My GTI Test Drive & Pics

[VWKev]

Kev, many thanks for the excellent photos & write-up. Given that I have ordered my GTI without ever having driven or even seen one, I was relieved that you were delighted with your test-drive. Pity VW have stuck one of those stupid 'shift up now' lights on the dash, though: my Ford Transit van has one and it's REALLY annoying. I got so sick of it that I stuck a bit of black electrical tape over it, but I don't want to mess up my beautiful GTI like that!

I was especially pleased that the DCC comfort setting is actually comfortable. I have always been put off sporty VWs (and sports suspension in general) because of the obsessively hard ride they insist on giving us. Together with the 'automatic' transmission and the 5 doors, the DCC was what made me plump for the GTI.

Finally - and no offense to anyone - I am SO glad I will be changing the wheels: those 18" shadows are ghastly. In this picture particularly, they look as if the owner has just driven through of pool of tar 

Not my taste at all, lol.

Are you saying I just drove that through tar ?  yeah I can see where you are coming from, I like them though, I suppose these alloys might be a bit like marmite, you either like it or hate it.

The dash on the GTI really is nice, its like its slightly magnified to look bigger as you face it, its like of hard to explain but its really nice and clean looking. i definately wouldnt put tape over it. 

I do have these pics in high res, I know you wanted some, if you still want them let me know your email in a PM and I'll get them forwarded to you later on tonight.

[Chins]

Flipping heck fellas. you must have some seriously quick motors if you think the Mark 6 is lacking in power. I thought it was ace but, then again, I've never owned anything so powerful. Maybe I'll change my mind when I've had it 3 years.
i agree with the price and depreciation thing which is why all I put on mine was the alloys, cruise and the lux pack. About £750 worth. Plus metallic at £395. I'd have loved the sat nav and the leather etc. but I think you'll lose a lot of money on those
In any case it'll be interesting to see what happens in a couple of years when the novelty's worn off a bit.

Autocar this week has a great write and full test of the car. They seem to have the same conclusions as myself. Ive owned a few cars with the 2.0T engine and the GTI feels more like the EOS than the std 2.0 TT. Stats will show however the GTI to be pretty much as quick as the TT. The lack of either some induction or exhaust noise sheilds you from the action and as mentioned it feels like a quick limo rather than hot hatch. Why put twin exhausts on and then give it no aural enjoyment? The car is just crying out for more power to get over these negative. I certainly got back into my current TT after the test drive and the difference in driver involvement was quite large. VW have to remember you could even get a nice 2.0TT for the same money as they want for the GTI. 

Couldn't agree more if you have a minge, as I have never seen a guy drive a TT in my life.

Well ive must have 3 minges as Ive had three of them , but then I'm the same guy that has owned an R32 and MKV GTI The only thing you would see of my current TT, is its arse if thats what turns you on as if passes by

Well I hope you enjoy your TT then as it passes me by. I know the limitations of a golf, would you like me to list the 101 cars that will pass you by while you stare at their arse ? 

Go for it Has to be sub 5.3 sec's to 60 though

[Chins]

Kev, many thanks for the excellent photos & write-up. Given that I have ordered my GTI without ever having driven or even seen one, I was relieved that you were delighted with your test-drive. Pity VW have stuck one of those stupid 'shift up now' lights on the dash, though: my Ford Transit van has one and it's REALLY annoying. I got so sick of it that I stuck a bit of black electrical tape over it, but I don't want to mess up my beautiful GTI like that!

I was especially pleased that the DCC comfort setting is actually comfortable. I have always been put off sporty VWs (and sports suspension in general) because of the obsessively hard ride they insist on giving us. Together with the 'automatic' transmission and the 5 doors, the DCC was what made me plump for the GTI.

Finally - and no offense to anyone - I am SO glad I will be changing the wheels: those 18" shadows are ghastly. In this picture particularly, they look as if the owner has just driven through of pool of tar 

Not my taste at all, lol.

Are you saying I just drove that through tar ?  yeah I can see where you are coming from, I like them though, I suppose these alloys might be a bit like marmite, you either like it or hate it.

The dash on the GTI really is nice, its like its slightly magnified to look bigger as you face it, its like of hard to explain but its really nice and clean looking. i definately wouldnt put tape over it. 

I do have these pics in high res, I know you wanted some, if you still want them let me know your email in a PM and I'll get them forwarded to you later on tonight.

What is stunnng is that they are like Marmite. I had them on my MKV and would really like a different style. VW could make more money offering alternative. Guess they must be rich enough

[VWKev]

Kev, many thanks for the excellent photos & write-up. Given that I have ordered my GTI without ever having driven or even seen one, I was relieved that you were delighted with your test-drive. Pity VW have stuck one of those stupid 'shift up now' lights on the dash, though: my Ford Transit van has one and it's REALLY annoying. I got so sick of it that I stuck a bit of black electrical tape over it, but I don't want to mess up my beautiful GTI like that!

I was especially pleased that the DCC comfort setting is actually comfortable. I have always been put off sporty VWs (and sports suspension in general) because of the obsessively hard ride they insist on giving us. Together with the 'automatic' transmission and the 5 doors, the DCC was what made me plump for the GTI.

Finally - and no offense to anyone - I am SO glad I will be changing the wheels: those 18" shadows are ghastly. In this picture particularly, they look as if the owner has just driven through of pool of tar 

Not my taste at all, lol.

Are you saying I just drove that through tar ?  yeah I can see where you are coming from, I like them though, I suppose these alloys might be a bit like marmite, you either like it or hate it.

The dash on the GTI really is nice, its like its slightly magnified to look bigger as you face it, its like of hard to explain but its really nice and clean looking. i definately wouldnt put tape over it. 

I do have these pics in high res, I know you wanted some, if you still want them let me know your email in a PM and I'll get them forwarded to you later on tonight.

What is stunnng is that they are like Marmite. I had them on my MKV and would really like a different style. VW could make more money offering alternative. Guess they must be rich enough

I read the engineers/designers or whatever they are, really like them so decided not to change them at all, of course just adding in the inserts into the hourseshoe holes for the 18's was the only diff.

[VWKev]

Flipping heck fellas. you must have some seriously quick motors if you think the Mark 6 is lacking in power. I thought it was ace but, then again, I've never owned anything so powerful. Maybe I'll change my mind when I've had it 3 years.
i agree with the price and depreciation thing which is why all I put on mine was the alloys, cruise and the lux pack. About £750 worth. Plus metallic at £395. I'd have loved the sat nav and the leather etc. but I think you'll lose a lot of money on those
In any case it'll be interesting to see what happens in a couple of years when the novelty's worn off a bit.

Autocar this week has a great write and full test of the car. They seem to have the same conclusions as myself. Ive owned a few cars with the 2.0T engine and the GTI feels more like the EOS than the std 2.0 TT. Stats will show however the GTI to be pretty much as quick as the TT. The lack of either some induction or exhaust noise sheilds you from the action and as mentioned it feels like a quick limo rather than hot hatch. Why put twin exhausts on and then give it no aural enjoyment? The car is just crying out for more power to get over these negative. I certainly got back into my current TT after the test drive and the difference in driver involvement was quite large. VW have to remember you could even get a nice 2.0TT for the same money as they want for the GTI. 

Couldn't agree more if you have a minge, as I have never seen a guy drive a TT in my life.

Well ive must have 3 minges as Ive had three of them , but then I'm the same guy that has owned an R32 and MKV GTI The only thing you would see of my current TT, is its arse if thats what turns you on as if passes by

Well I hope you enjoy your TT then as it passes me by. I know the limitations of a golf, would you like me to list the 101 cars that will pass you by while you stare at their arse ? 

Go for it Has to be sub 5.3 sec's to 60 though

Your car is of course modded. So you dont have a standard TT.

Why with that sort of speed would you chose to test drive a GTI when you know it wont touch your modified car ? Was it just so you got some clarification on to make sure you still had the bigger cock ?

[topher]

jv and I were lucky enough to drive a new golf gti (which is what VW are tagging it ,"new" and not "mk6") at Millbrook proving grounds yesterday. High speed bowl run, mile straight braking tests, and handling testing on the famous alpine route. Full writeup and pics/videos to come!

[carl1]

Personally I think the 5doors look horrible compared with the 3, And the Auto DSG kinda takes the feeling of speed and control away from the driver. Currently in my mk V I know when Im going fast because its bouncing off the limiter in 3rd and heading straight into 4th, With the dsg its easy to miss what gear your in constently having to look down at that tiny little number on the screen which shows you which gear your in.
 Why carn't people post any 3door pics up. I went to c one 3dr white with xenons and it looked absolutely sick. All these 5dr pics certainly do not do the GTI justice.
 Powerwise. Im buying the GTI knowing im going to do something about the power. ill fully remap it. And drag that horrible cat outta the rear system possibly do something with the air intake. Easy things but will make alot of difference. And should the need arise for a warrenty recall of service. I can change the standard sh!t back over and no1's the wiser
 Neilgcal. I think ours will be loaded on the boat nxt to each other. Ide like to c your production number when it comes lol. Carn't help but thinking were gna be v close.

i do prefer 3 door cars mate previous cars all mk5  1 gti, 1 ed30, 2 x r32. i have a child on the way what better alround car can i get what is comfortable,economical, practical,sporty i tried a bmw m sport and a audi s-line 2 litre petrol and diesel in both, no thanks how dull especially the audi.
Imo i have the perfect car for me, so this one is for you

Kiss its a$$ you might understand when you are older 

[VWKev]

jv and I were lucky enough to drive a new golf gti (which is what VW are tagging it ,"new" and not "mk6") at Millbrook proving grounds yesterday. High speed bowl run, mile straight braking tests, and handling testing on the famous alpine route. Full writeup and pics/videos to come!

looking forward to them topher 

[Chins]

Flipping heck fellas. you must have some seriously quick motors if you think the Mark 6 is lacking in power. I thought it was ace but, then again, I've never owned anything so powerful. Maybe I'll change my mind when I've had it 3 years.
i agree with the price and depreciation thing which is why all I put on mine was the alloys, cruise and the lux pack. About £750 worth. Plus metallic at £395. I'd have loved the sat nav and the leather etc. but I think you'll lose a lot of money on those
In any case it'll be interesting to see what happens in a couple of years when the novelty's worn off a bit.

Autocar this week has a great write and full test of the car. They seem to have the same conclusions as myself. Ive owned a few cars with the 2.0T engine and the GTI feels more like the EOS than the std 2.0 TT. Stats will show however the GTI to be pretty much as quick as the TT. The lack of either some induction or exhaust noise sheilds you from the action and as mentioned it feels like a quick limo rather than hot hatch. Why put twin exhausts on and then give it no aural enjoyment? The car is just crying out for more power to get over these negative. I certainly got back into my current TT after the test drive and the difference in driver involvement was quite large. VW have to remember you could even get a nice 2.0TT for the same money as they want for the GTI. 

Couldn't agree more if you have a minge, as I have never seen a guy drive a TT in my life.

Well ive must have 3 minges as Ive had three of them , but then I'm the same guy that has owned an R32 and MKV GTI The only thing you would see of my current TT, is its arse if thats what turns you on as if passes by

Well I hope you enjoy your TT then as it passes me by. I know the limitations of a golf, would you like me to list the 101 cars that will pass you by while you stare at their arse ? 

Go for it Has to be sub 5.3 sec's to 60 though

Your car is of course modded. So you dont have a standard TT.

Why with that sort of speed would you chose to test drive a GTI when you know it wont touch your modified car ? Was it just so you got some clarification on to make sure you still had the bigger cock ?

Car is std. 100% not modified. The minge driven TTS has 272ps as std . As mentioned in my first post I am thinking of getting a company car again and therefore emisions are important as they affect company car tax. Be nice if they added stop start and dropped them even further.  Its not all about power, but my point is I feel the GTI feels to limo like and not hot hatch enough. I would of liked to feel the speed more.

[VWKev]

so its not a TT, its a TTS.

Thats like saying I test drove a GT and its not its a GTI.