GTI 'No brainer' options.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Very personal choice this. No such thing as a 'no brainer' option imo

I have specced DSG on my last two VW's and it's the first option I budget for. It's not for everyone but with the type of driving I do these days its essential and works wonderfully.

Got Keyless too. Love it but its not really a no brainer. Ha ha!

[Brenbo]

My no brainer options would be, Performance Pack, Nav Pro, Dynaudio and Rear View Camera.  I thought the camera would be a gimmick.  But I actually do use it a lot in conjunction with the mirrors and looking back through the rear window (the old fashioned way). This morning I even found a great use for it as my mirrors were still iced up I was able to see out the back still via the camera.  A very useful piece of kit, definite no brainer in my opinion. 

 

[DorsetDC]

Performance pack and ACC (chassis) and DSG.  Being able to select comfort mode when in traffic and then switch to sport when the roads open up.  The most useful however, and I thought it was a gimmick, comes as standard, and that is adaptive cruise control.  I did a trip to the NEC last Sunday and only touched the brake and accelerator twice on the journey between Birmingham and Ringwood.  When in traffic just press the button on the steering wheel and forget about the car in front.  When you want to pass, foot on the accelerator and away you go.

[Peeair]

For me the best option I picked was the keyless entry, it's amazing!

Also, in hindsight I wish that I'd gone for the high beam assist. Maybe next time.

[V5Ade]

Well, it's all academic for me now as my build has been locked (confirmed BW7).The car will be a 5 door, in white with rear side airbags and Dynaudio. It seems there are quiet a few 'nice to haves' but nothing I'm going to regret no ordering.

[Exonian]

PP is the only no-brainer for me.
The car comes with a perfectly good standard spec and the nav is extortionate in either guise. If you're paying for the nav monthly via a contract I guess the payments suddenly seem small when broken down but as an upfront cost it's very high (an no doubt similar to any other marque out there ££ for ££ on the options lists).

No, for me it's GTD (car bought with head not heart) or GTI PP as the diff and bigger brakes are well worth the extra outlay if you're going to up the power of the car at any point. If you're not going to up the power then the GTD is a better all rounder as a normal family hatchback road car with a bit of performance bearing in mind we have a 70 mph speed limit in the UK and very congested roads.

[GiT1984]

For me, (although many people will disagree) the PP isn't a no brainer option. If you're driving at 10/10ths everywhere then yes, it's the one to go for, but I will be driving at 7-8/10ths max, and won't be pushing the car hard enough to see the benefits of the higher spec diff over the standard XDS diff. Furthermore, for me, only 10bhp extra wasn't enough to justify spending another £980. Had it been an extra 30bhp, then yes, it's a no brainer.

For me, no brainer options are Adaptive Chassis Control, Sat Nav and DSG.

I agree with you on the ACC, Nav and DSG - but rolling road tests seem to suggest that PP does indeed provide the 280lb/ft of torque that was predicted by journalists pre-launch (even if all of the current stats quote 258lb/ft). Added to that, on the bumpy country roads around me, the diff provides more traction in low gears .... Then there is the potential resale value .... or desire!   

[CraigW]

PP is the only no-brainer for me.
The car comes with a perfectly good standard spec and the nav is extortionate in either guise. If you're paying for the nav monthly via a contract I guess the payments suddenly seem small when broken down but as an upfront cost it's very high (an no doubt similar to any other marque out there ££ for ££ on the options lists).

No, for me it's GTD (car bought with head not heart) or GTI PP as the diff and bigger brakes are well worth the extra outlay if you're going to up the power of the car at any point. If you're not going to up the power then the GTD is a better all rounder as a normal family hatchback road car with a bit of performance bearing in mind we have a 70 mph speed limit in the UK and very congested roads.

You've got to bear in mind that if you don't do many miles then that effectively rules out the GTD as you will bugger the engine due to the DPF. So really that only leaves you with one option

[JellyB]

Slightly different from OP but I was thinking today if I could only have one of the options I ordered, which would it be? (Aside from the extra airbags of course).

It would have to be keyless entry. So useful especially with such cossetting seats and parking spacing being so tiny these days.

[Peeair]

Slightly different from OP but I was thinking today if I could only have one of the options I ordered, which would it be? (Aside from the extra airbags of course).

It would have to be keyless entry. So useful especially with such cossetting seats and parking spacing being so tiny these days.

I second that, Keyless entry!