Personal GTI reviews

[mcmaddy]

didn't realise VW used two different systems. the tig one appears the best as you don't roll anywhere after 2secs.

[ginnes]

Had a go in a GTI this afternoon. 3 door in white with ACC but no performance pack. Specialist cars Aberdeen.

First impressions, excellent. Quality inside the cabin was great, loved the look of the interior, speedo looks a little busy with the graduations in mph and kph but it's a very small gripe.

Steering does feel quite light to begin with but it took me no time at all to get used to.

Ride is a little bit bouncy in its softest setting but would probably be great for around town with all the crap roads we have. Once out on the open road, ACC set to sport, it was superb. Felt very secure on some twisty roads and the power delivery was great. Very smooth/linear feel to the way the power is delivered, easy to find yourself going faster than expected.

All in all, just how I wanted it to be, just want to get my hands on mine now !

[Bill_the_Bear]

speedo looks a little busy with the graduations in mph and kph but it's a very small gripe.

You reminded me, I should have mentioned this in my write up.  Speedo had bold MPH only every 20th MPH, which basically means the needle hides 70 very effectively and I really couldn't tell if I was over or under the limit when driving through the average speed thieves on the A14 (yes yes I know the usual speed on the A14 is limited to about 5mph for 23 out of the 24 hours of the day!).  70mph is still there but it is in tiny letters.  Same for 50 and 30, which is hardly helpful.  Didn't like it.  KMPH is all there, and used a lot of room.

I'm hoping this is due to the demo being pre-production or something and that the real UK spec cars get a more UK oriented speedo.  Anyone know?

All in all, just how I wanted it to be, just want to get my hands on mine now !

Hehe, me too.

[monkeyhanger]

If the dials you're seeing give prevalence to KM over MPH in text sizing then I think the demos have Euro style dials and we'll see an improvement on UK spec. If the MPH are already the dominant representations then we'll probably be lucking out.

I suspect most of the demo vehicles are Irish spec (ADC doesn't appear to be standard in Ireland). Is Irish road signage in KM or MPH since they embraced the EU more fully than the UK did?

[Gryzor]

I'm hoping this is due to the demo being pre-production or something and that the real UK spec cars get a more UK oriented speedo.  Anyone know?

Must admit, it didn't look very UK-friendly as far as speedos go.  30, 50 and 70 are (at the moment anyway) key speeds so I'd have thought they would be larger/bold.  Really don't see the point in a speedo that goes up to 180 or whatever either...

[CraigW]

speedo looks a little busy with the graduations in mph and kph but it's a very small gripe.

You reminded me, I should have mentioned this in my write up.  Speedo had bold MPH only every 20th MPH, which basically means the needle hides 70 very effectively and I really couldn't tell if I was over or under the limit when driving through the average speed thieves on the A14 (yes yes I know the usual speed on the A14 is limited to about 5mph for 23 out of the 24 hours of the day!).  70mph is still there but it is in tiny letters.  Same for 50 and 30, which is hardly helpful.  Didn't like it.  KMPH is all there, and used a lot of room.

I'm hoping this is due to the demo being pre-production or something and that the real UK spec cars get a more UK oriented speedo.  Anyone know?

All in all, just how I wanted it to be, just want to get my hands on mine now !

Hehe, me too.

I wouldn't be too concerned by the speedo. I'm guessing that there is a digital display on the trip computer. Much easier to use this anyway

[benjyyy]

If the dials you're seeing give prevalence to KM over MPH in text sizing then I think the demos have Euro style dials and we'll see an improvement on UK spec. If the MPH are already the dominant representations then we'll probably be lucking out.

I suspect most of the demo vehicles are Irish spec (ADC doesn't appear to be standard in Ireland). Is Irish road signage in KM or MPH since they embraced the EU more fully than the UK did?

Road signs in the Rep of Ireland are in KPH

[monkeyhanger]

If the dials you're seeing give prevalence to KM over MPH in text sizing then I think the demos have Euro style dials and we'll see an improvement on UK spec. If the MPH are already the dominant representations then we'll probably be lucking out.

I suspect most of the demo vehicles are Irish spec (ADC doesn't appear to be standard in Ireland). Is Irish road signage in KM or MPH since they embraced the EU more fully than the UK did?

Road signs in the Rep of Ireland are in KPH

Then there's hope for the UK dials yet (assuming that they are Irish RHDs - makes sense given the lack of ADC).

[Gryzor]

If the dials are "Irish spec", wouldn't they have KPH as the main unit around the outside?  Anyway, it's a minor thing really, and yes, there is the digital readout in the MFD.

[Bill_the_Bear]

If the dials you're seeing give prevalence to KM over MPH in text sizing then I think the demos have Euro style dials and we'll see an improvement on UK spec. If the MPH are already the dominant representations then we'll probably be lucking out.

See this image:



Both MPH and KPH are about the same size, except 20, 40, 60 etc are larger.  Thats odd choice really, since surely 30 and 70 are the most useful.  I'd prefer MPH to all be larger and KPH much smaller, which is what most UK cars get in my experience.

Or failing that at least make the graduations larger so you can line the needle up on them.  Right now the needle just covers everything so you're lining it up to the middle of the "70" which is small...

I wouldn't be too concerned by the speedo. I'm guessing that there is a digital display on the trip computer. Much easier to use this anyway

Yeah I had thought of that, but then you might be using it to show something else.

Ideally the MFD would be customisable.  I'd like to set it up to show digital read outs of:

• Current speed
• Current consumption
• Miles left in tank

All on a single default screen.

I wonder if its possible to hack the VW system and set things up like this.