51
Golf mk8 / Re: Bonnet Strut
« Last post by valentino on 12 February 2026, 14:06 »ORDERED
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52
Golf mk8 / Re: GTI Edition 50 first press release
« Last post by JoeGTI on 12 February 2026, 13:57 »
Hi Joe, you have me worried now, previous to submitting my order I did ring a large Dublin based dealer who in deed couldn’t guarantee me a car, what they wanted me to do was build it, submit order and deposit and VW built it well and good ie no guarantee of build slot. Refundable deposit obviously. I started this to my own dealer but was assured all was ok, I even added the art velours and area view after that irder was gone in. He did say no build week was showing but that this was standard as it takes a couple of weeks to come on. I have a trade in value agreed so I’m hoping it won’t drag on but you never know with VW. I will enquire to see can I get any further clarity on the matter.
Yep, in my experience (I've bought a few new VW's!), it does take a couple of weeks to get a build number confirmed. But it should show something like "order accepted" or something along those lines on the dealer's system much sooner than that.
There's nothing to stop dealers spec'ing a car up for you and taking your deposit. Unfortunately that doesn't mean VW will build it. It'll be interesting to see if you get a build week in the next few weeks...
53
Golf mk8 / Re: GTI Edition 50 first press release
« Last post by Hertsman on 12 February 2026, 13:48 »So an update. Over the last week I’ve been playing 4D chess with a neighbouring dealer, a smaller town VW, a nature competitor to my local city VW. Once the alcantara steering wheel option was added to the Edition 50 ( CookieMonsterGTI - added for the Golf R in blue stitching as a new option for Mk8.5 at the same time as Edition 50 going live) and the 1k VW contribution I had already decided I was going to place an order, but I didn’t want to tell them that. Yes, it’s expensive but I don’t swap cars every 3 years. I will own this car likely for next 8-10 years.
I had been trying hard to get a discount on the RPP using my leverage of having a having a long established history with my existing dealer and the benefits for the new dealer if I swapped my business to them. They did try hard, from the sales exec, the sales manager and the head manager all chipped in and have been in communication with me. They did tell me early last week they have confirmation from VW UK it will only be 1000 units imported, which I think VW UK Press still haven’t acknowledged publicly.
So there I was on the weekend with my wallet out seconds away from paying the deposit. The chap had gone to get the card reader and confirm everything with his manager. Whilst waiting I was on the VW website I noticed the 1k contribution was taken away, and I knew then the sale exec would come back to tell me the bad news, and dually he did. It seems VW has pulled the offer nationwide. I didn’t have a leg to stand on as I was ordering, rather than ordered. Those who did order over the 5 days I would like to think VW must honour the deal signed. Seems a bit silly, I still doubt VW UK will sell all 1000 units given the price tag, but taking order have temporarily stopped in a few countries including Germany, so maybe they’re capitalising on that.
1k on a 55k car is loose change in the grand scheme of things, but I felt I needed something as an incentive. To the dealer’s credit they agreed on giving me a dealer fitted option for free that cost about half the 1k, something is better than nothing for my custom.
Dealer order had been generated and I now waiting for the VW order confirmation from them.
The VW plaques are cool, it will make the car defo feel more special. Great share, Paul! Would be cool if they said 5000 units from factory worldwide with plaques too.
The PP comes with the Potenza race tyres, they are mandatory, and free as part of the bundle. Ask them to check again or change dealer, no shortage of availability in the UK at least.
If you look at the history of special editions, they take an extremely long time to depreciate in comparison to standard models, there is a point in time where the price will start to moderate but definitely not in first 5 years. My TCR was worth £27500 when it was let go, 3 years later there was still VW approved TCR at that price, though they are falling sub £25k now as going into their 7th year of existence.
Also, clean performance Golfs hold value regardless, the Golf R we bought 2 years ago for £25k from VW Derby would still be going for £25k today with similar spec and mileage, so as much as any car is not an investment, you can feel pretty comforted that your assett will depreciate relatively slowly and the smiles for miles will readily compensate.
Know £55k is a lot of money, seems crazy when that TCR was just £37k in 2019 but I really really like the ED50 and when i am shopping down the line for a Golf R Black Edition, I will just have a glance at any ED 50 available. (think easily be £7k difference though for same age)
54
Golf mk8 / Re: More decisions
« Last post by Hertsman on 12 February 2026, 13:38 »People often mix the units of energy and power. Power is measured in kilowatts, kW. Energy is measured in kilowatt-hour, kWh.
Energy is the integral of power over time. Is power is constant, Energy = Power x time.
Chargers have a nominal power in kW, battery capacity and the “filled energy” are measured in kWh.
Agree and that is part of the apprehension for folk as you not quite sure how to measure usage/cost against your previous petrol usage and cost. Some are savvy like you, but many including me (and consider myself of standard intelligence and can work out most things, eventually!) struggle to understand the correlation. What you describe is very much part of the uptake anxiety and think the companies actually feed the confusion so folk do not understand the real cost if charge in the wild, super chargers are super expensive and no way you can run a car on them.
EDIT: Based on your succint description, have edited my post accordingly, thank you!
55
Golf mk8 / Re: GTI Edition 50 first press release
« Last post by Donster on 12 February 2026, 13:32 »Thanks for the info, I think your correct re the numbers in Ireland the price is a big deterrent alright esp when no discounts were offered,indeed the R was a cheaper option as discounts available.
I’m based in Cork City but always deal with Blackwater Motors Fermoy (Jamie O’Callaghan). I have bought numerous cars off him over the last two decades, he’s extremely knowledgeable and professional, he’s also a Vage Enthusiast which definitely helps with knowing the product. I would have no issues in recommending him.
I have my 8.5 CS in for its first service today and I got talking to my salesman for 5 minutes. He told me he can't get his hands on any production slots for this car and all (Irish) dealers are the same! VW apparently being extremely tight with build slots for them. He has 2 guys interested in one but no order gone through yet.
I'm curious how you managed to get your order in, did the dealer mention any potentially very long lead times? (not that I'm ordering of course... purely for research purposes!)
Hi Joe, you have me worried now, previous to submitting my order I did ring a large Dublin based dealer who in deed couldn’t guarantee me a car, what they wanted me to do was build it, submit order and deposit and VW built it well and good ie no guarantee of build slot. Refundable deposit obviously. I started this to my own dealer but was assured all was ok, I even added the art velours and area view after that irder was gone in. He did say no build week was showing but that this was standard as it takes a couple of weeks to come on. I have a trade in value agreed so I’m hoping it won’t drag on but you never know with VW. I will enquire to see can I get any further clarity on the matter.
56
Golf mk8 / Re: More decisions
« Last post by The WolfMan on 12 February 2026, 13:26 »People often mix the units of energy and power. Power is measured in kilowatts, kW. Energy is measured in kilowatt-hour, kWh.
Energy is the integral of power over time. Is power is constant, Energy = Power x time.
Chargers have a nominal power in kW, battery capacity and the “filled energy” are measured in kWh.
Energy is the integral of power over time. Is power is constant, Energy = Power x time.
Chargers have a nominal power in kW, battery capacity and the “filled energy” are measured in kWh.
57
Golf mk8 / Re: More decisions
« Last post by Hertsman on 12 February 2026, 13:01 »You won’t go far wrong with an 8.5 GTI/Clubby/R, VW have got the recipe just about right again with the facelift revisions.
The ID.3 GTX would be a great car to have if you get company car benefits especially in Fire & Ice trim. Quick, spacious, RWD fun but horrendous residuals right now, so more of a company car lease prospect than a longer term purchase.
I’m far from anti-EV but agree with Watts in that they’re still in the beta testing stage in some respects. There’s no disguising there’s half a tonne of battery under your bum which is both good (low centre of gravity) and bad (bloody heavy).
The ID.GTI will be interesting (in my eyes) as will the forthcoming Peugeot GTI and the A290 already very much is. Real world quick, hopefully not too heavy and a well controlled chassis being prerequisites to carry off hot hatch status.
The venerable Golf is still the Levi’s/Heinz beans of hot hatches though, and hopefully can still fight its own corner for a good few years yet.
Think the potential for EV performance is really good, as sure they can make them more involved and lighter, but over time, the negative column still outweighs the positive column for the majority.
58
Golf mk8 / Re: More decisions
« Last post by Hertsman on 12 February 2026, 11:38 »I don't really understand the plug in hybrid idea.... seems like the worst of both worlds? Extra weight and still largely dependent on buying petrol? Couple that with no home charging (cheaper and convenient)...
I can't decide if a self charging hybrid is a better bet? That basically runs like a disiel electric train I think?
I'm tending towards the idea that its all ICE or all EV and hybrids are compromise on both.
Definitely with no home charging any EV is going to be costly, which gives concern about societal equality in an electric world.
As said, its a free hit for me being a company car and by company mandate you can now only select a PHEV or EV.
But there has been upsides, the Cupra Terramar itself is a really nice car, super impressed with it and enjoying it way more than the outgoing BMW 128ti the seats in particular with memory function are a completely different level to anything sat in previously. Passengers love it also, not had anything less than a complimentary comment.
On the heaviness, its super light in the hand, easy town driving car, you do not feel that heaviness at all, would say its better to drive than the the BMW 128Ti, can push it in to bends with full assurance and though there is a little more lean, its minor.
The main win is financial, as BIK has plummeted from near 13k pa to £798 pa and it will definitely prove to be circa £80 cheaper to run a month, and when add in the £700 charging voucher, my first year in particular will provide quite a lot of saving.
Complete rookie to EV and it did take me some trial and error and time to just understand how to get the best experience and think have got that now,
EV Setting - Pure EV: You get about 65 miles range at 100% which is pretty decent for a PHEV. But 65 miles goes pretty quickly and if use fast chargers that's way more cost (as outlined above) than fueling even a performance ICE.
Hybrid Setting - Mix of ICE and EV: Seems this setting prioritises EV around town and so, though its a mix of both, the charge does run down relatively quickly though obviously your ICE MPG can be in the 80's-90's MPG
Hybrid Setting + Preserve Battery Toggle: My pre-flight setting now, the car still blends ICE and EV, but prioritises ICE which for running around town etc is perfectly fine, it brings you back 45+MPG so far but the major plus is that with regeneration the charge level hardly moves even though lots of indication of EV use (there is a blue battery use 'rev' counter, ICE is next to it in White, when both used together on a foot down, the white turns blue)
The additional benefit is you have lots of battery to get the best out of the car, as when stick it in 'performance' and then most aggresive 'Cupra' mode it gives you all the full beans of the 272PS and its lively, the EV boost gets it going immediately and the merged EV and ICE pushes it on. - The strange part is you are obviously off the line quick, but its super smooth even with some fake noises in them modes, so its a bit cossetted when we all like a bit of noise and fuss. Another reason is its a raised SUV on bigger tyres and newest DCC.
But think would say the Hybrid + Preserver Battery toggle is near equal to self charging hybrid given maintains charge, but with added advantage in that it is a much bigger battery so gives more performance.
Would have one for myself? Once the benefits of company car are removed, then answer is no? I would have the AWD 280BHP ICE version of the Terramar as its a great car, but not the PHEV.
I would only have a pure EV if the forecourt costs and charging times improve, as no chance of a drive where live. Performance wise think EV is really good, can imagine the EV - R for example being something special, its all about the charging times and costs for those with no drives and given amount of flats being built, that will be majority.
My next car is highly likely to be a used MK 8.5 Golf R Black Edition when retire with Performance Pack.
But glad dipped toes into PHEV/EV as it has certainly proved had some previous misconceptions that now have clarity on.
59
Golf mk8 / Re: Heated Seat Memory Quirks
« Last post by candywhite12 on 12 February 2026, 11:07 »done a little admittedly basic research, looks like sensors are integrated into the seat, which would need disassembling to check and see what's what...
https://www.google.com/search?q=heated+seat+sensors+VW&oq=heated+seat+sensors+VW&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgYIABBFGDkyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQ6QcY_FXSAQg0NzA1ajBqMagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=heated+seat+sensors+VW&oq=heated+seat+sensors+VW&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgYIABBFGDkyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQ6QcY_FXSAQg0NzA1ajBqMagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
60
Golf mk8 / Re: More decisions
« Last post by fredgroves on 12 February 2026, 10:57 »I don't really understand the plug in hybrid idea.... seems like the worst of both worlds? Extra weight and still largely dependent on buying petrol? Couple that with no home charging (cheaper and convenient)...
I can't decide if a self charging hybrid is a better bet? That basically runs like a disiel electric train I think?
I'm tending towards the idea that its all ICE or all EV and hybrids are compromise on both.
Definitely with no home charging any EV is going to be costly, which gives concern about societal equality in an electric world.
I can't decide if a self charging hybrid is a better bet? That basically runs like a disiel electric train I think?
I'm tending towards the idea that its all ICE or all EV and hybrids are compromise on both.
Definitely with no home charging any EV is going to be costly, which gives concern about societal equality in an electric world.