STIG topgear, in a GTI, Harewood Hillclimb.

[ErikGTI]

You are right   .....the test is being saved however you are wrong concerning the title

Have patience and the GTD will be surprisingly economical in....

"Massive Family Hatch Mega Test"

[Snoopy]

Jonny: Do tell please.
My guesses: The Ford RS500 or the Renaultsport 250?

Since it was you who asked, it was the clio 200 cup that won the test but was not the quickest.

Thanks Snoops.
So Evo Mag and TopGear are in agreement.

They did make some intersting coments when they did a two page bit on 'the battle of the dubs' the VW models in the test Scirocco R, Golf R, Golf GTI.   
"But when it comes down to it, the car every vehicle here was trying to beat, the one we all owe a debt of gratitude to for continuously pushing the brand, is the GTI. It's the best all-rounder among our hot hatches"
It was also interesting they did not like the ACC of the scirocco R and much prefered the normal suspension of the golf R and Golf GTI.
I also thought the coment about the mk1 to mk6 was funny. "The current golf, meenwhile, is the size of the garage the first golf use to park in."

[am1w]

It was also interesting they did not like the ACC of the scirocco R and much prefered the normal suspension of the golf R and Golf GTI.

With the potholes, ditches, rubbish surfaces, sleeping policeman etc etc etc ad infinitum, ACC in 'comfort' mode is a godsend. In 'normal' mode, in such conditions, I would lose the will to live.
ACC with 18" wheels is a must for real world driving. IMVHO.
Or,
Stay with standard 17", lose a bit on the looks, save on speccing 18" wheels, save on the ACC  and hope to get a better ride. I doubt it. Why? Because I did the 'try before you buy' thing!
 

Oh, I nearly forgot. 'Comfort' mode saves the car from developing more rattles!

[R32UK]

I have not found any difference in the ride on 17" or 18". In fact I feel the car rides slightly more planted on the 18".

[Awry]

I was so used to my BMW that the ACC sport mode is comfort to me so most of the time I have it in sport. 

[Gene Hunt.]

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/stig-hillclimb-vw-golf-gti?VideoBrowserMode=categories&VideoCategory=TheStig

............wish i had known when this was filmed  , would have tried to get in as it's not far from where i live.

[Snoopy]

I have not found any difference in the ride on 17" or 18". In fact I feel the car rides slightly more planted on the 18".

I found I got steering kickback and wheel juddering type feel through the steeringwheel on the 18s on some country roads. It made me rule out the 19s. I do quite fancy a set of 18s in that smoked silver look redRobins were in though.

Another quote i like 
"The GTI can be had with adaptive damping and a DSG transmission, but our car did without. No loss." 

Im guessing the GTD was not included for a few reasons but maybe because, Its not rated as high as the ones that were included as the Topgear score in the back of the magazine shows. 12/20 for the GTD and 16/20 for the GTI.

[AlanD]

Bought this copy of TG yesterday, not got to the hot hatch shoot out. 3 VWs in it though, Polo GTI, MK5.5 GTI and Golf R.

[JonnyG]

Bought this copy of TG yesterday, not got to the hot hatch shoot out. 3 VWs in it though, Polo GTI, MK5.5 GTI and Golf R.

You forgot the Rocco R    that makes 4 !