Test drive done! Now very confused!

[GtG]

Got a call out the blue yesterday from the salesman to say they had a GTI in for the day before it was sent to another branch, that it had the keys in and was ready to drive...

(Of course dropped everything and raced down there!)

I can't say too much about the drive that hasn't already been said, unfortunately I didn't have long in it and the traffic was a nightmare so didn't get many clear blasts.

The thing that stood out the most to me as being really impressive was the new steering! wow! also how the ride quality is good while the handling also excellent.

The car was in red, can't really comment on how the colour looked as the car hadn't been prepped at all and a coat of wax would have made all the difference.

Only negative (being really picky here) was the infill panel on the passenger door where the mirror switches would be on a LHD, bit cheap compared to the rest of the interior.

Now comes the confused part, and also unfortunately a reason for me to start eating a very large portion of Humble pie...

The car had Jacara cloth.. which I thought I hated, thus have ordered leather... but... it's awesome

Not just the design, but the quality is unreal. I've not of course seen the leather in a GTI, but as others have said 'It's VW leather' not one of their strong points when it comes to quality.

I have this week to change my order, have been told that if it were to change the build date it should only be by a week. I've seen marketing pictures of the leather that of course look, but have also seen pics people have taken at motorshows etc that look far less impressive.

Yours very confused and examining every interior picture I can find!

[matchboy]

Sack off the leather and either save yourself £1,700 or add on a stack of extra options!  I see you've got dynaudio specced, so why not add the DNS pro for a 8" screen for the song art when listening to your tunes?

Honestly, I've had VW leather twice now and I've not gone for it this time - one, because its not all that (and its dull dull dull) and two, because the tartan looks and feels particularly good!!

[Moro]

I too test drove a car with the cloth, and I was really impressed - so much so this is going to be the first new car I've ordered since 1997 that isn't going to have a leather interior.

[AAddict]

I've always thought the leather overpriced and somewhat out of character for the GTI, on of my favourite features is the Jacara cloth. Of course everyone like different things (thank god), so only you can decide. As mentioned above, you could add some real tasty options for the price of the leather, or just reduce your cars cost.

[Bill_the_Bear]

I'm in the same position as you so thought I'd share my thoughts.

The tartan is very good and I keep thinking about cancelling my leather. However I have leather on my Ford and love it. When I orders the GTI this was a no question option fro me. Then I heard everyone criticising the leather.  It looks great in promos but naf in other pictures such as on used mk6 ads. However I photographed my food and it also looks naf in a picture. I think the pics are pretty much useless for giving an idea of quality.

Other things to consider.  Non-GTI fans don't get it.  You might have to put up with a lot of sniggering at your tartan if you let people see your new car, and if you hide it why but a new car? What does your wife or girlfriend think?  If you want heated seats you'll have to get winter pack of you don't have leather. This is an even bigger rip off at 350 for 2 heated seats and not even a heated windscreen.

[Exonian]

The tartan isn't 'in yer face' as this is a VW after all.

You don't need heated seats with cloth. In fact I've only ever used them twice with my leather despite a lot of winter driving. Maybe I've got a leather arse and thus less affected? But I'm one of those people that really feel the cold.

The leather is ok, I have it in my mk6. But there's no way it's worth £1700 or whatever over and above the cloth.
Just like the Santiagos aren't worth nearly a grand over and above the swastikas.

IMHO of course...

[Rhyso]

£1700 is a lot of V Power 

[JonnyG]

Decisions ... decisions 

It's the £1700 that would make my mind up 

The Jacara cloth is part of the traditional GTi trademark and if you like it, go for it .. I would   

I'm not keen on Audi/ VW leather myself ... the panels sag within months and I slide around on top of it rather than feeling "tucked up" and gripped in the seat.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

GtG I have to agree with many on here.

Save yourself a whopping £1,700 and either reduce the cost of your car or throw in a load of goodies.

But I would say this cos I dislike VW leather and dig the retro tartan

[master_hayabusa]

Now comes the confused part, and also unfortunately a reason for me to start eating a very large portion of Humble pie...

The car had Jacara cloth.. which I thought I hated, thus have ordered leather... but... it's awesome

Not just the design, but the quality is unreal. I've not of course seen the leather in a GTI, but as others have said 'It's VW leather' not one of their strong points when it comes to quality.

You know the seats were for me the most surprising feature of the GTI when I saw it, in that, I thought they were just awesome. Much better than what you see in the pictures and very good quality too.

I think you should just sit in a mark 6 GTI with leather seats for a comparison. The leather is the same as the mark 7 GTI.