The Mega Mk7 Golf GTI/GTD/R thread

theintern

Apparently Western Motors are closing completely after today. Strange, given that car repair is explicitly called out as an essential service. Surprised they're not keeping the service centres open.

7. Retailers involved in the repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle repair and related facilities (eg. tyre sales and repairs);

Slippin Jimmy

theintern wrote: »

Apparently Western Motors are closing completely after today. Strange, given that car repair is explicitly called out as an essential service. Surprised they're not keeping the service centres open.

7. Retailers involved in the repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle repair and related facilities (eg. tyre sales and repairs);

I wonder is it mandatory or if it is a requirement. My car is due a service with the main dealer in June/July. If things haven't improved I will be postponing it.

Toyotafanboi

They are probably closing because it isn't feasible to run even a limited crew of staff and open the business when demand dropped back to virtually nil overnight.

Parts supply for VAG group is difficult now too. Dealers were advised to put a big order in last week to tide them over. As of yesterday I believe there is no regular supply. They will look at delivering individual components from UK distribution case by case and only with a good reason.

I suppose car repair is only an essential service to a select few when most of us are supposed to be isolating as much as possible. Some dealers are offering appointment only work for people who need their car and are stuck.

dastardly00

theintern wrote: »

Apparently Western Motors are closing completely after today. Strange, given that car repair is explicitly called out as an essential service. Surprised they're not keeping the service centres open.

Not true.

Western Motors Galway have made some changes, but they haven't completely closed. Their service department is still open, and their sales team are working remotely.

https://www.westernmotors.ie/galway-statement

JoeA3

Yep, the service desk is open (with expected restrictions) and if you're one of the few out there who wants to splurge on a new car, the sales guys will take your call... Its a tough time to be in car sales, I can only imagine.

dastardly00

JoeA3 wrote: »

Yep, the service desk is open (with expected restrictions) and if you're one of the few out there who wants to splurge on a new car, the sales guys will take your call... Its a tough time to be in car sales, I can only imagine.

My partner is awaiting delivery of a new e-Golf at the moment so they'll be getting some revenue soon :pac:

It's at the port in the Netherlands waiting to ship.

dar83

JoeA3 wrote: »

Yep, the service desk is open (with expected restrictions) and if you're one of the few out there who wants to splurge on a new car, the sales guys will take your call... Its a tough time to be in car sales, I can only imagine.

just like a lot of industries, this experience will help push the next wave of customer interaction, remove the need for many salesmen in showrooms and move things mostly online, with a portion of the (in future smaller) premises being made as a mini showroom/store similar to Tesla experience.

theintern

dastardly00 wrote: »

Not true.

Western Motors Galway have made some changes, but they haven't completely closed. Their service department is still open, and their sales team are working remotely.

https://www.westernmotors.ie/galway-statement

I assumed that must be the case, I had some second hand info that they were closing, so a friend had to rush his car into them to get it sorted, the lad on the phone must have had the wrong end of the stick so.

DaveyDave

dastardly00 wrote: »

My partner is awaiting delivery of a new e-Golf at the moment so they'll be getting some revenue soon :pac:

It's at the port in the Netherlands waiting to ship.

Hopefully it's not delayed too long. eGolf is a lovely drive.

Jealous of preheating. Hate getting into a freezing car at 6am or 1am going to/from work.

DaveyDave

So it seems one of the weights has disappeared from my front driver side alloy. Might explain why the car felt a bit off recently but I wasn't sure if it was in my head or not...

What's the best way to get a new one and make sure it's secured in place?

hooch-85

DaveyDave wrote: »

So it seems one of the weights has disappeared from my front driver side alloy. Might explain why the car felt a bit off recently but I wasn't sure if it was in my head or not...

What's the best way to get a new one and make sure it's secured in place?

Balance weight? Go to a tyre shop and get the wheel re-balanced with a new weight.

Logan Roy

Plenty of time to clean the Up lately. Fitted 4x Pirelli P Zero Nero GT a few weeks ago, very impressed so far.

vintagevrs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf3B1R0VihY

carsfan2

I was on the VW website last night and was surprised the new golf is on at 0% pcp finance already.
I did not think they would launch a new model at this.
Also, I guess the new performance models will not really be around until 2021 now.

kooga

carsfan2 wrote: »

I was on the VW website last night and was surprised the new going golf is on at 0% pcp finance already.
I did not think they would launch a new model at this.
Also, I guess the new performance models will not really be around until 2021 now.

I think that's more of a response to the market being dead! nobody is going to commit to putting new metal on their driveway in these uncertain times.

CIP4

carsfan2 wrote: »

I was on the VW website last night and was surprised the new golf is on at 0% pcp finance already.
I did not think they would launch a new model at this.
Also, I guess the new performance models will not really be around until 2021 now.

I can't imagine there will be a queue to buy them now or anytime in the coming months. Has turned out to be terrible timing for the Mk8 to launch.

What will likely happen is if the Irish economy takes a hit and a lot of people end up being unemployed then you'll have a lot of people who are in a position to buy new cars just won't as when so many are struggling you won't want to be driving around in a brand new car. Sales will be slow on the standard model Mk8 never mind the GTI/R models. I wonder is there many Mk8s actually even in stock yet as I suppose all the factories are closed now and they were only starting to come to dealers here.

carsfan2

Terrible timing and I’ve read that their next big thing, the id3 has some major software issues that haven’t been resolved and they can’t produce a running car as a result. They can build them but they can’t drive...

Another thing I noticed on the VW site was that all the promotional pics for the gti show it with the bigger option wheels. It’s as if they realize the standard ones are rubbish.

vintagevrs

A new GTi now would probably hold its value unusually well in two to three years when people like me look for the new shape with the first couple years depreciation off them and there will be hardly any available.

drunkmonkey

vintagevrs wrote: »

A new GTi now would probably hold its value unusually well in two to three years when people like me look for the new shape with the first couple years depreciation off them and there will be hardly any available.

Yea but a 911 with the cheap tax will be about the same price. There's nothing about the mk8 that makes you think I need to buy one of those. A tidy mk7 with a tune would be more fun.

noelf

Golf R owners and potential owners worth watching this from Volkswizard


https://youtu.be/XJ212FeHKXY

Toyotafanboi

I think its impressive how he managed to bash the brand and the dealers in pretty much every point.

Aside from the coolant issue it was very generic. Check specs, check service history, do a history check, might have stone chips, might have a buckled alloys.

Sniff the drivers seat base and if it smells like **** then the previous owner may have been farting on it. If it still smells after leaving the door open its due to VW's cost cutting and bad seat design and the brand wont cover smelly seats under warranty.

JoeA3

I didn’t see him “bashing the brand” at all I must have watched a different video...

That guy is a complete VW nut, a “fanboy”. Bashing VW isn’t something he does. His comments were all fair and accurate imo. The paint work is weak on them (it is on most modern cars tbf). The chocolate clutch issue is well known. The Pretoria wheels are lovely but do buckle easily. And the coolant issue is common. I had that one myself.

Toyotafanboi

I see what you did there with the fanboy thing, it's about as edgy as that video

Yeah his points are fair and accurate but mostly generic. You could have put any VAG product from the last decade behind him in the video and most of the points would have applied.

What was specific to the R? The coolant leaks and 17 onwards models got nav and heated seats as standard. In depth stuff.

Not a bad pre purchasing video for any car, but really not much info specifically geared towards the R, unfortunately, IMO.

JoeA3

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I see what you did there with the fanboy thing, it's about as edgy as that video

Yeah his points are fair and accurate but mostly generic. You could have put any VAG product from the last decade behind him in the video and most of the points would have applied.

What was specific to the R? The coolant leaks and 17 onwards models got nav and heated seats as standard. In depth stuff.

Not a bad pre purchasing video for any car, but really not much info specifically geared towards the R, unfortunately, IMO.

There was no attempt on my part at being “edgy”. That guy is a well known and respected VW nut, fanboy, whatever edgy term you fancy yourself.

The Pretoria wheels and the clutch were R specific yes. As were the comments on the stolen/recovered concerns.

I think you’re looking for holes where there are none tbh. There’s a lot of rubbish on YouTube but I thought that was worth the 5 or 6 minute watch for anyone new to the brand in particular who is interested in buying one.

AutoMan79

Looks like it's turning into a garage queen

tossy

Volkswizard is an enthusiast, i has an 8L S3 years ago that he sourced was a fine car but he has had a serious anti VW vibe to his videos of late - i think he must have been burnt in some shape or form. The R buying guide doesn't seem especially anti VW though compared to some of his others of late.

theintern

I think it's a pretty good video. I got all that info from Joe before buying my GTI anyway, but it's a good video. The App Connect thing isn't obvious, it's hard to even explain to people what they need to look for in pictures for that. And the coolant issue is very common, as everyone on this thread will be aware. Seems to happen more often than not. I had mine done a couple of months ago.

If anything it came across that he's disappointed in the brand that he likes so much having those issues.

tossy

theintern wrote: »

I think it's a pretty good video. I got all that info from Joe before buying my GTI anyway, but it's a good video. The App Connect thing isn't obvious, it's hard to even explain to people what they need to look for in pictures for that. And the coolant issue is very common, as everyone on this thread will be aware. Seems to happen more often than not. I had mine done a couple of months ago.

If anything it came across that he's disappointed in the brand that he likes so much having those issues.

He didn't mention anything about the silica gel bags in the expansion tank, or Haldex servicing though did he ? I did skip a little.

Toyotafanboi

He did mention Haldex but not the silica issue, didnt mention the infamous rainwater ingress issues either, not that they are R exclusive but still definitely something to watch for buying used. But he did make you aware to check for stone chips.

tossy

Did he mention the fact there is no longer a filter and main dealers aren't removing pumps to clean the guaze that's getting blocked with gunk.