GTI test drive (with short write up)

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Just got back from test driving a GTI, 5 Door, Manual, ACC, Keyless, Sat Nav Pro.

Here are my thoughts:

Positives
Still looks great even in 5 door guise
Carbon Grey is a lovely colour and exclusive to GTD/GTI, so one to consider (still very tempted to change from white)
Super smooth 2.0 TSI engine
Manual gearbox a total delight. Short action and precise. Lovely.
Powerful acceleration (but not insanely faster than my Scirocco which is deceptively quick (but you could feel it had much more torque)
Very refined ride for a hot hatch and much, much better ride than my Scirocco (which can crash & thump over bumps)
Even in Sport on the ACC it soaked up bumps incredibly well (did whole test drive in 'Sport')
Interior quality a step up from my Scirocco (but not enormously so)
Cloth seats lovely and add real character
Very little wind noise (door seals are very, very snug)
Stop-Start tech worked incredibly quickly (a surprise)
Good lip height for boot access (important for some people)
Loved the keyless entry system and push button start. Feels classy. A must-have optional extra at only £355 imo
The blade alloy wheels are a treat close up. Beautifully milled and finished (be easier to clean than the Nogaro's too)
Overall a very, very well-sorted package

So-so's
Didn't feel much, much quicker then my current Scirocco (which surprised me)
Wasn't bowled over by the exhaust note (couldn't tell if it was real or piped into cabin)
Quality of the plastics used in the rear doors (i.e. not crap but isn't soft touch like the front)
At lot of buttons on the steering wheel (but I'm sure you'll get used to it)
I set the ACC to 'Sport' mode to try and replicate standard factory set up as I won't be speccing it
Didn't get chance to really chuck it around because of roads, traffic and the sales guy who was sat next to me. So I can't describe how good/bad the road holding and cornering were.

Overall a really enjoyable test drive. I'm impressed.

Just a shame there is no GTD demonstrator until September So no way to test drive back-to-back.

[matchboy]

Nice write up H5O - did you like it enough to upgrade from the GTD to the GTI?! 

[mjh_056]

Just got back from test driving a GTI, 5 Door, Manual, ACC, Keyless, Sat Nav Pro.

Here are my thoughts:

Positives
Still looks great even in 5 door guise
Carbon Grey is a lovely colour and exclusive to GTD/GTI, so one to consider (still very tempted to change from white)
Super smooth 2.0 TSI engine
Manual gearbox a total delight. Short action and precise. Lovely.
Powerful acceleration (but not insanely faster than my Scirocco which is deceptively quick (but you could feel it had much more torque)
Very refined ride for a hot hatch and much, much better ride than my Scirocco (which can crash & thump over bumps)
Even in Sport on the ACC it soaked up bumps incredibly well (did whole test drive in 'Sport')
Interior quality a step up from my Scirocco (but not enormously so)
Cloth seats lovely and add real character
Very little wind noise (door seals are very, very snug)
Stop-Start tech worked incredibly quickly (a surprise)
Good lip height for boot access (important for some people)
Loved the keyless entry system and push button start. Feels classy. A must-have optional extra at only £355 imo
Overall a very, very well-sorted package

So-so's
Didn't feel much, much quicker then my current Scirocco (which surprised me)
Wasn't bowled over by the exhaust note (couldn't tell if it was real or piped into cabin)
Quality of the plastics used in the rear doors (i.e. not crap but isn't soft touch like the front)
At lot of buttons on the steering wheel (but I'm sure you'll get used to it)
I set the ACC to 'Sport' mode to try and replicate standard factory set up as I won't be speccing it
Didn't get chance to really chuck it around because of roads, traffic and the sales guy who was sat next to me. So I can't describe how good/bad the road holding and cornering were.

Overall a really enjoyable test drive. I'm impressed.

Just a shame there is no GTD demonstrator until September So no way to test drive back-to-back.

Think looks better in Black on GTD but still nice & stealthy as someone put it.

Think the sound aktuator is exclusive to the GTD (and now confirmed as standard on UK GTD) so as to replicate a petrol engine in some way and not on GTI which is it's natural sound.

The Car Buyer video yesterday had plenty of GTI exhaust noise and sounded good though might be different in the insulated cabin.

[Gryzor]

Yeah good write up H5O, though I'm not sure how close sport replicates a stock setup given the constant adjustment of the shocks anyway.  Still, by all accounts it offers a good ride!

Have to say, I actually like a more subdued sound in the cabin - can always put the windows down to let some natural sound in, especially in those enclosed spaces like car parks!

[monkeyhanger]

mjh: On the Scirocco the 140TDI and 2.0TSI 200/210 don't get sound actuator, but the 170TDI and 265PS Scirocco R do. Due to that, and the GTD has it, i'd say that the GTI probably won't, but the future R or edition 40 might.

Gryzor: On a GTD i'd rather keep the natural noise out and the beefy artificial noise in by keeping the windows closed. 

Internally (cabin sounds), on the Scirocco at least, the actuator makes the 170TDI sound better than the 2.0TSI (210), as daft as that sounds - presumably that's why the "R" gets it too.

Going purely off the Scirocco, "sport" on ACC/DCC will most replicate fixed shock set-up of non ACC/DCC equipped variants. It's the hardest and least assisted of the ACC/DCC modes.

[joet]

Loved the keyless entry system and push button start. Feels classy. A must-have optional extra at only £355 imo

Oh no!!!! I debated adding it and when I decided to go for it I was told it was too late. Really regretting it now. At least I got the colour right (CSG) 

[monkeyhanger]

Loved the keyless entry system and push button start. Feels classy. A must-have optional extra at only £355 imo

Oh no!!!! I debated adding it and when I decided to go for it I was told it was too late. Really regretting it now. At least I got the colour right (CSG) 

That is probably the most likely option that has a chance of becoming standard in mid-life facelift or MK8 Golf. Handier for women with big handbags full of rubbish who can never find their keys, now they don't need to

[JoeGTI]

The keyless entry really is a fantastic feature. Definitely glad I spec'd it.

[Gryzor]

Yeah I'm so glad I went for keyless - very classy and convenient.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

At least I got the colour right (CSG) 

You did indeed... its beauty in the metal. You won't be disappointed.