GTI Spec Questions and Comments

[Chief1337]

B

[Sootchucker]

1) Am I right in thinking that if opting for leather, heated seats are standard? Adding the 'winter' pack with leather would just add heated washer jets?

Pretty much yes.

2) How will the ride be affected by the 19" Wheels? I'm going for ACC for 'comfort' on longer trips and due to very poor road conditions in my area. Will it be noticeable both in terms of road noise and general comfort? I personally prefer the Santiago wheels over the Austins hence going for them but concerned about there overall effect on the vehicle.

Not sure about this, but I test drove a Rocco with 19's and it didn't feel any worse than my own Rocco with 18's

3) Is the Colour Display worth bothering with? I did read somewhere that it was now standard so not sure why it's shown as an option.

Standard - so don't worry about this

4) Does the DNS Pro have a database of fixed speed camera locations and altering around them? If yes, then does the 'standard' / 'basic' NAV have that feature also or is it only available with the Pro Nav?

None of the Nav units have speed cams, although they can be added pretty easily via SD Card as personal POI's. VW Germany have an area on their website dedicated to personal POI's with on line software that creates the files for you. Not sure if it just works with the more expensive Pro version tough ?

5) If going for the 'climate screen' - am I right in thinking that due to it's nature it blocks phone signal? Hence why you have to also combine it with the 'Phone Box' option? I really want the heated screen, but if it's going to cripple my iPhone which isn't supported with the 'Phone Box' then it seems fairly pointless.

Well, VW UK tell us that, but funny that other markets, you don't always have to specify advanced phone option with this. As the advanced phone package uses the RSAP protocol, you won't actually gain anything from it if you use an iPhone, as IOS devices don't support RSAP.

Does anyone happen to have a picture of a MK7 GTI with Leather? And/or a Night Blue on the 19" Santagios? Struggling to find a picture of either online. Just wanted to get a feel as to what it'll look like up and above what the VW configurator shows.

Sorry, can't help with that I'm afraid.

[Mr Savage]

The 19" wheels won't noticeably affect ride comfort. The adaptive chassis control is excellent at compensating for rough roads. So I wouldn't worry about that. I think the Austin's look better personally though. But each to their own!

Yes leather has heated seats as standard and the bi-xenon headlights also come with headlight washers and low-washer fluid warning light as standard so all you gain is the heated washer jets.

Just out of curiosity, how many times do you think High-Beam Assist and Park Assist will actually be used/useful? Personally i'd show it my friends a couple of times and then never use it again. Parallel Parking will be a piece of cake with the excellent parking sensors, rear view camera and auto-folding passenger mirror. But again, each to their own, just trying to save you a few pence

Also for long, distance comfort I can not recommend DSG highly enough. You may think that you never ever want to drive an automatic but strictly speaking it's semi-automatic and I would suggest that you try a DSG box before deciding on a manual. They are AMAZING and this is coming from a previous strictly manual only driver.

[Chief1337]

Thanks both for your comments and feedback, greatly appreciated.

The 'High Beam' and 'Park Assist' were simply chosen and I've never had them on a car before. :-) But as you say doubt I'll ever use them up and above showing them off now and again! I'll also drop the Colour Display if standard. No idea why they show it as an option! Should save myself some money!

I've been seriously considering going for the DSG, but not sure if I can justify it. Saying that I've never actuarially driven a car with it fitted. Would I get a feel for it in say a Mk7 Golf Diesel DSG? In the sense of finding out whether or not to spec it on my GTi?

[Mr Savage]

Thanks both for your comments and feedback, greatly appreciated.

The 'High Beam' and 'Park Assist' were simply chosen and I've never had them on a car before. :-) But as you say doubt I'll ever use them up and above showing them off now and again! I'll also drop the Colour Display if standard. No idea why they show it as an option! Should save myself some money!

I've been seriously considering going for the DSG, but not sure if I can justify it. Saying that I've never actuarially driven a car with it fitted. Would I get a feel for it in say a Mk7 Golf Diesel DSG? In the sense of finding out whether or not to spec it on my GTi?

Yeah the colour MFD and Lane Assist are errors on the configuration.

The DSG is an incredible gearbox, far better than any other automatic gearbox that I've ever driven. The set-up involves 2 clutches, 1 clutch has gears 1,3 & 5 and the other clutch does 2,4 & 6 which means the next gear is always pre-selected and makes gear changing incredibly smooth. You can barely notice it! The change is so quick that it helps both acceleration (because its a perfect gear change) & comfort because there's no messing up with the clutch.

You could get a feel for it in a current MK7 GTD or the GT yes, but of course it won't be exactly as good as the same as the GTI. The settings are Drive (For when you're travelling to work) which changes at around 3k rpm and sport which will take each gear to the red line before changing up.

On top of that you have paddle shifters behind the steering wheel on the GTI which allows you to change up and down manually and you can also move the gear stick to the side and tap it up to change up and down to change down (almost like a manual). It's very versatile box and might take you a while to get used to it.

No harm in booking a test drive!

[monkeyhanger]

I do wonder whether DSG GTD is set up properly for optimum performance, taking into account how differently you'll need to change gears to get the best out of the GTD vs the GTI. It might make sense on a GTI to hang onto revs until the red line, but on a GTD it should be looking to change up no later than 3800 revs, well below the 5000rpm red line to stay within the best part of the power band for the next gear. If it doesn't then "sport" mode may well bring out less performance than intelligent manual changes on a GTD.

[mjh_056]

I do wonder whether DSG GTD is set up properly for optimum performance, taking into account how differently you'll need to change gears to get the best out of the GTD vs the GTI. It might make sense on a GTI to hang onto revs until the red line, but on a GTD it should be looking to change up no later than 3800 revs, well below the 5000rpm red line to stay within the best part of the power band for the next gear. If it doesn't then "sport" mode may well bring out less performance than intelligent manual changes on a GTD.

I read somewhere that you have option to change where the DSG shifts in menu for individual set up option that is in there? Not sure if that is true, will have a look around.

Someone made a comment on here that he makes a conscious effort not to be lazy and benefits from it and uses paddles at least 50% of time and think that will be my aim also particularly when out of town.

DSG is new to me but have colleagues in 'performance' diesel being they vehicle of company car choice (Audi BMW and VW) who absolutely swear by these gearboxes and by way of how enhance performance with quick shifts - think this also supports difference between a paid magazine reviewer and real world reviews from people know and on forums.

[monkeyhanger]

mjh: Well I will be finding out via my dad's car soon enough how the DSG performs in a GTD, although it'll probably be a month before he really puts his foot down in it.

[Chief1337]

Thanks for the feedback/comments around the DSG, appreciated. Going to make sure I get in a car with a DSG box tomorrow before making my final decision.

On review I'm also most likely going for Carbon Grey instead now and dropping the 19" wheels and the leather.

Random question, but is there red stitching on the gear gator on the DSG? There is in the manual which is a nice touch.

[CraigW]

Thanks for the feedback/comments around the DSG, appreciated. Going to make sure I get in a car with a DSG box tomorrow before making my final decision.

On review I'm also most likely going for Carbon Grey instead now and dropping the 19" wheels and the leather.

Random question, but is there red stitching on the gear gator on the DSG? There is in the manual which is a nice touch.

I don't think you will be disappointed with the tartan cloth when you see it and as for the 19"s, they are very nice but so are standard alloys. Definitely a wise choice