Hi all, new Golf GTI owner :)

[cossiegaz82]

Hi all,

Been lurking for a couple of weeks but not posted yet.

Just picked up a 2016 Golf GTI with the performance pack and 19" Santiago wheels in Carbon Steel grey (I think that's what it's called anyway! ) after a bit of a bad experience with my 2017 Ford Focus ST3 (more specifically Ford customer care and service more than the car itself) so I thought I'd give the Golf a whirl!

I've never been a fan of Golfs in the past (apart from the mk1 & 2, I'm an old skool car nut) having worked on plenty of them over the years but at a bit of a loss as to what to buy, I test drove a few cars and settled for the Golf, the mk7 seems, to me at least, a big step up from the previous marks in terms of drive and build quality.

The Golf doesn't feel quite as fast as the ST (it is 20 BHP down so that's to be expected) and doesn't seem to handle quite as well either but the Golf is a lot better so far in every other way! The ride quality is better, build quality is better and everything just seems to 'work' so much better. Very happy I made the switch overall!

I went for a manual as that's what I prefer and I also hate the farty sound the DSG cars make on upshifts!

I plan to do a couple of things to it soon as I can't seem to ever leave anything alone!

I want to fit some lowering springs and spacers just to get it sitting a bit better but I don't want to ruin the ride quality too much so wondering what you folks would recommend?

I wouldn't mind a remap at some stage as well as I do get bored quickly so will look at that once the warranty is out. Any recommendations guys and girls?

Cheers, 

Gaz.

[Vwjap]

Better tires and a pedal box seems to be the best mods from the sounds of it

[Exonian]

As above and welcome Gaz.

I’ve never been keen on Golfs either but seem to have acquired the odd one or two (dozen!)

Vwjap hits the nail on the head there.
Decent tyres make a big difference to the Golf, particularly once you’ve learned to drive the VAQ e-diff properly. That thing makes the car handle like it has 4wd once rolling, but minus the bulk. Forget understeer and backing off before corners. Once you’ve learned the VAQ characteristics you’ll find you can corner at astonishing speeds for a standard road car. The ST won’t be leagues ahead if at all.

The same with Performance. The pedal box will bring the car alive and it’ll feel far more responsive with the torque being so readily accessible. It might not be quicker than an ST against a stop watch but it’ll feel more alive with the performance and handling so accessible.

[Gnasher]

Hi Gaz,

Welcome to the GTI fold - I'm running a 2014 GTI PP Manual and have lowered mine on Eibach Sportlines which give a reasonable drop and keep a reasonable amount of the comfort (even on the 19" wheels I'm on now). I've had mine on for around 2 years now on Standard shocks with no issues.

As for a remap, whatever you go for, make sure it's a "low torque" map. The clutch on the manuals is very marginal and there have been quite a few reported cases of it slipping at stage 1. Mine did when I fitted a tuning box (that said, I'd still recommend the tuning box - DTUK). I'd say to get the feeling of speed go for the pedal box as advised above. Alternatively factor in for a replacement uprated clutch at around £600 plus fitting as a GTI PP at stage one is a very rapid, enjoyable and easy drive.

[mcmaddy]

Better tires and a pedal box seems to be the best mods from the sounds of it

Tyres on 19s should be fine even though the standard fit Bridgestones on 18s are also fine too.

[Watts]

I'd definitely recommend a pedalbox too. If you have the original tyres still then I assume they are Pirellis. I had them and found them to be good, I kept them rotated so all 4 were replaced at 20k miles. They did get the traction control light on fairly easily especially in the wet and/or cold which has virtually been eliminated by the Michelin PS4S, a great tyre but I wouldn't suggest binning the Pirellis early. I have added an Audi short shift kit to mine, nothing particularly wrong with the standard setup but the Audi part tightens up the lever, makes it feel better, more mechanical and at around £45 with 20 minutes to fit was well worth it to me.

On the inside, an Audi 12v socket plug for under a fiver helps smarten things up, red leds in the footwells another cheap easy improvement, changing the oem left footrest for one with the same look as the pedals (from China but available on ebay sub £50) and an upgrade to the floormats to ones with a red border either oem or aftermarket looks good.

[2007GTI]

@Watts, Slightly off topic, please could you provide a link or part number to the Audi 12v socket, thanks!

[Watts]

@Watts, Slightly off topic, please could you provide a link or part number to the Audi 12v socket, thanks!

4H0919311 - cost £4.45 + vat from a main dealer. They seem to be £10+ on ebay!

[2007GTI]

Thanks Watts

[cossiegaz82]

Better tires and a pedal box seems to be the best mods from the sounds of it

As above and welcome Gaz.

I’ve never been keen on Golfs either but seem to have acquired the odd one or two (dozen!)

Vwjap hits the nail on the head there.
Decent tyres make a big difference to the Golf, particularly once you’ve learned to drive the VAQ e-diff properly. That thing makes the car handle like it has 4wd once rolling, but minus the bulk. Forget understeer and backing off before corners. Once you’ve learned the VAQ characteristics you’ll find you can corner at astonishing speeds for a standard road car. The ST won’t be leagues ahead if at all.

The same with Performance. The pedal box will bring the car alive and it’ll feel far more responsive with the torque being so readily accessible. It might not be quicker than an ST against a stop watch but it’ll feel more alive with the performance and handling so accessible.

Hi guys,

It's got Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres all round on it at the moment, I don't know what the original tyres were though. I've only driven it properly a couple of times in the dry, it seems to be constantly raining every time I drive it! Lol!

In the couple of times I've driven it in the dry, when giving it a bit of stick through the corners, I could feel the diff working pulling the front end round the corner under acceleration. Reminded me a bit of my old Mk1 Focus RS with its Quaife ATB diff. I wish I'd never sold that car! 

I did find the back end felt quite light and twitchy under heavy braking though, the Focus feels quite a lot more planted under braking. I don't mind that though, keeps you on your toes! 

What are the pedal boxes about that you guys mentioned?