Racingline Bonnet Strut Fitted

[Beebopper]

There are a few options for engine covers. Decided to have a look around for fun.

APR Forged Carbon Fibre - £587
APR Carbon Fibre Twill - £475
do88 engine cover - £527
Paramount Performance (listed as for Golf R) - £375
Diversion Automotive - £296
Aliexpress - £195

That’s good work finding those, some are eye watering price wise. I’m not sure I like the all carbon effect, the car needs something but maybe a bit more subtle. Maybe a section with a badge or noting the car is GTi etc.

[WelshGolf]

There are a few options for engine covers. Decided to have a look around for fun.

APR Forged Carbon Fibre - £587
APR Carbon Fibre Twill - £475
do88 engine cover - £527
Paramount Performance (listed as for Golf R) - £375
Diversion Automotive - £296
Aliexpress - £195

Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?

[P6GTD]

And…if you don’t tell your insurance then when the new cover catches fire and the car is destroyed you won’t get your claim paid.

This said partly in jest!

[SRGTD]

Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?

That would be my view too. However, I accept we’re all individuals so like different things and put different priorities on what’s important and what’s not, so we won’t all have the same opinion.

[P6GTD]

If I may comment further as a Mk7 “guest”.

Everytime I open my bonnet and enjoy the smooth lift of the standard strut I enjoy the view of the engine.

So much so that my car washing routine always extends to wiping surfaces and pipes in the bay. That way, the engine surfaces are as clean as they were 6 years ago and give me great satisfaction.

Whenever I have looked at used cars in the past, I have popped open the bonnet within the first 5 minutes which gives me an impression as most garages valet the outside and inside but ignore under the bonnet.

Of course I mean no insult to those who seldom lift the bonnet and never clean the bay but some of us certainly do. I wonder if it’s more of an “outright ownership” thing as well? Just saying….

[Exonian]

Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?

You get  home from work 20 seconds quicker on a Friday night with a CF cover!

It’s not my thing but it appeals to some people. I guess if you do car shows or just like admiring it yourself then it’s a nice thing to have. They sell in decent numbers so people obviously want them. A lad I used to work with is heavily into JDM stuff and some of the imports he buys are full of underbonnet CF dress up stuff, they must spend a fortune on it in Japan. Not just really sporty cars either stuff like mid range Civics and CRX’s.

[WelshGolf]

Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?

That would be my view too. However, I accept we’re all individuals so like different things and put different priorities on what’s important and what’s not, so we won’t all have the same opinion.

That's my view, each to their own. Have to admit to spending money on some car things when younger when there was no point, but i'd made me happy.

If I may comment further as a Mk7 “guest”.

Everytime I open my bonnet and enjoy the smooth lift of the standard strut I enjoy the view of the engine.

So much so that my car washing routine always extends to wiping surfaces and pipes in the bay. That way, the engine surfaces are as clean as they were 6 years ago and give me great satisfaction.

Whenever I have looked at used cars in the past, I have popped open the bonnet within the first 5 minutes which gives me an impression as most garages valet the outside and inside but ignore under the bonnet.

Of course I mean no insult to those who seldom lift the bonnet and never clean the bay but some of us certainly do. I wonder if it’s more of an “outright ownership” thing as well? Just saying….

I love a clean car, I just don't have the space to do a proper job so generally don't bother unless I can do it properly. I do draw the line and cleaning the engine bay though and i'm also suspicious of any used car that has a clean engine bay... my thoughts are what are they trying to hide... but has said above we are all different. 

[WelshGolf]

Putting aside I don't see the point of carbon fibre under your bonnet where you will never see it. Who here could tell the difference between the expensive one and the cheap one?

You get  home from work 20 seconds quicker on a Friday night with a CF cover!

It’s not my thing but it appeals to some people. I guess if you do car shows or just like admiring it yourself then it’s a nice thing to have. They sell in decent numbers so people obviously want them. A lad I used to work with is heavily into JDM stuff and some of the imports he buys are full of underbonnet CF dress up stuff, they must spend a fortune on it in Japan. Not just really sporty cars either stuff like mid range Civics and CRX’s.

I have carbon fibre vinyl on my key, my door opens 0.2 seconds quicker 

[Exonian]

Of course I mean no insult to those who seldom lift the bonnet and never clean the bay but some of us certainly do. I wonder if it’s more of an “outright ownership” thing as well? Just saying….

You’d be surprised how many people can afford to chuck £60k cash at a mk8 without breaking into a sweat.
A few hundred quid of carbon fibre to them is small change but I doubt many bother.

It’s just what level of enthusiasm you have.

The lack of a gas strut irks me as I do like to clean under the bonnet from time to time but I couldn’t be bothered with a CF engine cover.


  @WelshGolf! Case proven!

[DrivenToDistraction]

so these don't come standard ? any reason why lol ?

I can’t see it’s cost cutting, the parts for a bonnet stay are probably the same. Maybe it’s an NCAP crash thing, it’s a bar directly in front of the driver.

You did a nice job, but this DIY approach really shouldn't be necessary in a £40k car.

I think it definitely is cost saving as the Euro NCAP rating for the mk8 GTI is the same as the mk7. Both got the maximum 5 stars. The loss of the gas strut is an example of what an old ex-work colleague of mine would have called "spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar". Someone in VW marketing will have pointed out that "most drivers only lift the bonnet a few times a year so why do we bother fitting an "expensive" gas strut"? Of course, this sort of missed the point as it is now the first thing that people point to when citing evidence of ill-advised VW cost cutting.

The damage to VW's (slipping) reputation for high quality build etc. will have far outweighed the small £ amount saved per car. Or they should have just increased the price of the car by a tiny amount as drivers of £40k cars expect this sort of 'extra' anyway.

It's amazing how quality engineering and attention to detail can make a big impression on you. I was recently 'killing time' in the local Mercedes dealership waiting for my my son-in-law's car to be brought round after its service. They had a beautiful CLA 35 AMG in the showroom so I had a look around. The way the boot opened and closed was an absolute thing of beauty. You could initiate the (purely mechanical) closure with one finger and MB had left the huge chrome-plated springs exposed so you could actually see the mechanism working. I was transfixed! VW could learn a lot from this sort of thing.