Some good / interesting posts there 
I'm a bit disappointed by the lacklustre reviews for the new car. Like Snoopy, I want to love it. My first GTI was the MK5 and that car as we all know was universally praised, it regularly topped the reviews/group tests, so its a bit disappointing that this car isn't getting that same kudos in the press.
However I feel that journalists are lazy for the most part and with the you tubers and influencers, its even worse than ever. They all latch onto "something" about the car and repeat it, like you'd repeat something you heard down in the pub. Oh the touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel are crap, I know someone said that somewhere, so yeah, in my review I'll say they're crap too.
I know what you mean about wanting to love the car- and reading the reviews are part of that whole process- but I would take some of this stuff with a massive pinch of salt.
The chap in that Car test described steering a 400bhp AWD car on the throttle on a motorway slip road- so presumably at some speed. Either he's one hell of a driver or he's exaggerating- a little!
( I think I read that bit right, but i'll happily be corrected if someone read different)
Most of these journos are trying to make their way in the industry. They have to say the right things.
Read the Clarkson piece. Keep a copy of it.
Then go and buy the mk8.
On the subject of faster and faster cars, I really do struggle to understand the motivation here- for the vast majority of people who will not track their cars.
I understand 2 GRY demonstrators have been written off by customers on test drives. I was intrigued to understand how- I can't imagine someone has come off the road driving one. Apparently one car hit a deer somewhere near Stratford.
Worth reflecting on that- must have hit the animal with some force to write off a 33k car.
You can corner at any speed in this car. Problem is you can't see around the bend- could be a cyclist on your side and a truck coming the other way. Or a deer. And if you doing 80-85 mph, you aren't gonna stop- no matter how good your brakes are.
The whole ownership experience is an exercise in restraint.