GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: mrzen on 07 April 2014, 12:23
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I've had my Tungsten Silver GTI PP for about a month now - for those looking to buy, here is what I reckon about the chatter on this and other forums that I read in advance of picking up the car.
As forums tend to be a gathering place for people waiting to pick up their cars, and others with problems, I just thought I'd add my experience now I've had the car for a while to balance things out...
Spec:
5 Door
Tungsten Silver
Performance Pack
Nav
DSG
"Windscreen Wipers smear" - Not mine, they seem fine, perhaps they have changed the standard factory fit ones but they are fine on my car.
"Rattles" - Not on mine.
"Economy" - Was a bit of a shock to start having come from a diesel, however the engine really does loosen up after the first 1000 miles and it really affects the MPG. Can get 40MPG if very careful, so I'm a happy bunny.
"Dealer valeting" - There was a lot of chatter in the forums about this and that you should on no circumstances let the dealer valet the car. I had mine AutoGlym'd by them, so I was nervous about letting them carry it out after reading the comments. I paid particular attention when it arrived, but in the end they did a brilliant job, so it goes to show that not all dealers are the same! (thank you White Rose VW in Petersfield)
"Ipod connection" - Mine came with both new and old versions of the cable.
"Stereo Quality" - I haven't got the dynaudio. The sound is perfectly acceptable for my ears, I listen to a lot of audio books in the car and it's fine.. It's obviously not as good as the Bang & Olufsen system in my other car, but it's fine for me.
"Performance Pack" - don't have anything to compare it to, but the brakes seem amazing and it is fun to drive - can't tell if that is the PP making a difference though. I did worry that I should have waited and bought the 'R', but in the end, for me, the GTI PP is perfectly fast enough, any more would be verging on making it scary rather than fun (IMHO R owners). Also I'm not finding that traction is an issue despite 230PS through the front wheels.
"DSG Gearbox" - brilliant, wouldn't have anything else, love the noise.
"Sat Nav" - I find mine to be good - better than the unit in my 2010 A4 estate. The smaller screen on the head unit is fine, though the bigger screen does look quite cool.
"Adaptive Cruise Control" - once you have got use to it, is amazing - I use it all the time down A and B roads, just tailing the car in front at an acceptable distance - a very stress free drive. I've heard chatter of worrying 'False alarms', but haven't had any at all - time will tell, but I like the system.
"Auto Hold" - Some people have said this can make it a bit jerky moving off - I guess it just depends on how fast you want to drive off, but I don't find it an issue.
"Dealer" - got 2 bottles of wine, a healthy discount, a model Golf GTI Mk6 for my son (Mk7 not available yet!), they Auto Glym'd it well, but unfortunately they registered as a 63 plate instead of a 14 (I've got a private plate on it, so perhaps they thought I wouldn't notice). They gave me an extra £500 off for the 'inconvenience' but I'm still a little p'd off about it since I picked it up in mid March...
What I might have specced if I hadn't bought a dealer specced one:
Keyless entry
Reversing Camera
And if money were no object:
DCC
Sunroof
Parking Assist
Niggles:
Minor, but it's difficult to press things on the screen when driving - quite distracting.
Again minor, but because the engine stops when you stop, it can make you forget to put the handbrake on and turn off the ignition, I know that sounds weird, but I'm getting used to it...
I can't think of anything else, overall, very pleased and highly recommend it...
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Hi
Good review thanks. Im picking up my GTI PP end of week so loking forward to the experience.
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That's a great review! I also echo everything you've said, I've had mine since 1st March and I love it. Done 1300 miles now and mpg has slightly increased. I'm getting around 38-40mpg on long journeys which I'm happy with, afterall, if I wanted economy I'd have bought the excellent GTD.
Mine was a factory order so I did spec Keyless, Reversing Camera and DCC along with the other options you did (mine is a standard Non-PP car though) and they all work brilliantly, especially the Keyless Go. It's brilliant, very intuitive and I wouldn't want a car without it!
I only have very minor niggles, one of which is that even though I don't use the Auto Hold feature, when the car restarts to set off at some lights after the stop/start feature has done its work, it seems to sporadically hold on to the brakes and its a bit jerky setting off again. Once used to it you can be smooth but my wife (who has no mechanical feel for anything!) isn't very smooth with it!
The DSG gearbox with its new calibration is even better than it was in my previous car (Passat CC). I love it and I think it really adds to the character of the car, but I can understand why someone would want a manual for the added engagement.
Whilst washing on Saturday I did notice a couple of stone chips which is a bit of a shame, but I do use it every day and therefore although I keep the car pristine (I'm a hobby detailer and spent 3 days preparing the car after the dealer valeting covered it in nasty swirls!), I accept it will pick up the odd mark.
It's a brilliant car, and my wife is even thinking about ordering one for herself in exactly the same spec but CSG!
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Hi Mrzen,
Great review, always good to hear what people think after a few weeks of living with a car. Glad you are enjoying it, makes me want mine even more though!
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(http://share.mrzen.com/matt/1234.jpg)
Because everyone likes pics.
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Nice colour nearly went for that my self..
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Minor, but it's difficult to press things on the screen when driving - quite distracting.
Still think the media system needs some work but you do get used to it and pretty much only time touch screen when moving is to change a station maybe.
Have my mode setting at 'comfort' and cycle between D and S and Manual using the DSG lever as desired. If going down a decent stretch I will mode to 'Sport' to stiffen ride and handling but that only occassional
Again minor, but because the engine stops when you stop, it can make you forget to put the handbrake on and turn off the ignition, I know that sounds weird, but I'm getting used to it...
This is not how works for me as have auto hold on permanently and when stop just place DSG in 'P' and take seat belt off and car then handbrake activates (Brake symbol goes from green to red) so basically I never ever touch the handbrake. I personally love the auto hold and have to this point had no issues with it.
Wife taken the GTD today and had to take her Mini Cooper out and damn my knee hurts on and off that damn clutch thing all the time :wink:
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@mrzen - Really liking the look of Tungsten Silver, any chance of a couple more pics, possibly a view of it's backside?!
My wife loves my GTI so much and she's due a new car this year, shes thinking about ordering one in exactly the same spec as mine but a different colour and I'm thinking about recommending TS.
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I've not got any of my backside :embarrassed:, but here are the pics that persuaded me to get one in TS:
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff88/Ahmed_Janahi/2014%20GTI/IMG_0042_zps2891d802.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff88/Ahmed_Janahi/2014%20GTI/IMG_0043_zps51addb14.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff88/Ahmed_Janahi/2014%20GTI/IMG_0040_zps4b8bc4c4.jpg)
Credit to AJ from Bahrain on another forum!
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It's a lovely colour isn't it?! Looks lighter in some pictures then darker in others.
Hmmm.... :evil:
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Yeah - it changes with the light, mine was photod on a pretty dull day, and the guy in Bahrain is a much better photographer than me!
I love the colour...