How many 8.5s are actually out there?

[P6GTD]

Well it’s interesting ……. five or ten years ago the GTI forum was bursting with multiple posts every day from new owners keen to express their love for their cars or ask questions. We even admitted R owners like Becky.

But here we are with no posts over the last 4 day holiday period.

Not only do I see few Mk8s out and about but I’ve only ever seen ONE 8.5 GTI on the road, near Tring…
(I suspect a demo) which was 4 months ago.

Is there any way of accessing the number of new 8.5 registrations I wonder?
And……. for those lucky few (?) the majority of 8.5 owners seem very quiet.
Is that good or bad?

Also, as a traditional cash buyer of cars, I wonder how many 8.5 owners have bought outright? Is it a thing any longer?

As a GTI follower……..admittedly with something that feels quite “yesterday” in 2024, I’m just trying to be a wee bit provocative to give me something to read in the responses!!!!!😂

C’mon, shoot me down!

[The_Doc]

Almost no-one buys outright anymore, even if they have the cash, since they can get discounts for purchasing on finance unavailable to cash purchasers, then settle finance early.

[JoeGTI]

I think forums / discussion boards like these have died a death tbh. The traffic is way way lower on here than it was back in the MK6/7 days. Everyone’s on Facebook and Insta now.

FWIW, I’m waiting on a new CS. Hope to have it in the next few weeks.

[Carlosfandango]

I’ve seen a few 8.5s (all in Gloucestershire), but only just enough to break double figures I’d say, several R lines and a couple of life models or such like, two or three GTI’s other than my own, a couple of R’s and an R black series yesterday, which came up behind me at a roundabout in Cirencester, I’d say the lack of posts is probably partly due to the lack of issues with them. I have had a problem however where the parking break would self apply randomly below 2mph as if I had opened the door while moving, but I think that may have been something I was doing as there is an occupancy sensor in the drivers seat and I tend to fidget/shift my position when coming to a stop, hasn’t done it since I’ve monitored it, bit of a weird one that, but everything on the car is great and works superbly, so I can’t imagine there will be many posts about faults, which of course is when most people become vocal on forums. And as pointed out by JoeGTI above whilst I was typing, a lot of the chat is now seemingly focussed on other platforms, but that could simply be down to the visability those posts are able to achieve. Plus the US and Australia have not got any owners as of yet, forum traffic for the 8.5 will pick up further once more markets are seeing deliveries.

[sipj]

I myself haven't seen any 8.5 cars that I can think of on the road, just of course in the dealerships.  To be honest, I don't really see a huge number of 8's around either, but I guess I am not really looking for them and unless they're a performance model such as the GTI, I don't think I am going to really notice.  At night with the light bar across the front, they are a lot more noticeable!

As for the GTI, the dealer didn't have one when I ordered my car, but do now.  That is the only other one I have seen in the flesh.  There was a stock in the country on the VW site around September time which depleted, but I think that is building up again now.  There are some cars out there, but across the country, I would suggest very few.

My old 2018 7.5 GTI I owned from new and financed for a year before being in the fortunate position to pay it all off.  That car did me really well and allowed me to put a big deposit on my new 8.5 GTI, so my monthly payments are quite low on PCP.  I will keep this car for a long time and will pay it off after the initial PCP runs out.

Loving the 8.5 GTI currently.  Running it in at present, but I do think the DSG gear change is much better, more predictable and quicker.  Probably just a better software map, but is an improvement for me.  You can see where there have been cost cutting changes with little details and some of the quality which is a big shame.  Nothing to get too upset about, but that VW quality has reduced a little.  The Infotainment is very different from my old 7.5.  Lots of changes and I really like having wireless Carplay.  I notice you can buy and install 'Dynamic Background Lighting' from the VW shop.  No idea what that does really, but may try the 1 month trial at some point.

I have to say I am a little disappointed with the Harman Kardon setup.  I think I was expecting more, but it does not feel and sound a whole lot better than my 7.5 standard audio.  I read similar stories online and putting it down to the small sub.  Maybe I just need to play with the settings more, but its not as good as I was hoping or expecting.

[fredgroves]

This probably goes some way to explain it:

https://www.am-online.com/data/manufacturer-insight

Look at the annual registration graph...

and then specifically:

New car market insight
Private buyer demand for new cars falls while BEVs surge to 20.7% share

Fewer than four in ten (38.8%) of new car registrations were made by private buyers so far this year despite a widening choice of over 125 battery electric models - up 38% from last year - according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) latest monthly figures.

[Carlosfandango]

I myself haven't seen any 8.5 cars that I can think of on the road, just of course in the dealerships.  To be honest, I don't really see a huge number of 8's around either, but I guess I am not really looking for them and unless they're a performance model such as the GTI, I don't think I am going to really notice.  At night with the light bar across the front, they are a lot more noticeable!

As for the GTI, the dealer didn't have one when I ordered my car, but do now.  That is the only other one I have seen in the flesh.  There was a stock in the country on the VW site around September time which depleted, but I think that is building up again now.  There are some cars out there, but across the country, I would suggest very few.

My old 2018 7.5 GTI I owned from new and financed for a year before being in the fortunate position to pay it all off.  That car did me really well and allowed me to put a big deposit on my new 8.5 GTI, so my monthly payments are quite low on PCP.  I will keep this car for a long time and will pay it off after the initial PCP runs out.

Loving the 8.5 GTI currently.  Running it in at present, but I do think the DSG gear change is much better, more predictable and quicker.  Probably just a better software map, but is an improvement for me.  You can see where there have been cost cutting changes with little details and some of the quality which is a big shame.  Nothing to get too upset about, but that VW quality has reduced a little.  The Infotainment is very different from my old 7.5.  Lots of changes and I really like having wireless Carplay.  I notice you can buy and install 'Dynamic Background Lighting' from the VW shop.  No idea what that does really, but may try the 1 month trial at some point.

I have to say I am a little disappointed with the Harman Kardon setup.  I think I was expecting more, but it does not feel and sound a whole lot better than my 7.5 standard audio.  I read similar stories online and putting it down to the small sub.  Maybe I just need to play with the settings more, but its not as good as I was hoping or expecting.

I totally agree about the DSG box, it’s very predictable and functions VERY well, in terms of smoothness it performs much like the excellent 6 speed DQ250 in my old mk7, it’s also so much better than the box that was in my mk8 GTI, in hindsight that was actually very bad, and could of in fact have been faulty!? As for the HK system in the 8.5, I thought the same as you initially, seemed underwhelming, but once I had fiddled with the settings for a while it now sounds great, take the time to adjust the EQ and other options and I’m sure you’ll be pleased with it.

[Adam T7]

This probably goes some way to explain it:

https://www.am-online.com/data/manufacturer-insight

Look at the annual registration graph...

and then specifically:

New car market insight
Private buyer demand for new cars falls while BEVs surge to 20.7% share

Fewer than four in ten (38.8%) of new car registrations were made by private buyers so far this year despite a widening choice of over 125 battery electric models - up 38% from last year - according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) latest monthly figures.

An interesting read. I was surprised at the number Fleet vs. Private registrations, I’d assumed company cars were becoming a thing of the past.

[fredgroves]

I suspect the non-private is leases - which could be for company cars or could be PCH.

[SRGTD]

I think forums / discussion boards like these have died a death tbh. The traffic is way way lower on here than it was back in the MK6/7 days. Everyone’s on Facebook and Insta now.

FWIW, I’m waiting on a new CS. Hope to have it in the next few weeks.

Agree; other media sources seem to be the preference of many over dedicated forums these days. I’ve also noticed it on the Polo forum which isn’t a dedicated Polo GTI forum, but going back 4-5 years that forum was very busy with lots of regular posters and lots of GTI owners, and soon to be GTI owners.

In response to @P6GTD’s observation on the relatively few mk8.5 Golfs on the road; IMHO, financial priorities of many people won’t put an expensive new car at the top of the list when considering financial outgoings - items such as mortgage / rent, utilities and food will rank higher. Additionally, the multiple software issues that have affected the mk8 Golf may have deterred existing and potential new Golf owners from going for a mk8.5. Might some people also be keeping their existing cars longer and not wanting to commit to buying a new one due to potential economic uncertainties associated with a change of government?