For me, the GTI is just a bit too quiet and lacks the noise that a fast hatch should make.
My wife has been driving the GTI. When the car starts, the rumble is really noticeable inside the house. Then I notice the sound again as the car moves off. Then again when it is accelerating down the road.
When I hear the sound, I don't think, "wow, that really sounds like a sporty car!" I think to myself, "I'm too old to have a car that sounds like a boy racer!"

Has anyone figured out if the Performance Pack exhaust generates more rumble. I certainly don't think my car needs any more exhaust noise. But everyone different.
Yes, start up is quite loud outside my std GTI, can't imagine it's any different to PP car but I'd say its very subtle and not really loud/shouty as current performance cars go. I guess that's why lots of people buy the Golf. Having had mates pop round recently including an RS6, RS3 (this is probably one of the best sounding engines sub £50k), new M3, M4 Competition, C43 Coupe and a rather lucky mate who has an Aventador SV, the Golf sounds almost hybrid like.
Maybe I just need need some friends with 1.0 cars instead!
