Hi folks, long time lurker and so it’s about time I contribute.
I have had my normal Golf Mk7.5 from new since 2017 and done 68k miles to date. When I bought it I thought it was a great car, replacing my mk5 VW Polo, and only in hindsight has It become more apparent how VW nailed the Mk 7.5.
I’ve been wanting a special car for so time now before I have a family, logic need not apply. Initially, I was set on a sports car; if not now whilst young then when. First, I took an beautiful little green Alpine a110 for a week across north Wales. It was nimble, light and responsive. However, I felt the 1.8 engine lacked soul. So of course naturally I then took a 718 Cayman S around the South Downs for a week. The Cayman was more mature and interior was more plush but the 4 pot droning noise would become unmanageable for my motorway trips.
Surely then the answer must be the Cayman GTS 4.0 (NA). Booked a day with PEC at Silverstone, tested it track and the backroads. It was the most complete car of the lot. However, as I left I thought to myself do I want to spend of life savings on this, and it seems no. The GPF filters have muted the car, and it was perhaps too fast to exploit for my layman abilities. I expect the car I’ve been looking for all along has been the 981 Cayman GTS, NA and pre filters.
Whilst I’ve been learning and testing, I have been patiently waiting for the Golf GTI Edition 50 probably since the launch of the Mk 8.5 GTI and Clubsport if not even longer under the the loose hope that VW go balls to the wall before ICE get cancelled and does something akin to the Mk7 Clubsport and S. It’s looking promising so far. It’s this or the 981 Cayman GTS. The Golf would be brand new, hopefully very reliable, and discreet to not attract attention in the staff car park.
I’ve tried to find all the info I can beyond what is already discussed here.
1. This website has a 80+ pager forum from Germany about the GTI Edition 50. The lease deals they're getting is nuts. 1/2k down and 250 euros PCM. Last few pages talks about 16/20% discount on private purchase, but I can’t find any evidence of that.
https://www.motor-talk.de/forum/gti-50-jahre-jubilaeumsmodell-2026-t8175078.html?page=872. Lack of Alcantara wheel in UK - I rang my dealer and VW customer service - both were useless. I then emailed VW. A lovely person said although the product team are reviewing the options list, but there is no plans thus far for the Alcantara wheel. I when back and said to log my request with the product team, seems completely daft to leave it out.
3. Limited production info - Spain has limited to 325 cars. VW Barnetts in an intsta post says 1000 for the UK. VW customer service email said there was no end date for the order book. Can’t find any other details.
4. Reviews - from the event in media event on Barcelona, seems some videos/maybe review will go live this Friday.
5. Discounts - my local dealer said no discounts even thought it’s not a limited production car in the UK. Not sure if they will budge on this.
