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So the latest over-air software update (taken this wk) in my 8.5 GTI 265 has brought with it a welcome new 'sticky key' for the speed limit warning which now sits on top of the main screen permanently (meaning I no longer have to go into the subscreen to switch it off every time I start the car).  Winner.

The catch is, there still isn't one for lane assist...

I run black Pretoria reps for winter wheels bought from "Selectrims online" from ebay in 2019 for £390. They're more than that nowadays! I used then for 6 winters on my old mk7 Gtd and this is the first winter using them on my 8.5 Gti. I ran Goodyear winter tyres for 6 years on the Gtd and fitted cross climate 3 sports for this winter. The quality has been good I also hit a pothole the first year I bought them and popped a tyre. Absolutely no damage to the wheel just a replacement tyre was required. There is slight corrosion on them but very minimal bearing in mind Im on my 7th winter. The only problem I've had has been the replica vw centre caps corroding as they are bare aluminium. I polished them up with metal polish then lacquered them and that has helped. I would 100% buy another set of reps. I also had a set of replica s4 wheels many years ago that were fitted to my mk5 golf they were also great wheels.

I ran a set of CM wheels replicas albeit not Estorils on my mk8 Clubsport for 3 years and they lasted ok. One took a massive winter pothole impact without cracking, just a slight dink in the rim which impressed me (unlike the actual impact which nearly gave me whiplash!)

I did consider getting a set of CM Estorils to run over winter this year but never got round to it.

One thing to bear in mind is you’ll need aftermarket centre caps as the originals don’t fit.

This thread could turn into a proper “down a rabbit hole” experience.

Having owned just about every incarnation of mk7, two mk8’s and now an 8.5 I could rattle on for ages if prompted but for everyone’s sanity I’ll withhold 😁

Agree with Watts (as usual) on all points above (there, that was brief!)

One thing I will throw into the mix, is do you use higher revs flipflops or are you more of a low rev lugger? The au naturel GTI with the smaller turbo is well suited for people (like myself) who hardly ever reach the higher rev range as it spools quicker and is a tad more economical.

Once you’ve spent a year or two with DSG you get lazy and a manual seems a bit of a chore, especially doing that dogleg into second gear every time you turn a corner around town. If you want real control stick with a manual (and a clutch makes manoeuvring easier) but I’d still hesitate recommending a mk8 manual for the above mentioned reasons.
Maybe go find a very late 7.5 manual? Better looking and less tech stuff to go wrong but still loaded with kit.
But if you want to keep with the times then it’s DSG only. Skip the mk8 and go 8.5.
Maybe an 8.5 R Line which you can probably get in a manual(?)

Yeah, rabbit hole, I’ll stop there as it could get complex!

I keep a spare battery in the glove compartment now. I had my key give up on me once. Never again. You'd be surprised (maybe not) the feeling of helplessness a dead key fob induces.

Had that too and agreed, it wasn't a great experience! Strange thing though was as I opened the car with the manual key, setting off the alarm which went for quite a while whilst I faffed about trying to stop it, not one person checked that I wasn't stealing it. Maybe they were VW owners too...

Got three spares now given how quickly they wear out.