GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: RMC on 26 October 2026, 18:34
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Hello Guys,
I'm new here and considering ordering a new Golf GTi with DCC. I had a decent test drive today and absolutely loved the car, with a couple of exceptions. Namely the size and busyness of the infotainment screen and the seat side bolsters feeling rather tight and restrictive around the chest after a while.
Has anyone got a view on the seat side bolsters wearing in after a period of time?
How have you adjusted to the massive infotainment screen and how easy do you find switching between Drive Modes and changing the DCC settings on the move?
Views on using wireless AA vs the native sat nav also appreciated.
Thanks for any guidance you can give me.
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Screen is pretty in your face if coming from a previous gen car or suchlike but it’s something you get used to quickly. Looking back at my my 7.5 after just a week with the new one makes it looks super dated even though it never felt it at the time. In short you get used to it and likely won’t look back.
I use Apple car play rather than AA but expect they are largely the same. To be honest after configuring the settings on the VW screens I pretty much exclusively use Apple car play and never need anything else (but it’s only been a week).
Similar really with DCC. for the most part it’s set and forget. A switch to sport on occasions but rest of the time once you settle on something it becomes your default and only change as and when. Changing profile is simple as you have a short cut and can configure individual settings.
No idea on the seats…
Sorry, probably not really that helpful :grin:
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Thanks CookieMonsterGTI, that is helpful.
Yes, I suspect I would get used to the infotainment system and screen pretty quick. I've got AAOS on my daily driver and it's great. I've just sold my 22 plate Audi TT Quattro Vorsprung as I wasn't using it enough and the 20" rims, lovely as they were, made the ride a little harsh on my rural Lincolnshire roads (GTi would have to be on 18" rims with DCC) So, yes the 13" GTi screen is a bit of a culture shock!
Has the wireless Carplay maintained a stable connection for you. I could live with AA if it simply works and does not suffer frequent disconnects.
Regards the seats, I'm fairly broad across my upper back and shoulders, so I guess that's what is causing my issue with the seat side bolsters squeezing my chest. Maybe they will give a bit with age.... Anybody got the leather seats and a view on how they compare to the fabric ones?
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Hello Guys,
I'm new here and considering ordering a new Golf GTi with DCC. I had a decent test drive today and absolutely loved the car, with a couple of exceptions. Namely the size and busyness of the infotainment screen and the seat side bolsters feeling rather tight and restrictive around the chest after a while.
Has anyone got a view on the seat side bolsters wearing in after a period of time?
How have you adjusted to the massive infotainment screen and how easy do you find switching between Drive Modes and changing the DCC settings on the move?
Views on using wireless AA vs the native sat nav also appreciated.
Thanks for any guidance you can give me.
also coming from 7.5 and wife's mk8 to the 8.5, i find screen size to be invasive and somewhat annoying but you get used to it. It is a fast system though and easy to navigate once you get the gist of it.
DCC - its a must imo, of course i'm rolling on 19s but i like messing around with that and trying it across the spectrum. Otherwise why shell nearly a thousand quid on it?
Seats - pretty comfy and nice hold
Overall an amazing car for daily commute as well as the occasional day trip
Hope this helps
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I've been in an 8.5 for 2 years and I had a MK8 for a few years before that. The infotainment is a massive improvement in usability in the 8.5 over the 8. Its night and day. You soon get used to the size. It probably helps that my wife's ID4 has pretty much an identical setup, so I was already used to looking at it.
Switching between drive modes is easy. The one annoying thing is that the car defaults back to Comfort mode on every ignition restart, so if your preference is for Individual mode or any of the other modes, then you have to remember to set that on every journey. Bit annoying that it can't just remember your last setting. Similarly, lane-assist and speed warning bongs always default to ON on every restart. I was able to tweak these using OBD11 to "remember" to stay off!
For DCC, I'd recommend trying Individual mode, and setting all your preferred settings under that. Once set, you will probably never set anything in there again.
I use Apple CarPlay and I very rarely have connectivity issues. Very occasionally it might refuse to connect but it resolves itself. The native sat nav is a bit rubbish imo. Just use Google/Apple/Waze - much better.
I've never noticed any particular issue with the seats. I do like the bolstering.
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So I decided to go for it and place my order, then I'm told the order book closed on Oct 20! So got to wait for it to reopen again before my order can be placed.
Bit concerned that I will be too late to get one built in Germany as production is scheduled to move to Mexico next year, May time I believe.
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Have you looked on VW's website of available new cars? If there's nothing there, try a few dealers as one may have an order that can be modified still. Also, try a broker like drive the deal.
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I've been in an 8.5 for 2 years and I had a MK8 for a few years before that. The infotainment is a massive improvement in usability in the 8.5 over the 8. Its night and day. You soon get used to the size. It probably helps that my wife's ID4 has pretty much an identical setup, so I was already used to looking at it.
Switching between drive modes is easy. The one annoying thing is that the car defaults back to Comfort mode on every ignition restart, so if your preference is for Individual mode or any of the other modes, then you have to remember to set that on every journey. Bit annoying that it can't just remember your last setting. Similarly, lane-assist and speed warning bongs always default to ON on every restart. I was able to tweak these using OBD11 to "remember" to stay off!
Can you advise how you used your OBD11 to amend lane assist and speed warnings on your 8.5? Mine refuses to do it for those.
For DCC, I'd recommend trying Individual mode, and setting all your preferred settings under that. Once set, you will probably never set anything in there again.
I use Apple CarPlay and I very rarely have connectivity issues. Very occasionally it might refuse to connect but it resolves itself. The native sat nav is a bit rubbish imo. Just use Google/Apple/Waze - much better.
I've never noticed any particular issue with the seats. I do like the bolstering.
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I've been in an 8.5 for 2 years and I had a MK8 for a few years before that. The infotainment is a massive improvement in usability in the 8.5 over the 8. Its night and day. You soon get used to the size. It probably helps that my wife's ID4 has pretty much an identical setup, so I was already used to looking at it.
Switching between drive modes is easy. The one annoying thing is that the car defaults back to Comfort mode on every ignition restart, so if your preference is for Individual mode or any of the other modes, then you have to remember to set that on every journey. Bit annoying that it can't just remember your last setting. Similarly, lane-assist and speed warning bongs always default to ON on every restart. I was able to tweak these using OBD11 to "remember" to stay off!
For DCC, I'd recommend trying Individual mode, and setting all your preferred settings under that. Once set, you will probably never set anything in there again.
I use Apple CarPlay and I very rarely have connectivity issues. Very occasionally it might refuse to connect but it resolves itself. The native sat nav is a bit rubbish imo. Just use Google/Apple/Waze - much better.
I've never noticed any particular issue with the seats. I do like the bolstering.
Can you advise how you used your OBD11 to amend lane assist and speed warnings on your 8.5? Mine refuses to do it for those.
I might be wrong but I dare say SFD2 limitations are preventing changes to the settings for lane assist and speed warnings in your car. @JoeGTI’s car might have just missed SFD2.
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I might be wrong but I dare say SFD2 limitations are preventing changes to the settings for lane assist and speed warnings in your car. @JoeGTI’s car might have just missed SFD2.
Yeah my 8.5 is an early 2025 car. When I got the car first, I couldn't do anything much with OBD11 either, everything seemed to be locked out. But a few months ago I'd read that some 8.5 owners had some success, so I gave it another try and there I could see the 2 "apps" on OBD 11's latest version of their app. One for speed warning, the other for lane assist. Both worked. I cannot remember the exact steps I took now but it was pretty much a single click/tap. One of them cost quite a few "credits", whereas the other was a lot cheaper.
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Ah, ok thanks! Mine is a July 26 plate and it does seem pretty heavily locked down. Not many one click apps work at all and no access to adaptations that I can access anyway!
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Thanks for the feedback chaps.
I'm waiting to see when the order book opens again and get confirmation of any changes to spec and where it's being built before I attempt to place an order.
What's your views on buying a new GTi manufactured and assembled in Mexico? I personally don't fancy it.
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Thanks for the feedback chaps.
I'm waiting to see when the order book opens again and get confirmation of any changes to spec and where it's being built before I attempt to place an order.
What's your views on buying a new GTi manufactured and assembled in Mexico? I personally don't fancy it.
Unless you've tried already and can't get one, my tips earlier in the thread may still get you a brand new car to your spec.
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Thanks for the feedback chaps.
I'm waiting to see when the order book opens again and get confirmation of any changes to spec and where it's being built before I attempt to place an order.
What's your views on buying a new GTi manufactured and assembled in Mexico? I personally don't fancy it.
Is the Mexico move really set to happen soon?
If that’s the case, it could be the beginning of the end for the Golf in Europe imo. Historically there hasn’t been many mainstream European models built out of Mexico. Niche stuff like the Beetle was I think. And possibly the last iteration of the Jetta.
It would put me off alright. I don’t think the Mexican built cars have had the best rep in terms of quality but that could be hearsay. The cars might be even more difficult to source and get delivered within a reasonable timeframe too, due to distance/logistics. I’d also imagine that it would mean much more limited choices on the options / spec sheet.
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Thanks Watts, I have tried a couple but no joy so far. There is one more I want to try though.
I'm also thinking do I really want a car built when the factory is being decommissioned around it and all the kit is being shipped to Mexico. And the workers are being laid off!......
I'm trying to get factual information from the dealerships about all of this but it's proving nigh on impossible.
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Is the Mexico move really set to happen soon?
If that’s the case, it could be the beginning of the end for the Golf in Europe imo. Historically there hasn’t been many mainstream European models built out of Mexico. Niche stuff like the Beetle was I think. And possibly the last iteration of the Jetta.
It would put me off alright. I don’t think the Mexican built cars have had the best rep in terms of quality but that could be hearsay. The cars might be even more difficult to source and get delivered within a reasonable timeframe too, due to distance/logistics. I’d also imagine that it would mean much more limited choices on the options / spec sheet.
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Yes, all petrol Golf are moving manufacture and build to Mexico starting May 2027. I've also read, but getting confirmation is very difficult, that the order book for the UK GTi allocation is already full for the last of the German built cars.
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I know it’s a different country but equally not Germany but Polo’s are assembled in South Africa, build quality on my wife’s 15 year old has been absolutely spot on from day one, no huge issues on delivery timelines (I know it was was a while back)
All US Golfs are made in Mexico I understand.
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Thanks for the feedback chaps.
I'm waiting to see when the order book opens again and get confirmation of any changes to spec and where it's being built before I attempt to place an order.
What's your views on buying a new GTi manufactured and assembled in Mexico? I personally don't fancy it.
A Mexican built VW ought to be built to the same standard as a German built one; whether or not that’s the case in reality I have no idea. I believe the mk7 Golf GTI and non performance mk7 Golfs were built in Mexico for the North American market and from memory the types of issues discussed over the years on forums with predominantly N/A members were pretty much the same as on the mk7 forum board on this forum.
IMHO German built may not mean it would necessarily be better; I’ve not owned a Golf since the mk6 but with the three 3 Golfs I did own from new (a mk4, mk5 and mk6) that were built in VW’s Wolfsburg plant in Germany, the build quality was nothing special. All of them had uneven panel gaps that necessitated going back to the dealer to get them adjusted. In the days when cars had side rubbing strips and bumper inserts, my German built mk4 Golf even had the wrong colour bumper inserts fitted to the rear bumper!
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Fair comment, but I wouldn't want to be one of the first taking delivery of a Mexican built car
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Isn’t the BMW M2 built in Mexico?
I seem to recall people having same concerns as the time but expect all was ok. Likely just additional wait times due to shipping. Don’t think it would worry me personally.