resolved and perfectfor the last 2 years.

I'm not happy to have paid £40k to be a beta tester and it has made me reluctant to buy VW again.  If the car had been resolved at launch I could be looking at another VW but sadly the experience means I'll probably be shifting away.

[Exonian]

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/golf-gti

The Autocar review david25 mentioned ^^^

Hopefully the Clubsport and R reviews will be along soon too.