Things you don't like about your MK7

[Arnold]

Just wondering, you did test it with the floor of the boot in the lowest setting right?

Right; both configurations.

The suitcases that fit in my Mark V boot when laid flat and lengthways will not fit in the Golf7 boot whether the false floor is in place or removed.

This points to markedly less distance between the boot lip and the back of the rear seats in the Golf7 compared with that in the Mark V Golf.

It is to be hoped that this dimension in the Golf8 will be at least as great as it is in the boot of the Mark IV which eclipses that for the Golf7.

[bru20vt]

Has anyone got any clunking noise from front suspension? Am I the only one as the VW technicians still can fix it after they try to fix it a few times in the last couple of months, happens when going through a speed bump at low speed ... car has been to the dealer a few times, have the front shocks replaced, sub frame bolts replaced but the noise still there. Have the car booked in this Friday and they will change the rear shocks and look into the front noise again.

I also have noisy suspension - I have been complaining for about 6 months without getting anywhere. I am running 16" wheels so would hate to think the noise 17" or 18" would make.

We have speed bumps in our work car park and at low speed sometimes, not always, the clunking noise sounds like the front end is going to collapse. I can also hear the front end noise when turning right at a large roundabout. There is one near home where the approach is downhill. It feels like when the weight transfers to the right front the shock compresses but gets stuck before rebounding. This is the feeling I get.

As far as the rears go, I don't think VW have a fix yet. I had my rears replaced two weeks ago and the noise is still there. It only occurs over small bumps and has a distinct bobble noise. The last page of this thread pretty much summarises the issue.

Rear suspension noise - are you affected? - Page 22 - GOLFMK7 - VW GTI MKVII Forum / VW Golf R Forum / VW Golf MKVII Forum

[soogs]

Ditto. Wondering if it will then fit the Golf boot liner/plastic thingy I paid too much for.

Let me see if this works for photos, just by using attachment feature. Not that IT savvy.

I tell a lie the white bit showing under the mat is one of those real estate corrugated plastic advertising boards, didn't rush out to buy a masonite sheet as I had the plastic board lying around. Seems to support average luggage without any problems.

[LMF]

I also have noisy suspension - I have been complaining for about 6 months without getting anywhere. I am running 16" wheels so would hate to think the noise 17" or 18" would make.

We have speed bumps in our work car park and at low speed sometimes, not always, the clunking noise sounds like the front end is going to collapse. I can also hear the front end noise when turning right at a large roundabout. There is one near home where the approach is downhill. It feels like when the weight transfers to the right front the shock compresses but gets stuck before rebounding. This is the feeling I get.

As far as the rears go, I don't think VW have a fix yet. I had my rears replaced two weeks ago and the noise is still there. It only occurs over small bumps and has a distinct bobble noise. The last page of this thread pretty much summarises the issue.

Rear suspension noise - are you affected? - Page 22 - GOLFMK7 - VW GTI MKVII Forum / VW Golf R Forum / VW Golf MKVII Forum

It is pretty frustrating ... they did fix the problem last October by tightening the sub frame bolts but 2 months later it happens again and since then I bring the car back for 3 times and they still can't fix it. They did change the bolts and the front shocks but the noise still there ... my mum's 20 years old Hyundai never does it. I am dropping off my car to the dealer tomorrow and they said they will have my car for a few days and ensure there are no more noises before returning the car to me. I really don't know what to do if it still happen ...

[peekay34]

Navigation Radio the most hate it with a vengeance.... and that most of the options that are available overseas are not here

[rpps]

It is pretty frustrating ... they did fix the problem last October by tightening the sub frame bolts but 2 months later it happens again and since then I bring the car back for 3 times and they still can't fix it. They did change the bolts and the front shocks but the noise still there ... my mum's 20 years old Hyundai never does it. I am dropping off my car to the dealer tomorrow and they said they will have my car for a few days and ensure there are no more noises before returning the car to me. I really don't know what to do if it still happen ...

Don't hold your breath, I had noisy rear suspension and the dealer replaced the rear shock absorbers but the problem came back a few weeks on. I have since sold my Golf and bought a new Jetta and it's much quieter in the suspension but still noisy. A friend has a new Corolla hatch and the thing I really noticed about this car was how quiet is was in the suspension especially over rough bitumen roads, no clunks coming at all from the suspension. I suppose VW owners in the USA and Germany don't notice this problem because the roads are better and smoother.

[Dutch77]

<commence speech>

I wave goodbye to my Mk7 some time this week.

While I do enjoy the big boot which not surprisingly fits more than my Mk6 given it is the largest boot in Golf history there are a few bugbears I had, pretty much all of which are well documented by me and just about everyone else at some time or another.

Firstly that head unit. What an embarrassing joke. Small screen, crap resolution and the most useless satellite navigation system ever put in a car. What a massive step backwards from the old RNS units in the Mk6. I'd never spend the ridiculous coin on an upgrade after market but geez I totally understand why some feel like they have no choice. I'd expect to find a better unit in a $12k Chinese special.

Secondly the headlights. Again I'd never have spent the coin on ticking the red stripe option while my driving was city based, but after seeing how dangerous they are on an unlit country road/freeway I can again understand why some would tick that box on the early models or be forced into the PP currently (best marketing job ever by VWA courtesy of Wolfsburg HQ).

My third problem is purely personal opinion and has absolutely no rhyme or reason to it.. except that I know it's an opinion shared by at least one of my ex Mk6 colleagues. And that is I will miss my Mk6 more than I ever will my Mk7. There is no doubt the Mk7 is a superior car in most aspects and maybe part of it relates to the more extensive personalisation I did to my Mk6, but I used to love every drive in the Mk6.. I'm not real fussed over the Mk7 and won't miss it the same way.

I don't think I'd even buy it today if confronted with the same circumstances - I'd go the Octavia wagon over the GTI for the space and spec. It might lose a touch in some areas, but more than makes up for it in others. And as for Skoda's horrible resale - I can't say I'm smiling over VW's lack of strength on the three vehicles we have owned now.

I did briefly consider waiting for the R wagon, but when I broke it down I crossed it off for the same reason I did the R.

This is absolutely not a knock on what is overall a brilliant package and a segment leader. I would happily talk up the Mk7 to anyone. I'm not looking to argue the above with anyone, they're just a few comments stuck in my head as the car goes this week and just a personal call on my needs. Not someone else's. As I usually say: each to their own. This is more about me saying goodbye to the Golf for the immediate future, but not farewell.

And for those that think the Golf looks better with after market wheels (and let's face it, that's not hard if you've got stuck with Santiagos) the wheel thread is not going anywhere.

<end speech>

[AdamD]

And for those that think the Golf looks better with after market wheels (and let's face it, that's not hard if you've got stuck with Santiagos) the wheel thread is not going anywhere.

Amen to that!

(And to everything else you said actually; as someone who never owned a Mk7 but who has driven many and spent a fair bit of time with them, I've never connected with them the way I did with my Mk6, despite being demonstrably the better car.)

[Jimi]

I agree with all of that Dutch, particularly the head unit (like you I could never justify $3k to retrofit the big screen). My other gripe remains the bundling of options which still doesn't allow a 'purists combination' of manual transmission and Performance Package.

[The_Hawk]

I agree with all of that Dutch, particularly the head unit (like you I could never justify $3k to retrofit the big screen). My other gripe remains the bundling of options which still doesn't allow a 'purists combination' of manual transmission and Performance Package.

It really annoys me that an Aussie delivered vehicle running down the same production line misses out on so many options or combinations that are available elsewhere in the world. I can understand from a spare parts and service point of view if VW Australia choose not to import a particular model (like the Sharan) because they don't see a market for it and don't want to keep all the spare parts on hand...

..but things like a manual transmission that is a standard part across the range isn't allowed, or things like the GTI and R Spec engines available in the Golf Cabriolet overseas are simply not available (they have even dropped manual as an option on that now too) it does my head in a little. Why when I'm laying down your hard earned cash on a new vehicle and are willing to wait for it to be built and delivered, why can't I pick anything on the list? I'm about 99% confident that even if they added a "Custom Build" premium of 2-3% to anything outside the norm there would be plenty of customers more than willing to pay a little bit extra to get what they want. (And lets face it, it's money for jam for VW).