Questions please ?

[Sootchucker]

Hi all, as per an earlier thread of mine, I’ve just weirdly ordered a new Golf – a GTI this time.
 
I’ve specced it as I would like, but do have a few questions which I hope you guys (and girls) can help with.

I’ve gone for the 19” Santiago optional alloys, as whilst the standard GTI alloys are OK (I prefer the GTD ones), I just thought the 19” ones looked better. However on sleeping on it, I’m starting to wonder if that is a wise decision. They didn’t have a car with 19’s on to test drive so I’ve sort of ordered blind. Can anyone with a GTD/GTI or R with 19’s (who has had 18’s) comment on how much worse the ride actually is, and does it make the car a bone shaker (for info, I have ordered the optional dynamic chassis control as well).

I’ve also ordered the Tech pack (Discover Pro and Dynaudio), as I have that in the current GTD. However, whilst none of the cars in the showroom had the Nav Pro installed, most of them had the new 6.5 Discover Navigation unit, which looked miles better than the previous gen 5.8” unit. This may seem petty, but one of the bugbears on my system is that when on DAB radio stations, the larger logos don’t show when on “station info” or “slideshow” screens (just the same size logo as displayed on the “station list” screen). Now on the MIB2 6.5” units I had a play with, this all works perfectly with large logos etc. displaying immediately. My question is does the Nav Pro also have this feature or just the 6.5” unit? Secondly according to the price list, (again a minor point), but it says the 6.5” unit is SMS compatible, but no mention at all on the Nav pro which I find strange.

I just would like to know if possible, what the smaller units has (or does better) than the larger more expensive Nav Pro, or does the Nav pro have all the updates that the Discover navigation has along with its own extra feature set (HDD, more connected apps, WLAN, Voice control etc.) ? I.e. am I better going for the standard unit or does the Nav Pro on MIB2 still add a fair bit extra that it did on MIB1.

Also, this think blue trainer was demo’d to be on the 6.5” screen (yes I know a bit gimmicky), but they were not sure if the Nav pro had this?

They also were not sure if the Nav Pro on MIB2 added a sim card slot in the head unit in the glovebox or not, or if connection to the Car-Net services, was done by smart phone tethering only, and if so, if it would work OK with an IPhone 6 (as I know apple do limit a bit of functionality of their phones). Anyone know this please?

Finally (I promise), I didn’t ordered the App-Connect for £125 as they assured me the Nav Pro comes with this as standard. Looking at how frustrating this is to add later, I wasn’t to ensure I have it now. Anyone know this as well please ?

Thanks

[Booth11]

Hi Sootchucker

I think you can safely assume that if the MIB2 standard nav has a feature then the Pro Nav has it plus the additional stuff. 

Car-net App-connect is definitely included with Pro Nav.  I've got Pro Nav (specced as part of tech pack). App-connect is brilliant. I use it (CarPlay) everyday with an iPhone 6 plus and works perfectly. Apps are restricted by VW but you have full functionality of music, text message (using Siri), Maps (Apple not Google), Phone and more. 

To use App-connect you must connect via the USB cable , it can't be done via Bluetooth and it will cancel out any currently running BT connection whilst CarPlay is running.  But when not using it Bluetooth all works as normal.  Car-net I have had connection problems with but will persevere and am not too fussed about that.

Here it is


Apple Maps


DAB I don't use DAB much but just about to go out in the car so will check it displays the larger logo as you describe - will report back.

Blue Trainer - Yes it has Blue trainer - will post a pic later if you want.

Pro Nav worth it - over the standard nav?  Well the 8" screen is excellent and there's the other stuff you listed WLAN, Voicecontrol). If you are going for Nav at all then I think it's worth it for the bigger screen alone.  And as part of Tech Pack, with the Dynaudio it's a bargain. Dynaudio is one of the best options you can spec IMO.

Couple pics of the Pro Nav to show size of screen (sorry it's not swtiched on)




Hope this helps. 

[Sootchucker]

Cheers Rebecca. Yes if you could let me know later if the logos on the DAB stations display full size when not on the station pre-set screen, that would be brilliant. Thanks.

[Talk-torque]

Had 19's on my TT, and, while they looked superb and really made the car special, I got fed up wth tyres at £500 a pair. Ride quality tbh was better than my GTD on 18's, even on the 19's. The TT was a very well sorted car. I've stuck with the 18's for my GTi.

[Booth11]

DAB is this what you mean?




Blue Trainer

[Sootchucker]

That's it - you are a star Rebecca - Many thanks !

BTW, what's the little icon at the top of the screen just to the left of the central clock, is that WLAN ?

20mpg - gulp ! 

[KyleB]

Just my input, I run a GTD on the 19s and don't notice any difference in the ride quality to the GTD I've driven on 18s. Only downside is that the tyres are a lot more expensive on the 19s than the 18s but if you're not doing too many miles that might not be too bad.

[Watts]

I've got 19s too without DCC and most of the time it's very good but some surfaces do catch it out. More than acceptable to me and with DCC, probably perfect all the time but I've not tried that.

If you enjoy your GTI as much as I do then you're going to love it!

[Sootchucker]

Re the alloys, I have a re-think (and spoken to the wife), and with the shocking state of the roads round our way, coupled with the reduced sidewall on the 19" tyre, (and stories of 19" tyres bulging when hit a pothole), I've decided to revert back to the standard 18" alloys. I know they are not as pretty, but the Santiago's did look a bit of a bast*rd to clean with a weird ridge running just inside the spokes.

So I've instructed the dealer to drop them and fall back to plan B which is adding Advanced phone prep to get the quickclear windscreen (which I wanted anyway but the Santiago's pushed the budget a bit far), so the car is cheaper to boot with less of a deposit and slightly less monthly payments.

Just hope I won't live to regret. My theory is I can always add alloys afterwards for around the same money as the £1k VW is asking if I really tire of the Austins.

[Booth11]

That's it - you are a star Rebecca - Many thanks !

BTW, what's the little icon at the top of the screen just to the left of the central clock, is that WLAN ?

20mpg - gulp ! 

Haha 20mpg is good a good day for my morning commute (queued traffic), especially a Monday morning!  It gets as low as 14mpg.

That little icon is the Mobile Hotspot icon.  I have my iPhone set as a mobile hotspot (not hooked up today).

Anything else, just give us a shout.

Btw, I have 19's with DCC.  19's are fine IMO and DCC just gives you that flexibility for poor road surfaces or forcpassengers that need a softer ride.