Golf GTI Motor Comparison Test

[Corey_R]

MPS is just useless, Why bothered with that much power if it can't put the power down -__-.

Obviously it's not useless if it can BEAT the GTI around a track. That's actually really concerning. The previous MPS was always slammed as not having good handling, but now this one has enough handling to beat the GTI on a track.

Is there really NO WAY to disable ESP on a GTI? What about on a GTI with an APR ECU update?!

[gareth_oau]

I also noted that for the track comparison the MPs was done on a dry track, whereas the GTI was done on a drying track, so even those comparisons are not direct.

With the traction control not being fully switchable I wonder if this could be easily overcome with VAGCOM?

I still the believe the GTI is a far more sophisticated looking piece of kit - the MPS looks like its trying to appeal to the power rangers brigade

[Sharkie]

Yes, dry track and fully off ESP would probably have given a track victory to the GTI as well .....

[Timbo]

As to the straight line times, you need to remember the MPS is torque-limited in the lower gears...as you'd need to do, I suspect, if you pump similar power into the front wheels of a GTI. Power is nothing without traction.

As to track times, I think if the handling of the MPS is OK, then it's likely to have an advantage at WPR because it is predominantly a 3rd/4th gear track allowing the MPS to use more of its power. This debate will go for days, I suspect hehehe

[cme2c]

Was the 6.5 second 0-100 result with the launch control programme, or was it a manual for a apples/apples comparison with the MPS?

I'm surprised about the MPS beating it around a track - I wonder if that will consistently be replicated in future reviews.

It was DSG. According to the mag, VWA couldn't supply the manual they wanted.

[seangti]

I haven't seen the article, though I'll make the assumption they used someone that can actually drive. The difference being that many of us weekend track warriors probably wouldn't get within a whisker of say a Warren Luff or McConnville (regardless of our opinions of them) so the difference in track times become only relevent when there is a driver that can sap every bit out of the car.

And as a reasonably regular participant in queensland raceway sprints over the last few years, I'm yet to see one golf GTI out there... so is it really that relevent that an MPS is a fraction quicker when so few cars see the track???

[Revhed]

Note that the article also stated that the vehicles were performance tested on different days, so the times are not directly comparable.

The December issue of US mag Car and Driver also has a similar comparo, this time with a manual GTI - MPS is a bit quicker in that one - Quarter mile in 14.3 seconds at 100 mph, with the GTI a 14.9 quarter at 96 mph

[Corey_R]

It was DSG. According to the mag, VWA couldn't supply the manual they wanted.

Well... around a track I'd say the DSG is an advantage over a manual. The main disadvantage of the DSG is the hesitation off the line, which is not relevant once you're moving...

[Guy_H]

Just looking at the article, there were also two different drivers as well (shouldn't make much difference as I know both of them & they can both drive!)

The corner speeds & straight line speeds were very close around the entire circuit - EXCEPT

Turn 1

MPS 75.76 kmph
GTI 69.43 kmph

Turn 8

MPS 58.66 kmph
GTI 53.78 kmph

Now that could be the DSG OR the ESP coming into play.

Lap times were 1.14.4 vs 1.15.2

[EndlessMKI]

Just looking at the article, there were also two different drivers as well (shouldn't make much difference as I know both of them & they can both drive!)

The corner speeds & straight line speeds were very close around the entire circuit - EXCEPT

Turn 1

MPS 75.76 kmph
GTI 69.43 kmph

Turn 8

MPS 58.66 kmph
GTI 53.78 kmph

Now that could be the DSG OR the ESP coming into play.

Lap times were 1.14.4 vs 1.15.2

that sort of gap around wakefield is quite significant.

does the MPS have a LSD of any sort like the GTI?

is turn8 the last turn or second last turn?

but then again theres no point comparing unless both cars are on the same tyres.