Test Drive with Pics

[Movi]

Looks absolutely stunning and i'm sure it looks even better in the flesh 

Best colour and the right number of doors imo.

Thanks for the pics, helps ease the long wait.

[Bill_the_Bear]

Look like bridgestone tyres too.

Whaaat!!!!

So that's Dunlops, Continentals, Pirelli's & now Bridgestones that we've seen?

You would have thought they would have a standardised tyre? They must put on whatever is available at the time?

I reckons they've got a huge pile of them out back with a giant plunger mixing them up so no car is ever the same .

Unique selling point that is.

[mike.]

Also had a test drive today in a Midnight Blue three door manual with ACC.

Inside I thought the area around the ashtray was a bit tacky, there was already a deep score on the plastic lid 

The car was fitted with the 5.8" sat nav, the screen look a bit low res, not as crisp as the RNS510 so maybe the 8" screen would be better.
The rest of the interior was very nice and much the same quality as the MK6.

No performance pack fitted either but I did get a good run in the car and the performance was excellent.
The engine note sounded louder and better than my MK6, not sure if they are feeding false sounds into the speakers.

Handling wise the car seemed a lot lighter and sharper, the steering feel was nice but the steering wheel is definitely not a patch on the MK6. The various suspension settings are excellent. Putting it in comfort on a very bouncy road really made for a smooth ride.

Still not sure on the looks, especially that red line under the lights which I think looks a bit cheap, maybe it would look better on a white, red or black car.

I am not thinking of changing for a year or so but it will definitely be in my top three.

[matchboy]

Nice work Craig, and top pics! Am very jealous!

[Aidey]

Nice pics and review
Thats the same as what i can expect apart from PP and a few options.....nice

[simonpolly]

Cheers for the pictures im glad to see the car does not look dramatically different to the MK6, I was starting to worry I wouldn't like the look of the car as much as my MK6 

[dippy_x]

Nice   

Did any of the cars have reverse cameras?  If so how how did it look with 5.8" screen?

[Jules Winfield]

Look like bridgestone tyres too.

Squinting a bit, Potenza S0001.  Looking at the tyre ratings on Blackcircles, they look noisy (73dB) and don't have great fuel consumption (rating "E").

The more I see the Mark 7 in white, the more I like it.

[CraigW]

Hi guys

Glad you like the pics

To answer a few questions

The exhaust note didn't sound particularly loud to me however I didn't really get a chance to get the foot down. The electronic handbrake will certainly take some getting used to however I actually really liked it, the brake just automatically comes on at stop which is really cool. The tyres were bridgestones as some have pointed out.

The car did have a cigarette lighter which didn't look great but I'm guessing the car had the smokers pack as an option. The resolution on the screen looked fine to me to be honest.

The flat white was really cracking. I've been swaying between white and DPB but that made my mind up.

Again I really liked the red line going into the headlight. IMO it's a nice feature.

I really don't have a bad word to say about it, maybe the exhaust note could have been a bit more throaty but first impressions are very very good.

I hope some of you guys get a test drive soon to gauge other opinions.

[CraigW]

Nice   

Did any of the cars have reverse cameras?  If so how how did it look with 5.8" screen?

Sorry no reversing camera on the one I tested dippy and to answer Gung-ho, no major problems pal. The only thing was at one point when I stopped at lights I thought the car had cut out with the stop/start however it hadn't, it was just so quiet. The stop/start might take a bit of getting used to ad well