New Mk7 VW GTI

I had the first one when it came out in the 80's and I am actually considering getting rid of the Abarth for the two door version. I do not like the look of a 4 door GTI somehow it just feels wrong to me.

 

I have a MkVI and by most reports the MkVII is very similar, but slightly better.

What I can tell you about the MkVI is that it is a great daily and an all-around good car. It's not the adrenaline pump that a Ferrari is. But it'll return over 30mpg on the highway and 25 around town. It'll fit a 60" flatscreen TV in the back, and can carry 4 in a pinch. It's a small car that doesn't feel small on the inside or on the highway. The engine is rev-happy enough and the turbo will give you just enough shove in the back to make you smile when the road opens up. The GTI is fun enough to make you turn hooligan on occasion. Build quality is very good - no squeaks, creaks or rattles: the car feels very solid.

What don't folks like? People have said that it's a boy racer car. I've had a few folks turn up their noses at the lack of leather in mine (I didn't think very much of VW leather and I'm a fan of plaid seats anyway, so I don't miss it). Mine doesn't have lots of whizbang features, either (read:no SatNav or many of VW's option package) but that was a personal choice.

I can honestly say that for $25k I couldn't find anything as well built, fun, or interesting. And after driving the GTI, I couldn't quite justify the extra $10-15k for a BMW or Mercedes.

Of course, much of what one feels about the VW comes down to personal taste, so YMMV

 

Agree.

2 door is supposed to be available later, I read somewhere.

 

I drove one a month or so ago, really nice to drive and very refined but 220hp doesn't feel like it used to.

 

I had a Mark VI and now that it is gone I miss it. It is not the same experience as my old Porsche, but it is definitely not the buzz box my Mitsubishi Evo was. As stated above, sporty enough but also very practical.

The dealer down the street just got the Mark VII's, and I am tempted to go take a look, especially now that leather is not a $5K option.

The tuner market for this car is pretty stout, with lots of options out there for adding power, handling and brakes.

 

I'm anxious to see the Golf R. It is supposed to be 300 hp and AWD!
I think it's a strong contender for my next DD.

 

I recently bought a MKVI GTI to use as a daily driver. It's a great handling fun car. The motor revs freely and smoothly. The DSG trans is awesome! shifts fast and seemless. I like the way it rev matches on down shifts.
The car is very well built. Solid and no rattles. On tight turns seems to react faster than the 911 I used to daily drive.
Love the car but might be selling it for a Golf TDI

 

AWE is in my area and does great things with these cars. I do like the Abarth but my girlfriend hates it and after almost 5 month it has maybe 900 miles so I think I will pick up the two door version with the performance pack.

 

my local dealer (in small town central FL!) has a "market adjustment" on the GTIs they have...around $1500 IIRC.

I had a MkV which was a great car but not very reliable or durable, but the new ones are much better by all reports. I miss my GTI.

 

Not sure if it has been said yet or not but I believe that North American Mk7 is built in Mexico whereas the Mk6 was built in Germany. I have a Mk6 and I absolutely love it. That being said the new Mk7 appears to be better in almost every way. I will test drive one when the performance pack is available.

 

I was told that the 2 door versions will start to arrive next month though the performance pack is not going to be coming until the end of the year. I will likely go with the SE with all the packages. You cannot get the top of the line version in two door which makes no sense to me.

 

Not to derail, but I drove a 2013 2.5SE Jetta (I5 engine) for almost 200 miles yesterday, city and highway. The sounds that engine makes have no business being in a car like this . . .

The engine had a surprising amount of torque above 3K, the auto transmission shifted well, the suspension had a nice performance bias, steering was a drop numb but direct. No squeaks, some suspension noise over bad surfaces. All things considered, the car was a blast. (I hate how the gas pedal on modern cars feels like it's little more than a foot operated joystick, but that's all of them these days.)

Q: Does anyone know if this is the NA version of the Audi 2.5T, the one they put in the TT RS?

 

the 2.5 in the Jetta is the old VW 2.0 with an extra cylinder.

2.5 TFSI has the exact same displacement, but is a completely different block, one made of VGI, the only gasoline engine to use that material(it's usually used for diesel engine blocks).

 

Thanks!

I thought it was an interesting alternative to the GTI -- especially if we never get the 3dr in the USA.

 

Has anyone else heard about the recent 'recall' on MK7 GTI's, I suggest calling your dealer asap.

 

I have a MK6 GTI. It was supposed to be around for two years, and I have had it for almost four. It is just so damn good and fun for minimal dollars. Unless something comes up bad about the MK7, I intend to replace mine with an "R" as soon as they are available. Perfect crappy climate daily driver.

 

I hope they bring the Golf GTD to the USA.

 

This times a thousand.

 

That would be too intelligent. A brilliant car,but we will be saddled with the golf sport wagon. A nice car but not a gtd.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM4s37VIAlE&list=UUFwzOXPZKE6aH3fAU0d2Cyg]VW Golf GTI Mk7 | evo REVIEW - YouTube[/ame]

VW Golf GTI Mk7 | evo REVIEW

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXmd3QF-zYU[/ame]

 

thanks for posting. GTI may be my next dd, but what concerns me are the horror stories about long-term VW reliability....not sure the R is worth the premium over the GTI....