The Mega Mk7 Golf GTI/GTD/R thread

Comhrá · 27-02-2020 01:59PM

Looks matter very much to car enthusiasts. I was all set to get a new 2020 Audi A4 to replace my 161 A4......until I saw the facelift model.

I tried hard to love it but I really disliked it, even in the flesh, and settled for a new Passat R-Line instead.

Car lovers can be a very picky bunch.

Logan Roy · 27-02-2020 02:44PM

maddness wrote: »

Does anyone honestly believe that the looks really matter on the new GTI?.

What a strange comment...

The front looks brutal, agreed the rest looks very similar to previous gens.

Maybe it will look better in the metal but they nailed it with the Mk7.

Logan Roy · 27-02-2020 02:45PM

Comhra wrote: »

Looks matter very much to car enthusiasts. I was all set to get a new 2020 Audi A4 to replace my 161 A4......until I saw the facelift model.

I tried hard to love it but I really disliked it, even in the flesh, and settled for a new Passat R-Line instead.

Car lovers can be a very picky bunch.

Passat R-line is a great looking machine!

maddness · 27-02-2020 02:48PM

Logan Roy wrote: »

What a strange comment...

The front looks brutal, agreed the rest looks very similar to previous gens.

Maybe it will look better in the metal but they nailed it with the Mk7.

I suppose what I really mean is the car is gonna sell brilliantly like it always does regardless of somewhat strange looks.

everlast75 · 27-02-2020 02:56PM

maddness wrote: »

I suppose what I really mean is the car is gonna sell brilliantly like it always does regardless of somewhat strange looks.

The new Civic Type R would like a word...

Logan Roy · 27-02-2020 03:02PM

maddness wrote: »

I suppose what I really mean is the car is gonna sell brilliantly like it always does regardless of somewhat strange looks.

It'll probably end up growing on us all!

Wailin · 27-02-2020 03:32PM

I think the GTD looks very nice, far nicer than the GTI especially those wheels. That DRL across the bonnet is a bit crap though, not a fan at all.

Interior looks good, although not sure I like the "mini" gear selector. I guess it does give a less cluttered look.

carsfan2 · 27-02-2020 04:04PM

I think the reason the gtd looks better in the presentation is the larger better looking alloy and the grey colour is nicer than flat red and white of the other two.
It’s unusual though for a gti not to look good in the classic red colour. Overall the gti looks frumpy And bloated but I think those standard alloys really detracts from the overall look.
Inside is good especially the seats
I have a feeling that a dsg gti with upgraded alloys and a few extras will be a 50k car though.

orangeparrot · 27-02-2020 04:21PM

hooch-85 wrote: »

That's true, it's a damned sight better looking than the new 1 series.

I think the Cupra might be a better looker overall.

I was looking forward to seeing what VW came up with, but I agree I think the Cupra looks better, minus the badge. Tempted to swap from my Cupra 280, but will have to see it in person first!

everlast75 · 27-02-2020 04:29PM

Any views on this GTi please?

https://www.carsireland.ie/car-dealers/county/dublin/autoviva-motors/detail.php?ad_id=2494243&r=s.php%3F%26g%3D1

SaintsYB · 27-02-2020 05:41PM

carsfan2 wrote: »

I think the reason the gtd looks better in the presentation is the larger better looking alloy and the grey colour is nicer than flat red and white of the other two.
It’s unusual though for a gti not to look good in the classic red colour. Overall the gti looks frumpy And bloated but I think those standard alloys really detracts from the overall look.
Inside is good especially the seats
I have a feeling that a dsg gti with upgraded alloys and a few extras will be a 50k car though.

It's actually a metallic red now on the Mk8.

carsfan2 · 27-02-2020 06:10PM

SaintsYB wrote: »

It's actually a metallic red now on the Mk8.

Won’t be a free colour any more so☹️.

On first impressions the Seat Cupra is the better looking car. It will be interesting to see the comparison reviews.

User1998 · 27-02-2020 06:24PM

everlast75 wrote: »

Any views on this GTi please?

https://www.carsireland.ie/car-dealers/county/dublin/autoviva-motors/detail.php?ad_id=2494243&r=s.php%3F%26g%3D1

Saw a few posts about that garage selling clocked/crashed cars

SaintsYB · 27-02-2020 06:54PM

carsfan2 wrote: »

Won’t be a free colour any more so☹️.

On first impressions the Seat Cupra is the better looking car. It will be interesting to see the comparison reviews.

It probably won't be, unfortunately.

The Cupra looks like a far better thought-out car to me. It looks like an evolution of the last model, which was a very nice looking car itself.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 27-02-2020 07:21PM

carsfan2 wrote: »

Won’t be a free colour any more so☹️.

On first impressions the Seat Cupra is the better looking car. It will be interesting to see the comparison reviews.

Seat is gone, it’s a Cupra Leon now

maddness · 27-02-2020 07:29PM

I’ve just watched the Carwow YouTube video on the new GTI and it looks better than in pictures and the metallic red looks like a great colour too.
I’ll reserve judgment on it until I see one on the roads here, plenty of cars I’ve seen online and not liked have looked a lot better in the metal. Plenty have looked worse too!

drunkmonkey · 27-02-2020 07:45PM

The M135i is testament to that, great looking car in the flesh.

hooch-85 · 27-02-2020 08:20PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

The M135i is testament to that, great looking car in the flesh.

I hope you're not talking about the new one cos it's hideous.

ShadowHearth · 27-02-2020 08:30PM

OSI wrote: »

Of course the looks matter. Skipped the Mk6 entirely myself cause it looked like a Chinese knock off of the Mk5.

For petrol head looks matters. We all had cars, which we park, and walk away from, but before we go, we have another look at it.
And then we all had cars, that we just get out of, lock it, and walk away.

I always preferred Cupra, then went Golf and lastly Octavia.
In this new generation it's Cupra, then Octavia and golf dead last. It just looks.... Meh. As someone mentioned already, Megane RS lights just don't work.... It does not work for Megane too.

L-M · 27-02-2020 09:18PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

The M135i is testament to that, great looking car in the flesh.

That new 1 series has to be the worst looking car on the road.

drunkmonkey · 27-02-2020 09:26PM

hooch-85 wrote: »

I hope you're not talking about the new one cos it's hideous.

I thought it looked hideous in pictures really liked it up close, the proper m not a fake one.

Max Q · 27-02-2020 10:03PM

Just re-watched that Autogefuhl video and big thing that sticks out aside from the styling which is subjective is the cheapness and backward steps VW have taken from the Mk7.

Here's some that stuck out:
Hydraulic bonnet strut removed
Door sill led light and metal GTI scuff plates removed
The rear diffuser is a block of solid plastic, honeycomb detail removed
The engine cover is a generic cover, VW logo and TSI logo removed
Key hole visible in front doors, plastic cover removed
245bhp engine but they drop the mechanical limited slip diff for an XDS system (current 245bhp GTI comes with the mechanical diff)

Also it doesn't look like they have properly painted all internal surfaces, like under the bonnet.

carsfan2 · 27-02-2020 10:06PM

Sat into BMW m135i in the dealer.
I have to agree with Drunkmonkey a much better looking car in the metal. Still not going to win any beauty contests mind.
The new Ford Focus ST is the best looker outside I think of the current generation of hot hatches.

Wailin · 27-02-2020 10:30PM

Same here, sat in one yesterday and very impressed with it's interior. Streets ahead of the current golf and it felt very spacious. It looks way better in the metal.

hooch-85 · 28-02-2020 09:54AM

I don't know lads, i can't get over that front grill and headlights. It just looks wrong to me.

@MaxQ I agree, it really looks as if they have taken a step backwards build quality wise.

carsfan2 · 28-02-2020 10:58AM

hooch-85 wrote: »

I don't know lads, i can't get over that front grill and headlights. It just looks wrong to me.

@MaxQ I agree, it really looks as if they have taken a step backwards build quality wise.

I’m really surprised they’ve dropped the mechanical front diff as that was a stand out feature on the performance model on the mark 7 and was widely praised. Going back to the electronic diff seems like a retrograde step.

Max Q · 28-02-2020 11:23AM

carsfan2 wrote: »

I’m really surprised they’ve dropped the mechanical front diff as that was a stand out feature on the performance model on the mark 7 and was widely praised. Going back to the electronic diff seems like a retrograde step.

It's likely a money grab by VW. They'll release a performance version in due course with the mechanical diff but you'll be parting with more cash for it.

Royale with Cheese · 28-02-2020 11:43AM

That mk8 gti is not a good looking car, I would be holding onto my 7 for a while if I still had one. The 7.5 with the updated lights is a good looking car, and I think will age well.

It's been 4 months now since I sold my gti and 3 since I picked up my Model 3, for anyone interested in a comparison...

The Tesla is a "nicer" more pleasant car to travel in. I love the minimalist interior and the screen. The seats are pleather but I wouldn't be able to tell the difference, I think they're great. It's faster in a straight line that the golf but in terms of driving for fun I'd say that's about the only advantage it has. I'm no car expert so can't give you an in depth review but I just don't have the desire to throw this car around some back roads like I would have done with the golf, probably due to the added weight. That said I'm driving it quite conservatively at the moment because I don't have a home charger (the range isn't great and going heavy on the accelerator makes it pretty awful), maybe my opinion would change slightly if I was making more regular use of that acceleration.

I'm pretty happy with my decision but only because I was able to expense the car through the company, I wouldn't be advising anyone to trade their golf and spend €50k of their own money on one.

DaveyDave · 28-02-2020 12:22PM

As mentioned in the Autogefühl video, how many people actually care for the gas strut, it's the little details that make VW better. You could say the same for the felt door pockets, dampened glove box etc but the little features are what makes it a nice car. If people don't want an 8" screen, digital dash etc they just get a cheaper trim level but at least a paddy spec Golf is still a Golf.

If we didn't want this or that we'd buy a Dacia.

Real shame to exclude a gas strut. Might as well get rid of the bloody armrest while you're at it. Looks like rear cupholders are no longer adjustable either.

tossy · 28-02-2020 12:36PM

I imagine ECS or one of the tuning houses will do a retrofit gas strut fairly soon.

I like the look of it, i have to say, the interior is spot on. The only thing i can't really warm to is the shape of the headlights but i'm sure when i see one well spec'd with Matrix LEDs i'll warm to them.

The Mega Mk7 Golf GTI/GTD/R thread

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