Mk5 owners: What are your top complaints you want addressed by the Mk7?

[Andy B]

50,000 miles of trouble-free DSG-Edition 30 motoring later, and I'm back on the board, contemplating a replacement car...erm in a year or so.

I still love the Ed30's simple classy looks. I love its cracking effortless pace (via DSG) and handling. I love its comfort on long journeys. We've left the xenons in 'euro mode' and zipped all Europe in it with no need for sticky tape on the ferry. I love the way you can get two mountain bikes and a week's luggage for two in the back. All the electrics still work as new. Even the way the windows go up and down... It's just quality. (Understand that the last car before was a peugeot :-) )

Pretty much the only complaints about the current car are

1) The back seats don't go fully flat (perhaps the only disappointment over the peugeot), and
2) the fuel gets gobbled up too quickly for the price of petrol these days.

We've dismissed the Mk6 gti as not being enough of a step up from what we had. I think I prefer the Mk5 to the Mk6 if I'm honest. Where did the tartan seats go? So much cooler than boring old leather. The GTD doesn't quite hit the spot, and BMW doesn't currently do a compact car as practical as the golf.

So we're crossing our fingers that the Mk7 Gti will seriously deliver a step up...

Is anyone else in the same boat, and what are the main things you want the Mk7 to be better at, other than stripping your bank account, which I'm sure it'll be very good at   

[Saint Steve]

Spec your current ed30 in mk7 terms and it will be a 35k car...

Keep what you have, I'm enjoying mine too much and prefer money in the bank..

[devilscaff]

A few mor toys as standard for the price

[Philip James]

Better brakes.

You mention fuel consumption, I read that they're going to make a bluemotion gti. I think that's a pretty radical development and could be a huge seller if they get it right.

55 litres of super unleaded is costing most of us a little too much these days. Although when I look at the mk6 forum I reckon it doesn't bother those lads with ed35s on order.

[Egbutt Wash]

For the Mk7 petrol GTI...
Better, more linear, steering
Electric motors in rear wheels for power boost, winter motoring and economy
Flat rear seats when down +1
Tougher and comfier front seats
Two reversing lights
Much better stereo (and speakers) as standard
A real life mpg of 40 rather than 30
More corrosion resistance for trim
Cost less than a fast and frugal diesel BMW

[Bigbrysgti]

To make it look more like a Gti, instead on a standard car in side, the dash trim is pretty boring tbh, not a lot to boast about.

[PenguinGTI]

For the Mk7 petrol GTI...
Better, more linear, steering
Electric motors in rear wheels for power boost, winter motoring and economy
Flat rear seats when down +1
Tougher and comfier front seats
Two reversing lights
Much better stereo (and speakers) as standard
A real life mpg of 40 rather than 30
More corrosion resistance for trim
Cost less than a fast and frugal diesel BMW

Have to agree with a good number of these. I wouldn't put the "Electric motor in rear wheels" as to me that's just an added complication which quite frankly isn't worth the hassle. The flat rear seats would be nice but I haven't struggled to get anything in the Mk6 that would have needed a few more inches of height.

The biggies for me though in your list are

• Two reversing lights
  
• Much better stereo (and speakers) as standard
  
  • A real life mpg of 40 rather than 30
    
  • Cost less than a fast and frugal diesel BMW
  
  Luckily I bought my Mk6 when it was still classed as a £20k+ car rather than a "just under £30k" car but at the current prices, the GTI really does have some serious competition.
  
  Mercedes are bringing out the new A class which if I'm honest actually looks a lot better than the current Mk7 ideas which have been circulating in the various magazines. Engine wise I've always been a bit disappointed in Mercedes (AMG aside) so the GTI would win it for me mechanically. In terms of value however, no-one can deny that the projected £18k starting price for the Mercedes hatch is much more reasonable than the expected £30k that the GTI will cost.
  
  Economy wise I have to say that the fuel only disappears because I can't control my right foot  . Even still it would be nice if the next GTI could squeeze a few more miles out per gallon.
  
  As for the stereo and rear reversing lights, they are but trivial concerns in the grand scheme of things. The current sound system is decent enough for my own uses although I can see that some people might quickly want a bit more. As for the rear reversing light, I just prefer a car which is symmetrical at the rear.
  
  Overall I'd like the Mk7 to combine the same classy image of the GTI but with a bit more spice. I'm very excited about all this talk of a mechanical limited slip differential but the standard car really needs a bit more power to be not only competitive, but also to make use of the improved hardware.
  
  

[R32UK]

Spec your current ed30 in mk7 terms and it will be a 35k car...

Keep what you have, I'm enjoying mine too much and prefer money in the bank..

if we all thought like that.... we would all be driving mk3's 

[Saint Steve]

Spec your current ed30 in mk7 terms and it will be a 35k car...

Keep what you have, I'm enjoying mine too much and prefer money in the bank..

if we all thought like that.... we would all be driving mk3's