GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Tally on 07 September 2018, 11:09
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Hi Folks
Maybe an unusual post this, but I am looking to buy my first GTI 16 plate onwards (Mk7 or 7.5).
Can anyone please give me any help/advice on things to look out for? & must have & nice to have options?
Or anything else that might be useful to know.
All help/advice appreciated.
Cheers
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If the budget can stretch then get a 7.5 if you can as its just that little bit more modern with nice little touches like the active dash, bigger nav and of course sweeping indicators lol.
As regards faults they are pretty reliable and I haven't had any issues after 4 years in a GTD and now nearly a year in a GTI.
Biggest choice is likely DSG or manual and then 230ps or PP model. I went DSG 230 as the lease deals were good on it and am very happy. Horrible standard wheels on the 7.5 GTI so find a car with the 19" upgrades if you can.
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Thanks davyk31
Appreciate your advice.
It's going to be a DSG 5 Door I'm going for.
Was hoping to get one with the PP & DCC. I'm greedy when it came message to the options so might struggle to get one with the spec I'm after but I'll keep searching.
It's also not always easy to find out what options the GTI has fitted from ads on Autotrader & the like.
I've worked out somethings like them having the red GTI badges & GTI on the front calipers if it has the PP fitted.
Also I think the DCC shows as having 5 options (Inc Comfort choice) when you go into the Driving Mode area.
It's all Al learning process I guess.
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The 'horrible' standard wheels on the 7.5 are a matter of taste. I happen to like them and prefer them to the standard ones on the 7.
You might struggle to find a used 7.5 with DCC. Most used 7.5s (ie up to 18 months old) are either ex hire cars or ex demos and few of these were spec'd with DCC. More chance of getting DCC on a 3 year old car that was a private purchase/lease but that of course would be a 7.
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All late (my2016 onwards) pre-facelift cars will come with keyless entry as standard on 5dr cars. On facelift (Mk7.5) cars keyless is an extra. You also get an extra 15 bhp on the PP edition if you go for Mk7.5. The non-PP gets an extra 10 bhp.
As has been said, the wheel choices are all a matter of personal preference. I think the standard wheels look fine. Bigger wheels will mean more expensive tyres and a firmer ride.
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Thanks for all this advice, really appreciated.
This k the wheels will be just whatever the cars got if I can find one with the right spec, although they all seem to be Diamond Cut so experience tells me they will be hard work long term.
Looks like I could be looking for a late MK7 if I'm hoping for the DCC then.
I seem a bit fixated on things like the PP & DCC without really even knowing if they are worth having lol.
Does having them make a noticeable difference over cars without?
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Blind spot assistance
Dynaudio
Leather
Discover Pro sat nav with HDD
Performance pack
DCC
Climate screen
Self park
Sunroof
19" alloys
DSG
Keyless entry
Advanced telephone connection
Onyx white and black pearl were extras too.
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Cheers ryan90gti, yes that's spec will do nicely! Lol.
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Blind spot assistance
Dynaudio
Leather
Discover Pro sat nav with HDD
Performance pack
DCC
Climate screen
Self park
Sunroof
19" alloys
DSG
Keyless entry
Advanced telephone connection
Onyx white and black pearl were extras too.
Only about three of the above are remotely worth paying extra for.
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Blind spot assistance
Dynaudio
Leather
Discover Pro sat nav with HDD
Performance pack
DCC
Climate screen
Self park
Sunroof
19" alloys
DSG
Keyless entry
Advanced telephone connection
Onyx white and black pearl were extras too.
Only about three of the above are remotely worth paying extra for.
Yep, agree, It's down to personal budget. But I would recommend getting a Mk7.5, all round a better standard spec. PP, DSG, 5 Door and if possible DCC on a GTI. My R has it and I seldom use it. But I know the GTI does not ride as well, so best road test and see for yourself. Colour basically what it comes in and no need for 19"s, Leather or most on that list.
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I thought the R had stiffer suspension than the GTI?
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There are more extras than that list...
High beam assist (on Mk7)
Dynamic lighting (on Mk7.5)
Lane Assist
Lane Assist plus (on Mk7.5)
Art velours interior (on Mk7.5)
Rear parking camera
Wireless phone charging (Mk7.5)
And probably more...
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Cheers CHB100.
Do does the MK7.5 come with PP as standard?
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Cheers CHB100
So does the MK7.5 come with the PP as standard?
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If you can get a car with DCC great, but if not just try one without, they ride fine most of the time although local road conditions might dictate. But extras are very subjective and if you set too specific a list you'll probably never get a car. You sound like you are being sensible about it, so why not find a number of cars within the area you are prepared to look and go see. Ultimately you are buying a car, not a Halfords store, a standard car is highly specced anyway, just get yourself behind a wheel and enjoy. What you don't get you are unlikely to miss :smiley:
Do does the MK7.5 come with PP as standard?
No, only for new orders.
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Thanks again, all useful advice.
Think you are right Watts, if I sit on the fence too long all I will end up with is splinters & no car!
I have been spoilt with optional extras over the years, think I've had most of them going on different cars, latest was Self Parking which I have had for a year & used it..............never!
I will have to decide on what I "really" want & probably compromise on the rest.
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You can have mine for the right price. It has all options apart from 19" wheels and sunroof. ;)
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The reason I went for a GTi and not an R is because of how much better it drove than the R. The R feels like a tank in comparison to a GTi.
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Thanks again, all useful advice.
Think you are right Watts, if I sit on the fence too long all I will end up with is splinters & no car!
I have been spoilt with optional extras over the years, think I've had most of them going on different cars, latest was Self Parking which I have had for a year & used it..............never!
I will have to decide on what I "really" want & probably compromise on the rest.
That's the attitude that'll have you in a GTI in a jiffy rather than looking for help from someone with tweezers! :laugh:
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Took me 7 month and a £400 banger for the right one to come along. I should stop being tight and buy new hahaha.
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Watts...lmao. 😷
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Hi Tally
Although you have said that you want DSG and 5 doors, Mk7 or Mk7.5 - and a bag full of options, you have not specified your budget? Perhaps we should talk about what is actually possible/ available at this time?
From my own recent experience - I wanted a new GTI PP, 5 doors, DSG with a bunch of options. Dealer(s) tell me probable lead times (nope, not doing that) and at the time (early August) - there were (apparently) only 2 NEW Black GTI PPs in the country in dealer stock. Both of these were 'spoken for' and my local dealer could not get either of them. Sorry, but I did not enquire about red or white ones...
It took me almost 2-weeks of solid internet research and phone calls to eventually buy a used one (3 months old, 1500 miles) from a dealer who was 130 miles from home - AND it had nowhere near the options I wanted. You can only buy what is available and what someone is willing to sell you.
Assuming you are definitely not going to order a new one (and then wait for it) - you are left with used ones (obviously) - and the best (???) place to begin is the official VW stealers.
Try the dealer website: https://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/en/used-cars
Then set whatever specifications you want eg. Location and distance to travel - start small and then expand (?) - up to 150 miles?
Also tick 'Performance Golfs' - and switch to 'Advanced Search'. Here you can put in your Price, Mileage and 1st Reg date - then the Number of Doors, Auto gearbox, Power - 'more than 240 ps' (to get PP models - and R - but not GTD's) - then 'View Results'
Note - do not be too picky about colour or any other options (yet).
BINGO - I can now trawl my way through 86 Golfs (at VW stealers) that match a spec of: up to 150 miles from a large town in Wiltshire, up to £30k, less than 10k miles and 1st reg 2017 - 2018, 5 doors, DSG, power more than 240 ps.
And that's it if you want a used one from a dealer -you will get some warranty etc. and a big company to whinge at if it goes wrong.
Happy reading about what is available (?) TODAY.
Be prepared to look carefully at the photos (the 'equipment' descriptions vary vastly in quality - most are a cut and paste from a strandard car) and do not always mention the options shown in the photos, and make lots of phone calls to check the actual current mileage etc.
I belive that now you know what is actually 'out there' - then you can start to specify what you would actually settle for (minimum spec, colour maybe) - and take it from there.
Sorry to sound a bit cynical and downbeat - but, I found that dealing with reality saved me a lot of pointless wishing...
Best of luck - and do come back and let us know what you eventually get.
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:cry:
The reason I went for a GTi and not an R is because of how much better it drove than the R. The R feels like a tank in comparison to a GTi.
A tank :grin: So it was you, I read that a little while back. Sorry pal, mine doesn’t and I should know.
Must have been a poor example or ?
Come and drive mine, I know this upsets folks on here but good though a GTI is. My R I beats it on every level apart from MPG.
Maybe try a 7.5 for without the pressure of a salesman or seller beside you.
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Thanks again for all the help/advice, it's all really useful & appreciated.
oldShaw, not cynical at all, really great advice.
Budget wise I'm going to be part exchanging a 65 plate Mercedes A200 AMG Line Premium Plus with that the budget is around £23/24k.
I have been looking on the VW Used Site & i find it's a lot more useful than Autotrader with its listings/information.
Cheers for now
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:cry:The reason I went for a GTi and not an R is because of how much better it drove than the R. The R feels like a tank in comparison to a GTi.
A tank :grin: So it was you, I read that a little while back. Sorry pal, mine doesn’t and I should know.
Must have been a poor example or ?
Come and drive mine, I know this upsets folks on here but good though a GTI is. My R I beats it on every level apart from MPG.
Maybe try a 7.5 for without the pressure of a salesman or seller beside you.
I test drove a few different R's as I really wanted one - I didn't like how they handled compared to a Clubsport and I felt the GTi PP was the next best thing.
Believe me, I'm under no pressure with a salesman sat next to me when I'm spending my hard earned pennies, the car has to be right or I'm walking away.
It's all a matter of opinions and each Golf offers something slightly different.
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With your budget you aren’t far off a brand new car with all the benefits of full warranty. Maybe not a load of extras but the GTi really don’t need much added. Or go down the leasing route as many of us have with GTi and get a new one every couple of years.
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Some good practical advice and opinions on here as always.
For what it’s worth, as someone who has had the odd car or twenty over the last 30 odd years including quite a few ‘Performance’ Golfs including an example of each of the (pre-facelift) current crop, I’d say first and foremost don’t get hung up on spec.
Buy on condition, then price and then worry about fitted extras last.
These current generation cars are well equipped, ride well and perform well as standard (aside from godawful throttle response at low openings).
With the current WLTP production delays there are long wait times on ALL new builds meaning healthy demand for in stock cars.
Either tough it out and be prepared to wait a long time for your ideal spec (unless you’re very lucky) or buy the best of what’s available now. Stocks that get depleted now won’t be replaced any time soon with production delays and it’ll slow the whole market down, new and used.
The GTI PP comes very well equipped as standard. It has everything you could reasonably expect in a mid sized hatch straight out of the factory.
I’ve had a GTI PP, GTD, R and Clubsport and can happily report as a fusspot about ride quality that they all ride fine on 18 and 19” wheels minus DCC.
I found the R rides the best, the GTI and GTD can be caught out a bit with sharp imperfections causing a loud crash very occasionally through the cab and the Clubsport rides a bit more noisily again.
I used to modify all my cars including changing the suspension if I thought it necessary.
I therefore became very sensitive to ride quality having put up with jelly like suspension as standard in Sporty Golfs (GTIs VR6s etc) up until the mk5 at which point VW got the blend pretty good for a road car, and at the other end of the extreme I got fed up with crashy springs on lowered suspension designed by Germans for their smoother roads.
The DCC only affects damper rates. It’s the springs that transmit crashes to the cabin primarily unless controlled very well by well matched dampers.
Happily I can report that DCC really isn’t necessary unless you’re doing big miles over very varied roads.
The standard suspension is fine. And less to go wrong. :grin:
Nice to have, but not essential.
Cars can vary in price dramatically from dealer to dealer and area to area.
If you want to get the best price then be prepared to travel. However test driving a few cars locally costs little and you’ll soon get to experience what extras you can and can’t live with.
For me, the standard car is fine, it has everything you need.
Everyone’s wants and needs are different, only you can really know yours but I’ve seen so many people on forums over the years spec their cars like Christmas trees having never tried the standard model. Must be nice to have money to burn! :laugh:
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Thanks again for all the help/advice, it's all really useful & appreciated.
oldShaw, not cynical at all, really great advice.
Budget wise I'm going to be part exchanging a 65 plate Mercedes A200 AMG Line Premium Plus with that the budget is around £23/24k.
I have been looking on the VW Used Site & i find it's a lot more useful than Autotrader with its listings/information.
Cheers for now
Clubsport. Simple as that. Harrogate VW have one at the moment as I was there the other day for £25k Decent spec; Dynaudio (this is a must for me), reverse camera and Pro Nav. May have a few more bits.
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I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808229745967?atmobcid=soc3
Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.autotrader.androidconsumersearch&referrer=utm_source%3DApp%2520Share
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I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808229745967?atmobcid=soc3
That is very nice car !
Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.autotrader.androidconsumersearch&referrer=utm_source%3DApp%2520Share
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I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808229745967?atmobcid=soc3
That is very nice car !
20k miles on it though! :shocked:
Someone enjoyed driving it. :cool:
Mines only done 4K in 17 months! :whistle:
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Garage queen ;)
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Once again thank you all for taking the time to give me your input.
It's great to hear from actual owners rather than just read the mainstream review sites, making me think of things I hadn't considered before.
That Black Club Sport looks the business, a bit out of my budget maybe.
Not thought about leasing as dont know much about it as always just bought cars outright.
If anyone has anymore thoughts/info in that direction I would be grateful.
Cheers
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Garage queen ;)
Guilty! :laugh:
I just can’t be arsed to move two other cars to get at it to drive it two miles to work and back.
Keeps it feeling a bit special too.
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I still use my little banger when the weather is bad or to go to the supermarket in. I wish my commute to work was 2 miles and not the 66 mile round trip I do everyday. But then again if I had a 2 mile trip to work I'd have an absolute monster of a car that did about 10mpg :D
That's one of the reasons why the GTi is so good, I've been averaging 40mpg consistently over the summer months.
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Garage queen ;)
Guilty! :laugh:
I just can’t be arsed to move two other cars to get at it to drive it two miles to work and back.
Keeps it feeling a bit special too.
Not yet hit 2,000 miles in 15 months..!
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Garage queen ;)
Guilty! :laugh:
I just can’t be arsed to move two other cars to get at it to drive it two miles to work and back.
Keeps it feeling a bit special too.
Not yet hit 2,000 miles in 15 months..!
Good effort! :grin:
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Garage queen ;)
Guilty! :laugh:
I just can’t be arsed to move two other cars to get at it to drive it two miles to work and back.
Keeps it feeling a bit special too.
Not yet hit 2,000 miles in 15 months..!
:shocked:
That plus a month & I've done more than 11x that, almost 12.
One of us is getting it right!