GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Zermatt on 21 March 2019, 19:59
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As the title says, I’m 1500 miles in after owning a Mk 7 Fiesta ST, Mk V Golf GTI, Pug 306 Xsi and still own a Mk 1 Focus RS.
I’m beginning to think it might be the best hot hatch I’ve had for daily use.
So is the Mk 7.5 Golf GTI the best Hot Hatch you’ve owned... if not what was it??
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I think the car I look back on with the most fondness was my Civic Jordan, it ate brakes and bulbs, had a steering wheel like a tug boat, but boy I loved that car!
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It's the only hot hatch I've ever had :grin:
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As the title says, I’m 1500 miles in after owning a Mk 7 Fiesta ST, Mk V Golf GTI, Pug 306 Xsi and still own a Mk 1 Focus RS.
I’m beginning to think it might be the best hot hatch I’ve had for daily use.
So is the Mk 7.5 Golf GTI the best Hot Hatch you’ve owned... if not what was it??
For a hot hatch package with creature comforts, I'd agree with you but for driving, my Clubsport S remains the best hot hatch I've ever owned and I doubt it will ever be surpassed.
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In amongst other cars, this is the third 'hot hatch' I've owned.
The first is nostalgic for me because it was was the first car I ever owned back in 1995 (Oh to be 17/18 again!). A Nova GTE which I gave a red-top engine conversion, full SS exhaust, GSi bits etc. Max Power was my bible! :grin:
(https://i.postimg.cc/1zXCkJZ3/50070558-2206958389543875-4445808819861048387-n.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/t10NPdTK)
In 2011 in-between M and RS cars I bought a Factory JCW to use as a weekend blasting car. Utterly mental handling, it was on rails. The only thing that let it down was the run-flats and lack of space.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cH8DHCCq/IMG-2818.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PpTbVt1K)
The Golf manages to be all things to all men, and that's the appeal for me. I liken it to the FJCW in many ways (excitement, handling, power delivery), but it's bigger and much more refined :smiley:
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I’ve owned a lot of hatchbacks but this is my first HOT hatch - (it’s a Mk 7 tho)
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Tough one...
Best all rounder? Yes, definitely. Comfy and relaxing on a run, Still reasonable fun on the twisties, quick(ish), decent loadspace - loads of plusses, but...
Most fun hot hatch I've owned? Nope. Previous hot hatch experience has been with Astra's. Firstly an Mk4 SRI 190 Turbo which was (in my opinion) more fun to drive "in a spirited fashion". This was followed by a Stage 1.5 Mk5 VXR running close to 300BHP and this was like the SRi Turbo turned up to 11. People slated the handling but it just made it so entertaining to drive, whereas the Mk7 GTI (even with the tuning box on it) is very very good, but lacks that little bit of involvement that's required when the car has the tendency to be a little bit wayward.
That analogy almost feels like some people quote when they compare the GTI to the R. People find the R very very good, but some feel it lacks as much involvement as driving the GTI does - maybe?
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I'm on a MK7 PP so as a daily - maybe...
Best, well I have had a long list of stuff (approx. 35 and counting) but not all count for this topic so (in no order) the competition would be (not all hot hatches but defiantly hot - well warm)
MK2 Focus RS (still got ) and deffo favourite - too good / nickable as a daily - wouldn't dare park anywhere.
Integra Type R - great car
CRX Vtec - loved this - maybe more than Golf
Civic VTi (5 door) - drove well - looked rubbish
Accord Type R - family car - good daily.
RS Turbo Escort Mk4 - looked good - rubbish to drive
XR2 Mk2 - slightly tuned - rapid and reasonably good as a daily.
Capri 280 - used as a daily - loved it - but not a hot hatch so doesn't count.
So no not best but deffo up there in the top 10 cars Ive had
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Last Hot (or slightly tepid) Hatch I had was an MG Metro in 1988, sold it on after a couple of months after I found out it had been wrapped up.
So I can definitely say my GTI is the best HH I have ever had :cool:
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YES :whistle:
If you say other , give me a break ;)..It is a awesome car.. :wink:
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Tough one...
Best all rounder? Yes, definitely. Comfy and relaxing on a run, Still reasonable fun on the twisties, quick(ish), decent loadspace - loads of plusses, but...
Most fun hot hatch I've owned? Nope. Previous hot hatch experience has been with Astra's. Firstly an Mk4 SRI 190 Turbo which was (in my opinion) more fun to drive "in a spirited fashion". This was followed by a Stage 1.5 Mk5 VXR running close to 300BHP and this was like the SRi Turbo turned up to 11. People slated the handling but it just made it so entertaining to drive, whereas the Mk7 GTI (even with the tuning box on it) is very very good, but lacks that little bit of involvement that's required when the car has the tendency to be a little bit wayward.
That analogy almost feels like some people quote when they compare the GTI to the R. People find the R very very good, but some feel it lacks as much involvement as driving the GTI does - maybe?
I had a SRI 190, did you not find the understeer a little lethal during the spirited driving?
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Best hot hatch of all time... “ not my words..the words of Top Gear Magazine “- as Mr Partridge would say.
( well it was Autocar actually)
I loved my 205 but this is the better car.
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I've not got a 7.5 and my 7 is the only hot hatch I've had (I'm not counting my early 80s Alfa Sprint which was a hatch but not really a "hatchback" as such and although very zippy and great fun to drive, not that hot...) so it has to be the best albeit without much of a frame of reference. Still, a great car indeed :smiley:
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Mk7.5 GTI PP is very good but my best VW performance car was my VW Corrado VR6 Storm. Fitted 263 cams, remap and better brakes that transformed it into a great car. My tag line shows the best car I currently own.
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I thought my mk5 Golf GTI was a better "hot hatch" than my 7.5 GTI. Better steering, engine response and feeling of involvement. But as an all-rounder the 7.5 is way out in front. Brilliant car.
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Some great hot hatches mentioned above, of the ones I’ve had I would say the Fiesta ST M-Sport was the most fun it hooked up into bends brilliantly and changed direction on a B road with a huge amount of confidence. But with its rally inspired stripes and exhaust it was not a very subtle looking car.
The MkV GTI was an excellent all rounder , composed on French Autoroutes and could cover decent distances in a day when I was living abroad with it - not many downsides to that car- I think the Mk7 is an iteration of that car- and as of yet the only downside I see is in comparison to the Mk V it feels a lot wider.
The 306 Xsi was warm rather than a hot hatch but the control of the chassis was really well judged - not the most reliable unfortunately.
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Mk7.5 GTI PP is very good but my best VW performance car was my VW Corrado VR6 Storm. Fitted 263 cams, remap and better brakes that transformed it into a great car. My tag line shows the best car I currently own.
The Gen 2 997 is one of my favourite 911 models.. can’t really go wrong with them .. had 4 very happy years with a Gen 2 4S.
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I cannot really coment as I don't own one :huh: but i have driven many now. For me a hothatch needs to be smaller the golf just got too wide and long for it to be my favourite hothatch but thats a personal thing. I don't feel as confident on some of the back roads due to its sheer size. Its bigger than a mk2 cavalier was for example
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I cannot really coment as I don't own one :huh: but i have driven many now. For me a hothatch needs to be smaller the golf just got too wide and long for it to be my favourite hothatch but thats a personal thing. I don't feel as confident on some of the back roads due to its sheer size. Its bigger than a mk2 cavalier was for example
I’m afraid I agree with that (and also don’t own a 7.5 GTI specifically).
Too big, too heavy, too loaded with pointless toys and useless menus.
However I’d say it was the best hot hatch on sale right now.
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. Its bigger than a mk2 cavalier was for example
Is it really? Blimey. I had an SRI 130. I loved that, but rose tinted glasses and all that. I had to work hard to keep up with GTIs and XR3is.
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It is bigger and heavier than older hot hatches- aren’t they all- but it still feels a very agile car through a series of fast bends. And you can go much faster.
I do agree you have to be careful in some narrower lanes, i do worry someone will clip my mirror or force me into a hedge.
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Tough one...
Best all rounder? Yes, definitely. Comfy and relaxing on a run, Still reasonable fun on the twisties, quick(ish), decent loadspace - loads of plusses, but...
Most fun hot hatch I've owned? Nope. Previous hot hatch experience has been with Astra's. Firstly an Mk4 SRI 190 Turbo which was (in my opinion) more fun to drive "in a spirited fashion". This was followed by a Stage 1.5 Mk5 VXR running close to 300BHP and this was like the SRi Turbo turned up to 11. People slated the handling but it just made it so entertaining to drive, whereas the Mk7 GTI (even with the tuning box on it) is very very good, but lacks that little bit of involvement that's required when the car has the tendency to be a little bit wayward.
That analogy almost feels like some people quote when they compare the GTI to the R. People find the R very very good, but some feel it lacks as much involvement as driving the GTI does - maybe?
I had a SRI 190, did you not find the understeer a little lethal during the spirited driving?
Both the Vauxhalls were a bit keen to go straight on. Half the time I'd have probably gone into a corner a little too hot and countered it with a bit of lift off oversteer lol.
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I cannot really coment as I don't own one :huh: but i have driven many now. For me a hothatch needs to be smaller the golf just got too wide and long for it to be my favourite hothatch but thats a personal thing. I don't feel as confident on some of the back roads due to its sheer size. Its bigger than a mk2 cavalier was for example
The Golf is a small car still, feels completely at home on small B roads! Did a trip to Brecons last year with an '16 RS6, '14 XJR, '18 991.2 Targa GTS and '97 996. GTI was fully at home on the twisty roads. Never ever felt like a Mk7 Golf is too big. Yes, it's bigger than old hatches dues to safety and tech advancements. But too wide and long, definitely not.
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The Golf is a small car still, feels completely at home on small B roads! Did a trip to Brecons last year with an '16 RS6, '14 XJR, '18 991.2 Targa GTS and '97 996. GTI was fully at home on the twisty roads. Never ever felt like a Mk7 Golf is too big. Yes, it's bigger than old hatches dues to safety and tech advancements. But too wide and long, definitely not.
I have just moved over to a 7.5 GTI PP (MY19) from a 150ps ACT Polo BlueGT (MY16) - I can't say I've noticed a huge difference in size when driving, it still feels like a small hatchback. I expect the MK8 will be bigger though
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Its bigger than a mk2 cavalier was for example
The Golf is a small car still,
Until it comes to threading it through a standard single garage door opening. Our old G7 was a tight squeeze into my parents garage, whereas when I lived there, my Mk2 Cavalier could be slid in with plenty of room either side. Perhaps mirrors have got bigger?
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Traditional garages are tiny! Mk2 Cavalier's are tiny. Mk7 Golfs are small. :grin:
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This is a question I keep asking myself.
Have had a mk6 GTi, Mk7 R and now a mk7.5 Gti PP. I must admit that I really enjoyed the R and it does feel much faster than the GTi. It also sounds better both inside and outside than the GTi. At the end of the PCP, I could not get a manual R so got a manual GTi PP instead. I was a bit disappointed to start with, but that was my own fault because I kept trying to compare the Gti PP to the R. But it is a totally different car to drive and it is not fair to compare it. So, I no longer compare it to the R and I must say that I am really enjoying it. It may not drive or sound like an R but it definitely looks better and feels lighter when driving through the country roads with all those bends to enjoy swinging around.
I think that they are both good hot hatches and have different pros and cons. I will probably be getting the MK8 when it comes out, but the big question is will it be an R or a GTi???
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This is a question I keep asking myself.
Have had a mk6 GTi, Mk7 R and now a mk7.5 Gti PP. I must admit that I really enjoyed the R and it does feel much faster than the GTi. It also sounds better both inside and outside than the GTi. At the end of the PCP, I could not get a manual R so got a manual GTi PP instead. I was a bit disappointed to start with, but that was my own fault because I kept trying to compare the Gti PP to the R. But it is a totally different car to drive and it is not fair to compare it. So, I no longer compare it to the R and I must say that I am really enjoying it. It may not drive or sound like an R but it definitely looks better and feels lighter when driving through the country roads with all those bends to enjoy swinging around.
I think that they are both good hot hatches and have different pros and cons. I will probably be getting the MK8 when it comes out, but the big question is will it be an R or a GTi???
R :grin:
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Until it comes to threading it through a standard single garage door opening. Our old G7 was a tight squeeze into my parents garage, whereas when I lived there, my Mk2 Cavalier could be slid in with plenty of room either side. Perhaps mirrors have got bigger?
Your Mk7 is the same size as the Mk1 Ford Sierra... you know the large family car..
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Cars are getting bigger, no question there- every time I see a 3 series I have to check the badge to check it's not a 5.
The civic looks like an accord.
But does it's size and weight stop the mk7 being an excellent hot hatch? Not imo.
It has the power, brakes and chassis to accelerate, stop and change direction as well as the 205 GTI I enjoyed more than 20 years ago.
The 205 was more thrilling for sure- with it's lightning throttle response and lift off oversteer.
If I could just improve the initial throttle response, my 7.5 golf would be easily the better hot hatch- despite it's size.
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If I could just improve the initial throttle response, my 7.5 golf would be easily the better hot hatch- despite it's size.
Pedalbox - http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=278239.0 :smiley:
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Thought this might be interesting to some. A few of the cars from my 80's heydays to compare sizes against the Golf 7 (figures from Wikipedia)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7886/32529919917_429871595d_o.png) (https://flic.kr/p/RyykSe)
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For the ultimate true hot hatch my CLIO WILLIAMS Series One, was fantastic only 150bhp but jc nothing I've owned/driven cornered like it. Spent half its life on 3 wheels! :wink:
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If I could just improve the initial throttle response, my 7.5 golf would be easily the better hot hatch- despite it's size.
Pedalbox - http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=278239.0 :smiley:
I have been thinking about it- very tempted after reading that thread. Many thanks.
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For the ultimate true hot hatch my CLIO WILLIAMS Series One, was fantastic only 150bhp but jc nothing I've owned/driven cornered like it. Spent half its life on 3 wheels! :wink:
150 is a sh!tl0ad in a flimsy French hot hatch!
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If I could just improve the initial throttle response, my 7.5 golf would be easily the better hot hatch- despite it's size.
Pedalbox - http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=278239.0 :smiley:
I have been thinking about it- very tempted after reading that thread. Many thanks.
It's money very well spent in my and many other peoples opinions. Really brings the car alive and I would be loathe to drive the car without it now. If you'd give a rough location for yourself there's a chance someone with one could give you a demo if you're unsure but to be honest, given your dislike of the stock response, I can't see how you'd not like it. You should of course declare it with your insurer, they can be a bit hit and miss as to whether or not they will cover it, even for different people with the same insurer.
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If I could just improve the initial throttle response, my 7.5 golf would be easily the better hot hatch- despite it's size.
Pedalbox - http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=278239.0 :smiley:
I have been thinking about it- very tempted after reading that thread. Many thanks.
It's money very well spent in my and many other peoples opinions. Really brings the car alive and I would be loathe to drive the car without it now. If you'd give a rough location for yourself there's a chance someone with one could give you a demo if you're unsure but to be honest, given your dislike of the stock response, I can't see how you'd not like it. You should of course declare it with your insurer, they can be a bit hit and miss as to whether or not they will cover it, even for different people with the same insurer.
Thanks for the advice, Watts. I'm quite sure I will go for it at some point-perhaps when I start getting bored or when warranty running out - but I'm still enjoying the car as it is- and I do wonder whether it just requires a different style of driving.
If the temptation proves too great possibly sooner than planned!
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For the ultimate true hot hatch my CLIO WILLIAMS Series One, was fantastic only 150bhp but jc nothing I've owned/driven cornered like it. Spent half its life on 3 wheels! :wink:
I had a Megane Coupe with that lump in it.
Was a bit of an animal in its day.
Suspect now it would just be rubbish though, being a Renault it probably fell to bits about 6 months after I got rid of it.
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Its my first proper hot hatch. Had a 2010 GTD which was lukewarm in comparison :grin:
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For the ultimate true hot hatch my CLIO WILLIAMS Series One, was fantastic only 150bhp but jc nothing I've owned/driven cornered like it. Spent half its life on 3 wheels! :wink:
I had a Megane Coupe with that lump in it.
Was a bit of an animal in its day.
Suspect now it would just be rubbish though, being a Renault it probably fell to bits about 6 months after I got rid of it.
I went on the MOT checker to see how many of my previous cars (of which I could remember the registrations) were still kicking about..... 1. And that’s was my old Civic Jordan, which is good going as it was dog rough when I bought it!