GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: fredgroves on 16 July 2017, 21:35
-
Thought I'd writeup my feelings on my new Mk7.5 GTD vs my old one.
I previously had a 2014 plate 5 door manual GTD with DCC, NavPro, HBA and in Limestone Grey. She was a company wagon and I did 72k in her over three years. Always faithful, always comfortable.
After HMRC declared war on company cars, I decided it was time to buy my own car. What should it be? Had to be a Golf really, it really has been the best car I've ever had.
This time she's white 5 door manual GTDand I've only added NavPro - I did originally spec DCC but decided to change the spec during the order process... more on that later.
I've had her a week and notched up 1k in her already!
So here's my thoughts of old girl vs flirty young model.
Exterior:
Liking the front lights. They look good, the DRL's are nice and I like the way the indicators are in the pattern of the DRL's. The LED headlights themselves are impressive - better than the Xenons I'd say, really cut through the dark lanes in Wales. The new cornering lights are now also LED, which in one respect is nicer than the yellow filament ones before, but they don't seem to light the corners as well as the Mk7's.
I've got fogs, but not tried them yet... because it hasn't been foggy. The new more aggressive finned front looks good though.
Rear lights... OMG I love those sweepy indicators. Love love love! On the other hand, the smoked light clusters themselves are not as nice as the multi LED ones on the Mk7.
Wheels - I think these look nicer. In fact earlier at Asda I was able to compare one to the other. Definitely nicer.
Rear valance and bigger tail pipes - nice! The new valance is sloped, I *think* its reduced the vacuum effect on the rear - the top of my rear bumper looks cleaner after 1k than the old one did after 10 miles!
I'm liking white far more than metallic beige :grin:
Interior:
Not much different. Slightly different finish around the dash - piano black on the front dash, still carbon hexagon thing on the door strips. New frameless mirror is a nice touch. Noticing the random money saving removals of various plastic covers - most noticeable is the ones over the ISOFIX points on the rear seat. Might have to buy some of those...
Electronics:
AID... I *think* I like it. Its taken me a good old time to try and find a display setup how I want it and even then its not quite what I'd want. Shame its not more customisable. White needles on white dials and numbers... not great VW!
ACC - surprised nobody has mentioned this before.... it finally can detect vehicles in the lane to your right (or left if you set it to driving on the right) and not undertake them! Now that VW is progress! I can only imagine how the full optional spec'ed system works with DSG, lane assist and traffic jam assist. Should be brilliant, if a little expensive.
Options
NavPro, its pretty impressive. Looks the business. The touch screen now works like a modern touch screen. Nav finally has CarNet for decent traffic data. The AID map view is OK, but have to say not needed and I've already stopped faffing with that. The maps can be updated over WLAN connection... which means no more SD car foolery, park it on the drive, use my cable broadband.
Voice control on it is much better. Very much better. Maybe even usable now? Still has an annoying delay while it thinks about what you said though.
Gesture control? Apart from a few accidental uses, its crap. Steering wheel buttons are superior and safer!
BTW, VW called this MIB2 GP, not MIB3.
Issues with NavPro are:
1) The lack of nobs is annoying, especially the right hand one previously used to scroll through stuff. In fact, in a lot of ways the new NavPro is more dangerous to a driver than the old one.
2) CarNet - yeah brilliant VW, good data sources does make a difference but the lame WLAN connection needed is rubbish. Far too much fiddle turning that on and off on my phone each time. Also, once it has the data, its ability to use it sensibly to navigate around hell on the M5 is shocking. The other things on it are OK, but its a sat nav, it should be better than this. BTW the traffic data comes from TomTom...
3) Greasy fingerprints. It looks like I only eat chips or something and use the wrappers to rub the thing down. Also the shiny gloss screen reflects everything. Not clever.
I swapped to using AppConnect and AndroidAuto in the end. Despite the having to plug it in, Google has better traffic data, smarter navigation capabilities (really can get you round jams) and a better display for directions. Shame it can't use the AID for repeating the data to the driver easily. Almost tempted to say though that I'd never use the VW nav system again though - unless you are in a mobile phone dead zone.
Anyway....
DCC... I decided to cancel the option mid order. Saved me a few quid. I was scared though, my last few cars have all had some sort of dynamic adaptive suspension. In the end, the upshot is that I'm not missing it so far!
I expect I'll have a few more comments to add later, but so far so good.
-
Nice to here your thoughts on the differences between the two models.
I intend to keep my GTI for many years so I'll probably end up comparing mine to the MK 9 Golf !
-
Great to hear your findings between the two, I've only seen a couple of MK7.5s up close but the differences appear nicer than I thought they would. I wish I could upgrade!
-
Nice write up and comparison. The only thing I find disappointing in your review is the shortcuts that VW have taken like removing the isofix covers - that's just ridiculous!!
-
Nice write up and comparison. The only thing I find disappointing in your review is the shortcuts that VW have taken like removing the isofix covers - that's just ridiculous!!
There's a few more missing bits of plastic too - the exposed bolts in the inside of the front doors that used to be covered with plastic...
Oh and you don't get a service book either. Yes, that's right, no service book... its all on VW's computer... not quite sure how my local non-VW garage update that...
-
My bolts are exposed on my 2016 MK 7. It's not exactly an issue though.
-
Thought I'd writeup my feelings on my new Mk7.5 GTD vs my old one.
I previously had a 2014 plate 5 door manual GTD with DCC, NavPro, HBA and in Limestone Grey. She was a company wagon and I did 72k in her over three years. Always faithful, always comfortable.
After HMRC declared war on company cars, I decided it was time to buy my own car. What should it be? Had to be a Golf really, it really has been the best car I've ever had.
This time she's white 5 door manual GTDand I've only added NavPro - I did originally spec DCC but decided to change the spec during the order process... more on that later.
I've had her a week and notched up 1k in her already!
So here's my thoughts of old girl vs flirty young model.
Exterior:
Liking the front lights. They look good, the DRL's are nice and I like the way the indicators are in the pattern of the DRL's. The LED headlights themselves are impressive - better than the Xenons I'd say, really cut through the dark lanes in Wales. The new cornering lights are now also LED, which in one respect is nicer than the yellow filament ones before, but they don't seem to light the corners as well as the Mk7's.
I've got fogs, but not tried them yet... because it hasn't been foggy. The new more aggressive finned front looks good though.
Rear lights... OMG I love those sweepy indicators. Love love love! On the other hand, the smoked light clusters themselves are not as nice as the multi LED ones on the Mk7.
Wheels - I think these look nicer. In fact earlier at Asda I was able to compare one to the other. Definitely nicer.
Rear valance and bigger tail pipes - nice! The new valance is sloped, I *think* its reduced the vacuum effect on the rear - the top of my rear bumper looks cleaner after 1k than the old one did after 10 miles!
I'm liking white far more than metallic beige :grin:
Interior:
Not much different. Slightly different finish around the dash - piano black on the front dash, still carbon hexagon thing on the door strips. New frameless mirror is a nice touch. Noticing the random money saving removals of various plastic covers - most noticeable is the ones over the ISOFIX points on the rear seat. Might have to buy some of those...
Electronics:
AID... I *think* I like it. Its taken me a good old time to try and find a display setup how I want it and even then its not quite what I'd want. Shame its not more customisable. White needles on white dials and numbers... not great VW!
ACC - surprised nobody has mentioned this before.... it finally can detect vehicles in the lane to your right (or left if you set it to driving on the right) and not undertake them! Now that VW is progress! I can only imagine how the full optional spec'ed system works with DSG, lane assist and traffic jam assist. Should be brilliant, if a little expensive.
Options
NavPro, its pretty impressive. Looks the business. The touch screen now works like a modern touch screen. Nav finally has CarNet for decent traffic data. The AID map view is OK, but have to say not needed and I've already stopped faffing with that. The maps can be updated over WLAN connection... which means no more SD car foolery, park it on the drive, use my cable broadband.
Voice control on it is much better. Very much better. Maybe even usable now? Still has an annoying delay while it thinks about what you said though.
Gesture control? Apart from a few accidental uses, its crap. Steering wheel buttons are superior and safer!
BTW, VW called this MIB2 GP, not MIB3.
Issues with NavPro are:
1) The lack of nobs is annoying, especially the right hand one previously used to scroll through stuff. In fact, in a lot of ways the new NavPro is more dangerous to a driver than the old one.
2) CarNet - yeah brilliant VW, good data sources does make a difference but the lame WLAN connection needed is rubbish. Far too much fiddle turning that on and off on my phone each time. Also, once it has the data, its ability to use it sensibly to navigate around hell on the M5 is shocking. The other things on it are OK, but its a sat nav, it should be better than this. BTW the traffic data comes from TomTom...
3) Greasy fingerprints. It looks like I only eat chips or something and use the wrappers to rub the thing down. Also the shiny gloss screen reflects everything. Not clever.
I swapped to using AppConnect and AndroidAuto in the end. Despite the having to plug it in, Google has better traffic data, smarter navigation capabilities (really can get you round jams) and a better display for directions. Shame it can't use the AID for repeating the data to the driver easily. Almost tempted to say though that I'd never use the VW nav system again though - unless you are in a mobile phone dead zone.
Anyway....
DCC... I decided to cancel the option mid order. Saved me a few quid. I was scared though, my last few cars have all had some sort of dynamic adaptive suspension. In the end, the upshot is that I'm not missing it so far!
I expect I'll have a few more comments to add later, but so far so good.
Here's a question... I've noticed that the stop-start works off the front radar so as soon as the car in front starts moving the car restarts. Is this a new feature? Works quite well unless the person in front edges forward before they can actually move off.
-
Not seen that... do you mean with dsg and acc active?
-
So when just in any traffic when the stop start kicks in, mine restarts as the car in the front starts to move, before I've even touched the throttle?
-
Interesting points on the NavPro as well, reviews I've seen said the lack of buttons is annoying.
I've noticed I do use both buttons, the right one to scroll more often than the volume one.
-
So when just in any traffic when the stop start kicks in, mine restarts as the car in the front starts to move, before I've even touched the throttle?
I'll try that tomorrow and see if it does it.
That will be the city braking system rather than ACC.
Supposedly it can see pedestrians now as well as cars...
-
So when just in any traffic when the stop start kicks in, mine restarts as the car in the front starts to move, before I've even touched the throttle?
Same on a late 7 - find it a little irritating personally. Not much point to stop- start if it deactivates at every quiver of the car ahead, IMHO.
-
Nice write up and comparison. The only thing I find disappointing in your review is the shortcuts that VW have taken like removing the isofix covers - that's just ridiculous!!
There's a few more missing bits of plastic too - the exposed bolts in the inside of the front doors that used to be covered with plastic...
Oh and you don't get a service book either. Yes, that's right, no service book... its all on VW's computer... not quite sure how my local non-VW garage update that...
That's not right! I have a 7.5 GTI and I definitely have a service book. It's quite thick and has space for about 20 services. I would look into that one with the garage.
-
Nice write up and comparison. The only thing I find disappointing in your review is the shortcuts that VW have taken like removing the isofix covers - that's just ridiculous!!
Craig, did you remember to relieve your old GTI of those items before you gave it to the dealers? :wink:
-
I even removed the false boot floor from my 2013 GTD when I picked up my 2016 GTD, as I noticed that the nice spring loaded hinged handle on the earlier car had been replaced with a fixed moulded handle on the newer cars, which I thought looked cheaper. Dealer was quite puzzled :laugh:
I would have also removed the plastic covers from the door mirror fixing bolt covers until I saw that the door on the earlier car was drilled with holes to accept the cover mounting pins, but on the newer car, the holes were missing in the doors and there was no way I was going to drill the doors on a new car :grin:
-
I even removed the false boot floor from my 2013 GTD when I picked up my 2016 GTD, as I noticed that the nice spring loaded hinged handle on the earlier car had been replaced with a fixed moulded handle on the newer cars, which I thought looked cheaper. Dealer was quite puzzled :laugh:
I would have also removed the plastic covers from the door mirror fixing bolt covers until I saw that the door on the earlier car was drilled with holes to accept the cover mounting pins, but on the newer car, the holes were missing in the doors and there was no way I was going to drill the doors on a new car :grin:
I noticed that too! But maybe you could MacGyver it and just glue on the covers. If I were swapping to a new one I think I'd nick them off the old car anyway and give it a go!
-
I've seen others talk about those exposed wing mirror bolts on here.
Solution: touch up paint and paint the buggers.
Makes them shout a little less :D
It is annoying, especially those ISOFIX points which will just fill up with dust and dirt (and cake crumbs)
-
Hmm, TBH, I've never checked if my May 2016 GTD has the ISOfix covers or not - out of interest what am I looking for ?
You know, I haven't seen one performance model "GTD, GTI or R" MK7.5 on the road at all round my way. I've only seen a 7.5 R at the dealerships, but haven't even clapped eyes on the FL 7.5 GTI or GTD on the road. Are they only coming though very slowly ?
-
Yes, coming through VERY slowly it would seem - mine took 6 months!
Seemed to be very slow, but now the completion times seem to be stepping up and a tidal wave of 7.5's are inbound in the next couple of months - judging by this forum.
I've only seen one other on the road so far - a few others at the dealers waiting to go.
Remember of course that the April road tax change probably meant a massive surge in new cars earlier this year and now their is a slump... thats probably got something to do with it too.
-
Oh and you don't get a service book either. Yes, that's right, no service book... its all on VW's computer... not quite sure how my local non-VW garage update that...
That's not right! I have a 7.5 GTI and I definitely have a service book. It's quite thick and has space for about 20 services. I would look into that one with the garage.
I did. He just told me that:
VW UK do not supply service books with any new vehicles that are 2018 model year, it is kept electronically
Not sure if there were any 7.5's before MY18....
-
Oh and you don't get a service book either. Yes, that's right, no service book... its all on VW's computer... not quite sure how my local non-VW garage update that...
That's not right! I have a 7.5 GTI and I definitely have a service book. It's quite thick and has space for about 20 services. I would look into that one with the garage.
I did. He just told me that:
VW UK do not supply service books with any new vehicles that are 2018 model year, it is kept electronically
Not sure if there were any 7.5's before MY18....
That explains it then, all cars before built before 29th May 2017 get a service manual. I should imagine the majority of 7.5's on the roads right now were built before then so will have a service manual.
Mine was built in April.
-
You know, I haven't seen one performance model "GTD, GTI or R" MK7.5 on the road at all round my way. I've only seen a 7.5 R at the dealerships, but haven't even clapped eyes on the FL 7.5 GTI or GTD on the road. Are they only coming though very slowly ?
The only one I've seen was an Indium Grey 5dr GTI with Parkers at my local Thrifty car rental! Only seen the back end though due to the way they are parked. Mind you, any MK7 GTI is a rare sight around my way.
-
Re the service book... using Google... apparently BMW and Mini haven't issued a paper one in the last couple of years and Mercedes haven't since around 2009...
If you want the service history, you need to ask them for it...
Oh and people say that on those makes selling your car to a non-main dealer then gets money knocked down because it has "no service history".
Sounds a bit like someone is trying to play loose and fast with EU rules about competition here!
-
After I complained, my dealer has given me a blank service book. Thank you Mr Dealer!
And yes, the auto start stop does fire back up when the vehicle in front moves.
-
When did they stop giving a service book?
-
MY18, cars before built after 29th May 2017.
-
You could always get a blank one from ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-POLO-PASSAT-TOURAN-GENUINE-BLANK-REPLACEMENT-SERVICE-BOOK-/322601323875?hash=item4b1c898d63:g:iFkAAOSw4HlZb4Jt
-
You could, but why pay ;-) You obviously aren't a tight Yorkshireman
-
Oh and where has Google street View gone... I've finally got a data connection and they've seemingly deleted that feature and Google earth view...
-
Oh and where has Google street View gone... I've finally got a data connection and they've seemingly deleted that feature and Google earth view...
They have removed their services, you can no longer get "Google Street View" or "Google Earth" :angry:
http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/ (http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/)
That was one of the main reasons I spec'd DNS Pro on my order and I think I can't change it now as my order is about to go to 'Confirmed' status according to my dealer.
-
Oh and where has Google street View gone... I've finally got a data connection and they've seemingly deleted that feature and Google earth view...
They have removed their services, you can no longer get "Google Street View" or "Google Earth" :angry:
http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/ (http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/)
That was one of the main reasons I spec'd DNS Pro on my order and I think I can't change it now as my order is about to go to 'Confirmed' status according to my dealer.
You can change it up until the order has gone to a confirmed build date. Yet another crap VW dealer.
-
Oh and where has Google street View gone... I've finally got a data connection and they've seemingly deleted that feature and Google earth view...
They have removed their services, you can no longer get "Google Street View" or "Google Earth" :angry:
http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/ (http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/)
That was one of the main reasons I spec'd DNS Pro on my order and I think I can't change it now as my order is about to go to 'Confirmed' status according to my dealer.
You can change it up until the order has gone to a confirmed build date. Yet another crap VW dealer.
They have tried and told me they can't do it. It's not letting them. :cry:
-
They have tried and told me they can't do it. It's not letting them. :cry:
I would push for some compensation from VWUK over this matter or maybe a little more discount from the dealership. They can only say no.
-
Oh and where has Google street View gone... I've finally got a data connection and they've seemingly deleted that feature and Google earth view...
They have removed their services, you can no longer get "Google Street View" or "Google Earth" :angry:
http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/ (http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/)
That was one of the main reasons I spec'd DNS Pro on my order and I think I can't change it now as my order is about to go to 'Confirmed' status according to my dealer.
You can change it up until the order has gone to a confirmed build date. Yet another crap VW dealer.
They have tried and told me they can't do it. It's not letting them. :cry:
Have a chat with both @VWUKHelp and the Twitter account of the dealership your dealing with if they are a group dealers. They hate both nothing more than bad press.
Basically they are not doing their job right.
-
This weekend's fun findings:
1) I've totally and utterly had enough of gesture control. Gear changes make media tracks bounce around like crazy. Luckily you can disable it and I have. I like tech, but this was b*ll*x.
2) When you have carnet connected and you plan a route to a map area that isn't up to date, it says would you like to update it. Sure, I would, but maybe not 3.5gb over my mobile phone eh....
-
Oh and where has Google street View gone... I've finally got a data connection and they've seemingly deleted that feature and Google earth view...
They have removed their services, you can no longer get "Google Street View" or "Google Earth" :angry:
http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/ (http://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/21702-google-earththe-official-word-from-germany/)
Hmmm that answer from VW is BS.
Firstly, if "Google has changed its technical interface" then it effects all vehicles made before or after the date. Did the rest magically stop working?
Secondly, looking at the new Audi advert on the TV, it seems to not effect Audi. Maybe Google have written a separate interface just for them?
It looks to me like the new NavPro has no code for Google Earth. Its not mentioned in the manual nor the system.
I suspect VW have simply decided not to provide it because Google charge them money.
A shame really, because on the nice new screen it would have looked good - like it does in the Audi advert....