Some good practical advice and opinions on here as always.
For what it’s worth, as someone who has had the odd car or twenty over the last 30 odd years including quite a few ‘Performance’ Golfs including an example of each of the (pre-facelift) current crop, I’d say first and foremost don’t get hung up on spec.
Buy on condition, then price and then worry about fitted extras last.
These current generation cars are well equipped, ride well and perform well as standard (aside from godawful throttle response at low openings).
With the current WLTP production delays there are long wait times on ALL new builds meaning healthy demand for in stock cars.
Either tough it out and be prepared to wait a long time for your ideal spec (unless you’re very lucky) or buy the best of what’s available now. Stocks that get depleted now won’t be replaced any time soon with production delays and it’ll slow the whole market down, new and used.
The GTI PP comes very well equipped as standard. It has everything you could reasonably expect in a mid sized hatch straight out of the factory.
I’ve had a GTI PP, GTD, R and Clubsport and can happily report as a fusspot about ride quality that they all ride fine on 18 and 19” wheels minus DCC.
I found the R rides the best, the GTI and GTD can be caught out a bit with sharp imperfections causing a loud crash very occasionally through the cab and the Clubsport rides a bit more noisily again.
I used to modify all my cars including changing the suspension if I thought it necessary.
I therefore became very sensitive to ride quality having put up with jelly like suspension as standard in Sporty Golfs (GTIs VR6s etc) up until the mk5 at which point VW got the blend pretty good for a road car, and at the other end of the extreme I got fed up with crashy springs on lowered suspension designed by Germans for their smoother roads.
The DCC only affects damper rates. It’s the springs that transmit crashes to the cabin primarily unless controlled very well by well matched dampers.
Happily I can report that DCC really isn’t necessary unless you’re doing big miles over very varied roads.
The standard suspension is fine. And less to go wrong.
Nice to have, but not essential.
Cars can vary in price dramatically from dealer to dealer and area to area.
If you want to get the best price then be prepared to travel. However test driving a few cars locally costs little and you’ll soon get to experience what extras you can and can’t live with.
For me, the standard car is fine, it has everything you need.
Everyone’s wants and needs are different, only you can really know yours but I’ve seen so many people on forums over the years spec their cars like Christmas trees having never tried the standard model. Must be nice to have money to burn!
