GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Sootchucker on 17 September 2013, 13:17
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Thought I would do a quick report on the GTD after the first 3 days of ownership, and compare with my previous Scirocco.
Quality - Definitely a good step up in quality from the Scirocco, but to be fair that was based on the MK5 Golf Chassis, so really dates back to 2004, so no real surprises there. Much quieter, less road and wind noise. The seats in the Scirocco were good, but the Golf's seats beat them hands down for comfort - I don't know if they are slightly longer in the cushion, or if it's the lumbar adjustment that makes a difference, but I noticed this one straight away.
Not only do the lights look way cool, but more importantly from a functional point of view, they are superb. Very bright with a long throw and a definite cut off point. The corner lights are surprisingly bright and effective as are the front LED fogs (just used for testing purposes). Finally, the rear LED's look fab, but most importantly, the indicators are very visible, even with the brake lights illuminated. Interior ambient lighting is subtle, but again looks way cool at night.
Engine is still tight (only 54 miles on it so far), but already as expected, feels much more powerful that my 140ps PD in the Scirocco, although so far I have only given it just over half revs, but did put a huge smile on my face. Fuel consumption isn't too bad at 43.5mpg for the life of the car (all 54 miles :grin:), and considering all the miles have been urban with lots of use of the stop/start system, I don't think that's too bad for a brand new engine. Will hopefully pickup once more miles are on it and I do some journeys to stretch it's legs.
Wipers so far (touch wood) are perfect. I've had minor drizzle to extreme monsoon downpours, and they have coped admirably with no unswept or smeared areas on either sides - just a perfect clean - although I will keep an eye on this.
No rattles/ squeaks or knocks that a few others have reported - just silence, but again, maybe with a few more miles on it that will change, but so far it's 100%.
The DCC is a revelation compared to the Scirocco which was extremely subtle to say the least. On my GTD, both the wife and myself can feel a real and significant difference between "Comfort", "Normal" and "Sport". With the car in comfort mode, it rides like a limousine, or a car with much smaller wheels - very impressed and glad I chose it.
Dynaudio, now that it's settled in, is fantastic. Huge gobfuls of bass from both the door mounted woofers and the sub in the boot, but also some extreme finesse when listening to much lighter music than my preferred 80's and 90's dance music.
Downsides.
Not much really. Miss the handsome shape of the Rocco, although the Golf is by no means an un-pretty car, just not as good looking as the Rocco, although the interior of the Golf is a quantum jump forward.
The rear end of the Golf is a real water and muck magnet - much more than the Rocco, guess it's to go with the slab sided nature of the car, but I can see a lot of washes coming this car's way.
As I already pointed out, not having the ability to customize the speed dial names on the Bluetooth, seems a backwards step from the RNS-510, and it would have been nice to have the ability to upload contact photos via SD card if the phone doesn't support them (like my Iphone 4s doesn't).
Boot doesn't seem as big as I remember, but that's possibly just down to the multi height loading floor (I have mine at the highest setting).
Other than that, not a lot really. She really is everything I hoped she would be. If it's as reliable as the Rocco, and as fuel efficient, I can't see me wanted to upgrade for many a year to come.
If you got this far, then thanks for reading.
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Nice write up Norbreck! Real life reviews like this are the only type of reviews worth reading, so thanks!
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Lovely write up mate, really appreciate the effort you've gone to so far with the pics and reviews, keeping us all sane!!! :grin:
:cool:
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Chuffed for you Norbreck and thanks for the write up!
Mine is due any day now!!
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A first report as detailed as your car’s initial cleaning regime!
Better seats? I reckon the Scirocco ones are more comfy by a margin, and the seat bolster on the door side of the drives seat is getting creased already on the way out of the car – The Scirocco had a wider,lower bolster with most of it supported with a hard underneath, not so on the Golf. The golf ones stand taller, with less support and unless you’re 7’ tall, you cannot help compressing that bolster with your leg on the way out of the car. The seats look better on the Golf though.
Lights are massively better in the GTD, every aspect of them. Headlights come on prematurely, but I’ve had this since MK5 Golfs with auto lights.
MPG is supposed to get better with time, something I’ve never seen with previous VWs, but this one seems different. Most people that say it gets better say it happens 2k-4k miles in. My dad's has improved recently.
My wipers are a lot better now – transit residues on the windscreen perhaps?
I’d consider another Roc on the MQB platform and with all the MK7 toys, but would it stand out so much as it did in early 09? So many cloners out there now – new Clio, Astra GTC, Megane Coupe, A-Class merc etc.
The boot floor is tidier at its highest setting – reminds me of my mate’s R32 with a full size spare under the very high boot floor!
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Excellent write up.
The boot is a little larger than the mk6 when in the lower position, I find it very handy sometimes that the parcel shelf can be removed and stored under the base. No horrible un/part painted metal like the mk 6 either.
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I've had a Mark 5 and currently have a Mark 6, and the rear end has always been prone to getting filthy. Seems to be a trait of Golfs. Glad to see it hasn't changed with the Mark 7!
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Delighted to hear your positive experience of the DCC.
I too have specced this having never been in a car with it and its the only option i have been a little concerned about as to whether it would deliver what i expected of it. The description you have given is exactly what i'd hoped it would be going some way to making it the car for all occaisions!
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I've had a Mark 5 and currently have a Mark 6, and the rear end has always been prone to getting filthy. Seems to be a trait of Golfs. Glad to see it hasn't changed with the Mark 7!
I've owned every model of Golf from a mk1 GTI right through to mk6's and they all suffer the same problem! The mk1 was possibly the least affected but also the worst aerodynamically probably (but by far the best looking). The mk2 the worst by a margin from memory and I've owned a good few mk2's so trust my judgement!!
Excellent reviews Andrew and MH. :smiley:
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Thanks guys, hope it's helped (especially for those still waiting for theirs).
MH, interesting that you think the Scirocco seats are more comfy (by a hair) when I think the opposite. Are you a slightly built (i.e. thin) person, as I am 6'2", and rather..ahem....cough............chunky :grin: :grin: :grin: So I find the seats better. The phenomenon you describe about the side bolster getting in and out, I had on the Rocco, but developed a special way of getting out that didn't involve any pressure on the bolsters, so I guess I'll just carry this over to the Golf.
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Only 54 miles in 3 days :rolleyes: you need to get out and drive it :smiley:
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Only 54 miles in 3 days :rolleyes: you need to get out and drive it :smiley:
I was thinking that :grin: I intend on doing at least that on hand over day! :laugh:
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Great review, as mentioned it's always good to hear people's real world experiences.
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Wishing I'd selected ACC now...gutted and quite pi55ed off I haven't. Quite fancied ragging it time to time in sport. I presume it still handles well and sporty without this option
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Wishing I'd selected ACC now...gutted and quite pi55ed off I haven't. Quite fancied ragging it time to time in sport. I presume it still handles well and sporty without this option
I'm in the opposite camp, I have it and have not noticed a great deal of difference so I don't think your missing out on much
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Wishing I'd selected ACC now...gutted and quite pi55ed off I haven't. Quite fancied ragging it time to time in sport. I presume it still handles well and sporty without this option
I'm in the opposite camp, I have it and have not noticed a great deal of difference so I don't think your missing out on much
Making me feel slightly better about this now. Think I was far too quick to order the car and really took no notice of the all the potential extras. I went for keyless and in all honesty...this is surely just a gimmick and a bit of a waste of cash but there you go. Hindsight is a wonderful thing
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Nah, sorry, keyless is wonderful. My first car with it and I'll spec it every time in the future.
From reading this thread it just goes to show how different we all are, as I can really notice the deats and DCC whilst others don't so much. Just goes to show, you need to make up your own mind as to what options you want on your car, as no one else can really do that for you.
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Nah, sorry, keyless is wonderful. My first car with it and I'll spec it every time in the future.
From reading this thread it just goes to show how different we all are, as I can really notice the deats and DCC whilst others don't so much. Just goes to show, you need to make up your own mind as to what options you want on your car, as no one else can really do that for you.
Yeh I suppose, each to their own and all that. Just wish I'd taken the time to think a few things over before rushing in to it. Like the dynaudio, acc and nav. But ahhhh well
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Your write ups, as always, are superb!
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Cheers Bill, means a lot coming from you :smiley:
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Thanks guys, hope it's helped (especially for those still waiting for theirs).
MH, interesting that you think the Scirocco seats are more comfy (by a hair) when I think the opposite. Are you a slightly built (i.e. thin) person, as I am 6'2", and rather..ahem....cough............chunky :grin: :grin: :grin: So I find the seats better. The phenomenon you describe about the side bolster getting in and out, I had on the Rocco, but developed a special way of getting out that didn't involve any pressure on the bolsters, so I guess I'll just carry this over to the Golf.
Can't really do the Scirocco get-out technique I used to as the bolsters were facing out rather than up on the Scirocco and it was lower, so your feet were on the floor before you were pressing on the bolster with the top of your leg and I have the Golf seats as low as they can go. I'm not exactly slender - a straight 6' tall, so not exactly on the short side either. The first thing that the dealer was concerned with on my dad's p/x (having struck the deal unseen) was the state of the front seats - specifically the bolster side adjacent to each door.
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Wishing I'd selected ACC now...gutted and quite pi55ed off I haven't. Quite fancied ragging it time to time in sport. I presume it still handles well and sporty without this option
If you've never had it then the standard ride will impress - far better than the standard ride in a MK5 Golf GTI/GT TDI.
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Wishing I'd selected ACC now...gutted and quite pi55ed off I haven't. Quite fancied ragging it time to time in sport. I presume it still handles well and sporty without this option
If you've never had it then the standard ride will impress - far better than the standard ride in a MK5 Golf GTI/GT TDI.
Great ideal. The acceleration though... I always seem to get excited reading and watching reviews on you tube, here etc. However, its always been portrayed as far from quick. Is this the case or merely compared to the GTI. Read its 0-62 in 7.5 seconds but a video on youtube mentions 6.8 or .9
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I've always argued that 0-60 acceleration is not a particularly good measure of a car's performance - how often do you nail it from a standing start..?
To be honest a front wheel drive car will never excel at this, as traction has a significant bearing on 0-60 times - as does power:weight... but its no good having loads of power/low weight if you have limited traction... You either can't use all the power or you turn all that power into smoke :evil:
The main measure of performance to me, at least, is subjective and is how quickly and easily the car covers the ground - in other words - how accessible is the performance... this tends to favour in gear acceleration and good grip/handling...
So don't judge it just by the 0-60... Drive one (if you can find one) and then see whether you think it is fast enough :smiley:
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I've always argued that 0-60 acceleration is not a particularly good measure of a car's performance - how often do you nail it from a standing start..?
To be honest a front wheel drive car will never excel at this, as traction has a significant bearing on 0-60 times - as does power:weight... but its no good having loads of power/low weight if you have limited traction... You either can't use all the power or you turn all that power into smoke :evil:
The main measure of performance to me, at least, is subjective and is how quickly and easily the car covers the ground - in other words - how accessible is the performance... this tends to favour in gear acceleration and good grip/handling...
So don't judge it just by the 0-60... Drive one (if you can find one) and then see whether you think it is fast enough :smiley:
Yeh....fair point! Car was in for an MOT and i had an A4 170 and that felt pretty quick...so maybe im just being a pessimist, doesn't help with the GTD not getting praised for its rapid acceleration but it is a diesel after all
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I've always argued that 0-60 acceleration is not a particularly good measure of a car's performance - how often do you nail it from a standing start..?
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I've always argued that 0-60 acceleration is not a particularly good measure of a car's performance - how often do you nail it from a standing start..?
tbh, on every f***ing single opportunity... :grin: love watching the what-the-f**k face of the driver who's behind from my mirror.
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I've always argued that 0-60 acceleration is not a particularly good measure of a car's performance - how often do you nail it from a standing start..?
tbh, on every f***ing single opportunity... :grin: love watching the what-the-f**k face of the driver who's behind from my mirror.
Totally agree...I do it at every set of lights :grin: I did it today but literally tapped the accelerator coz some moron in a van was trying to get in front of me and but the smoke coming out of his exhaust it was gonna fall apart. I know it's silly coz there is o contest but I was happy :grin:
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I've always argued that 0-60 acceleration is not a particularly good measure of a car's performance - how often do you nail it from a standing start..?
tbh, on every f***ing single opportunity... :grin: love watching the what-the-f**k face of the driver who's behind from my mirror.
Totally agree...I do it at every set of lights :grin: I did it today but literally tapped the accelerator coz some moron in a van was trying to get in front of me and but the smoke coming out of his exhaust it was gonna fall apart. I know it's silly coz there is o contest but I was happy :grin:
Have to say I've done it a few times in the last few days too :grin:
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I remember a few years ago some smart arse in an Elise tried to nail it at the lights when he saw my TT behind him. Put the foot down round a corner and the the rear end let go, bang straight into a brick wall. I could see as I drove past that he wasn't hurt but the car was f**ked and needless to say he probably felt a bit of a dick.
Just got to take into account the conditions and make sure it's the right time in the right place
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Really appreciate your user reports. Will be happy to do the same for mine (if it ever turns up... :smiley:)