GTI Clubsport Edition 40 - press release

[Exonian]

Hmm, as a GTI owner of 30 years (more on than off) I'm not quite sure where I stand with it all.
I'm glad in many ways I didn't keep to my original plan of buying an early mk7 GTI and running it until the warranty expired which would coincide with the ed40/CS launch. I even took out the service pack to land smack bang on the (correctly) assumed dates.
Part of me congratulates VW for bringing out the model and being less half arsed than the ED35 which looked a bit of an afterthought. Part of me feels a bit meh about it all because it's very pricy for what it is.
Theres a lot of harping on about future values and for the car to have any significant future value you're going to have to spend several thousand pounds on upgrades which will be essential for 'collectors/anoraks' in future years.
It's very much a cynical look to potential future values on the back of what old cars are changing hands for nowadays. But these things go in cycles and when the mk6 GTI was released old cars were generally worth bugger all and were going in under the scrappage scheme, even models that would be worth tens of thousands now with a bit of tidying up were worth a few hundred at market value back then.
As an example I was chatting to a brick layer working near where I live (he spotted me tinkering with the R) and five years ago he was struggling to find enough work to put him above minimum wage and now he's clearing £70k a year, prior to the banks and their phoney "crash" he was on similar money.
The CS is going to be bought by people that don't care too much about the retail price, they're on good wages and just want 'nice' things and by nature most buyers will be pretty conservative professional types. I think in some ways it's a shame these cars will never see their potential for the main (there will be a good few exceptions) but it'll also mean there will be a lot of nice ones on the second hand market in a few years as most of the buyers will have cherished them.

[Exonian]

"Time limited" "anticipated that only 1000 units will be made for the UK" - no real commitment to limit it to 1000 units. Would not be in the least bit surprised if more of these come through, VW need to sell anything and everything they can right now.

As ever they're being very vague about it. There are probably people in grey suits thinking "we've not sold many GTI's this time round so lets try and lead them in with a bit of exclusivity then see what we can milk out of it"
They probably still hurt a bit after the ED30 debacle and originally said this time it was limited build period but didn't put a number on it. I think there is too much turmoil at VW for them to be brave enough to sign anything off with a definite number in case the sales take off. We'd have never had the Pirelli Edition over here if it wasn't for ED30 owners going ballistic about numbers.

I like the 3kg lighter forged wheels, and the front air curtain but think tinted rear lights is a bit 1990's.  But with the air curtain i guess it should exit on the door side of the wing to be effective.

I am a little annoyed at how VW are treating the target audience with this press release, to me that press release sounds embarrassing.

Just as with a track racer the Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 accelerates in a controlled manner from standstill using its maximum overboost power of up to 290 PS

What "Track Racers" are they talking about? Come-on!!

its handling characteristics have been perfected by virtue of a new spring layout

What new spring layout?  What does that mean?  uprated springs perhaps, but new spring layout? WTF!

optimised bump stops

But according to this line As with all Golf GTIs, the new Clubsport Edition 40 is equipped with a sport chassis with 15 mm lower ride height as standard

Its the same height as a GTi?  So optimised bump stops surely isn't something needed and put it in a press release? what did they do shortened by 10mm??  Great!  All hail the new Exige chaser!


The press release sounds like its trying to appeal to 7 years old's not car enthusiasts.  The less said about the "Motorsport Style Downforce" the better as that has been covered before, but needless to say they have dropped the mention of the rear diffuser doing anything on the car, tbh a front splitter and roof spoiler have been on hatchbacks for more than 25 years... 

Just typical sales artistic licence. Probably quite a bit lost in translation.
It'll give brochure collectors something to get excited about.

[CraigW]

My opinion is that these special edition GTI's have had their day since the introduction of the R. Ok the GTI is an icon in name but it's no longer the premium hot hatch in the golf line up. I still believe that VW would have been better introducing a special edition R and I don't necessarily mean the R400. Why not an R with the bucket seats, a more aggressive front end and increase power to 340-350 which is probably easily manageable. I'm sure this would be massively popular if they limited numbers and sold them for lets say £36k

I just can't see the logic in the clubsport given its price. I'm sure it will stand out on the roads when you see one but I can't get my head round why you would choose this over the R     

[Exonian]

My opinion is that these special edition GTI's have had their day since the introduction of the R. Ok the GTI is an icon in name but it's no longer the premium hot hatch in the golf line up. I still believe that VW would have been better introducing a special edition R and I don't necessarily mean the R400. Why not an R with the bucket seats, a more aggressive front end and increase power to 340-350 which is probably easily manageable. I'm sure this would be massively popular if they limited numbers and sold them for lets say £36k

I just can't see the logic in the clubsport given its price. I'm sure it will stand out on the roads when you see one but I can't get my head round why you would choose this over the R 

Having spent many years attending VW shows I can picture exactly what the type of owners of these cars will be. Seen it all before.
Most of them will just be ornaments. If they're happy then good luck to them it's their money an their enjoyment.

I'm sure the marketing people at VW won't miss a trick and there'll be an R special at some point in history.
Considering at the mk7 GTI launch they said it was possible they wouldn't even release the mk7 R in the UK due to poor mk6 sales then anything could happen.

[matchboy]

My opinion is that these special edition GTI's have had their day since the introduction of the R. Ok the GTI is an icon in name but it's no longer the premium hot hatch in the golf line up. I still believe that VW would have been better introducing a special edition R and I don't necessarily mean the R400. Why not an R with the bucket seats, a more aggressive front end and increase power to 340-350 which is probably easily manageable. I'm sure this would be massively popular if they limited numbers and sold them for lets say £36k

I just can't see the logic in the clubsport given its price. I'm sure it will stand out on the roads when you see one but I can't get my head round why you would choose this over the R 

I agree Craig.  A special edition R would have been far more attractive.  It's a shame the R400 isn't going to be built.

As for the CS price, I think its outrageous (but people will buy it so maybe it isn't!)  I'd personally save £10K and have a "normal" GTI PP and be just as happy.

[kalimon]

I certainly wont be buying one as I can't afford one and my GTI PP is all the car I need.
I'd love one though and unlike the R, I wouldn't see another 5 every day

[wantmygti]

I was under the impression the CS would make it on to the configurator yesterday, but still nothing??

[LRWmotorsport]

The CS is going to be bought by people that don't care too much about the retail price, they're on good wages and just want 'nice' things and by nature most buyers will be pretty conservative professional types. I think in some ways it's a shame these cars will never see their potential for the main (there will be a good few exceptions) but it'll also mean there will be a lot of nice ones on the second hand market in a few years as most of the buyers will have cherished them.

This will be one Clubsport owner who falls into the good few exceptions all being well.

Timing is perfect for replacing our car There was no question it was going to be a GTI. (The only car I've personally owned that wasn't a GTI was a VR6 Corrado.).

There was no way we'd miss out on a special edition GTI from new as our first ever new from the showroom car. I am very fortunate that we are in a position at the moment where we can afford to pay over the odds for it.

The fact that the car has sparked so much debate only adds to the desirability for me. I like something that divides opinion and can lead me into long conversations about my favorite subject. Cars. 

[Brenbo]

Did I read the press release correctly...  Does it actually say the clubsport does 0-62mph in 6.3secs.  On release of the regular GTI PP didn't VW claim it did 0-62mph in 6.4 secs.  If this is correct going by their vague claims on paper the clubsport with all the extra power and track setup only does 0.1 second quicker.  If you were trading in a GTI PP for one, that would be several thousands of pounds to get a limited edition of the GTI which only does 0.1 secs quicker than the regular one.  I do like the clubsport and understand why some people are getting one, I was even tempted a while ago myself.  But the ratio of extra cost for someone trading in a GTI PP for one and the minimal performance gain is a bit of an anti climax. 

[LRWmotorsport]

I think a golfgti.co.uk track day would be the perfect way to analyse the performance of the different models.

Slowest time of the day gets in the first round at the end.