Well it's happy birthday for my baby, 26k on the clock and still rolling
So I thought I'd write a little piece that might help others trying to decide on a Mk7 GTD.
My car: GTD, 5 door, manual, Limestone Grey, NavPro, DCC, HBA.
Firstly, my overall opinion - I'll get this in first before I add the caveats!
Its been great, the car is pretty much everything I hoped it would be, I don't regret it for a minute, there is nothing else I could have driven for the same money that I would rather be driving today.
Opinions on the options:LSG - I rather like it, but its not for everyone. I got fed up of having silver cars, otherwise I probably would have chosen a silver. Soft water based paint is just a modern curse though, stone chip city and its just a mass of swirls from never washing it using micron filtered water and velvet gloves.
DCC - I've had it on other cars, I like it. I'd spec it again.
Navpro - If only this had been what was promised, with proper google traffic, google maps etc. I could say that I should have read the VW documentation, but I did and it told me it was going to be super hi-tech... but its not! Also the spoken nav directions are quite the worst I have ever encountered when it comes to pronouncing place names. Often I cannot even begin to determine what its trying to tell me to turn towards and only looking at the screen gives me a hint where I am supposed to go. Where is wwwmmmpphfud? At least they give me free map updates and all of Western Europe - unlike most other manufacturers. Oh and "turn right into destination street" is really annoying, I've bunged in a postcode, driven for 2 hours and now I am magically supposed to remember what the name of the street I am going to is? Really? Thank you VW....
HBA - If only it would be truly automatic and just switch on every time I start the car. Its a better implementation that I have seen with others, it only blinds about 50% of the oncoming traffic. An improvement
Standard things I love:ACC - absolutely superb. I drive a lot on motorways, this is absolutely the best invention ever. Makes for a relaxing long distance drive, which helps fatigue hugely.
Turning circle - I am sure a black cab can turn in a smaller space, but probably not much better. Makes parking and maneuvering dead easy.
All around visibility - after many years of car makers trying to reduce my vision to that of a medial knight with his visor down, this car is a revelation. How difficult was that?
Performance - its not a supercar, its a quick road car. It sees off the other reps on the road and it handles like a dream through the corners, driven with determination you will see most other things off if not in a traffic light burnout, then through the corners. Its better than I had imagined it would be.
Comfort - the seats are really comfy, I can do 300 miles and get out of the car ready to work - surprising given the firmer sporty setup of the car. I've had other "sporty" cars before and the comfort and noise levels were killers. Have been told its rather more noisy in the rear though, but I don't sit there!
Washer fluid - despite having the super thirsty Xenon washer jets, the 20 million litre reservoir means that you aren't filling it up every five minutes.
Variable height boot - so simple, yet so effective. I can keep all my junk (coat, umbrella, atlas etc) under the floor most of the time, keeping my boot nice and clear for other stuff I have to carry from time to time.
Low Emissions - its really why I am with the GTD more than anything. As a company car driver this saves me hundreds of pounds, meaning that I can spend the money on a quality car and not some nasty Vauxhall or Ford. I have been waiting for this moment for years!
Things I could do without:She burns oil. All modern oil burners burn oil though, but it is annoying to have to pay for 25 quid of oil which typically gets flushed down the drain 1 week after you top up, because its in for a service.
She drinks coolant. Super annoying, another 25 quid item that had there been a bit more would be covered by the servicing, but no, I have to fork out for that as well.
Those nasty Bridgestone tyres. Thank god the fronts were swapped out.
Laser cut wheels - they look awesome, they truly do, but you also live in fear of dinging them.
Sleek smooth sided lines - again, awesome styling but a magnet for other people opening their doors into you.
Random bings and bongs with dire sounding error messages that drive me to the dealer, only to evaporate like the morning dew when I get there. Its the problem with modern computer controlled cars though, but it is annoying - especially the potentially life saving tyre pressure warnings that come along with large temperature changes, especially when its p*ssing with rain and you have to get out and inspect them on the hard shoulder!
Minor niggles:I never thought it would do the 6 million MPG that VW claim, but winter MPG is not what I expected. A nice summer distance journey does return high 50's though, which for a 184PS engine is quite remarkable.
Touch screen - someone needs taking round the back of the bike sheds for a kicking on this really. I miss the twiddly commander thing other cars used and still use today. I also think that the screen position could be higher up, in my field of vision without taking my eyes off the road.
What would I choose if I did it again?At the end of my three year lease, I almost certainly will choose another Mk7 GTD, unless the tax position changes.
But also:
Dynaudio - i've got used to the standard system now, but its really not that great. I'd definitely choose this next time.
Lane assist - if I had worked out how little this cost and what it did I'd have spec'ed this and not just HBA.
I'd probably stick with DCC.
If the MIB2 NavPro finally delivers what this one should have done, I'd choose that. Even though a tomtom or whatever might be better, I do prefer the integrated approach.
I hope this helps any prospective buyer!
