Performance Pack or Not? Have you?

[Gryzor]

That's all well and good Snoopy, but you speak as though a car without it has comparatively very little traction out of corners and is perpetually unwieldy in the damp.  I completely hear what you are saying, don't get me wrong, but as somebody here said, it's one of things you will probably want again if you had it or experienced it in the past.

[Squit]

Evo magazine reviewer commented that the mk 7 was less fun to drive than the mk 6.

Could the better diff be to blame?

[Bill_the_Bear]

a good quality diff in

But is it?  Its a locking diff which as I understand it means there has to be substantially different levels of traction on the two wheels before it has any improvement over an open diff.  Furthermore the stock GTI has the ability to break any wheel experiencing a loss of traction, which although not the same as a mechanical system will still deliver much of the benefits.  So, one could argue this is a rarely needed feature where the stock option already delivers much of the benefit.

Since I'm playing devils advocate I'll also argue that the 'huge' difference you describe would need to be tested in a blind study.  Otherwise, sure if someone gets in a car with better features I'm sure they will start to 'notice' the difference.  But I really would be surprised if more than 1% of people could tell if they were driving a GTI with PP or without if they weren't told before hand which it was.  I kinda wonder, for someone looking for a private purchase in 3-4 years, if the seller tells them its got PP and DCC, other than looking for "GTI" stencilled on the callipers how would they know?  Thats near £1800 that may or may not be there!

On resell value, I am inclined to agree with you more.  To be honest if I was going to spec a car to have maximum resell I'd put manual, PP and DCC, tartan seats, 3dr and dynaudio.  However, I don't want to resell it I want to enjoy it, so I didn't go for any of those options!

EDIT:
Not that someone who did go for those options wouldn't enjoy it, I just mean I wanted other things and my budget was not limitless

[david25]

Evo magazine reviewer commented that the mk 7 was less fun to drive than the mk 6.

Could the better diff be to blame?

The you post a quote or two? The Autocar video reviewer, Steve really liked it.

[matchboy]

Evo reviewers, and the magazine itself, are after beasts of cars that you can chuck round corners and go through tyres in less than 10 mins.  IMO their review is totally pointless as it goes against everything that I want from the car.

[Gryzor]

I guess the real facts will come out when direct comparisons of the two are made, but I would be very, very surprised to hear that the stock GTI handles "inadequately" in comparison.

[Bill_the_Bear]

Evo magazine reviewer commented that the mk 7 was less fun to drive than the mk 6.

Could the better diff be to blame?

The you post a quote or two? The Autocar video reviewer, Steve really liked it.

I think what EVO are getting at is the mk7 is 'better', but less fun because of that.  I could be wrong though.  I find it impossible to understand exactly what would make those guys completely happy with a car.

[Gryzor]

I think what EVO are getting at is the mk7 is 'better', but less fun because of that.  I could be wrong though.  I find it impossible to understand exactly what would make those guys completely happy with a car.

That's how I interpret things.  I like the Golf GTI precisely for the fact that it is not "fun".  I use quotes because it's actually plenty of fun for how I drive.  If the new one is even more refined, quieter, comfortable and "safe", that's all the more reason for me to like it over-and-above anything else.

[david25]

I think what EVO are getting at is the mk7 is 'better', but less fun because of that.  I could be wrong though.  I find it impossible to understand exactly what would make those guys completely happy with a car.

That's how I interpret things.  I like the Golf GTI precisely for the fact that it is not "fun".  I use quotes because it's actually plenty of fun for how I drive.  If the new one is even more refined, quieter, comfortable and "safe", that's all the more reason for me to like it over-and-above anything else.

Interesting, in this review, you'll hear the driver claim the MK6 was too soft and generated too much under-steer;

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/volkswagen-golf-gti-mk7-video-review

I'll glad the professionals agree with everything! Perhaps, we should be choosing the "raw" MK5.

[Bill_the_Bear]

LOL.

"GTI drivers poo poo car mag for wanting "exciting" (i.e. bloody dangerous) driving, say they want comfort, reliability and safety instead."

That would make a good headline!  How times change.  They should seriously drop out insurance premiums on the strength of these posts.