GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: matchboy on 22 July 2013, 17:00
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My dealer just called, they're getting their demo GTD from Weds if anyone wants a gander/drive. White, DSG, Dynaudio, Pro Nav. Think ill go down Sat for a quick drive to see how it compares to the GTI and also have a play with the Dynaudio :evil:
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My Glasgow dealer just took hold of a red GTD demo today if anyone is interested :smiley:
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My Glasgow dealer just took hold of a red GTD demo today if anyone is interested :smiley:
Shall have to give than a call get a wee drive booked for the weekend.
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My dealer just called, they're getting their demo GTD from Weds if anyone wants a gander/drive. White, DSG, Dynaudio, Pro Nav. Think ill go down Sat for a quick drive to see how it compares to the GTI and also have a play with the Dynaudio :evil:
Which dealer is this, Letchworth? Wouldn't mind a look myself :whistle:
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My dealer just called, they're getting their demo GTD from Weds if anyone wants a gander/drive. White, DSG, Dynaudio, Pro Nav. Think ill go down Sat for a quick drive to see how it compares to the GTI and also have a play with the Dynaudio :evil:
Which dealer is this, Letchworth? Wouldn't mind a look myself :whistle:
Yup, that's the one!
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I am just up the road so may swing by then, thanks for heads up :cool:
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Whoever swings by needs to post some pictures and videos ;)
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I am at the Letchworth dealer on Wednesday afternoon for a test drive of the GTD and will post photographs as I did for the GTI.
Will post a link to them as soon as I can.
I have a build week (unconfirmed) of week 35 for my GTI but time is in slow motion at present waiting for the tracker to do something other than "Processing Order" :cry:
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I am at the Letchworth dealer on Wednesday afternoon for a test drive of the GTD and will post photographs as I did for the GTI.
Will post a link to them as soon as I can.
I have a build week (unconfirmed) of week 35 for my GTI but time is in slow motion at present waiting for the tracker to do something other than "Processing Order" :cry:
You there this afternoon Torch? Looking forward to some pics like your last ones - good to have a professional photographer looking at these cars!!
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I am at the Letchworth dealer on Wednesday afternoon for a test drive of the GTD and will post photographs as I did for the GTI.
Will post a link to them as soon as I can.
I have a build week (unconfirmed) of week 35 for my GTI but time is in slow motion at present waiting for the tracker to do something other than "Processing Order" :cry:
I have a build week of 36, I find that checking the tracker at least 30 times a day helps. However it is still stuck on processing order.
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Hot off the press!
Images from this afternoons test drive of a Golf GTD.
http://www.fjgphotography.co.uk/gtd/
It is very good BUT
I was more excited about driving the GTI - which I have on order.
For those with a GTD coming you will not be disappointed.
The Dynaudio has superb clarity, the Discover Pro nav/radio system (DNS PRO) is a clever piece of kit, all my hard work tagging the mp3 files with cover art onto an SD card paid off as you can see in the images.
I asked the dealer about the red stitching and he did not know for sure if the leather comes with red stitching but was optimistic that it will.
I was also shown a Night Blue metallic GTI that looked very stylish, the dealer in Letchworth was very accommodating and one of the best guys to deal with.
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Hot off the press!
Images from this afternoons test drive of a Golf GTD.
http://www.fjgphotography.co.uk/gtd/
It is very good BUT
I was more excited about driving the GTI - which I have on order.
For those with a GTD coming you will not be disappointed.
The Dynaudio has superb clarity, the Discover Pro nav/radio system (DNS PRO) is a clever piece of kit, all my hard work tagging the mp3 files with cover art onto an SD card paid off as you can see in the images.
I asked the dealer about the red stitching and he did not know for sure if the leather comes with red stitching but was optimistic that it will.
I was also shown a Night Blue metallic GTI that looked very stylish, the dealer in Letchworth was very accommodating and one of the best guys to deal with.
Great pics Torch. My dealer has just taken delivery of one but am not allowed to test drive it even though I have bought a GTD. How did you find the DSG box? Was it really quite fast for a diesel? Did it sound like a bag of nails or was it okay?
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My dealer has just taken delivery of one but am not allowed to test drive it even though I have bought a GTD.
why not?
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My dealer has just taken delivery of one but am not allowed to test drive it even though I have bought a GTD.
why not?
Apparently as its a show room model and they will then sell it so it can't have any miles on the clock!
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Great pics Torch, I look forward to seeing it in the flesh on Saturday!
Also, I concur on the dealer - Steve is a top bloke and very knowledgable for a dealer!
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Amazing pictures! Thanks for the effort. The screen looks awesome.
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Thanks Torch! Great pics and the car looks awesome :smiley:
Not sure how much of a run you got in it but does it feel dynamically identical to the GTI? The reviews for the ride and handling for the GTI are glowing and just wondering if the minor weight surplus of the diesel lump up front takes away from the by-all-accounts incredible chassis?
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I am glad you all liked the photographs.
The cover art images for the songs on the SD card was so impressive.
The GTD was smooth, not over noisy and nowhere near a bag of nails.
The DSG did not feel much different from my MK V GT DSG.
The car had only done a 100 miles so was a bit tight and had a bit of a flat spot when driven hard out of a corner, corners well a little bit more roll than the GTI I test drove recently (that cornered as though it was on rails - better than my MK V)
Surprisingly fast for a diesel although I do not have much experience of driving this type of power train, it
was still accelerating in 4th at 70.
If you took the VW off the steering wheel you would think you are in a much more higher range vehicle.
Comfortable seats, good driving position and a good cruiser.
It is very good and if you are after a diesel then it will be a delight and disappoint.
All good news but the GTI is in a league of its own as regards the excitement, the extra styling elements and overall elite feeling of having something very special.
Hope this helps.
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I am glad you all liked the photographs.
The cover art images for the songs on the SD card was so impressive.
The GTD was smooth, not over noisy and nowhere near a bag of nails.
The DSG did not feel much different from my MK V GT DSG.
The car had only done a 100 miles so was a bit tight and had a bit of a flat spot when driven hard out of a corner, corners well a little bit more roll than the GTI I test drove recently (that cornered as though it was on rails - better than my MK V)
Surprisingly fast for a diesel although I do not have much experience of driving this type of power train, it
was still accelerating in 4th at 70.
If you took the VW off the steering wheel you would think you are in a much more higher range vehicle.
Comfortable seats, good driving position and a good cruiser.
It is very good and if you are after a diesel then it will be a delight and disappoint.
All good news but the GTI is in a league of its own as regards the excitement, the extra styling elements and overall elite feeling of having something very special.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Torch. Was the test car solid White or Oryx White?
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The colour was solid white, I reckon you would only see the difference if you had the oryx white and solid white side by side.
I did notice that the rain splashes were noticeable but only close up - those with OCD will be bugged by this.
I have yet to see a bad colour for the GTD and GTI.
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been for an extended test drive today of a dsg gtd up here in Sunderland. no noticeable difference between the gti I drove and the gtd. doesn't feel heavy, lardy, lumpy or anything other than a great car to drive. I can't wait for mine to come now. put my foot down in 6th on a19 sitting at 60 and even with the dsg it took off and was still pulling hard. I'm not convinced about the dsg but I haven't ordered mine with it anyway. nothing wrong with it but I just prefer the manual. got great mpg's out of it too (mid 50's down to low 40's). mine can't come quick enough!
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no noticeable difference between the gti I drove and the gtd.
:grin: :grin: :grin:
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been for an extended test drive today of a dsg gtd up here in Sunderland. no noticeable difference between the gti I drove and the gtd. doesn't feel heavy, lardy, lumpy or anything other than a great car to drive. I can't wait for mine to come now. put my foot down in 6th on a19 sitting at 60 and even with the dsg it took off and was still pulling hard. I'm not convinced about the dsg but I haven't ordered mine with it anyway. nothing wrong with it but I just prefer the manual. got great mpg's out of it too (mid 50's down to low 40's). mine can't come quick enough!
Good to hear. Mine can't come quick enough either!
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no noticeable difference between the gti I drove and the gtd.
:grin: :grin: :grin:
yes exactly what I said. loads of people on here and other forms think the gti is a cut above everything else. sorry to burst your bubbles but no real difference between the gti and gtd. obviously everyone who ordered the gti thinks they have the best car since sliced bread and people who have ordered the gtd will think the same. any differences are minute and in everyday use you'll never tell the difference. both have pros :cool: and cons (not many cons on either car mind)
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Hmm. Not that I want to see another GTI vs GTD knife fight, but they are different cars and there are differences. If you're saying there is no difference you're basically saying every GTI buyer is a chump.
I think they are both superb machines. Different, but both superb. My opinion only of course.
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I'm definitely not saying everyone who ordered a gti is a chump and to be quite honest it's ridiculous comments like that which people take the hump with. if you've ordered a gti then you'll be happy. if you've ordered a gtd you'll be happy but what I'm saying is in real terms you'll see very little if any difference between the two. I toyed with ordering a gti but in the end I'm giving the diesel one last chance. gti next time maybe.
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I'm definitely not saying everyone who ordered a gti is a chump and to be quite honest it's ridiculous comments like that which people take the hump with. if you've ordered a gti then you'll be happy. if you've ordered a gtd you'll be happy but what I'm saying is in real terms you'll see very little if any difference between the two. I toyed with ordering a gti but in the end I'm giving the diesel one last chance. gti next time maybe.
Sorry, didn't mean to say you were saying we're all chumps! I actually meant you weren't saying it but that it would be the logical conclusion if you continued the logic... (confused yet, I think my brain has some crossed wires somewhere).
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no problem bill but you know how others can and will pick up on the gtd v gti argument. :wink:
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no problem bill but you know how others can and will pick up on the gtd v gti argument. :wink:
Not turning this into a GTI v GTD bore fest mcmaddy, that's been done to death. I was just laughing at your, quite frankly, ridiculous statement that there is no difference between the two!
We shall see as tomorrow I'm driving the GTD. I'll report back with my comparison. If they're the same I shall say so. But I think we all know that they won't be. But in the spirit of fairness I shall drive it with a completely open mind.
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I'm getting my GTD test drive tomorrow, in my ordered colour of Tornado Red. It is a pity it's a DSG - i'm not a fan, i'll have to use the paddles to replicate the manual experience as much as possible rather than have the DSG hang every gear to the red line (really not necessary on a TDI). The dealer has told me I can have it for a few hours which would be nice, but i'll have to be there early to take advantage before the Sunderland Airshow spectator traffic completely chokes the local roads. I will be giving it a blast down the A19 to Hartlepool and back.
The GTD vs GTD debate never ceases (so I will add to it). I will be happy enough that on paper the GTD matches the MK6 GTI for in-gear acceleration and is just 0.3s down on the 0-62 time that I would never fully exploit. Any miniscule handling differences between MK7 GTI and GTD will not be apparent in lawful highway driving (you might see the difference trying to take a roundabout at 80mph), and apart from drag racing there'll be a car's length or 2 between the 2 cars on a 40-75mph acceleration (i'll not be losing sleep over that). For that performance difference i'll not be feeling the pinch when I put my foot down - maintaining 40mpg in a GTD will be a lot more fun than trying to do the same in a GTI.
Getting hung up over weight/handling is pointless - a 3 door GTD manual will weigh about 67kg less than a 5 door GTI DSG PP with sunroof, will that run the GTIs handling? Maybe on a track, but on the UK roads you will never notice. Driving without a passenger to balance out the passenger weight would be more noticeable (driving it to it's limits). GTI was never an option for me until I know what my commute is going to be when I have to start job hunting in 14 months time. I'd be kicking myself if I bought a GTI and ended up tripling my commute in my new job. Everyone has their reasons for what they pick and for most here, their cars will never routinely do more than 90mph on a straight road (which will bother neither car).
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if you go canny until you get on the a19 you'll see 45mpg easily probably more. you'll still see 40mpg on the motorway hoofing it :grin: I didn't use the paddles much as the box was just fine. I can't wait for mine to come now after driving the demo yesterday. enjoy MH
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if you go canny until you get on the a19 you'll see 45mpg easily probably more. you'll still see 40mpg on the motorway hoofing it :grin: I didn't use the paddles much as the box was just fine. I can't wait for mine to come now after driving the demo yesterday. enjoy MH
I want to stick with the paddles to have the car change up when I would with my manual. I know DSG mpg won't quite manage to match a true manual (10% down on my estimates) so if I manage an indicated 50mpg driving it the way i would on my commute I will have matched my current manual Scirocco in a DSG GTD and can expect more from a manual. I'll be happy with that situation. Setting off soon to get the car just after 9am.
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Well I had an hour and a half with the car (about 65 mins driving) and I can conclude that as clever as it is, I really don't like DSG at all. If you could only get a GTI/GTD with DSG I wouldn't buy one. I felt so detached from the car at times, even using the paddles. I think sometimes it's too smooth for it's own good - a few times I was unaware the gear change had actually happened, it is that smooth (which sounds like a good point but paddling it is a bad point because you might end up putting it up 2 gears as a result!). I found it most enjoyable forgetting about the changes and sticking it in "D" on "Normal" setting so the car wasn't leaving itself in 5th maintaining 80mph on the dual carriageway (as it did in "Sport" when I had a brief go in sport).
Anyway, DSG rant over, the GTD is noticeably sharper and smoother in it's ride than my Scirocco 170TDI. The performance feels less exciting though because it is so smooth even when you really put your foot down, although it is quicker than the Scirocco on the 50-80 climb by a margin. The car had Dynaudio but on the move I didn't appreciate any great benefit with my MP3s (320kbps bitrate - I came prepared with an SD card) so I can't say it was money well spent IMO.
The "Sport" ACC/DCC setting is smoother than my Scirocco, but not sure whether the car as a whole is a lot smoother anyway, but it was a good comparison between Scirocco with ACC "Sport" setting and GTD with ACC "Sport" setting. "Normal" ACC mode seemed very rough and fidgety, like the system was trying too hard to adjust all the time.
I suppose it is not so much of an issue with a manual, but with DSG and the car in "Sport" is a pain in the arse if you don't like the way it changes the gearbox change up/down profile, so it is really handy that you can do a custom setting where you can specify normal DSG mode but "Sport" for steering and ACC. On a manual I will probably just stick it in "Sport" as I will be in charge of my own gear changes.
The cabin is a great place to be, noticeably nicer than my Scirocco.
To get a good feel for fuel economy I didn't use the cruise system or the aircon (although when I got the car it was just under 20C, so having normal blowers on without aircon was fine anyway). Fuel economy was a little disappointing for a TDI. On the journey I took and the way I drove, I got 50.3mpg. In the Scirocco, driving it the same way, but using the aircon I would've been an easy 56mpg. Figuring 10% fuel penalty for having DSG (the official figures between manual and DSG support this) it would seem as if a manual GTD will do the same as my Scirocco does right now. It'll still be all tight etc with less than 700 miles on the clock, but i've never noticed an appreciable difference on economy after running in with my 6 VWs I had from new.
My journey was some moderate acceleration between Sunderland and Cleadon/Boldon up to Testos roundabout doing 30/40/50mph on those roads. As soon as I got on the A19 it was maintaining 80mph for the 28ish miles of dual carriageway down to Hartlepool (less if a slower car got in front to briefly overtake a lorry or caravan), then a few miles into Hartlepool Headland, stopping at the Heugh/Middleton pier for a few pics (my camera battery died after 3 shots! :angry:). Probably 4 times on the journey when i'd been stuck behind someone doing 55-60mph who moved out of the way on the A19 I buried the accelerator to get straight back up to 80mph.
I did pretty much the same on the way back, but drove it a little harder when a Black Astra SRI was right up the back end on a stretch where we'd dropped to 60mph. When the car in front was out of the way I left the Astra for dead.
The engine seems capable of amazing economy when you're sitting at 50/60mph, but use of the throttle seems to have a far bigger negative effect on the economy than any previous TDI i've had. 50 miles into my round trip I didn't expect to see a 3mpg drop for the trip for 1 50-80mph stint of heavy acceleration requiring 2 miles of cruising to allow it to recover.
Anyway, what I think i'm saying is don't expect miracles from MK7s for fuel economy - the new amazing figures seem unbelievable because they are.
Despite it being a little rough around the edges and lower output, I think the Scirocco is a more entertaining drive (but only just) - maybe that was the DSG frustration kicking in.
Pics:-
(http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/monkeyhanger710/TRGTD1.jpg)
(http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/monkeyhanger710/TRGTD3.jpg)
(http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/monkeyhanger710/TRGTD2.jpg)
At least i've assured myself that Red is the right colour for me (even if the pics aren't great due to a lack of wax on the demo car).
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this one doesn't have adaptive chassis control monkeyhanger.
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this one doesn't have adaptive chassis control monkeyhanger.
Are you sure? I went into the car menu and altered a few things maybe I got mixed up the anachronyms again (like ACC = ADC) Must've been the placebo effect because the car really felt smoother on the ride once i'd individually changed whatever I changed from the "individual" menu after altering the steering to Sport.
My comments sound quite negative as I read them but I suppose i'm saying it's business as usual with small incremental improvements over the previous generation - nothing to really wow me. The Scirocco seats feel quite a bit better (bolsters felt quite flimsy on the GTD).
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definitely no option to change DCC like the scirocco. it does change the throttle response and steering though. I think the seats were great but I'm coming from one of the most uncomfortable cars I've ever owned :grin: can't wait for mine to turn up now although if my build week gets knocked bank again I'm cancelling the rear camera.
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Nice write up that mate. Still good MPG figures, even if they're nowhere near what VW quote. I'm sure when it's loosened up a bit it'll be better.