VW have been compromising the GTI variant for the good part of ten years. Let's not forget the infamous MK4 GTI, although they managed to claim back credibility with the MK5 (DSG was their trump card).
The bean counters tend to make the business decisions, I know of loyal VW customers switched to more focused hot hatches me included as they felt the compromise tipped the scales. The Golf GTI is a brilliant performance all rounder, but just short of being a hot hatch IMO, just wish they were 100kg lighter.
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