The Mega Mk7 Golf GTI/GTD/R thread

carsfan

I spoke to a dealer about this before and was told that dealers will value cars on the year not whether a 1/2 and that mileage and condition are what count.

Foreign Sports

dar83 wrote: »

That wouldn't have been in Newbridge house by any chance would it? I was just leaving there on Sunday when a CSG GTI was going in.

"Car buddy!"

My girlfriend just laughed.

Could have been me....Dirty 151ke.

There are a few gti's in Newbridge. Reflex silver 3Dr PP tends to be about the town alot too.

GustavoFring

Lads, I'm tethering on ordering a similar car - an Octavia RS230. I had an FR184 and have an octy RS184. How is the mpg on the 230. I'd be the first to say it's the least of your concern on a GTI but the octy is more of a hack. It doesn't eat road as well as a GTI and it's the compromise I'm prepared to make with our weekends and having a mutt and all that.

I'm possible going to be doing Limerick to Cork 3 times a week. I've done the maths on what I think it is but how do the owners find the car on A road, not motorway road. I used to do Waterford to cork in the FR and it could do a genuine 60 to the gallon on a return trip. I base my man maths on 40 to the gallon always - it's my minimum when fuelling a petrol. Would it be possible? I'm an easy-going driver, never in a rush but like to pass when I can.

This is man maths but realistic experience appreciated. The other option is to just get a diesel RS Combi in the colour I actually want which is my view of the best octy rs option given its size.

JoeA3

You'll easily average 35-37mpg with commutes like that. 40+ mpg is achievable but you'll need to be taking it very handy. And if you're constantly mpg-watching, what's the point?

Ogogo

JoeA3 wrote: »

Yep it was registered on July 1st.

In my opinion, after 3 or certainly after 4 years anyway, the 161 v 162 value differential would be negligible. If the car was arriving mid-late June I'd hold off. But if it's ready to go in May I'd nearly take it then.

Thanks Joe.

carsfan wrote: »

I spoke to a dealer about this before and was told that dealers will value cars on the year not whether a 1/2 and that mileage and condition are what count.

I should be good on those fronts. I bought my current car new in 08 and have 77000 Km on it and not a blemish.

carsfan

As Joe says 35 to 37 would be doable but 40 plus mpg is very hard to achieve( for me anyway).
To be honest I would be veering towards 35 realistically.
The car is a bit of fun when you rev it out a little and that's the reason you buy it over the diesel anyway. When you do this the mpg suffers.

vintagevrs

I don't own a gti but if 40mpg is your lower limit I would stay clear. You will always be watching the mpg instead of just enjoying it for what it is. As Joe says, what's the point in that?

GustavoFring

JoeA3 wrote: »

You'll easily average 35-37mpg with commutes like that. 40+ mpg is achievable but you'll need to be taking it very handy. And if you're constantly mpg-watching, what's the point?

The point is weekends. Constantly watching wouldn't be the case...more a cautious eye. I'm easy going anyway on the road bud I need someone to back up the man maths Joe:pac:

37 I could life with tbh.

everlast75

Any update on the R drivers and how they are finding their beasts? Still in love? How are the maintenance costs working out? Would you still very much recommend?

GustavoFring

vintagevrs wrote: »

I don't own a gti but if 40mpg is your lower limit I would stay clear. You will always be watching the mpg instead of just enjoying it for what it is. As Joe says, what's the point in that?

I see what you're saying. I could sink the difference into the weekend toy over and over. I've been doing the big miles a long time but I was thinking more along the lines of when the mindset is to cruise to work something that can handle the weekend thrash a bit better is worth doing the maths on. I'd probably be able to cut it down to 7-800km a week with staying with staying over for a break.

JoeA3

GustavoFring wrote: »

The point is weekends. Constantly watching wouldn't be the case...more a cautious eye. I'm easy going anyway on the road bud I need someone to back up the man maths Joe:pac:

37 I could life with tbh.

I remember getting 43-44mpg in the GTI on a run out to Connemara one summer Sunday.... Probably averaging 30-40mph in 5th gear, relaxed Sunday driving. But where's the fun in that. My realistic average was 33-34. The R is averaging 26 :pac:

You change cars frequently. I'd buy whatever you like best and forget about the mpg. You're spending a hell of a lot more on depreciation than you are at the fuel pump.

GustavoFring

JoeA3 wrote: »

I remember getting 43-44mpg in the GTI on a run out to Connemara one summer Sunday.... Probably averaging 30-40mph in 5th gear, relaxed Sunday driving. But where's the fun in that. My realistic average was 33-34. The R is averaging 26 :pac:

You change cars frequently. I'd buy whatever you like best and forget about the mpg. You're spending a hell of a lot more on depreciation than you are at the fuel pump.

I reckon the Limerick to cork road would be not far off those speeds tbh. I'll take an offer of a Cupra for a few days and see how it pans out. I'll add 10% and see how it goes. Just fancy something...a bit more. Can't really fault what I have for what it is mind but I can't seem to find anything that will do what it does without a compromise.

vintagevrs

I was in a similar situation this time last year. I put up 140kish miles on my last car. A diesel, it was quick and refined for what it was but ultimately I wanted a petrol. I now spend more than twice what I used to on fuel doing 20k miles a year but it's a blast. It's very quick. Main problem now is keeping points off my license, or keeping my license altogether. I'm being absolutely serious with that comment too.

The issue with the good mpg mid week and having a blast at the weekend is, it's very hard not to enjoy it all the time. Depreciation, tax, insurance and service costs are all fixed and dwarf fuel costs. For the sake of 40mpg vs 30MPG, just enjoy it all the time. ☺

MisterDrak

everlast75 wrote: »

Any update on the R drivers and how they are finding their beasts? Still in love? How are the maintenance costs working out? Would you still very much recommend?

Everlast,

The R owners must all be board of the cars at this stage, no responses ?

JoeA3

MisterDrak wrote: »

Everlast,

The R owners must all be board of the cars at this stage, no responses ?

I've posted plenty already on this thread about my thoughts on the car. Nothing's really changed so I'd only be repeating myself...

Edit: my only real criticism - and this applies to the GTI too to only a slightly lesser extent - it's a useless car for load lugging / baby stuff.

ondafly

JoeA3 wrote: »

Edit: my only real criticism - and this applies to the GTI too to only a slightly lesser extent - it's a useless car for load lugging / baby stuff.

I can agree somewhat - when we head west, the boot would be full, but now the little one is walking, we can bring less "****e" and thus the car is tip top. So yeah about 18 months of tonnes of baby carp luggin' and then after that its fine until baby number 2 arrives :pac: rinse repeat !

I will say I find the opening on the door fantastic, tonnes of space to get the child into the baby seat, which was really bad on the WRX

JoeA3

ondafly wrote: »

I can agree somewhat - when we head west, the boot would be full, but now the little one is walking, we can bring less "****e" and thus the car is tip top. So yeah about 18 months of tonnes of baby carp luggin' and then after that its fine until baby number 2 arrives :pac: rinse repeat !

I will say I find the opening on the door fantastic, tonnes of space to get the child into the baby seat, which was really bad on the WRX

Yeah door opening and rear seat space is alright, but boot space is a joke and really only useful for a few shopping bags. Any more than that and you're struggling. If I were to chop the car in prematurely, this would be the prime reason.

blingrhino

anybody buy replacement rubber yet?

what type of money we talking 235/35 r19.

Anything but bridgestone considered.

vintagevrs

Not yet, but need some very soon. Fronts are just about legal I'd say. I'm guessing it's gonna be about 280 a corner.

Donnelly117

vintagevrs wrote: »

Not yet, but need some very soon. Fronts are just about legal I'd say. I'm guessing it's gonna be about 280 a corner.

Are they runflats on the R since they stuck a diff in the wheel well? Or is the GTI on runflats too? Theres a spare wheel (space saver) on the FiST which I quite like!

JoeA3

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Are they runflats on the R since they stuck a diff in the wheel well? Or is the GTI on runflats too? Theres a spare wheel (space saver) on the FiST which I quite like!

No, no Golf has runflats. The spare (useless skinny yoke) is the same in GTI and R. The boot floor is higher in the R though.

Paddy@CIRL

Have this for the next week for a story I'm doing on Speedhunters, the new Golf GTE. It's a 150hp 1.4TSI with 125hp electric motor, gives a combined output of around 200hp and 350Nm with a six speed DSG. It's a very interesting car...

Donnelly117

JoeA3 wrote: »

No, no Golf has runflats. The spare (useless skinny yoke) is the same in GTI and R. The boot floor is higher in the R though.

Oh nice! Glad to see manufacturers going back to the option of the spare wheel. Not a hope id be arsed annoying around with a bottle of goo and a pump at the side of the road :rolleyes:

Theyre a 19 inch rim arent they? Would decent tires run to 280 for non runflats? seems expensive?

vintagevrs

Paddy@CIRL wrote: »

Have this for the next week for a story I'm doing on Speedhunters, the new Golf GTE. It's a 150hp 1.4TSI with 125hp electric motor, gives a combined output of around 200hp and 350Nm with a six speed DSG. It's a very interesting car...

Looking forward to your thoughts on it Paddy. If you are doing a shortish commute, is it a GTI with great mpg?

carsfan

Would be interested in your thoughts on the hybrid paddy as I'm half thinking of trading in the gti for the new hybrid bmw 3 series and would love to know what they're like in general to run and what fuel economy they will really give.

Neilw

everlast75 wrote: »

Any update on the R drivers and how they are finding their beasts? Still in love? How are the maintenance costs working out? Would you still very much recommend?

I'm very happy with the car bar one thing, the lights are poor.

By far the worst lights I've had on a car in a long time, last car with halogen lights and lidl bulbs was better.
They have improved slightly but are still not up to the standard xenons in other cars provide. I even paid extra for dynamic lighting which makes them more disappointing.

There are good reports of people swapping the standard xenon bulbs for philips extreme vision xenon bulbs so I may go down that route.

On a positive, it's a really nice car to drive, plenty of power, well put together.
It would be nice if it made a little more real noise, the exhaust note is very tame.

bazz26

JoeA3 wrote: »

I've posted plenty already on this thread about my thoughts on the car. Nothing's really changed so I'd only be repeating myself...

Edit: my only real criticism - and this applies to the GTI too to only a slightly lesser extent - it's a useless car for load lugging / baby stuff.

VW should have brought the Golf R estate here for those who want space as well as performance, or at least offered it as a special order. They already offer it to UK customers so it's already engineered for rhd. I'm guessing the marketing guys here looked at general estate car sales in Ireland and just said no point.

blingrhino

vintagevrs wrote: »

Not yet, but need some very soon. Fronts are just about legal I'd say. I'm guessing it's gonna be about 280 a corner.

quoted pirellis at 140 plus vat ?

vintagevrs

So I'll take the bait and put my thoughts up on the car so far. I am 6 months in and have put up 16k km so far. The car has been pretty much faultless as you would expect for a new car. Mechanically zero issues, and other than the odd gremlin with the headunit (holding the power button to reset sorts it) it has been pretty much perfect.

My car is black and is pretty understated. I wouldn't go as far as calling it a sleeper, it is not a sleeper car to me as my interpretation of a sleeper car is something that looks very ordinary and has a turbo bolted on, or an engine swap. However, in black the Golf attracts little to no attention. A guy came up to me last week and asked "How do you like the Golf, is it the 140 brake?" as I was sat in it. When I said it had 300hp, he then knew what it was and was able to ask if it was the one with 4wd etc, but to him looking at it he just thought it was Golf. I like this about the car, others won't, but to each their own as they say.

It is a very competent car. It's been said 1000 times before in different reviews but it is very true: It will drive you to the shop at a leisurely pace and it's just like any new hatchback. Comfortable, quiet and not much to mention really. However, it will pin you into your seat at the drop of your right foot.


When you start the car the headunit gives a nice R:. welcome logo





As you might see in this photo the dash is a bit of a magnet for dust as it is piano black finish. It looks great when clean, but keeping it dust free is a pain, and I usually just live with it. The GTI I think has a better finish in this regard as it hides the dust better.

The interior also could be more special I feel. It is quite plain, with blue dials and ambient lights and an R badge on the steering wheel. The seats are fine, with good bolstering but I wish they included the seats that they will no doubt release as an option for the facelift. I find they do not go low enough for me.







The GTI Clubsport seats should really be in the R in my opinion. They would really give the car a sense of occasion that it could be argued it is missing now.





Things that are in the R, that are not in other Golfs as far as I am aware. Firstly, "Driver Profile Selection" is a button that enables you to change the setup of the car. When you push it you get the following options.





I do use this from time to time. Rarely do I use Eco mode as it lets the car coast when you let off the throttle and don't apply the brake. This can make the car a little bit jumpy as it continuously engages and disengages the clutch as you drive along. I rarely use Normal as well. It stops the coasting behaviour of the gearbox, and keeps everything in the middle setting. However, the R has an active exhaust and when the gearbox is in D the exhaust flaps close, meaning only 2 of the 4 rear pipes are open. I prefer having the 4 open all the time for 2 reasons. Firstly it sounds better, and secondly I don’t like having two of them nice and shiny as they never get used, with the other two black.


To get the 4 pipes open the DSG box needs to be in sport. However, sport is completely pointless on the public roads. It will rev far too high in every gear even with just 10% throttle. So my typical set up is to have the gearbox in sport, but drive with it in manual. This opens the exhaust and allows me to change up much earlier. The only two modes I flick between then are Race and Individual. Essentially what this does for me is turns on or off the fake cabin noise. It’s on in Race, and off in individual as “interior engine sound” is in Eco. The fake noise does get a bit tiresome, and 95% of the time I have it off.

The driver profile selection button would also be more meaningful for those with adaptive dampers as it also control those. I don’t have this option, and you don’t miss what you never had I suppose. Some owners swear by it, but I find the ride perfectly fine without it.




A normal drive for me would be get in, leave the car in individual with the gearbox in D, until the oil warms up. Then push the DSG stick back to knock it into Sport, and then over into manual and drive as I please then.


The R also has launch control. Not sure, I think the GTi with DSG also gets this. It is really impressive. The revs sit at 4k rpm, let go of the brake and zero to 30 mph is seriously impressive as it uses the 4wd. After that it as quick as it is when it’s up and going normally.

The 4wd is impressive at putting the power down on Irish roads, but the car 100% behaves like a FWD car. Don’t expect any Colin McRae heroics on your way to work.

We don’t get fog lights, or cool spot lights as they are known here. Instead there is some extra cooling. A DSG car gets two extra rads, one on each side, where as a manual I believe will only have one as one is for the DSG box.



A big question regarding the R is always fuel economy. I am getting 25.9mpg, from 44 fill ups calculated properly. The car’s on board computer in fairness isn’t too far out. I do enjoy the car, and it will use much less fuel if you don’t spin the turbo up, but that’s not what the car is for.









Summary of the car would be, it’s a fast Golf

everlast75

vintagevrs wrote: »

...............

Cheers - really appreciate that :):)