Mk7 Golf Wagon

[AdamD]

I believe there were some (uber rare) VR6 Variants built (maybe Mk3, was a 4mo Mk4), and there is a turbo petrol Mk5.

Mk5

Volkswagen Golf Hi Line Wagon 2.0 TSI Turbo 2007 | Trade Me

Interesting. As you say, not a GTI (would certainly be running different spring/damper rates, etc), but that'd be a nice sleeper. I wonder what markets got these new.

How come NZ got the Mk7 so early... have been on trade-me for months.

Compliance is a doddle for NZ, and because the market is so small they tend not to stagger their model releases and drip-feed them to the masses the way they do in Australia.

[adhock]

Picked up the Mk7 diesel wagon late Friday, went for a little run yesterday. Probably the first one out of captivity round Perth at this stage. First impressions:
1. Who needs a Passat? This thing has visibly more room than the Mk6 wagon, and feels a tad wider as well.
2. Diesel is a little more leisurely about take-off than 118TSI, but still picks up well at 80 ks or more. Doesn't have the savage wheel spin the old one did.
3. Brakes aren't as savage as the Mk6.
4. Sunroof is a very negotiable benefit (came with the car, not chosen for it). In 38 degrees round Perth, the sun still blasts thru both the tinted glass and the mesh lining beneath it. May need to look into sup-dark tinting on the glass roof, believe it or not.
5. Evolution, not revolution. Overall, it's refinement and update of the Mk6, which may have been a refinement of the MK5. Dunno because this is only our second Golf.
6. It's going to take weeks to work thru all the bells and whistles in the menus and Drive Assist.
7. Spacesaver spare, when there is apparently room for full-size, is a big negative. C'mon guys, its only about $200 to do it at the factory!
8. Overall, quite an upgrade on the Mk6 wagon, which I gather was really re-skinned MK5 underpinnings.

[zardoz]

I'm seriously tempted by the sunroof this time but the sunblind's inability to block our all light is a slight concern.

What's the road noise like compared to the mark 6?

[drad81]

I'm seriously tempted by the sunroof this time but the sunblind's inability to block our all light is a slight concern.

What's the road noise like compared to the mark 6?

The sun blind in my alltrack has never been an issue. Yes it still lights up the interior when closed but I've never felt as if the sun was heating the top of my head or shoulders. This is even on a 3 hr drive down to the south coast of NSW.

[adhock]

What's the road noise like compared to the mark 6?

Noise pretty much the same I think - diesel rattles slightly where petrol didn't, otherwise impressively quiet - but a bit more rumble I assume due to 45x17 profile tyres vs 55x16 on Mk6.

Sunroof: it was 39 degrees outside, extreme conditions in many ways, and since then I haven't noticed glare coming in. Possibly an advantage to have one, as I can leave the roof cracked open just a bit when parked, and hot air vents out the crack. And it's great to park groceries etc on, as the glass won't scratch like paint.

[ozwrangler]

Any thoughts on the legroom?

Good luck getting an Octavia wagon.
I'd bought one, but they can't deliver until July-Aug!!!!
Now re-thinking, but have tall teen to fit in the back of the Golf

eta: Legroom actually quite good, though overall feels bit smaller than Octavia.
Nicer overall finish, too.

[ozwrangler]

Anyone able to share prices, please?
I'm looking at the TDI Wagon.
Octavia "buy" fell thru due to delivery July-Aug (!!!crap)

[zardoz]

A warning: to order a fresh wagon, I'm looking at August as well if I want fully optioned. This is mildly irritating as I am planning to sell my car late April / early May.

[zardoz]

Ok, so I took out a 103TSI for a test drive today.

The doors feel more substantial than the old car. This I like. The lack of soft touch plastic on the rear doors, however, I don’t. The centre rear cup holders (on the back of the front armrest) are missing - the only option here is for the highline which has them integrated into the centre armest. Love the rear tailgate logo.

Steering wheel is thinner and the grips aren’t as large. It feels less substantial and gives it less of a premium feel in my opinion. I do like the bottom of the new wheel though. Hoping I can get used to this. They've made this change across the range - everything from the Trendline to the R.

The boot is bigger - in fact, the whole car does feel a little bigger on the road but not to the point where I feel I’m driving a Commodore. The new park assist features will come in handy as I get used to the larger size of the car. I like the fact that I can put the privacy blind in the spare wheel compartment now to keep it (and the luggage net) tucked out of the way. There seems to be more legroom in the back vs. the mark 6.

The new seats are not as adjustable, even with the leather interior, compared to the outgoing model. There’s no lower back adjustment. This is irritating and time will tell as to whether I can learn to live with this limitation. The new GTI seats are similar to the mark 6 and are something I find a lot more comfortable (even without this additional adjustment).

Looks great in the dark grey and the pacific blue - I’d be happy with either colour but I’m likely going the pacific.

There’s less road noise than the Golf 6 wagon especially at high speeds but don’t expect any huge changes here. The Golf 6 hatch is still quieter to my ears - this could have something to do with the 17” rims.

Engine doesn’t seem to pack as much punch as the old one. Sport mode seems tamer than the 118TSI.

The ride is substantially smoother than the Golf 6. Could be the difference in pedal response but I have to tap the peddles a lot harder to slow down/speed up. My passengers will appreciate the difference Seriously, this thing is that much better to drive than the old one - I’m trying my very best to overlook the comfort of the mark 6 in favour for the newer vehicle. Will see how my mark 6 compares after I get the clutch packs replaced next Thursday...

Had a play with the Discover Media. It won’t read my NTFS hard drives nor will it play FLAC files like the bigger Discover Pro. I do like the screen and option menus for the car. I still can’t get behind the screen, though - even the vase model Commodore has a beautiful 8 inch display.

I’m told that the red lighting from above was removed - and replaced with the white ambient lights in the door sils on the highline - as white is better for keeping people alart and awake. I don’t know what argument they use for the red door lighting in the GTI though…!

Going to put my order through for a fully optioned one soon.. but it's going to be tough letting go of the mark 6 - the steering wheel and seat make a huge difference to the user experience.

[Lemonskin]

Holy crap. I'm in love already.

Volkswagen Golf R Wagon Spy Photos | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications

I seriously hope this a) gets made and b) come to Australia. I'd have to find a way to afford it!