Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[Mikey1]

Mikey's signature (above) makes for interesting reading. He currently has a MY05 MKV GTI with manual and bixenons.

Fast forward 10 years and VW don't offer it. We have actually gone backwards in a decade!!

Times change. When I ordered my GTI in January 2005, I was very disappointed to learn no 3-door would be available (in 2005 at least), coming from a Honda Integra, that's all I ever needed or wanted. Bi-Xenons were never on my or the dealer's radar, until a few months later they contacted me and asked if I was interested in this new option at circa $2K. I advised my dealer I would get back to them. After much research, I agreed, and am glad I did. I would never buy another car without them or LED headlights. However, I paid $51K for my chariot back then, which today would be equivalent to $62K (assuming an average of 2.5% PA inflation over 9 years), so nobody would pay that amount today for the performance and technology then. VW seems to have taken the approach that if the majority of customers omit this option, then they will delete it. Dynaudio didn't even get to 1st base on the Mk7. I'm sure sunroofs will be next. The choice is very clear to the type of customer VAG wants - for value buy a Volkswagen, for luxury and a more extensive equipment/options list buy an Audi. There are plenty of examples of VW owners who have upgraded to Audi's to fit this mould, and they are still happy VAG customers in doing so!

[Dutch77]

Times change. When I ordered my GTI in January 2005, I was very disappointed to learn no 3-door would be available (in 2005 at least), coming from a Honda Integra, that's all I ever needed or wanted. Bi-Xenons were never on my or the dealer's radar, until a few months later they contacted me and asked if I was interested in this new option at circa $2K. I advised my dealer I would get back to them. After much research, I agreed, and am glad I did. I would never buy another car without them or LED headlights. However, I paid $51K for my chariot back then, which today would be equivalent to $62K (assuming an average of 2.5% PA inflation over 9 years), so nobody would pay that amount today for the performance and technology then. VW seems to have taken the approach that if the majority of customers omit this option, then they will delete it. Dynaudio didn't even get to 1st base on the Mk7. I'm sure sunroofs will be next. The choice is very clear to the type of customer VAG wants - for value buy a Volkswagen, for luxury and a more extensive equipment/options list buy an Audi. There are plenty of examples of VW owners who have upgraded to Audi's to fit this mould, and they are still happy VAG customers in doing so!

I think your calculation shows how car prices have actually continued to reduce in real terms over a fairly long time now. You'd expect a three door GTI with xenons to clock in at the low $40s on road if still offered these days. The classic case of course is the WRX which has floated in a $2k band pretty much since its initial offering in the 90s.

I've got xenons on our other car and they are vastly superior to the halogens on the Mk7, but I'll continue to argue my point that for me it is a moot point - I rarely drive on unlit roads at night which is the only time they are of any benefit. My $2k is better put towards things like.. OZ wheels. However if I was doing a lot of unlit night driving then yes, the xenons are a no-brainer.

I totally understand the concepts of inventory control and keeping costs and therefore options lists down, but if a customer is willing to pay a sufficient enough holding deposit to cover any loss VWA would incur on an oddly specced vehicle if things fell through then what is the harm in allowing someone to order a manual GTI with xenons, Dynaudio and purple metallic paint? VWA are in the envious position of selling a product that a lot of their customers accept they will have to wait for ex Germany.

Yes it does push people up the chain into Audi as budgets increase, and as someone who may look at an S3 equivalent next time around I fit the mould. But I wouldnt be doing my homework if I didnt then look at what BMW and Mercedes are offering then as well.

[Splashalot]

If your budget allows, buy a manual R. This is a much better package than the models you suggested. If your budget doesn't stretch that far, I'd also consider a fully optioned used manual Mk6 R.

Unfortunately the R is almost certainly out of my budget range. Manual R (no options) is $58,414 on the road down here in Tassie. Focus ST is ~$43k on road. With xenons std. Unfortunately I can't justify the extra $15k, although the R almost certainly is a superior drive (I've not driven either yet, but will soon). So in my case VW's restrictive options policy will likely force me to another marque.

I've considered the Mk6 R. Do the Mk6 GTI and R suffer the carbon coking issue on inlet valves (as per the Mk5)? This is a major driver for me - hence my interest in the Mk7 GTI with the dual injection system to combat coking.

Worst case scenario I'll just keep my Mk5 GTI and pay a grand or so to decoke the engine every few years. My wife's Honda Euro has xenons so I can use that at night instead.

[Mountainman]

So in my case VW's restrictive options policy will likely force me to another marque.

Just for the xenons? Does that one thing alone outweigh all the other reasons why you would choose a GTI over a Focus ST? Yeah we all know xenons are better than halogens but.......

[Splashalot]

Unfortunately, yes. Our roads down here are littered with animal carcasses and cars regularly collect wallabies etc. My GTI's halogen's don't pick up the road verge (regardless how they're adjusted) but the Euro's xenons do. Makes a surprisingly large difference.

If the Focus (or maybe WRX) is at all close to the GTI in driving experience I will likely go that route because I can get manual and xenons. If the competition doesn't catch my imagination I'll probably keep my Mk5 and hope the options policy changes in the future.

[ClownDog]

I know any time I want to test drive here I just get chucked the keys and get a 'see you in an hour or two'.

That was my experience too, but I suspect we both used the same dealer. I test drove 3 different Golfs and each time I took the car overnight. Picked up after work on a Friday and returned with about half a tank less petrol on Saturday around midday. It was the night driving that led me to order my GTI with xenons.

[Dutch77]

ClownDog: I believe you are correct.

Splashalot and ClownDog are examples of the buyers who I understand need xenons for more than once in a blue moon unlit night driving - so the lack of xenons on the base model as an option is a poor choice by VW. Maybe even a travesty, but I am not one for hyperbole.

For me (and ClownDog IIRC) we could set up to the PP and either live with the Santiagos are swap them out for something easier on the eye. Splashalot doesn't get that option, so short of a very expensive (but legal) retrofit has no choice but to at least consider the competition.

Motor had a test a while back which had the GTI and Focus (ironically a base model with xenons and manual) and the GTI won due to its all round abilities, but the Focus was not disgraced and was a fair drive - it may do the job.

Probably worth noting it has a really small boot though in the interests of providing all relevant details.

[irossiter]

Splashalot,
I studied in Tassie for 6 years and know very well how much road kill and live stuff! is on the roads at night. I had a '63 Mini with modified full Cooper S specs and once hit a dead wombat in the middle of the road (near St Helens) at 100kmh and the whole left side of the car was airborne for about 20m! Thanks to my magnificent 1950's technology lights! I optioned up Xenons in my Mk 6 GTI after halogens in the Mk 5 (even tough I now live in Geelong and Melb) and could never go back. I was absolutely furious when VW dropped the headlight option in the standard GTI because I wanted a manual as always. I ended up getting a GTI Performance, partly because of the Xenons. I'm very happy with the DSG (FAR better than Merc's version) but deep down I miss the manual. I didn't want 19 inch rims either but I'm shocked at how good the ride quality is (again FAR better than a Merc A250) and I'd say better than my Mk 6 GTI on 18's. I found the new R just a bit too extreme for my everyday long distance driving on imperfect roads. The Focus is still a very good car but have a look at a Performance or a second hand near new Mk6 or Mk7 GTI.


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[ihawk]

First time I drove a Mk7 GTI was out of the showroom on delivery date.

Same

[nma]

APR TUNE......... Just returned from South west travelling about 500 km thought I would post a small report on how the car performed. Fuel consumption figures averaged 7.5 l/100 with a mixture of normal and aggressive driving oil temp was considerably lower around 97. Amazing acceleration for overtaking and gear box seems a lot smoother during changes ,no rubbing issues with wheel set up . Overall very impressed with this little pocket rocket