GTI Edition 40 / Clubsport Thread

[Billecartz]

I have just ordered a Red Manual, arrives late August.

[MIRSAD]

No I agree, and you can't really hide it nor that is the point. But with the darker colors it kind of blends in better in my eyes, like its a natural extension of the body, rather than something bolted to on the car aftermarket. The white seeks for more attention but the grey and black are just class imho. Exactly like a special, focused, performance oriented hot-hatch should be. That was my biggest complaint from the R which prevented me from going with it in the end.

100% - agree with you

[Bassik]

It's a really big surprise to see these in the shop, when a few months ago most of the dealerships I called said "Oh you wont get to see any coz they'll be taken for before they even arrive". Now I'm seeing people posting them like they are pretty common and not so "hard to get"

And ohhh first purchase for a manual... interesting.

[Billecartz]

This is at Sydney City Volkswagen, one of the salespeople I know sent me the pics.

I have an Alltrack which is DSG and still don't like the hesitation before it starts off so I got the manual. IMO the manual is a more interactive drive, most of my other cars have been manual and my wife also prefers it. There are 300 DSG and 90 manuals coming so it will also be more exclusive.

[Billecartz]

100% - agree with you

I maybe a bit more of an extrovert, my preference in order of what is available is ... red, white then grey. I already have a white and blue golf, so the red suits me

[tigger73]

It's a really big surprise to see these in the shop, when a few months ago most of the dealerships I called said "Oh you wont get to see any coz they'll be taken for before they even arrive". Now I'm seeing people posting them like they are pretty common and not so "hard to get"

Yes it's just another one of the salesmans ploys to get you to sign on the dotted line. I think the reason that it hasn't been a run-away success is due to the fact that you have a very crowded market in the performance hot hatch.

GTI - 162kW
GTI PP - 169kW
Roc R - 188kW
GTI 40 - 195kW
Mk7 R - 206kW

I really don't think there was enough differentiation / reason to buy other than having the 40th Ed badging. It wasn't exactly a stand-out must have model - more another model slipped into the middle of an already full range.

Agree that if you were looking at the GTI PP then it would make some sense to consider the Ed40.

If they really wanted to sell these like hotcakes I would have thought that VW would have replaced the PP model with the Ed40 and loaded it up with options.

[Bassik]

Yes it's just another one of the salesmans ploys to get you to sign on the dotted line. I think the reason that it hasn't been a run-away success is due to the fact that you have a very crowded market in the performance hot hatch.

GTI - 162kW
GTI PP - 169kW
Roc R - 188kW
GTI 40 - 195kW
Mk7 R - 206kW

I really don't think there was enough differentiation / reason to buy other than having the 40th Ed badging. It wasn't exactly a stand-out must have model - more another model slipped into the middle of an already full range.

Agree that if you were looking at the GTI PP then it would make some sense to consider the Ed40.

If they really wanted to sell these like hotcakes I would have thought that VW would have replaced the PP model with the Ed40 and loaded it up with options.

Yeah and this is only just within VW, consider other manufactures as well.

You're not wrong I even thought that a GTi PP with a tune is practically a 40th Ed without the stiffer sus and fancy highlights. However saying that most people want the badge ><. Consider this though, speaking directly to 3 salesmen from different dealerships I made inquires about the R and they ranted on about that being an awesome car but as soon as I mentioned the 40th Ed their marketing strategy changes and then the R is no longer a better option and I'd be stupid to even consider it and this was during the EOFY sale where the 40th Ed didn't even apply.
I got as far as speaking to a finance adviser and he's first comment was why are you spending that much on a GTi when you clearly can get an over-all better purchase with an R? I can't stand salesmen and this adviser was a lot more rationale then anyone in the shop! Hence coming on here for better judgement.

I get it commission and all that jazz but come on.

[ringo]

Yeah and this is only just within VW, consider other manufactures as well.

You're not wrong I even thought that a GTi PP with a tune is practically a 40th Ed without the stiffer sus and fancy highlights

It is clear in many aspects that VW has deliberately down-played the Clubsport to avoid internal competition with the R. (The silly under-boost (as it should be called) function on an engine that normally makes 300+ is a good proof of that). Even some websites were writing that it's a GTI engine pumped up to 265 and further up to 290 via over-boost (as if pumping a 230bhp engine up to a 290 everything else beign the same would ever happen with any manufacturer) until it was confirmed it is indeed the R engine and the IS38 bigger turbo. Not a surprise the average car person thinks the CS is probably just a 40ED GTI when in fact it's more different to a standard GTI than is the R.

I mean compared to a GTI the R has a different engine and turbo (2K+ eur) and AWD (a 700 eur option on the Passat), the rest of the options are all standard Golf options.

The CS has also the R engine and turbo (2K+), no AWD but then different suspension, different bodykit, different interior which easily account for a few thousand worth of upgrades. Seats alone are a 1500 eur option and stock forged 7.6kg wheels make for another 2.5K of included value (in Europe - again feel sorry for the lousy decision of VW OZ to import it with heavy Brescias as stock).

More like a hybrid between the two, with further driving-focused bespoke elements. Any other manufacturer building a variant with the aforementioned differences would have opted for a different name after the "Golf" part, and similarly the Clubsport should had better been called just "Golf Clubsport" ditching the GTI. But hey, VW needed to take the game to SEAT with finally as much of a driver's car as the excellent Leon Cupra, AND build a 40ED at the same time. So let's call it Golf Clubsport (Cupra equivalent) GTI 40 edition (GTI special edition - check!)


PS. You didn't really ask a finance adviser to tell you which car to buy, I take this as a joke right? How did you exactly explain him the un-quantifiable terms of "driving involvement", "road feed-back", "tossability"? Was there at least some kind of equation like "smiles per corner = x dollars?" Otherwise any possible answer to that question would be a total waste of time. The guy is probably an expert in calculating residuals and best purchase option (PCP, loan etc.) but that's as helpful as he could be, come on.

Salesmen you say? Well these somehow make even a finance adviser a better consulting choice for deciding on a car... They are that useless for anything other than placing your order (and that not with 100% success always).

[Bassik]

PS. You didn't really ask a finance adviser to tell you which car to buy, I take this as a joke right? How did you exactly explain him the un-quantifiable terms of "driving involvement", "road feed-back", "tossability"? Was there at least some kind of equation like "smiles per corner = x dollars?" Otherwise any possible answer to that question would be a total waste of time. The guy is probably an expert in calculating residuals and best purchase option (PCP, loan etc.) but that's as helpful as he could be, come on.

Salesmen you say? Well these somehow make even a finance adviser a better consulting choice for deciding on a car... They are that useless for anything other than placing your order (and that not with 100% success always).

No I didn't. I tend to ignore whatever a they say, but the details on $ is more important to me when we converse, which is what the adviser was pointing out. Neither of them drove the car so I wouldn't have listened to either of them anyways. The adviser told me stuff that I could relate to and this is why he pointed out the cost benefits on the R over the 40th Ed.

You're right neither of them are some what helpful other then placing an order.

[Brian]

Great write up mate, awesome news, glad you enjoyed it. You make it a hard decision from that. I wish you were in Sydney, I'd pay to ask for a test drive... lol What do you mean by "and lower door leds on this", I didn't see that on the version I saw. Also don't all new MK7 golfs not have front fogs anymore?

Any pics/vids worth posting up?

The lower door lights are in this pic, which I think is yours posted the other day. Sorry I cant check mine, the missus took it for a drive yesterday and hasn't been seen since .

Or maybe they are just reflectors and Im confused with the Renault, which had red lights in the same position. When I see my car again, Ill confirm.
I believe the other golfs are still coming through with fog lights. The GTI40 fogs were deleted for air ducts to improve brake cooling and aerodynamics I believe. Pic from VW brochure.

Couple of pics from delivery day and drive Friday
https://goo.gl/photos/SWtbY8VjqmyPJJV97