Mk7 to Mk 7.5

[P6GTD]

Having had 2 Mk7s I was quite uneasy about the wheels on my new 7.5 but I didn’t want 19s and didn’t want to pay extra.
After 18 months with the 7.5 I feel at home with the Parkers and ......controversy alert!.....I think the Golf is better proportioned on 18s.
I have had the wheels off a couple of times and have the impression they are more robust than Austins. I can’t tell you why but that’s how I feel.
Of course you might expect me to take that position on the wheels I have but to sum up, if I turned the clock back would I have specced different wheels in hindsight?
No.
Would I have preferred my new 7.5 to be on Austins?
Yes.

[Jim_mk7.5]

Hi all,

Am along time lurker and thought I'd sign up as I have a few questions.

I have a 14 plate GTi PP which I am looking to replace very soon. I will be very imaginative and replace it with a 7.5 PP 

Question 1: is there any thing I need to watch out for that is unique to 7.5 PP ownership? I will be buying a <25k miles one
Question 2: replacing the 18" "Parker/ Milton" alloys. What were VW thinking? I'd like to put a set of Mk7 "Austin" 18" alloys as a swap. I assume the fitments are the same? Same offset / PCD stud pattern etc?

Many thanks,

V

So you want to get a newer car, then make it look older by adding the older wheels? An odd thing to do, might as well keep your existing car!

The Parkers look great in the metal and 'personally', nicer than the Austins.

[steve12345]

I much prefer the look of the Austin's too!!

No doubt the 7.5 will be an improvement in every other way though...

[vapourtee]

Hi all,

Am along time lurker and thought I'd sign up as I have a few questions.

I have a 14 plate GTi PP which I am looking to replace very soon. I will be very imaginative and replace it with a 7.5 PP 

Question 1: is there any thing I need to watch out for that is unique to 7.5 PP ownership? I will be buying a <25k miles one
Question 2: replacing the 18" "Parker/ Milton" alloys. What were VW thinking? I'd like to put a set of Mk7 "Austin" 18" alloys as a swap. I assume the fitments are the same? Same offset / PCD stud pattern etc?

Many thanks,

V

So you want to get a newer car, then make it look older by adding the older wheels? An odd thing to do, might as well keep your existing car!

The Parkers look great in the metal and 'personally', nicer than the Austins.

So I need to replace my current car. I tend to buy at 3yrs old and sell at 6. I was going to go for a late as possible Mk7 PP, but then thought why not just got for the facelift? A bit more power, a few more toys etc. Am not too bothered about the Austins on a 7.5 as its just an aesthetic thing and entirely subjective. In fact one I have my eye on a the moment has 19" Santiagos - which I know are an upgrade but I don't like those either! I think I'd go Belvedere if I had to have 19"s, but as someone said earlier I think 18"s look better overall

[SRGTD]

@vapourtee; the Belvedere alloys are 18”, not 19”.

IMO, wheels are easily changed if you don’t like them (I changed the wheels on my last two cars). If you find a car that ticks all the boxes for you other than the wheels, then go fo it.

[skippy]

When I bought my GTI at the start of this year, I much preferred the look of Brescias (19's) to the Parkers (18's). I took a test drive on 19's and it was noticeable how much harsher the ride was compared to my Scirocco which was riding 18's.

I thought about it for a bit and opted to take the standard Parkers. Do I regret it? No - not at all, and the Parkers do look better in the metal for some reason, the pictures never do it justice. My ideal wheel would have been Brescia's on 18" rims if possible,  but it is not something that bothers me at all.

[vapourtee]

@vapourtee; the Belvedere alloys are 18”, not 19”.

IMO, wheels are easily changed if you don’t like them (I changed the wheels on my last two cars). If you find a car that ticks all the boxes for you other than the wheels, then go fo it.

Ahhh! Even better I had assumed they were 19" Thanks

[Exonian]

Personally I don’t get why so many people hate the Parkers.
They look perfectly ok to me.
What they do need is 15mm front and 20mm rear spacers but that’s a whole different story...

[Adam T7]

Agree on the Parkers - IMO they look great, especially with the GTI logo red callipers on the PP, but I am paranoid about scuffing them.

[Phil245]

After washing the car and allowing the wheels to dry I clean the Parkers with Mr Sheen and a soft rag.

IMO they then look fantastic with a nice shine from the aluminium part.

But it's all personal obviously...!