GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Nino on 05 June 2025, 15:17
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Hey folks,
Long-time member here and just looking to pick the brains of those of you who currently own (or have owned) any of the following MK7.5 Golfs:
> Golf R
> GTI TCR
> GTI Performance
I’m not in a rush to change cars, but I always like to research the living hell out of potential next cars well in advance helps me go in with my eyes open when the time comes.
Current car: Edition 35 GTI – Absolutely love it and plan to keep enjoying it for at least another year or two. It’s been a solid, characterful daily with enough poke and practicality to tick all the boxes.
Previous car: 65-plate MK7 GTD (low mileage, full history, etc) and honestly, it left a bit of a scar. Despite the “on paper” quality, I had no end of issues:
- Heater matrix replacement
- Multiple solenoids failing
- Dodgy switches and electrics
It’s made me a little cautious about stepping back into another MK7 chassis car even the facelift.
About me: I’m the kind of enthusiast who keeps his cars meticulously maintained with no expense spared preventive over reactive always. I also like to own cars that are a bit left-field or rare so I’m not sure how the R snuck onto the list, but here we are 😂
So here’s what I’m hoping to learn from owners of the above:
> What do you love about your car?
> What do you dislike or find annoying about it (no matter how small)?
> Any common issues or niggles you've run into that I should be aware of?
> And if you’ve had more than one of these (or driven them back-to-back), which felt better in terms of driving feel and reliability?
I know there’s loads of threads on each of these individually, but I’d really appreciate some head-to-head, real-world feedback from long-term owners or anyone who’s spent time with more than one of these cars.
Thanks in advance! :cool:
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The only "rare" one on your list is the TCR.... the rest are about as mainstream as a Fiesta ST.
The TCR was the last hurrah of the Mk7.5, not quite a Mk7 CSS rare or crazy, but still out there as a rare beast.
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Had my GTI Performance for nearly 6.5 years from new. Great car, possibly best I’ve ever had. Only niggle (and it’s really small) is the heated mirrors, no apparent auto turn off and no warning light to indicate they are on.
Like you, great believer in pro-active servicing and keeping it immaculate.
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As Adam said the 7.5 golf gti performance is as good a car as anything out there and if you have good spec on your car its very hard to see past it if you go to look at something else the tcr is certainly bit more special good luck in your search
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Oh BTW, top tip... Avoid one with a sunroof unless you want to keep paying for replacement surrounds when it cracks
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7.5 Performance. Best car I have ever had and is the reason I still have it after 6 years with no plan to change. Only problem has been
the most common…. water pump/thermostat leak at 40k miles and 5 years.
The only different tip I can pass on to you is to look for a GTI (early 2019 onwards) with GPF to get the best genuine exhaust sound. No pops and bangs but a lovely deep bass note.
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Oh BTW, top tip... Avoid one with a sunroof unless you want to keep paying for replacement surrounds when it cracks
Ohhh I am glad you said that! Pan roof was something I wanted - you were right with your first comment too, TCR is the only rare one :D
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7.5 Performance. Best car I have ever had and is the reason I still have it after 6 years with no plan to change. Only problem has been
the most common…. water pump/thermostat leak at 40k miles and 5 years.
The only different tip I can pass on to you is to look for a GTI (early 2019 onwards) with GPF to get the best genuine exhaust sound. No pops and bangs but a lovely deep bass note.
Sorry to sound dumb, what GPF? and yes I agree, the pops and bangs crap grinds me, why anyone would want that on a car baffles me.
and regarding the Waterpump/thermo, I read about that in the MK7 R's its hitting the 7.5's too? :(
Isn't that like 1k+ to sort? :O
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Had my GTI Performance for nearly 6.5 years from new. Great car, possibly best I’ve ever had. Only niggle (and it’s really small) is the heated mirrors, no apparent auto turn off and no warning light to indicate they are on.
Like you, great believer in pro-active servicing and keeping it immaculate.
Thanks for that - Now that you mention it, I am sure the glass fell out on my GTD :D
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I would avoid later cars with GPF. But having had a GPF fail recently in a family member's car (a 5 year old Cayman) costing £2500 to replace, I might be biased.
Worth Googling GPF problems in forums to see various makes starting to be affected now - and costs involved (the GPF tends not to be covered by extended warranties).
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I would avoid later cars with GPF. But having had a GPF fail recently in a family member's car (a 5 year old Cayman) costing £2500 to replace, I might be biased.
Worth Googling GPF problems in forums to see various makes starting to be affected now - and costs involved (the GPF tends not to be covered ion extended warranties).
Just researched it, basically a DPF for a petrol car what idot thought that was a good idea :angry:
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Oh BTW, top tip... Avoid one with a sunroof unless you want to keep paying for replacement surrounds when it cracks
Ohhh I am glad you said that! Pan roof was something I wanted - you were right with your first comment too, TCR is the only rare one :D
The panroof surrounds can and do crack, mine did at a few months old. The issue was poor fitting at the factory. Mine has been perfect since it was replaced (famous last words) and I would think that if one has lasted this long then it's likely to be fine. It's a great feature and I'm glad to have it.
I had a MK7 GTIPP before and changed to the TCR as the 'R' engine was so much better. The bigger turbo is still giving loads of power at the top of the rev range which for me makes it more exciting to drive. Also torque comes in a bit higher and I find it breaks traction far less often than the GTIPP ever did and has never given any wheel hop, one thing I hated about the PP. I also like the deep bass note of the exhaust and the looks, still relatively subtle but is more purposeful.
GPF can be annoying when it needs emptying but is easy to sort out. Overall I find the TCR a great ownership experience, a little crashy with the suspension but okay and even with the bigger turbo, fuel economy is excellent. 45mpg on a run is not uncommon, 48+ achieveable. Around 36 as a long term average.
Of the three you asked about, TCR everytime for me.
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Oh BTW, top tip... Avoid one with a sunroof unless you want to keep paying for replacement surrounds when it cracks
Ohhh I am glad you said that! Pan roof was something I wanted - you were right with your first comment too, TCR is the only rare one :D
The panroof surrounds can and do crack, mine did at a few months old. The issue was poor fitting at the factory. Mine has been perfect since it was replaced (famous last words) and I would think that if one has lasted this long then it's likely to be fine. It's a great feature and I'm glad to have it.
I had a MK7 GTIPP before and changed to the TCR as the 'R' engine was so much better. The bigger turbo is still giving loads of power at the top of the rev range which for me makes it more exciting to drive. Also torque comes in a bit higher and I find it breaks traction far less often than the GTIPP ever did and has never given any wheel hop, one thing I hated about the PP. I also like the deep bass note of the exhaust and the looks, still relatively subtle but is more purposeful.
GPF can be annoying when it needs emptying but is easy to sort out. Overall I find the TCR a great ownership experience, a little crashy with the suspension but okay and even with the bigger turbo, fuel economy is excellent. 45mpg on a run is not uncommon, 48+ achieveable. Around 36 as a long term average.
Of the three you asked about, TCR everytime for me.
Appreiate that Watts, thank you.
I also read that jacking the car up on one side can cause the roof to crack, how true that is, I don't know but interesting to know that you have had no issues since (Fingers crossed).
Good feedback on the crashy suspension, for this reason I think I would want DCC as a minimum.
and being honest, at the moment, I am learning towards a TCR, the GPF thing does worry me though.
Does anyone know if the 7.5 still had heater matrix issues?
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No heater matrix issues I’m aware off unless the silica bag splits in the expansion tank - I removed mine. What’s the big worry with a GPF? easy enough to do a regen when needed.
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Mine has DCC which I run in comfort. 90% of the time it is very good but sharp ridges and potholes feel like you had run into something.
Don't worry about the gpf, yes it is something else to go wrong but I'd be more worried about a broken headlight, very expensive but far more likely!
Mine's 6 years old now and apart from the sunroof surround it has been 100% reliable. If you can get one under 6 years you can buy the VW all in one plan. 2 years servicing, 2 years warranty, 2 years RAC and 2 MoTs for under £40pm. Takes a lot of the worry away.
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I’ve never had any GPF issues. I’m on 3 other VW forums and the main Seat / Cupra forum and I’ve never read of anyone having issues with a GPF either.
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That's good to hear, my worry comes from I acutally don't use my car all that much, maybe 4-5k miles a year and generally only motorway 1-2 times a week.
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That's good to hear, my worry comes from I acutally don't use my car all that much, maybe 4-5k miles a year and generally only motorway 1-2 times a week.
Same as me, have only needed to do a regen twice in 6.5 years, no bother at all.
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On the sunroof surround, there are posts on this forum about repeated replacement under warranty and it failing time and time again.
Could just be the UK's nasty roads, but personally I'd avoid having the roof in the first place...
BTW burnt out heaters definitely a Mk7.5 problem - and not due to the silicon bag either - had mine go on my mk7.5.
Also the same with the water pumps, those are still a problem too.
Suspect the same is true of any car though - water pumps will always fail eventually. Whether its the housing or something else. Don't think its a VW problem specifically - my family have had it on Minis just the same and my old Fords and Vauxalls similar.
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GPF was a mandatory pan-Europe change as a result of WLTP regs so I guess all cars made or sold in Europe
got one circa 2019.
I have only had one regeneration in 6 yrs/45k, despite lots of cold running and urban use.
Another plus if you have OCD is the chrome exhausts inside and out are as clean as the day they were made in contrast to my last GTI which got very sooty.
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If u nerves had a problem with thd pan roof and it such a class feature these summer months must have for me
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Owned my R from new in March 2019. Fully serviced, well maintained. Lives in the garage, just about to cover 10500 miles. Have taken advantage of the All In from VW. No issues at all, yet. Not in a hurry to part with it, not when the upgrade to an Mk8.5 to my spec will need £23k+.
Boot space reduced in the R; not an issue for all tho.
Turning circle with Factory Pretorias is unwieldy.
A rapid car in all weathers. Solidly safe. Unflappable. Makes you feel happy when lovely wife is out in bad weather in it.