Fred's Thoughts on Mk8 GTI ownership

[Brocky_]

So I'm currently out enjoying the car on my day off, after picking it up from having a new car prep and I've had a moment of clarity....which could also be referred to as a complete 'duh!' moment for me.

I worked out that each mode actually has two modes. In comfort, if you 'flick the bean' (I'm trademarking that) towards you, the D on the AID turns to an S with the current selected gear but still with Comfort underneath and the gearbox wakes up. Flick it again and it goes back to relaxed D mode. Use the 'Mode' button to switch to Sport and you've got Sport D and then Sport S (Already trademarked by Fred as 'Lunatic Mode').

So it is possible to have it in Sport Mode but with sensible gear shifts.

Now I'm going to try out the whole Travel Assist thing and hope that I'm not calling my insurance company later... 

[fredgroves]

Is that right?

Yesterday I was playing with trying to get sport engine (its just a throttle map) but with the 2k rpm "comfort" gear changes.

It didn't seem to want to do that at all. Once the "engine" was in sport, the gearbox only offered me S.

If you are trying travel assist.... make sure you are fully alert and ready to grab control (any braking turns it off) until you are certain of how it functions!!! Its pretty good, but not infalliable!

[ar899]

Yesterday I was playing with trying to get sport engine (its just a throttle map) but with the 2k rpm "comfort" gear changes.

It didn't seem to want to do that at all. Once the "engine" was in sport, the gearbox only offered me S.

I think that is what Thomas discovered in his review.

[fredgroves]

Yeah its a bit of a pain, but not unfixable... pedal box time methinks.

It definitely does need something in between "comfort" (aka "normal") and "sport" (aka "lunatic") and probably just a sharper throttle with normal gear box mode is it. I am fairly sure you could do this with a Mk7 couldn't you?

Its not even that comfort doesn't have its place, I'm not saying its utterly useless like it, its just that after you find just about everything on the car you can tweak to the nth degree, this one thing feels a bit missing.

[Brocky_]

Have you given it a try in Sport D, Fred. I feel that's perfect for me.

I just tried Travel Assist. Not sure I like it. Is it supposed to switch lanes to overtake? I had it set to 70mph and it slotted up behind a wagon doing 55. I waited to see if it would do anything when the second lane was free but it didn't. Not before I felt the need to do it myself, at least.

Also, my wake up word definitely isn't working, despite being checked on in the settings. 

[fredgroves]

Have you given it a try in Sport D, Fred. I feel that's perfect for me.

Explain again how you get that?

I just tried Travel Assist. Not sure I like it. Is it supposed to switch lanes to overtake? I had it set to 70mph and it slotted up behind a wagon doing 55. I waited to see if it would do anything when the second lane was free but it didn't. Not before I felt the need to do it myself, at least.

No, it doesn't switch lanes That might be fun, but not yet.

Did you feel it steering for you? Did you come to any roundabouts or tight corners?

Also, my wake up word definitely isn't working, despite being checked on in the settings. 

Remember, its the car's wake up word not your safe word 

It definitely listens for Volkswagen.... when I was cursing them the other day to my son, it butted in 

[ar899]

Is it not about time for a Mk 8 Roll Call thread given that quite a few people seem to have one now? Or maybe New Arrivals/Gallery? 

[Si_Telford]

So I'm currently out enjoying the car on my day off, after picking it up from having a new car prep and I've had a moment of clarity....which could also be referred to as a complete 'duh!' moment for me.

I worked out that each mode actually has two modes. In comfort, if you 'flick the bean' (I'm trademarking that) towards you, the D on the AID turns to an S with the current selected gear but still with Comfort underneath and the gearbox wakes up. Flick it again and it goes back to relaxed D mode. Use the 'Mode' button to switch to Sport and you've got Sport D and then Sport S (Already trademarked by Fred as 'Lunatic Mode').

So it is possible to have it in Sport Mode but with sensible gear shifts.

Now I'm going to try out the whole Travel Assist thing and hope that I'm not calling my insurance company later... 

I drive everyday to work in economy because I actually tested a feel the fuel benefit but if I want to get that power just flick through stick to S and it feels like a completely different car even more so driving in economy and I like that feeling, I only every use sport mode when I'm on a nice country road because I find that's when it comes alive more so going into manual triggers dropping down a gear and then powering up out of a corner, that's where you feel the fun 😊

[fredgroves]

Eco mode turns down the aircon, disables cornering lighting, sets the ACC to slow acceleration (which I'd argue is quite dangerous) and deadens the throttle response even more.

What sort of extra economy are you getting for doing that?

If you are frequently flicking to S and then hoofing it, you probably are burning up whatever you've saved too...

I remain unconvinced...

I'm sure for VW it takes ~1g of CO2 off of the official figures (which is worth a lot to them) but for you and I?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of low pollution and better pound note savings, but maybe not to that degree!

[theminty1]

Is it not about time for a Mk 8 Roll Call thread given that quite a few people seem to have one now? Or maybe New Arrivals/Gallery? 

A good idea to see all the new beasties