Difference

[Hurdy]

The bodykit is slightly different. The side skirts are the same, but the front splitter and lower rear valance are unique to the Edition 30.

The Edition 30 also has an uprated version of the standard K04 turbo rather than the K03 turbo on the standard GTI.

The interior is unique to the Edition 30 again with half leather and interlagos cloth, which IMO is better than the full leather that is now standard in the normal GTI.

I'll not go into the rest as it is mentioned in one of the links in a previous post

[Dundee GTI]

I thought I read somewhere that it is 15mm lower also, may be wrong though.

[joesgti]

I thought I read somewhere that it is 15mm lower also, may be wrong though.

exactly the same susspension and brakes.

[JonnyG]

I thought I read somewhere that it is 15mm lower also, may be wrong though.

It's been quoted in magazines but they're WRONG.  ED30 and GTi have same suspension

The differences are as Cocopops says above

Different Engine & turbocharger 230bhp (VW figure, but reported as 244bhp on rolling roads using 99RON petrol) 
Body Colour Bits
Half Leather Half Interlagos Cloth (GTI Tartan) with heated front seats and electronic lumbar support.
18" Wheels (BBS Pescaras) as standard

Plus :

Smoked rear Light lenses

not sure about exhaust ??  heard it may be slighlty bigger bore ?

about 5,000quid for 30bhp, half leather, colour coded splitters and skirts and a badge saying edition 30 on the back 

£5,000    ... surely more like £1730 for a basic 3dr

plus 18" wheels as standard & smoked rear light lenses 

but putting leather as standard on the GTI has certainly made the ED30 look more expensive in comparison now, I will concede on that 

[Hurdy]

but putting leather as standard on the GTI has certainly made the ED30 look more expensive in comparison now, I will concede on that 

Yes, but that has increased the basic price of the standard GTI and so now there is even less difference in the prices.

[gazbutmk5gti]

And 300bhp for a quick remap as standard

[speedynz]

I thought I read somewhere that it is 15mm lower also, may be wrong though.

People may be quoting that the suspension has not been altetred but the ED30 certainly rides more firmly than a standard GTI on 18 inch rims, how can this be then?

Something's been done.

[neg]

Are you comparing 2 similar age/mileage cars ... ?

I wouldnt have thought they would make any changes when there is no real need - and not to advertise the either would be odd.

[speedynz]

Are you comparing 2 similar age/mileage cars ... ?

I wouldnt have thought they would make any changes when there is no real need - and not to advertise the either would be odd.

I'm comparing new cars, the 3 standard GTI's (all on 18 inch rims) that I tried and the 2 ED 30's.

There is a clear and easily identifiable difference beteween the respective suspension set ups of standard GTI vs Ed30.

[JonnyG]

There is a clear and easily identifiable difference beteween the respective suspension set ups of standard GTI vs Ed30.

Can't say I noticed any difference at all myself, when stepping into my ED 30 (2007) straight after part ex'ing my old (2006) GTi 

Maybe it was the new tyres with full tread