New Golf GTI review - topher's take

[topher]

When you're given the chance to drive a new GTI around one of the country's most infamous testing facilities; Millbrook, you just can't say no.

You can see jv's account of the day as a whole here Millbrook demo day but I want to concentrate on the car itself.

What's it look like?

Visually the car is a little more eye catching than it's predecessor, the slightly bulbous lines of the MK5 are a little edgier now but I'm yet to be convinced of VW's new style grill which has already been seen on the new Scirocco and Polo. It's safe to assume that future new models will sport the same wide mouthed “face”.

That being said, a 3 door model in white still pushed all the right buttons for me on the day. I can't help but feel though, that white cars will lose their fashion status once again by the time people are upgrading to the Golf MK7 (can we have a 5cyl twin turbo 4motion MK7 Golf please Mr. VW?) so if resale values are your thing some of the darker metallic colours look just as good. It is a shame though that in the UK we don't get the same colour options that you find on the GTI configurator on the German VW website. Most long-time VW enthusiasts are longing to see those classics back over in Blighty such as Burgandy Pearl and Schwarzblau.

Inside the cabin:

On the inside the aesthetics are familiar but you can instantly tell the customer complaints about rattling interior trim and creaky plastics on the MK5 have been taken on board by the designers. One particular improvement I spotted, albeit a little niggly thing, is the new angled window switch layout – I can't be the only person who continually opens the rear windows by mistake because you have to take your eyes off the road to see the switches with the MK5 layout.

Other than those points there really is no major advancement from the previous model. The steering wheel is still chunky enough to make you feel that you're in something a bit special, and who isn't a fan of the red glowing of the needles in the dash?

How it drives

Between the high speed bowl circuit, mile straight and the renowned Alpine handling route I was able to get a pretty good impression of the car and how it behaves when you push it way beyond anything you will ever encounter on public roads.

The extra 10bhp in the new model doesn't exactly make a world of difference, but then you wouldn't expect it to and the previous model never had complaints about lack of power. A quick fiddle with the engine management will continue to provide the petrol heads with a nice gob of mid-range torque for those that love to tune the GTI.
Even in standard tune though, the car is very capable and accelerated well into the triple figures with ease. The smooth torque delivery combined with the thankfully unchanged, mechanical feel 6 speed close ratio manual gearbox made light of the pick-up out of corners on the Alpine route which gives you confidence to accelerate that little bit earlier out of a bend.
Once again VW have used the little K03 turbo from Borg Warner which provides a nice linear, and seemingly lag-less spool up. We pushed that little blower hard, with back to back hard acceleration tests up to 130mph which I'm pleased to report left no obvious signs of heat soak issues. There are already whispers of  a K04 equipped model in the future which is expected to deliver in the region of 270bhp, or maybe a little less if just to keep it behind whichever the equivalent Audi A3 may be at that time.

The brakes will stop you well before the Highway Code says they should, yet I can't help but feel they could be a little better. VW already have the bigger brakes for the MK5 R32, and in my opinion the new GTI would benefit greatly from them. Sure, you can emergency stop from 100mph+ while still manoeuvring as the ABS does it's job pulling the car into line, and you can do that time after time without brake fade, but in a sports/performance car I want to feel my breakfast working it's way back up when I stamp on the middle pedal.

That ACC wotsit

The model we tested was fitted with the £705 optional ACC feature. Adaptive Chassis Control is much like many other “sport” buttons you might find in a sporty motor, pulling back on the power steering assistance to improve feedback and feel through the wheel, and changing the fuel/ignition mapping to provide a slightly sharper throttle response. The ACC however has another trick up it's turrets. Suspended metal filings in the shock absorbers become magnetised to stiffen up the ride. It all sounds a bit geeky but it really does make a difference. At motorway speeds comfort mode makes the GTI a pleasure to drive. It's easily as smooth and quiet as a 3 Series or C Class which should make it a capable long distance tourer. In sport mode however the Alpine route was twice as much fun. The ride is noticeably harder and you can feel the suspension making adjustments as the weight of the car is shifted from one side to the other. If you're buying a new GTI to commute to work every day then you will be happy without this optional extra. If you're like me and love to go out and find quiet roads on a Sunday afternoon to have some fun then ACC is definitely the option to choose over something like xenon lights or the stereo upgrade.

Would I buy one?

Personally I still prefer my MK5 R32, but you can't really compare the two, they're tools for different purposes. The documented combined fuel consumption of 38mpg would make it very tempting, but I'd miss the 4wd on rainy days. There's no denying the new GTI is a fantastic car and you would not be disappointed if you ordered one, but I'm still anticipating the next .:R version. Will it be 4wd? Doubtful. Will it be a big VR6? Definitely not. It will need to compete with the new Focus RS though so I await with baited breath our invite (*hint hint* ) to try it out, hopefully once again at Millbrook!

In conclusion

As a complete package, VW have once again successfully created a car which is practically unbeatable in it's class. If you currently own a MK5 you shouldn't feel the need to upgrade just to have the latest model, unless you are the type of person that changes cars regularly anyway – in which case it's a great upgrade and just that little bit more refined. If you're coming from a non-vw.. well of course it'll be an improvement, you weren't driving a Golf GTI before! 

[R32UK]

Great write up toph!! After my recent test drive I would agree with everything you have said there to a 'T'.

p.s Your not the only one opening the rear windows by accident

[VWKev]

In what way does the current GTI not compete with the RS ? I certainly dont think your silly enough to compare how a car is because of how fast it goes, so I'd be interested to know. It's already survived a hot hatch test against the RS and came out on top.

[topher]

Simply comparing the "daddy" of each range. The GTI is to the ST as the .:R(20?tbc.) is to the RS.

[R32UK]

Not really fair on the RS if your comparing its comfort levels with that of the Gti... and viceversa when your looking at performance of the RS against the Gti there is only going to be one winner.

[et997]

Hi, Topher, have you ever driven any Mk 6 GTI without ACC? I would be interested to know how the conventional suspension performs compared with the ACC setup.

In ACC, we have Comfort, Normal and Sport.  If you use that as a scale, the conventional setup is more on the Sport side or somewhere in the middle?

Thanks in advance!

[VWKev]

Hi, Topher, have you ever driven any Mk 6 GTI without ACC? I would be interested to know how the conventional suspension performs compared with the ACC setup.

In ACC, we have Comfort, Normal and Sport.  If you use that as a scale, the conventional setup is more on the Sport side or somewhere in the middle?

Thanks in advance!

A GTI without ACC is 'supposed' to be normal mode with ACC.

[topher]

I have driven one without ACC, but it was several weeks apart so it's difficult to make a direct comparison. I would say Kev is on the money though.. it's still a capable machine without ACC. Sport mode is just that little bit more fun

[keelaw]

i thought the ACC normal was equivalent to the non-ACC setting, BUT when you're pressing on ACC detects this and automatically sticks itself into the sports setting.

hence normal ACC isn't quite the same as non-ACC

you see?  :p

[et997]

I have driven one without ACC, but it was several weeks apart so it's difficult to make a direct comparison. I would say Kev is on the money though.. it's still a capable machine without ACC. Sport mode is just that little bit more fun

My guess is the extra bit of fun is more on "...“sport” buttons you might find in a sporty motor, pulling back on the power steering assistance to improve feedback and feel through the wheel, and changing the fuel/ignition mapping to provide a slightly sharper throttle response." as you stated in your write-up.  And this can never be achieved by any aftermarket upgrades.

So we would say ACC is a must-have option?

Daxm, I am really struggling....I can get my new car by end of this month but without ACC.  If ACC is a must-have, I will have to wait till Feb~Apr of 2010.  Sound ridiculous?  This is the case here in HK.