Author Topic: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?  (Read 3666 times)

Offline SRGTD

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2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
Gone but not forgotten;
2016 Polo GTI; Blue Silk
2011 mk6 Golf GTD; Carbon Grey
2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
2002  mk4 Golf GTI (the 150 bhp diesel version); Deep Black Pearl


Offline Carlosfandango

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Re: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?
« Reply #2 on: 24 October 2022, 20:59 »
Physical buttons would be better for sure, but I can’t say I’m having any bother with the touch buttons any more, they were a little clunky to begin with, but after a while I got used to the way they work, hopefully they just change the buttons and keep the same wheel so a retrofit will be possible on earlier cars.
Current -
8.5 GTI, Dolphin, Pan roof, Area view, DCC, Queenstown wheels, HUD, HK, Spare wheel.

Gone -
2022 Mk8 GTI DSG, Kings Red.
2020 BMW M135i xDrive, Storm Bay Metallic.
2016 Mk7 GTI DSG, Carbon Grey.
2010 Mk6 GTI Manual, Carbon Grey.
2009 Mk6 GTI DSG, Black Pearl.
2008 Mk5 GT sport DSG, Glacier White.
2003 Mk4 R32, Reflex Silver.
2002 Mk4 GTI, Indigo blue pearl.
1991 AX GT.
1984 Mk1 XR2.
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Offline WelshGolf

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Re: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?
« Reply #3 on: 25 October 2022, 10:17 »
Never had a problem with mine, they are like any other haptic button.
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Offline fredgroves

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Re: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?
« Reply #4 on: 25 October 2022, 11:19 »
Can't say the buttons have been much of a problem after about the first hour of owning the car.

They were a problem on my test drive though.... but then again, why would i expect a totally different car to be readily usable instantly?

Thats not to say there aren't some bad user interface ideas on the Mk8 - there certainly are (as well as the bugs!).... but the steering wheel buttons aren't one of them.

If I had to pick my main annoyance its when you are listening to music on a memory stick and you go back up a directory level and it pings back to the top of the list.... thats annoying!
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC

Offline JoeGTI

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Re: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?
« Reply #5 on: 25 October 2022, 12:26 »
Agree, the steering wheel haptic buttons are not the main issue imo. I don't mind them at all. I like how they give you a bit more fine grained control such as sliding left/right for volume or long press versus short press, which you cannot do with traditional buttons really. If you accidentally turn on the steering wheel heating (and somehow I've never managed to do this), well a quick long press of the same button will turn it off. Its funny how no reviews ever mention this.

The main bugbear for me is the main infotainment system. The sliders for the climate / seat heating were a terrible idea. They just don't work on the move, turning the seat heaters on/off is a total faff (yes, even the double tap on sliders is a faff imo). If my wife's in the passenger seat I have to do it for her seat too... whereas with traditional buttons it was easy for her to do it herself!

However, I don't see them reversing on that interface anytime soon, as that would require significant dash redesigns and heavy re-tooling whereas swapping the steering wheel buttons is a simple, low cost "fix". They also have the same system across the entire ID range and all its Skoda/Seat cousins, so I just don't see that changing.

So, with my cynical hat on, I don't think VW will do anything that actually costs money, at least not in the short/medium term.
« Last Edit: 25 October 2022, 12:31 by JoeGTI »
MK8.5 GTI Clubsport. Moonstone grey. Queenstown 19’s. DCC. Harmon Kardon sound. Pano roof.

Offline Exonian

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Re: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?
« Reply #6 on: 26 October 2022, 06:03 »
Personal point of view, I’m no fan of the haptic pads but they function adequately. I’d welcome a return to buttons though, even if it was a mixture of the two things. Maybe that little retrograde-upgrade will be here in time for the Ed50 (not that I’d be able to afford one with the way everything has gone) along with the backlit media screen sliders that *still* haven’t been introduced.
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline ajmoir36

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Diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
On Order: Mk8 R, Pure White, Reversing Camera, Harmon Kardon, Heated seats all round.
Gone: Mk7.5 R, 5dr, DSG, Deep Pearl Black, 18” Cadiz, Nav, Winter Pack, Keyless, Dynaudio and Reversing camera.
Gone: Mk7 R, 5dr, DSG, Limestone Grey, 19" Pretoria's, Nav Pro, DCC, Winter Pack, Keyless, Mobile Prep and Reversing Camera.
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Offline fredgroves

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Re: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?
« Reply #8 on: 31 October 2022, 11:14 »
hmmmm its almost like VW are just giving you some crap they already have.... Golf Life looks like this... familiar?




My chum Massimo swapped out his (non performance) Golf button based wheel for the one the GTI uses... so they are totally compatible parts, just one is "premium".
« Last Edit: 31 October 2022, 11:16 by fredgroves »
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC

Offline jv

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Re: Are VW reverting back to real steering wheel buttons?
« Reply #9 on: 01 November 2022, 20:03 »


Buttons look good here, badge doesn't seem quite right, not sure  :tongue:
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