Well, I wasn’t expecting that to have happened !

[Exonian]

I ran my GTI quite happily on 95 RON and it felt absolutely no better using the odd few tankfulls of 99.
Economy and performance seemed identical to me.

Low to mid thirties MPG a realistic figure overall. It seems a much more economical engine than the mk5 and 6 GTI's, probably due to the high torque output at low revs meaning you can waft along very easily still covering ground rapidly.

[Sootchucker]

If I can get mid thirties(ish), I'll be happy, as currently on my regular commute to work I'm "only" getting 42 out of the GTD.

on another point. Now I've just ordered a GTI, it's natural that VW will finally announce the face-lift or new MK8 model for just a week or so after I take delivery of mine.  That itself doesn't bother me, as I decided I won't buy into a new model from day one, but give it 1-2 years to mature first (don't think I could stand another 10 month wait for a Golf), so I won't be looking again until 2018 at the earliest. However as I understand it, VW usually have a build year change around CW22 or so each year (or May), which usually adds to or tweaks spec.

Therefore has anyone heard any information on what MY17 changes (if anything) are forthcoming from May onwards, or will VW just wait and announce the facelift for later this year ?

[Talk-torque]

You can find any number of rumours about supposed face lifts, along with dates for the Mark 8, as I'm sure you know. Distilling all the stuff I've seen, the best bet for me is that the Mark 8 is due to be revealed late this year, so deliveries this time next year. Autocar suggests that there will be what they call "mild hybrids" across the range. I reckon, given such a big change, that the new models will come into the market in stages, as they sometimes have in the past, with the big selling varients coming first and the top end cars, like the GTi, later.

Like you, I wouldn't get an early car anyway. Much better to let others sort the teething problems!

[Fabio Bignose]

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/Volkswagen-Golf-Mk8-2017-price-specs-and-release-date-2367?awc=6159_1456921473_20ed9ec5dbf9775375b25fb2b5401ae1&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate

I wonder how accurate this link is..?

[Jackie Treehorn]

Cheers MH. Out of interest, my fuel cost exercise above was based upon standard unleaded. Something I hadn't considered, can the GTI happily run on normal unleaded (not supermarket brands), or does it have to run on a higher octane fuel ?

Speaking of supermarket fuel, isn't tesco fuel supplied by shell.

The fuel is the same for most if not all, its the additives that vary and Shell would likely not give anyone the additives they use.  This counts for all of them I would imagine..

[Garhan]

Exactly,most of the fuel is the same but,the supermarkets buy the cheapest they can find on the open market.
Then they ship it to storage terminals around the country at various docks,then deliver it from there.
They use only a generic additive,where as the fuel companies spend millions developing their's.
The supermarkets also buy some fuel from the big oil companies,but this is a small percentage of their turn over which,gives
them the right to say that it comes from the same place.

[monkeyhanger]

Exactly,most of the fuel is the same but,the supermarkets buy the cheapest they can find on the open market.
Then they ship it to storage terminals around the country at various docks,then deliver it from there.
They use only a generic additive,where as the fuel companies spend millions developing their's.
The supermarkets also buy some fuel from the big oil companies,but this is a small percentage of their turn over which,gives
them the right to say that it comes from the same place.

The fuel companies spend millions marketing  with their claims of superiority. Some fuels are better than others, and not always the premium ones. Shell VPower diesel is poor on fuel economy-its cleaner but 8% less calorific than regular. The detergents will get better fuel economy out of an old car that needs a good internal clean, but comes at a huge premium. Shell 99 Momentum is as good as Shell Vpower 99 and markedly better than BPs and Esso's 97 RON premium offerings in my R.

[Garhan]

The average motorist couldn't care less about were the fuel comes from.

Put two sites one premium one not on the same stretch of road,now lower the non premium price by 1p
Per litre.nearly everyone will buy at the cheapest,regardless of quality.

[Exonian]

Forum people get far too hung up about fuel.
It's a new car, it has a warranty. Buy your fuel from a regular fuel station as much as possible and you'll be fine. If your engine blows up VW will take it apart under warranty and if it's proven that it's a fuel issue you have a traceable paper trail to your fuel supplier who can then be persued for costs. That's a worst case scenario and VERY unlikely to happen.
The fuel sold in the UK has to be of a minimum standard so just buy what makes you happy. If you have forum OCD then you'll happily pay extra for premium fuel, if paying as little for something that is literally going to go up in smoke as possible then that's what will make you happy.

[Watts]

Sootchucker - did a mix of driving today so thought you might be interested in the mpg results. A total of 75 miles, the first 5 were my local commute home from cold, steady driving on local roads with plenty of stopping. Then about 1.5 hour break followed by a 35 mile run on mostly motorway with a long stretch of 50mph roadworks but a breakdown caused a very slow stop/start couple of miles. Same route return after an hour, no hold ups and about 65-70 outside the roadworks. Cold day, 4-6C and averaged bang on 42mpg. A longer journey I'm sure would have got that up another 2-3mpg. Nice touch at one point, all three lanes were taken up by MK7s, me (red 3 dr GTI) on the inside, a white 3dr GTD in the middle and a black 3dr GTI in the outside. I must say, the standard GTD wheels are very smart!