AutoCar Mk7 GTI with P Pack review places it No3.

[am1w]

Probably the definitive review of the Mk7 GTI with P Pack.
After Steve Sutcliffe's glorious feelings, I was a bit surprised by this lower than expected rating.
The Focus ST3 (awful button fest interior) is the better handler in both wet and dry.

[CraigW]

I'd rather rely on the Chris Harris review which taken from his tweet I quote

@harrismonkey: Golf GTI review now live on @drive http://t.co/Pw5limzVuM I could happily have one as my only car.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

I'd rather rely on the Chris Harris review which taken from his tweet I quote

@harrismonkey: Golf GTI review now live on @drive http://t.co/Pw5limzVuM I could happily have one as my only car.

100% agree with you Craig. Harris is about the only jurno I respect these days.

[matchboy]

Probably the definitive review of the Mk7 GTI with P Pack.

No, that'll be when I get mine! 

[AAddict]

Probably the definitive review of the Mk7 GTI with P Pack.
After Steve Sutcliffe's glorious feelings, I was a bit surprised by this lower than expected rating.
The Focus ST3 (awful button fest interior) is the better handler in both wet and dry.

Obviously ford coughed up this week, next time they mention the cars the GTI will be the best.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Probably the definitive review of the Mk7 GTI with P Pack.
After Steve Sutcliffe's glorious feelings, I was a bit surprised by this lower than expected rating.
The Focus ST3 (awful button fest interior) is the better handler in both wet and dry.

Obviously ford coughed up this week, next time they mention the cars the GTI will be the best.

Totally agree. It's been said on here before about two faced Mat Watson raving about the GTI when it came out in June and gave it 5 out if 5! Then a month later he was involved in the three car head to head in AutoExpress by which time the GTI slipped into 2nd place only got 4 out of 5. Knobhead

[am1w]

Probably the definitive review of the Mk7 GTI with P Pack.
After Steve Sutcliffe's glorious feelings, I was a bit surprised by this lower than expected rating.
The Focus ST3 (awful button fest interior) is the better handler in both wet and dry.

Obviously ford coughed up this week, next time they mention the cars the GTI will be the best.

I see your point. Only a couple of months ago the M135i was a 5* car. 

[am1w]

Now the M135i is a 3.5* car. Funny lot are reviewers. 

[drisser]

One good point though they make

" it's absurdly easy to drive this car at up to 9 10 th's effort level.  Therein lies the appeal.

I would also agree with their " spec advice". Manual, 3 door and PP is a no brainer" 

[Dangerous Dave]

Just read the review in full, I agree with most of the review.  One point even although they had a performance pack car it only managed 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and 0-100 in 16.4 which if memory serves me this is slightly slower than the MK5 & MK6 GTI to 100.  The DSG version also appears, going by my test drive of a manual where 75mph appeared on the digital speedo in 2nd, to have different gear ratios to the manual.

I have been lucky enough to drive every car in the top 5, I would have also placed the RS265 first as a hot hatch as it is superb in the corners but as a all round car it is not as good as the rest. It gets difficult after this as it depends how you want to rate them, the M135 is on a completely different performance level and offers very good value for what you get (like for like spec is around 3.5k ish more than a GTI but you get almost 50% more power), the GTI is still the best all rounder in my mind but the ST is very good also.

All I need is someone to make a hot hatch with the M135's engine and 8 speed auto box, the GTIs body shell/interior and the RS265 handling and it would be my perfect car, sounds easy when you type it out !