The Mega Mk7 Golf GTI/GTD/R thread

fletch · 07-05-2019 12:07PM

Some others pros and cons (to the Polo GTI) I noticed (and comparisons to my old car)

Pros

DSG mapping is much better in the Polo than the Fabia. The Fabia would try lumber around corners in 4th/5th gear, often changing down to 3rd abruptly mid corner. The Polo seems to be able to predict a sharper corner/roundabout, and drop down to 2nd/3rd gear before the corner.
LED lights are incredible. Have only ever driven a car with halogens before. Love the instantaneous light up.
Auto start-stop is really smart as it starts the car when it detects the cars ahead moving off, rather than waiting for the driver to move their feet
Love the way the adaptive cruise will begin accelerating when you indicate to overtake, even though it starts to violate the preset distance from the car in front.

Cons

No deadlocks
Storage is a bit poor, no underseat storage, no curry hooks in the boot, no bin.
No grab handles
Sound system is a bit lacking (would have upgraded to the Beats audio but not an option in Ireland)
While it has Auto lights, there is no high-beam assist
Biggest disappointment of all is the lack of the Sports Select chassis. All UK cars come with it AFAIK so I had assumed it would be standard. I had looked forward to being able to select between sport and more importantly comfort.
While adaptive cruise is great, it doesn't seem to come with Traffic Jam Assist. (I assume)The technology is there so I wonder if it can be enabled with VCDS, although perhaps it requires the auto handbrake? Edit - It appears it does have this I just wasn't using it correctly.
Steering wheel controls are a bit fussy. In particular it's a stretch to increase the volume. The Fabia had a roller rather than a button for the volume and it worked much better.
The cruise control goes up in increments of 10km/h. I would prefer 5km/h increments. Will investigate if this variable can be changed in VCDS.
While glass radio and piano black insert looks lovely when clean, they pick up finger prints way too easily. Having to constantly wipe them down.

Neilw · 07-05-2019 01:21PM

With a bit of digging you probably could have found the code for beats audio and sports select and had the dealer special order them.

kooga · 07-05-2019 01:26PM

Neilw wrote: »

With a bit of digging you probably could have fond the code for beats audio and sports select and had the dealer special order them.

9VG

fletch · 07-05-2019 01:27PM

Neilw wrote: »

With a bit of digging you probably could have fond the code for beats audio and sports select and had the dealer special order them.

Yeh...not too bothered about the audio but Sports Select I am disappointed about. I just assumed Sports Select was standard as every review I watched mentioned it was standard. Ah well, I'll survive

JoeA3 · 07-05-2019 01:32PM

fletch wrote: »

I just assumed Sports Select was standard as every review I watched mentioned it was standard.

Be careful watching reviews that mention standard spec. Most of them are UK reviewers and standard spec differs from region to region.

JoeA3 · 07-05-2019 01:34PM

fletch wrote: »

[*]The cruise control goes up in increments of 10km/h. I would prefer 5km/h increments. Will investigate if this variable can be changed in VCDS.
[/LIST]

I assume its the same as the Golf wheel, and you can go up in 1 kph increments on that. It's a different button on the wheel to go up/down by 1. Can't remember what it is now mind you.

JoeA3 · 07-05-2019 01:37PM

dastardly00 wrote: »

It's been 3 months and 6,000 km of great driving in my Golf GTI
... but the inevitable has happened... I've got my first scuff mark/scratch

And of course it's on a diamond-cut wheel (19" Brescia). I drove over 800 km at the weekend and it happened sometime then but I haven't a clue how. I didn't kerb it as I'm particularly careful when parking.

Do I need to worry now about the lacquer peeling and corrosion/white-worm? Thoughts?

Feel the pain, did the same thing a few weeks ago to a worse degree :mad:

Yeah, it could start corroding, but oddly I always have noticed that this tends to be more of a problem after tyre fitter damage than kerbing.

You could try dabbing some clear lacquer on it. Or bite the bullet and get it refurbed. Not many places in the country do it, those that come recommended are in the Dublin area, e.g. Rim Solutions.

fletch · 07-05-2019 01:42PM

JoeA3 wrote: »

I assume its the same as the Golf wheel, and you can go up in 1 kph increments on that. It's a different button on the wheel to go up/down by 1. Can't remember what it is now mind you.

Yes reading online and it seems by holding RES/SET you can go up/down in 1km/h increments.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2019 03:22PM

Wow, I knew new Polo/Ibiza are a lot bigger, but did not expected it to be that big.

The more I see it, the more I like it. In fact, it's perfect for me. Problem is 35k price tag for me. Unfortunately I am very careful man and I know it's too much for me if I want to keep my current financial stability.

Ron Burgundy II · 07-05-2019 03:30PM

JoeA3 wrote: »

I assume its the same as the Golf wheel, and you can go up in 1 kph increments on that. It's a different button on the wheel to go up/down by 1. Can't remember what it is now mind you.

yeah, the Res and Set buttons will increase or decrease the speed by 1km/hr. but the cruise control will need to be set (green light) first.

Sorry, I didn't see Fletch's reply.

theintern · 07-05-2019 05:05PM

dastardly00 wrote: »

It's been 3 months and 6,000 km of great driving in my Golf GTI
... but the inevitable has happened... I've got my first scuff mark/scratch

And of course it's on a diamond-cut wheel (19" Brescia). I drove over 800 km at the weekend and it happened sometime then but I haven't a clue how. I didn't kerb it as I'm particularly careful when parking.

Do I need to worry now about the lacquer peeling and corrosion/white-worm? Thoughts?

Condolences, my wheels are 19" Brescias too

I had to drive over bumpy sand at the weekend (long story) and haven't looked closely for scuffs yet, but praying they're ok.

Rim Solutions as mentioned are well reviewed it seems for refurbs and Wheel Wizards is another name that comes up a lot.

There are a crowd doing Diamond Cut refurb in Galway, they're the only ones I could see when I was looking into it, but I haven't heard anything about them so can't recommend them or otherwise. They have a good few pics on facebook so seem to be legit.

https://www.facebook.com/quinnautostyling/

EDIT - Dear God. I just checked their page. Check this job out. How can you possibly ruin an alloy that badly??

https://www.facebook.com/quinnautostyling/posts/2168697093184567

SaintsYB · 07-05-2019 10:20PM

theintern wrote: »

How can you possibly ruin an alloy that badly??

The only way I can think of is that they thought "Oh there's another kerb, let me destroy my alloy just a little more".

theintern · 07-05-2019 11:02PM

SaintsYB wrote: »

The only way I can think of is that they thought "Oh there's another kerb, let me destroy my alloy just a little more".

Maybe the previous owner likes the 'distressed jeans' look and wanted the same for their alloys..

SaintsYB · 07-05-2019 11:58PM

theintern wrote: »

Maybe the previous owner likes the 'distressed jeans' look and wanted the same for their alloys..

All credit to the lads who did the refurb though, it looks like a brand new alloy.

theintern · 08-05-2019 10:00AM

SaintsYB wrote: »

All credit to the lads who did the refurb though, it looks like a brand new alloy.

I'm struggling to see it as the same one. Fair play to them.

JoeA3 · 08-05-2019 10:50AM

It looks like a great job, but I'd like to see it in person to judge it right, ideally next to an original non-refurbed wheel to see if I can see any difference. If they had to cut it back a lot, then there's got to be a slight difference in the thickness of the rim, distance between the spokes, etc.

Also, will it stand the test of time... I've seen too many diamond cut refurbs go to sh1t only a few months later. The refurb'd finish often seems not to be as resilient as the factory finish (and that's far from resilient in itself!).

hooch-85 · 08-05-2019 10:51AM

Has anyone inquired about their pricing? My Nogaro wheels were poorly refurbed before I bought my car and need to be done again. I'm even considering powdercoating in grey as the diamond cut is too hard to keep, below would be the look i'm going for.
This car is lowered on VWR springs and has spacers, how i'd like my car to turn out over time if I don't sell it, I've an awful GTI/R itch to scratch!!

dar83 · 08-05-2019 04:32PM

The grey with red would be a definite yes from me. I contemplated doing my Austins in a similar colour too before i changed them. I'm not a fan of diamond cut at all really and without damaging them yourself it's really only a matter of time before they go to crap due to the elements.

If it helps you could actually plastidip them that near exact colour easily enough to see if you like it first, before you take the plunge. I had the wheels on my ST that colour for quite a while using plastidip.

Killinator · 08-05-2019 05:51PM

dar83 wrote: »

The grey with red would be a definite yes from me. I contemplated doing my Austins in a similar colour too before i changed them. I'm not a fan of diamond cut at all really and without damaging them yourself it's really only a matter of time before they go to crap due to the elements.

If it helps you could actually plastidip them that near exact colour easily enough to see if you like it first, before you take the plunge. I had the wheels on my ST that colour for quite a while using plastidip.

Did you find the plastidip chipped very easily or did you seal it somehow?

dar83 · 08-05-2019 06:12PM

Killinator wrote: »

Did you find the plastidip chipped very easily or did you seal it somehow?

Not at all. It's like a rubber coating, but it doesn't quite look like one unless you touch it, then you feel it's not exactly hardened to the touch.

The main thing to ensure with plastidip is that you apply it correctly. People that tend to give out about it either don't prep correctly or they apply it in the wrong way. That's when you'll have issues, otherwise it'll be as good as when you have put it on, until you take it off and that includes using wheel cleaner, snow foam and the power hose on it, which i did regularly enough.

i'd go as far to say it would actually help protect against stone chips etc... as none of the wheels I had it on had any marks on them at all and it was on there for nearly two years. The only reason it came off was because i hit a pothole and it lifted off one of the wheels at the impact zone. Also changing tyres will probably lift it as well, so it's best to do it just after you get fresh rubber to get the longest out of it.

Killinator · 08-05-2019 06:35PM

dar83 wrote: »

Not at all. It's like a rubber coating, but it doesn't quite look like one unless you touch it, then you feel it's not exactly hardened to the touch.

The main thing to ensure with plastidip is that you apply it correctly. People that tend to give out about it either don't prep correctly or they apply it in the wrong way. That's when you'll have issues, otherwise it'll be as good as when you have put it on, until you take it off and that includes using wheel cleaner, snow foam and the power hose on it, which i did regularly enough.

i'd go as far to say it would actually help protect against stone chips etc... as none of the wheels I had it on had any marks on them at all and it was on there for nearly two years. The only reason it came off was because i hit a pothole and it lifted off one of the wheels at the impact zone. Also changing tyres will probably lift it as well, so it's best to do it just after you get fresh rubber to get the longest out of it.

Ah yeah I used it before when I had the GTI in Gulf orange and blue.
My brother had it on his A6 as he wanted a black grille surround but found it chipped too much.
Though he may have used a plastidip alternative and not plastdip itself

Raisins · 13-05-2019 12:01PM

JoeA3 wrote: »

SaintsYB wrote: »

.

.

As for locking nuts... any thief worth his salt won't be deterred by those. They can be drilled out easily enough. I've also seen cases where they break into the car in order to get the unlocking bolt from the boot - so it might be an idea to hide that somewhere else. Of course, the alarm is standard on an R and it should trigger if a window is broken or the car is lifted off the ground.

Just bumping this previous chat. Finally got a golf. It has 18” Jurvas. Wondering if anyone has any security tips for protecting the wheels of how common that theft is? Friend had a lucky escape in his Audi recently. Drove on motorway without realising only the locked nut was left on one of the wheels of his car. Saw the warning light. Wheel sheared off after he pulled into a petrol station.

The VW dealer told me unprompted while he was running through the car to hide the unlocking bolt in the glove compartment.

Toyotafanboi · 13-05-2019 12:11PM

Have seen a few examples of wheels stolen from Golfs in the last few years, every time the car has lock nuts, the car has been ransacked to get to the lock nut key.

Smash the rear screen, rip out the parcel shelf, boot contents and carpet etc to get to the key, the proceed to steal the wheels is the general path they take with Golfs, it's obviously now common knowledge with the scum.

For this reason, I think i'd give the locking wheel nuts a miss, full stop. If they've rocked up to steal your wheels, then find you have lock nuts, they are going to wreck the rest of the car for the key anyway.

I'd rather find the car, intact just sitting on blocks than find it sitting on blocks with a couple of smashed windows and my belongings all over the place.

JoeA3 · 13-05-2019 12:34PM

Yeah, happened to a friend of mine a couple of years ago. They smashed the rear screen but also took the rear light clusters while they were at it. Scum.

13-05-2019 02:39PM

Lock nuts are pain and I’ve personally never heard of anyone have or have an attempted even on stealing their wheels.

I got them removed of our most recently purchased car and just put on normal ones.

ChuckLarry · 13-05-2019 04:08PM

A theory I believe in, which applies for having your car stolen as well, is that there is no single measure which will stop a thief for stealing something, instead the idea is to make it as unattractive as possible to them, so locknuts, parking your car up your driveway out of site, in view of a camera on your house, alarm with sensors if car is jacked up etc etc

Nothing on its own will stop a thief but they might say hey why go after this when there’s a car on the next street with no locknuts parked in a dark corner

Just a thought

ChuckLarry · 13-05-2019 05:17PM

Does anyone have any recent experience in how long a delivery time to expect from car landing in Dublin to being at the dealership? Car is finally on the boat after a long 6 months

Fletch how long did your polo take?

Thanks

MidMan25 · 13-05-2019 07:27PM

ChuckLarry wrote: »

Does anyone have any recent experience in how long a delivery time to expect from car landing in Dublin to being at the dealership? Car is finally on the boat after a long 6 months

Fletch how long did your polo take?

Thanks

About a week but depending on timing could be as little as a few days.

If i lands Monday/Tuesday theres a good chance you'll be able to pick it up that weekend.

Comhrá · 13-05-2019 07:56PM

Not wanting to hijack the thread but have the WLTP issues that impacted lead times so badly for VW/Audi been fully addressed by now?

ChuckLarry · 13-05-2019 08:38PM

Comhra wrote: »

Not wanting to hijack the thread but have the WLTP issues that impacted lead times so badly for VW/Audi been fully addressed by now?

From my understanding the issues themselves have been resolved but the delays have caused a backlog which hasn’t been cleared yet, if your looking for a 201 reg you’d probably need to order now to have it in time for January

The mk8 should be going into production soon (unless it’s been pushed back) which will put more pressure on the factory again

The Mega Mk7 Golf GTI/GTD/R thread

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