Differences / thoughts between my 2013 and 2016 GTD's

[Sootchucker]

Now I know you are probably all sick of me by now (I don't care  ), now I've had the new GTD for a few days, I thought I'd share a few comments / thoughts about the differences between my 2013 and 2016 GTD

First delivery. I know that when I ordered my Pure White GTD back in 2013, the order books had only just opened, but my factory build GTD took 22 weeks from order to delivery. Contrast that with an even higher spec 2016 car and it was delivered to the dealership in just 8 weeks from order (and collected in 10 weeks - waiting for the wife's car). Massive difference and a sure sign that the order bottleneck seems to have been sorted.

I notice that VW seems to have tried to dumb down certain areas of the car to save a few Euros compared to my original car. None of the changes to be fair are really that visible and don't detract from the quality of the car. I'm referring to the missing trim cover that cover the lower hinge on the rear seats split backrest (I "recovered" this from my previous car). Secondly the small triangular trim that covers the wing mirror bolts on the inside leading edge of the front doors are now gone, and finally the handle for the boot split height floor no longer is a nice hinged version (as on the 2013 car) but is now a moulded one piece handle that doesn't move - I liked the previous design so the dealer allowed me to swap them over on collecting the new car 

The changes in the infotainment unit have been covered in a previous thread but suffice to say are a fair bit different and just slicker in operation (e.g. keep tapping the "CAR" menu button to swap between screens rather than having to select the small sub menu). I really like the ability to connect two phones at the same time. My Galaxy S5 is my personal phone and has a good data allowance so I use that as the "main" phone for all the head unit connectivity stuff, with the added bonus that the contacts now show images (yippee - only took 3 years). I also have my Iphone 6 which is my works phone and most calls I get in the car are work related but having this connected as the second phone, means when a call comes in on that phone, it still comes up on both screens and allows me to take the call, and also choose which phone to use to dial out - very cool !

Love the new graphics on the driving mode screen (sort of a brushed metallic aluminium effect) and also like the way you can just keep pushing the driver mode select button and it scrolls though the modes (Comfort, Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual) and tells you on the DIS screen on the dash now which one has been selected. Such a small thing but it makes selecting a profile much easier now. T

I love the sound from the sport and sound pack and have already had a few comments from work colleagues on how good it sounds (who cares if it's fake  ), but sounds great especially in sport mode, but equally a nice growl in normal mode as well. Eco mode cancels it altogether (as does individual mode if you select it so). Overall though I've noticed that the car is quite a bit quieter on the motorway than my older car, despite running 19's. Not sure if that is better soundproofing or the Pirelli Zero tyres ?

Also talking about the 19's, I've been pleasantly surprised at the ride quality on them. I was expecting a much harsher ride and therefore judicious use of comfort mode on the driver profile setting, but to my surprise in normal mode, it doesn't feel much harder than the 19's (yes it is slightly but not much). So much so, that in the 4 or so days I've had the car, I've not been into comfort mode once yet (reserved for my long motorway journeys). Also, then engine (which to be fair has only 100 miles on it so far) seems a lot smoother and easier to start with a very much quieter tick over than my last car (but that could be mileage related).

The graphic for the climate control has changed and now looks much neater (pressing the menu button on centre dial). Also noticed that stop / start system has changed slightly. Whereas on my old car you had to come to a complete stop then a half second or so later the engine would shut off, on the new car, the engine shuts off just before you have finished coming to a stop (so wheels still turning) - much like BMW and Mercedes car's I've driven. Not sure if this is going to make not having the stop start engage as before (by controlling brake pressure on the pedal) harder or not - time will tell.

If you have made it to then end of this well done ! So in conclusion, the 2016 GTD, same as the 2013 GTD only 5-10% better all round (more toys, smoother and quieter).

Thanks

[Talk-torque]

Read through, all the way! I've just swapped a 2014 GTD for a 2016 GTI, so much of the same sort of changes for me. I've got Discover Satnav and find the MIB 2 much improved, both in appearance and speed. There are some odd changes to the Satnav instructions, but it works much the same as before. I've also added Car Play, which I've not used much, but it looks pretty. The cost cutting changes seem to have been well chosen, in that they are not things that we'll miss overmuch. I saved my seat back hinge cover, too, though. Seemed rude not to, given the heads up from here! One bigger thing I have noticed, which may be down to this car being a GTI, is an improvement in the brakes. The GTI brakes seem much stronger, but without the initial "new car" grab that I had with the GTD. I didn't have DSG before and I'm still getting used to it. I have to say that it makes the other driver aids, like auto hold and the electronic handbrake, make sense. They all now work seemlessly, making traffic queues almost a pleasure! As someone said in another thread, though, the lack of any big changes over 2 or 3 years shows just how well the Mark 7 was engineered in the first place. Proper job! 

[Sootchucker]

Yes I forgot to mention how much firmer and progressive the brakes were on the new car (but just put that down to it being brand new ?)

[kalimon]

Great write up Sootchucker, it'll keep me going until the new Game of Thrones book is released
Although I have a GTI, I love the GTD's looks and capabilities.
I followed a friends DBP GTD for about 5 miles the other day and spent the entire journey admiring it.
Did you get the GTI diffuser you were after ( I think it was you ) ?

[Exonian]

A very thorough and informative read there Mr N, I really like threads like this with all the little details noted. Having owned about four mk2 GTI's back in the dim and distant past I used to be like a walking encyclopaedia on the things. There was no internet back then and as I was always cleaning or fiddling with my GTI or reading up on the things;  once in a while a book would be written on the subject of Golf GTI's and I'd just sit there rolling my eyes at the inaccuracy of some of the things I'd see in print.
It's only reports from owners such as on here and talking to the guys who work on the cars for a living that you get to know all the little cost cuts and detail improvements over the model life cycle. Obviously where money is spent making something a little bit better there's usually a pay back in an area where they can get away with recovering a few of those euros. The bean counters never cease to look at ways of balancing the books in their favour.
I find stuff like this interesting in a strange sort of way. I probably need therapy.

Like Kalimon, I'm a big GTD admirer as it's the happy middle of the range really and arguably looks the best overall.
I'd happily swap my R for a (remapped) GTD if I did a few more miles and would love a GTD-R with the 240 TDI bi-turbo.

Great hearing your thoughts too Roger. Tungsten GTI's look sooooo good!

[Exonian]

PS, so as not to spam the new arrivals thread - I love the red detailing on your new car Mr N and look forward to seeing the new rear apron on it.
The grey and the red go so well together. I saw a Tungsten GTD the other day with Santiagos and just thought it would be finished perfectly with a few red details.
Obviously Roger's Tungsten GTI has the red details already! 

[Sootchucker]

Great write up Sootchucker, it'll keep me going until the new Game of Thrones book is released
Although I have a GTI, I love the GTD's looks and capabilities.
I followed a friends DBP GTD for about 5 miles the other day and spent the entire journey admiring it.
Did you get the GTI diffuser you were after ( I think it was you ) ?

haha... War and Peace has nothing on me 

[Sootchucker]

PS, so as not to spam the new arrivals thread - I love the red detailing on your new car Mr N and look forward to seeing the new rear apron on it.
The grey and the red go so well together. I saw a Tungsten GTD the other day with Santiagos and just thought it would be finished perfectly with a few red details.
Obviously Roger's Tungsten GTI has the red details already! 

Cheers bud - yeah, I just thought the red badges finished it off.

With regards the diffuser, might (just might) be some bad news on that front. A UK member over on the "other" forum I frequent also purchased one at the same time I did and his arrived a few days before mine. I haven't had the opportunity to fit mine yet (and won't until I return from a business trip to Saudi all next week), but he has. Unfortunately he has written that it doesn't fit very well at all, and the tabs holding the upper part of the diffuser onto the bumper, are not in exactly the same positions as the original units, with the result that once you get them in on one side, they are quite a bit out on the other side.

I don't know yet whether this is just his unit or the moulding is just wrong in the factory where they make them, but I'm going to give it a go bank holiday weekend. It would be a real shame if it doesn't fit as the quality and match of the plastics on the diffuser generally are first class and easily a match for OEM quality. I'll keep you all posted.

[mjh_056]

Seems a couple of my issues have been addressed in being able to select the drive options by pressing button till selected, simple fix, but it was an irritant

Also the media unit improvements in screen, functionality, graphics and speed!

Am going from my 18" Norago to 19" Pretoria so again good to read comfort have not really changed much. I have again selected DCC so sounds like I should be more than fine.

The GTD we bought is hardly a tractor but you do know its a diesel but good they quietened the tick over and start up and when add in the sport pack it is a good as a diesel can get imagine in not sounding like one! The sport and sound pack was not an option when bought and have always wished it was.

Sounds like you are in for many more satisfying miles as a GTD owner.

PS: Noted on the bits of trim that need to swap, very useful

[Talk-torque]

Out after dark for the first time, last night, and found the headlights to be significantly better. Even the turn lights (not the indicators) seemed brighter. Headlights looked brighter and whiter, with almost complete fill in across the front of the car.