GTI Ed30 - a few questions!

[p3eps]

Hi folks...
I'm looking for a new car and test drove the GTI Edition 30 at the weekend.  It was Specialist Cars in Aberdeen and it was a black one!  After a test drive on both Sat and Sun I decided I wanted the car - and the dealer told me there was 1 grey one built and sitting waiting for a home - so I ordered it.  Unfortunately someone must have ordered it before me, and today the dealer said that I'll have to order a new one and wait the 12+ weeks build/delivery time.

The built car was totally standard with no optional extras - so now I have the option to choose what I want.

I'm tempted by the xenons as they make a big difference when driving in the dark, and they look much cooler.  I would certainly want the armrest, as the space looks bare without it.  I think I'd still want the grey colour... my last car was a white Integra and a nightmare to keep clean, and my previous 2 were both black and also a nightmare to keep clean.  The highline computer for £50 is probably worth taking too.

The thing I am unsure about is the stereo / ipod adapter.  I currently still have an Alpine 9855R headunit with the ipod adapter.  It worked great in my last car, but how easy is it to install an aftermarket stereo into a Mk5 golf?  I've been looking for a tutorial, but cant really find anything.  I know I can get a fascia online, but does the golf have standard ISO plugs that'll plug straight in?
If swapping the stereo is a simple job, then I'll just take the factory stereo and swap it.
Its its a pain, then I might be tempted to upgrade to a 6x changer and an iPod adapter in the armrest.  Can anyone tell me how good the iPod adapter is?  Does it display track names, artists etc?  Can you look through and select playlists?  I'm assuming you can control it using the stereo rather than the ipod itself (or the multifunction steering wheel?).  Does it charge the iPod when its plugged in?

Any opinions and info about stereo's / iPod adapters would be very welcome (or any links to previous posts as I'm not very good with the search function!)

Cheers... Pete

[phope]

hey, good choice 

I picked mine up from Specialist Cars last Thursday - I had ordered mine around the beginning of Nov when the car was announced formally. I chose the xenons, highline computer, ipod prep and armrest, parking sensors and the multifunction wheel. Unfortunately, they missed the multifunction wheel off the order (Admitted their mistake) so if you do order one, make sure they order the right spec you are wanting

Ipod adaptor works great, IMHO. Sound quality is fine

The main drawback is that it simply replaces the CD changer. I ordered the basic RCD300 head unit, and it, along with the upgraded RCD500 simply sees it as 6 selectable playlists (equivalent of 6 CDs in the "changer")

No ID3 tags are displayed, but you can flick back and forth through the songs with the head unit control.
You can't however use the headunit to search through the Ipod as you would do normally

You're welcome to pop round (I'm just out of the city centre) and see the ipod function in the head unit, to help you make up your mind

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Xenons are an absolute must, IMHO.  Once you've had a car with 'em, you'll never want to go back to halogens.

Reflex Silver looks the mutts, doesn't show up the crud, has the "Q car" look to it, and would be an easy re-sell colour.

The ICE . . . don't really touch aftermarket stuff myself, but I have the SatNav and 6cd changer, and it is fairly good - not on a par with the Bose in my Audi, but not far off.

Don't go for the "Soundpack" option, others have said it's pants.

I-pod - what's that then . . . some kind of manly beer belly - it's mine, and I'm proud of it . . .           

The highline is good for twiddling with some settings which would otherwise require a trip to the stealer.

Oh, one thing you didn't mention - DSG - feckin' go for it - it's superb!

[Russ.C]

Just a point about the ipod connection.  Although you can only choose playlists from the headunit, you can choose an album on the actual ipod, press play and just plug it back into armrest, the album can then be controlled from the headunit like a normal CD. A bit of a nuisance but handy if you have you entire collection on an ipod video like me  No different to changing a CD while driving I suppose 

[Hully]

Does anyone know how many Ed30s are left to order out of the 1500 for the UK?  When I spoke to my dealer he said that he'd sold all his allocation. He did however have one canx order, which was in steel grey in the pound for sale.  But the upshot was that he did'nt think he could order anymore.

[Nathan]

When I was ording mine in early February, half the dealers up hear in the north east said they had sold there allocation and where not getting any more!

There is a company on autotrader that has a black and a silver one up for £26995 at the minute and this is what is said on the advert, not sure whether it is true or not!

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF EDITION 30 GTI 07 REGFINANCE AVAILABLE. Only 1500 cars being made all orders at V W have gone,07 plate, Xenons 6 disc changer met paint ,winter pack.half leather & Heated seats, Dont be disappointed order now. £26,995

[Simonet]

I'm picking mine up tonight    so I'll ask the question!

[Phil mcavity]

there are hundreds of edition 30's available.Even dealers have ones they are giving away with 3000 miles on the clock or so , for about 22k ALREADY!. go to http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used_cars/find. and feast your eyes.Considering vw cant make standard GTi's that quick, i expect they will be available to order for another year yet.

[p3eps]

The steel grey one in the pound was probably the one I ordered at the weekend, but someone had already beaten me to it!

My iPod connector on my Alpine unit sounds like it works better so I'll maybe just see about buying the car with a standard stereo and fitting the Alpine one myself.  Any tutorials going about??  I've found one on how to get the standard stereo out - but cant find anything about whether the plugs will fit an ISO stereo?

[Simonet]

As Phil says, they haven't been all sold and there are a few around and not bad money. I don't think they'll be here in a year though! Maybe worth missing the waiting list and getting a 56 plate eh? Mmm easy for me to say when I've got mine