A few questions

[Sootchucker]

Hi all. Firstly apologise in advance for the long(ish) post.

Following on from my recent thread on if Diesel was dead (vs Petrol), things may have taken an unexpected turn over the weekend. I made no secret of the fact that whilst I loved the GTD, given a choice I would rather have petrol, but the GTD, wasn't exactly a major compromise in the meantime.

Well fast forward to this weekend and we were in the local dealership (where I have purchased our last 8 VW's from),booking in the wife's Polo Blue GT for a little warranty work (one the side skirts is starting to come away from the bonding on the body - but that's another story). In any case whilst she was chatting to service, I started chatting to the sales manager who I know quite well, and he was asking me when I was looking to change mine.  Cut a long story short, he came back with a part ex figure on the GTD which really surprised me in that I had a healthy dose of collateral. I said if I were to change it would be a GTI I would be interested in (love the Tiguan but it's too big), but that I would be going on drive the deal and orange wheels etc.and that would be the sort of price he would have to beat or at least match. He didn't seem the least bit phased and said it shouldn't' be a problem.

So when back at home, I had a word with the other half and she sort of said, if it costs no more per month that the GTD, then OK, but if it was more then no. So I've started looking and am trying to a) spec a car that is different enough from the GTD that it won't feel exactly the same (I know the feel and performance will be different anyway), but at the same time, rationalising the options list in to equipment that I really want rather than a nice to have. And to that end (finally) would crave some opinions.

Firstly there are options that are 100% guaranteed I would be selecting - and these are not up for debate - that being, DSG, 5 Door, Indium Grey and 19" Brescia alloys (sorry just a personal thing but I don't like the Parker's), and Dynaudio. That's my starting point, but I wanted opinions on the following.

1. My last 2 MK7 GTD's have both has the Navigation Pro specced. Now it's a costly £1,350 option on the GTI, and so was wondering what I would be giving up by sticking with the standard Navigation package ? I know the new one has the same 8" touchscreen that my Nav Pro MIB II has, and that one of the SD cards slots always has to be occupied by the Navigation SD card, but how is it from a resolution / feature / responsiveness point of view ? I have read that you can't have the maps up in both the Media and AID screens at the same time, but I'm not sure if that massively important to me - can I not just have the navigation map on the AID and say the Media screen on the Navigation unit ?

2. Again, both my last GTD's have had dynamic chassis control (DCC), but again it's an expensive over £800 option. I've never driven a MK7 (or a MK7.5) with 19" alloys without DCC, so honestly would I notice a huge difference by dropping this ? Please bear in mind that I'm not a 20 year old that likes a go-cart style ride, but a 50 odd year old that likes some comfort, but it doesn't have to be limousine smooth ?

3. Whilst I'd love the leather on the next car (as I think the MK 7.5 Leather looks beautiful), at nearly £2k it's certainly off the list, but having had my last 2 cars with the standard Jacara cloth (albeit without the red accents that the GTI has), I was thinking of a compromise and going for the Art Velour cloth. Anyone got this can has some photos / can comment on if it was a good option. I just thing that after 2 GTD's the Art Velour would make the GTI for me more unique and special ?

4. I'd really like a panoramic sunroof on the next car, is it worth the money, any issues etc ?

5. The wife would really like me to drop Keyless entry on the next car as she's worried about all the stories she's read about them being easily stolen, even though I've had this option on the last 2 cars. Thoughts please ?

6. Any one have the "Lane assist including Dynamic Light Assist" option for £650 and can confirm if that's worth having ? I like the idea of the speed limits shown in the AID (it does that yes), and the automatic masking of the headlights when on main beam etc, but not really sure if it's worth £650 - thoughts ?   

Finally, the car they had in the showroom was a PP version (which I won't be going for), but it had much larger tailpipes that the MK7 used GTI's on the forecourt, and I have to say did look really nice. Are these larger tailpipes for just the PP version or do the vanilla GTI's get them as well.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice on the above, and as said, at present it's just a pricing exercise to see what the figures drop out at, and it's by no means certain that the GTD will be going anytime soon - but you never know !

[fredgroves]

Answers from me:

NavPro - its the only option I have on my 7.5 GTD apart from paint. It is expensive. The gesture control is so annoying that I've turned it off about a few days into having it. It doesn't have Google Earth (VW stopped licencing it). It is very responsive, it is very impressive to look at, it does fill the car. The bigger screen does make a difference to AppConnect for sure. Worth the cash? I don't know... would I spec it again? I don't know.

Dcc  -I went from the last GTD with DCC to my current one without. I'm only on 18's but that was a sensible decision, I've not missed it one jot. With the quality of the roads today, I'd never spec 19's anyway. They be broken in weeks, dcc or not.

Art velour - I quite like the look of it in the showroom. Its quite nice. I'd never choose leather but might choose this.

Sunroof - utterly pointless in my personal opinion. Adds weight, adds possibility of leaks and rattles. No thanks.

Keyless - definitely don't do it. You'll have nightmares about it being nicked all the time and for what?

Lane Assist - you'll turn off the lane assist function in under a week guaranteed. The dynamic lighting, pretty good by all accounts but 650 quid? I had the old HBA, it was ok, it costs a quarter of DLA... I use the stalk on the steering column now. Never looked back.

[Mag_Pie]

Regarding the tailpipes, I believe that they are also bigger on the standard 7.5 GTI.  Good luck with your decision 

[Eccie]

Mines a Mk7 I have 18” wheels, 17” in the winter, I have DCC and couldn’t/wouldn’t have the car without it, I run 80% of the time in comfort (the roads are just getting worse).

I have the pano roof, I think it’s great a real treat and I use it loads - I haven’t had any issues with it - for me, my next car will have to have one (other car is a merc & that has one, again no issues)

I also have nav pro and the bigger screen is nice, but I could probably live without it. I have leather but could live without that next time - it impresses others more than it impresses me.

All totally subjective and dependant on your individual budget



Mine will be 4 years old in May

[Booth11]

It’s a difficult question as options are very subjective. One man’s neccesity is another man’s waste of money.

Mk7 here not a facelift but if push came to shove and had to trim down the options, I’d live without the following without much regret:

DCC (with 19” wheels)

Pro Nav - use CarPlay for pretty much everything so Pro Nav is pretty much redundant for me.  That said I still live the big screen.

Would keep:

Dynaudio.  Best vfm option.  Superb.!

Keyless - never have I lay there worrying about keyless theft. If it goes, it goes.  Keyed cars get nicked too.  Every R nicked on the R forum has been a non keyless.  Have GAP insurance.

HBA - I love it

Leather - practical mainly and the leather in the mk7 is crap but the new leather with the perforations is lovely.

Things I’d never spec:

Sunroof - personal choice. Like a dark cosy cabin.  I’d never open it and I don’t want to see the sky above my head whilst driving, I get out of the car for that.  Potential rattlefest.

Good luck deciding.

[fredgroves]

BTW I didn't answer this:

I have read that you can't have the maps up in both the Media and AID screens at the same time, but I'm not sure if that massively important to me - can I not just have the navigation map on the AID and say the Media screen on the Navigation unit ?

Yes you can't have both up on the standard nav. I actually use this feature though when I am using VW Nav (something I actually rarely do, I use Google or Wayz almost exclusively now). You can have a broader view on the main screen and a shorter range map to see upcoming junctions on the AID. Its actually more useful than you'd first think TBH. But yes, you can have what you mention.

And also, you know, I'd probably spec the PP over some of the other things you have on this list... just for the better brakes. You can never have enough brakes IMHO.

[JoeGTI]

The fatter pipes are standard in the MK7.5.

I wouldn't have been a sunroof fan either but OMG, my parents just got a new Tiguan which has a pano roof and it's a real WOW feature! It looks awesome, in the Tiguan at least. And even when closed, at night, it looks good as there's an LED ambient strip right around the whole opening. Very classy. Not sure if its the same in the Golf mind you. I have a sunroof in my own car now too and I do like it, it lets a nice bit of air and light into the cabin.

I'd personally spec the Brescias (those parkers are an abomination) and the art velours (I think the standard cloth seats are really naff and cheap). The velours gives you much nicer material (its "pleather" but still miles better than the scratchy cloth) on the armrests, side bolsters, etc too...

The standard Nav screen is really good now (I had a good play with it in the new Tiguan), so 1300 for the Pro would be madness imo.

I've seen dynamic lights in action (in a friend's GTI) and its a very cool feature. You can basically drive with high beams on all the time so you get great light output. The Lane Assist that's bundled with it I would not be such a fan of, but I'd deffo spec this over pro nav.

[Daz Auto]

From your signature I see that your current GTD has Adaptive Chassis. What setting do you use?

I occasionally set my DCC to 'sport' on good roads. When I am on the roads near home it soon gets changed back to comfort.

Is your Golf the 'main' car? The passenger gets the most uncomfortable ride from bad roads. Potholes, road repairs, drain covers and bumps are usually near the edge of the road - where the passenger sits! Go to the worst road you regularly drive together. Set the GTD to 'sport' and let your wife drive If the road is bad enough you'll soon work out if you need DCC or not. Or if she can live without it.

For our local roads I need DCC. The rest of the options on my car are nice, but I really don't need them.

If the roads were better I would not need DCC. Maybe your roads are better.

[Exonian]

Having spent half an hour or so poking round a friend's FL GTI yestersday, which is the first time i've actually sat in one here's my thoughts and some of his:

Firstly, if you have no dependant children that need constant financial injections, don't have any expensive hobbies and aren't busting your arse to pay the mortgage I'd put up a bit more gentle persuasion/fuss on the financial side of it. You're only on this planet a short time 

The leather in the FL cars is lovely. I really am not in the slightest bit fussed with leather interiors normally and have had two in the past. One was in my mk6 GTI and one with fancy BMW soft leather stuff. Neither was particularly pleasant to sit on. The FL GTI leather made me eat my words. It really is very nice indeed and although I like the standard seats and the art velours (the latter I've only seen in pics but had an alcantara interior in a Golf Cabrio I had once upon a time as a courtesy car for a week and loved it)

The res on the new nav screen is really good compared to the earlier units like I have. My son has the same system too so I've had a bit of familiarity with it, plus you can option wireless charging which will future proof the car a bit.

The dynamic lights on the FL cars is fantastic according to the custodian of the car. Well worth the money if you drive in the dark much, that's the one feature he really raved about. I think all cars will by law have to have front assist and lane assist soon as it's pretty much mandatory in trucks now and it usually filters down to cars. Brexit might change that if it ever happens.

Sunroofs look cool but can rattle. It's nice to have the rood open on a bright spring morning so if it's not going to blow the budget then why the hell not.

The Parkers are growing on me. Having been up close and personal to a set they actually look ok. Like any mk7 wheels they'd look loads better with spacers but that's neither here nor there. I'd 99% go for Brescias if I didn't have the car on a cheap lease, of which there are apparently some good deals about according to my friend who works in that line of business.

DCC? Meh. Some swear by it but I've had a GTI/GTD/R/ed40 without it now and find the ride fine. The latter is a bit choppy but has stiff springs.

The bigger pipes are indeed standard on all FL GTI's and look loads better than the earlier pipes. They actually looked bigger than my Clubsport pipes and I had pipe envy.

Downsides? I really don't like the digital dials. They'll no doubt look better in subsequent generations where the dash is designed for them from scratch, but they look even more 2D than in photos, there is no contrast between the very short needles and the speed/rev colour and they can look very busy with too much info in them depending on what setting you use. From youtube vids I've seen the ones in the new Polo GTI and some new SEAT's look a bit more stylish and less busy so expect that to improve with future generations of car.

[I wanted a GTi]

Nav pro comes with dynaudio so you need to remove the cost of that from the cost of the nav pro.

DCC, I can't answer that but on my CC it was fantastic and it is going on my Tiguan.

Art velours, yes if only for the better quality door cards.

Sunroof, I couldn't have one in the Golf as my head would be touching the roof but having been driving around in a Tiguan for a few days with one it is nice.

Keyless, you can turn off the car opening bit of it while keeping the keyless start.

Dynamic light assist, definitely get it if you're going to be driving on country roads a fair amount of times.

I know you don't want the PP but I would reconsider that if I were you, ask your dealer for a PP for a day and take it on some of your favourite roads.